Thread: Back to boots!

Originally Posted by rufflyrustic

Yeah Yeah!!!

Keep FigJamming away Bob

Whoops !! - I just realized that could be taken two ways. Of course I meant the wood was talking to me telling me what it wanted to be!

When I saw the first pictures I thought you'd made some fantastic plane, or three matching shoulder planes. Then I saw it all joined together and it took me a few seconds to work out what it was. And I thought, gee, using that spectacular timber on a tool-aid seems sacreligious. But, having thought about it I think you're absolutely right - the more you use this the more you'll appreciate the beauty of the timber and the tool.

I learn something new every day (when I have my ears open!). Thanks.

Originally Posted by Poppa

When I saw the first pictures I thought you'd made some fantastic plane, or three matching shoulder planes. Then I saw it all joined together and it took me a few seconds to work out what it was. And I thought, gee, using that spectacular timber on a tool-aid seems sacreligious. But, having thought about it I think you're absolutely right - the more you use this the more you'll appreciate the beauty of the timber and the tool.

I learn something new every day (when I have my ears open!). Thanks.

Cheers Poppa. Your reaction reminds me of when I made my first sheoak mallet. I stood and stared at it, it felt real good in the hand but I didn't want to use it because it was too pretty. SWMBO also said, that's too nice to use. But it has such a wonderful tactile feel and is probably still the best balanced of all the mallets I have made. I have 5 mallets of about the same size but it's become my first choice when I need a medium size mallet. I get a lot of enjoyment out of using it and I haven't even regretted dinging it a little too hard on the odd occasion.

Top job, thanks for sharing.

That Jam looks fantastic Bob! Love the way it looks combined with brass - makes it perfect for tools and too good for jewellery boxes. Top job (Can't wait to get my teeth into some!!!)

Hello,

I dont understand it

What does one do with it ?

Is it some sort of luxurious push stick ?


Bill

Good pickup of an old thread Bill .....

This should give you some idea as to the flexibility of the jig:
Micro Jig | GRR-Ripper® | The Ultimate 3D Push block System | Safety and Precision on the Tablesaw| How to Cut Wood | Table Saw Cutting | How to Table Saw | Saw Guard |

steamingbill

Thanks for bringing this thread back to life again after 5 years. It took me a while to figure out what it was but now that I know I think it is a great tool and beautifull as well.

BobL

You sir have made a marvelous push stick that any man would be proud to own and use.

Cheers

Don

Originally Posted by dsquire

.
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You sir have made a marvelous push stick that any man would be proud to own and use.
Cheers

Don

Thanks Don, I had a lot of fun making that "push stick" but have only used it a couple of times since I made it.
It's become more of a curiosity these days.

Originally Posted by BobL

...... but have only used it a couple of times since I made it.
It's become more of a curiosity these days.

Well in that case can I have it ?

Promise to look after it now that I know what it is

Found it whilst searching for alternative T Track options - like the idea of using the round drill holes.

Have you thought of any other alternatives to T Tracks ?

Regards

Bill

Originally Posted by steamingbill

Have you thought of any other alternatives to T Tracks ?

If I was making it again I would insert short segments of brass rod in the round holes and have the brass screws thread into these for increased strength/traction.

A beautiful and functional piece. Well done Bob!

I'm sure you have inspired many of us to do something similar, even if we don't make ours as beautiful.

Originally Posted by John Samuel

A beautiful and functional piece. Well done Bob!

I'm sure you have inspired many of us to do something similar, even if we don't make ours as beautiful.

Thanks John, I had a burst of tool making creativity back in 2006-8 that I have strayed away from while I did a whole lot of milling and I sorted out my new shed. Retiring in a months time should give me the time to get to some of that.

Originally Posted by BobL

The timber is Jam (Acacia acuminata : See this post for pictures of initial milling). The biggest logs I used were 110mm in diameter with a final max milled width of 95mm. A fair few cracks so lots of resin used as fill but as you can see it is well worth it.

It's THE hardest, densest timber I have ever worked (the boot weighs in at just over 2Kgs) face planing was a waste of time, with my limited sharpening skills - should be be a good test material for Dereks planes & sharpening skills. I milled it as close as I could to size and then used a belt sander and finally a scraper blade on the faces. The ends were squared up using my mini-shooting board and a LN LA Jack. Drilling (especially end grain) was a hit and miss operation with the bit wandering around (even when deep in the hole) like a feral shopping trolley. In the end I had to use a 1/4" forstner bit with a 3/8" shank in a DP as a pilot bit but not before I messed up a few holes, hence some of the screws are not too straight or central.

However, the grain is simply sensational with portions near the heart showing a very deep translucent fiddle, it seems 3D-like under sunlight.
Perhaps the most intruiging thing about making this tool was the faint aroma of raspberry jam every time a wood fibre was cut.

I had a small length of Jam Wood about 70mm diam for turning small items, after turning a couple of items like egg cups etc I gave up as I would have warn out my chisels I was forever regrinding and resharpening. I must say the odd articles I managed to turn were stunning in appearance. I wonder how it compares with Lignemvita for hardness.
Cheers Mac