Tools of the Trade

[jake]

Here are my Barnsley scrapers I bought a few years back:

3269.jpg

Here's a pic of my gooseneck scraper:

3270.jpg

[jake]

And here's what can happen when everything goes right:

3272.jpg

Actually, most of the good shavings hit the floor before I could take a pic.

[dw]

Great presentation, Jake! I notice that the scrapings are part leather and part peg--you've scraped right across the top of the pegs and cut the tops right off!! I haven't been able to do that with my angle-sharpened Barnsleys. I sharpened and burnished the largest of my Barnsleys flat across...as you describe above...this morning. Of course I'm green as Kermit at this but although the results were better they still weren't that good.

Nevertheless, I ordered some scrapers and a burnishing tool from Lee Valley. I guess I'll just keep experimenting and trying to get that "perfect" edge.

I'm particularly fond of using my scrapers down in and on the breast of the heel--no other tool does such a clean job, in my opinion. So I'm determined!

BTW...did you draw those illustrations with CorelDraw 12? Sheesh! Tell a guy about a handy piece of software and he turns into an artist!! Sharp photo too...especially at such a close range.

Anyway thanks again...you've inspired me...again!

Tight Stitches
DWFII--Member HCC

[tomo]

Jake, DW,
I don't know how you two do it, but you both have a real knack for explaining things concisely and in an indepth manner.
Jake it would've taken you hours to put that lot together man...
I doff my hat to ya.
T.

[jake]

Dee-Dubb & Tom,

It wern't much. Like I said, I didn't invent this tool. Much of the information given was stolen off the internet, but I Thank You just the same.

Hope it helps!

[jake]

Here's a couple of commercial burnishers I bought. I really like the long, polished one. It's oval-shaped in cross section. The smaller of the two is one to use on convex or concave curved scrapers. It's round in cross section.

3274.jpg

[jake]

Here's an example of a commercial jig to hold the mill bastard file. It can be clamped in a 90 or 45 degree angle to the scraper, which leads me to think that maybe some people like D.W.'s technique of a 45 degree edge. Let me know what works for folks.

3276.jpg

[jake]

One more....this is a commercial jig which lets you "dial" in the angle of the bur after honing. The more acute the angle, the more aggresive the cutting action, but the sooner you'll loose the burr.

3278.jpg

Like I said, I've been working on this for a while!

[cmw]

Jake

Great work on the presentation.

I’m going to have to invest in some scrapers. Glass looses it’s edge too quickly as ya’ll say. It’s time for me to not be so dependent on my machines at work and this is really going to help. The funny thing is I have worked with scrapers while working with a blacksmith/welder at a company that makes commercial concrete molds for building companies.


By the way, there was a man back home that made knives from large commercial table saw blades. The idea of using old saw blades is great.

Chores call, ya’ll have a nice Sunday
CW

[tomo]

Chris,
If I wanted to take a short cut - especially living where you do, I'd go to a saw doctor's and get some off cuts of bandsaw blade. Most likely Sandvik or Udeholm(sp) steel, in the US try Simonds,
I'd also take Jakes advice on the gauge. The bandsaws I'm talking about are the ones used in head rigs and break down saws in timber mills. these blades are up to 18" wide, although 6"-12" is more common.
The saw doctors should be able to cut it to the finished size you require, which would save a lot of time. In fact most mills have their own saw shop.
Just a thought.
More power to y'awl.
Tom.

[jake]

Thanks Chris!

I agree with your comments concerning glass. I never had much success, at least for any great length of time.

Let's us know how the scrapers turn out. Getting the edge right is the key. Keep in touch!

[dw]

I know this gets a little redundant but I can't help myself...;)

Here's another inseaming awl haft that I just finished. It's European boxwood with a bronze ferrule. Very sweet. Box wood is hard to get and of course it is more of a shrubbery than a tree, but it was traditionally the preferred wood for such handles.

