An afternoon with new shop friends

**derekcohen** · 22nd November 2010, 02:23 AM

It's been 6 weeks since I spent any time building something in my shop (a gennou handle does not count). This afternoon I spent some time with a few new tools, which I thought I would share with all of you. Be warned, this post is picture heavy!

Some time back I had come across an interesting board at the local Bunnings. It was on the rack with pine, but it was unlike anything I had seen. I grabbed it as it looked like it would make an interesting box. Here it is cleaned up ...

So I prepared a piece of Karri (very, very hard wood ... similar to Jarrah in looks. This began life as ex-roofing timber).

Another use for a Veritas skew block plane - working across the grain ...

One of the new friends was this 3 1/2" adjustable square gift from Stu, my mate in Japan.

Stu had sent me three Koyamaichi dovetail chisels that Mr Koyama had ground to my specification - minimum shoulders - and I was looking forward to trying them out with the new gennou I had handled (posted recently).

I also got a chance to use the new LV mini edge plane. I thought that this would be useful when building small boxes with thin sides ..

Look at these shavings!

Back to the box. I had not cut a dovetail in about 8 weeks. I was determined that this would go saw-to-saw. No excuses ..

Still getting to know this saw, but it is real sweet ..

Now the other new tool was the production version of the Knew Concepts fretsaw I had some input into. This is 5" in depth, with a Titanium frame, and the blade angle can be set at 45 degrees either side as well as 90 degrees.

Lee has been supplying it with an Eclipse 18 tpi blade, one that I recommended. The combination is outstanding.

**derekcohen** · 22nd November 2010, 02:24 AM

The chisels worked well ..

Look at the tight fit at the shoulder ..

Marking the cheesy pine was "interesting".

It cut easily but I was concerned how fragile it would be ..

Finished ..

Now would it go together?

Dovetails ..

The base is yet to be done. There is some pine left for that (after the lid is cut open).

Thanks for sharing this with me.

Regards from Perth

Derek

**haggismuncher** · 22nd November 2010, 09:38 AM

I assume from your comments the new fret saw worked well.
Was there much flex in the blade?
The reason I am asking is that I am just in the process of sending back a Carbatec POS that not only was not the jewellers saw advertised on their website but I cannot get the damn blade to tighten up enough to stop flexing!

**3 toed sloth** · 22nd November 2010, 09:42 AM

Some very nice toys there Derek, and well used

**derekcohen** · 22nd November 2010, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by haggismuncher

I assume from your comments the new fret saw worked well.
Was there much flex in the blade?
The reason I am asking is that I am just in the process of sending back a Carbatec POS that not only was not the jewellers saw advertised on their website but I cannot get the damn blade to tighten up enough to stop flexing!

HM

This is the production version. It is more sophisticated than the earlier prototypes I first had ... which nevertheless worked just as well. My comments of the latter can be found here: http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ToolRev...tsFretsaw.html

To answer your question in one sentence: this fretsaw does not flex.

Regards from Perth

Derek

**wheelinround** · 22nd November 2010, 06:30 PM

Strange wood Derek but nice box.

**Polie** · 22nd November 2010, 06:30 PM

Nice find Derek and good use of an obviously "defective" piece of wood.

I usually have a look at Bunnies timber to see what has made it into their collection. Sometimes I find a nice piece of Jarrah with lovely figure or a pile of Tassie Oak at a super low price because they just want to get rid of it.

After your find I will have to start looking at their pine as well.

Regards,
Chris

**groeneaj** · 22nd November 2010, 07:41 PM

I love the box Derek

You have inspired me to try hand cut dovetails again!

**haggismuncher** · 22nd November 2010, 09:55 PM

$195! Yikes

**derekcohen** · 22nd November 2010, 10:00 PM

HM

That is the titanium version.

The 5" aluminium version is $95 (which has the swivel clamps) and the 8" aluminium without swivel clamps (big enough for most drawers and boxes - same size as in my review) is $57.

Regards from Perth

Derek

**haggismuncher** · 23rd November 2010, 12:50 PM

Ah I see I was looking at the titanium version.
For some reason I would baulk at paying so much for a good jeweller's saw but wouldn't blink for say a good tenon saw. I must have it hard wired in my briain that jeweller's saw should be cheap.

Chris

**Clinton1** · 23rd November 2010, 11:37 PM

Derek,

Did you find out what steel is used in the Koyamaichi chisels you are using on the Karri?

**derekcohen** · 24th November 2010, 12:02 AM

Hi Clinton

The Koyamaichi chisels are also available from Lee Valley. The one's I have from Stu were custom ground, nevertheless they are the same steel, etc.

This is from the LV website:

Hand forged and finely finished by master blacksmith Hiroshi Koyama (Koymaichi), the laminated blades combine a hard high-carbon Hitachi white steel face with a shock-absorbing softer steel back.

Hardened to Rc65-66.

Regards from Perth

Derek

**Poppa** · 24th November 2010, 03:12 PM

Lovely looking box Derek. I like "faulty" timbers for some reason - they always seem to end up as features for me.

**Clinton1** · 24th November 2010, 07:45 PM

Thanks Derek.

I'll be interested to hear your opinion on the WS blade, as a reflection on edge retention over time/use on the 'harder' timbers.

I'm a bit precious with any Japanese chisel thats made from WS, and would not have taken mine to your Karri. I may be unnessarily precious, however the price of the tool vs sharpening consumables/cost and maintenance makes me try to extend their life by limiting use to softer timber.

If you write up an opinon on WS use on tougher timber, I'll read with interest.

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