3299.jpg

Tight Stitches
DWFII--Member HCC

[tomo]

DW,
you're consistantly consistant! Which is preferable to being routinely reduntant!
Looks like Yew. Is it very hard??
Nice finish, NOT as nice as your mesquite one though
More power to y'awl.
T.

[dw]

Tom,

Thanks...I think.

Boxwood is pretty hard but extremely dense and fine grained. It is a real pleasure to turn. I don't think it is anywhere near as hard as the black Maire or something like African blackwood. I have some Persimmon in the freezer...it's very green and freezing is supposed to rupture the cell membranes and allow it to dry out faster. Persimmon is a member of the ebony family so I'm looking forward to turning that. It should be pretty hard and blond like the boxwood. If I had an extra microwave I might try to accelerate the drying process...this microwaving of green wood to dry it out has almost become a science.


Tight Stitches
DWFII--Member HCC

[erickgeer]

I couldn't decide if this should be in "one 'last' question" or tools. So here it is, maybe I'll copy it to a "last" topic later.

I have been looking into tools for making last models and I am looking for clarification about a "last vise."

I have run accross mentions of the "last vise" or a "last-making vise," but without pictures. Does anyone know if a "pattern-makers or gun-stock carving vise" is similar, or the same thing?

Salaman has a depressingly short section on Last Making, with no pictures. He mentions a "post-vise" in the tools list, but all of the post-vises I've found have been heavy things for doing metalworking.

Suggestions are welcome, if anyone wants to share their solutions for carving lasts.

Thanks,
Erick Geer Wilcox

[jake]

Martha,

What's this?

3331.jpg

3332.jpg

Thanks in advance!

[tomo]

Jake,
It's a thing. A wooden handled one. You don't see them around much, but they're great if you've got a use for one, especially the brass headed kind.
More power to y'awl.
T.

[tomo]

Jake,
It's a thing. A wooden handled one. You don't see them around much, but they're great if you've got a use for one, especially the brass headed kind.
More power to y'awl.
T.

[dai]

I couldn't see what you meant Tom, until the second version of your message came through. I looked at both of them together through a stereoscope.

What Tom is saying is (and thank you for sharing), that in the North Island of NZ where he is, that thing is a "thing". But down here in the South Island where I am it is "a" thing. But out there where the international community is, it is "a thing". OK?

[tomo]

David.
Excellent! You're back. How're things?
I was thinking about you today...
More power to y'awl
T

[shoestring]

All,
when that thing comes alive let me know or it could be one of those things used in the Book Binding Trade called a "hellifino".
Ed

[jake]

Hey Fellers,

Naw.....it ain't "a" "thing"! I should know, I married one!

I tend to go along with Ed....it's a Book Binding "hellifino".

By the way, I'm still laughing!

[dw]

Tom,

When you say "how are things?" you make it sound as if things were a common, everyday commodity down under...essential for mental equilibrium, if not survival itself. Can you describe how things are used ---which hand is preferred, and how often application is required?

Here in the upper left hand corner, I suspect that round toits serve the same function as things in NZ. With this one difference--the scarcity of round toits and the over-abundance of water falling from the sky (of all places!) appear to be the major reason that so many people have fallen into coffee addiction.

[sigh]Sometimes I wish for simpler times.

Tight Stitches
DWFII--Member HCC

[dw]

Jake,

I swan...Jake...if you don't mind me saying so...you just have make a distinction there...if you married a "thing" ...you married a **good ** thing....a sweet thing...the one thing that saved you from the life of a rake and a rowdy....maybe even saved you from a life of [shudder] dentistry!! Aaaahhhhhh!!!!!

3334.gif

Count your blessings for all things bright and beautiful.

Tight Stitches
DWFII--Member HCC

[jake]

Dee-Dubb,

You betch ya! She puts up with my "hornery" butt each and every day. Just couldn't resist the pun!

Are you back?