Search:

Type: Posts; User: Bob Smalser

Page 1 of 5 1 2 3 4

Search: Search took 0.01 seconds.

  1. Conserving a Napoleonic Wars French Pistol

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/24052392/407588275.jpg

    The Pistolet modčle An XIII in .69 caliber represents the service pistol of choice during the Napoleonic era, and was fielded by...
  2. http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/243699...

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/24369946/407596824.jpg

    I clean the bore using three grades of successive abrasive pastes (fine Clover followed by two grades of JB) on a succession of...
  3. http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/243699...

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/24369946/407596806.jpg

    Here I’ve jointed the broken surface to dead straight and flat using a block plane, and am carefully fitting my vertical-grain...
  4. Rehabilitating a 200-year-old Jaeger Rifle: Conservation, Repair and Restoration

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/24369946/407596793.jpg

    As a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, I regularly do living history presentations to schools and youth groups. As...
  5. Replies
    9
    Views
    1,909

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/239384...

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/23938475/399673017.jpg

    Aligning the ferrules and newly-wrapped handle took some trial and error that involved carefully bending the ferrules and guard...
  6. Replies
    9
    Views
    1,909

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/239384...

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/23938475/399538173.jpg

    I turn my attention to the unplated, carbon-steel blade, stoning off the burrs using a couple grades of oil stones lubed with...
  7. Replies
    9
    Views
    1,909

    A Promotion Gift

    Our youngest is a full-time college student. But he’s also an Iraq combat veteran and National Guardsman who, in addition to his line-unit duties, supervises a regional Honor Guard team performing...
  8. http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/974560...

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/9745605/397776165.jpg

    But as someone who burns a lot of wet slash, I have some tools useful for drying large objects you may not.
    ...
  9. Finishing Details ...

    Finishing Details

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/9745605/397711601.jpg

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/9745605/397711602.jpg

    Naturally it rains in the middle of my...
  10. http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/974560...

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/9745605/397629853.jpg

    Using a farm jack as a third hand to accurately spring the guards into place for fastening. All parts that require bending into...
  11. Sheer Guard Replacement. ...

    Sheer Guard Replacement.

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/9745605/397619694.jpg

    Again, using the old guard as a pattern, the contractor’s saw is set up to mill a couple of VG Doug...
  12. Ramin Dowels. ...

    Ramin Dowels.

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/9745605/397619697.jpg

    I used some store-bought Ramin dowels to reinforce a few places in the cedar instead of my usual practice of...
  13. Ten Years of Hard Use, Exposure and Neglect -- What Worked and What Didn’t

    Over a decade ago I built the John Gardner-drawn 12’ Dion Punt below to use for swamp-logging in beaver ponds; a tender for setting the tongs and chokers used to grab the logs. The advantage of this...
  14. Replies
    3
    Views
    1,542

    Cruiser Was A Logger's Dog

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/18228023/391415449.jpg

    “Cruiser” was a logger’s dog, and a tough-looking Bulldog at that. In the forests along Hood Canal where he died 75 years ago,...
  15. Replies
    6
    Views
    12,959

    As this repair is now 6 years old, I thought I'd...

    As this repair is now 6 years old, I thought I'd post some new pics to show how the repairs are holding up in use.

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/3866245/381424767.jpg
    ...
  16. I don't know anything about storebought saw vises...

    I don't know anything about storebought saw vises or filing jigs. I imagine there were countless designs. With woodies you don't have to stop filing every 15 minutes and reposition the saw.

    The...
  17. Sorry, but the only cold blue that provides any...

    Sorry, but the only cold blue that provides any significant rust resistance is Oxpho. Birchwood Casey is particularly bad about after rust and wears off qquickly.
  18. http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/181693...

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/18169354/285438637.jpg

    Interesting and sometimes colorful little algae-fungus combinations that are generally harmless and can be brushed off.

    Blue...
  19. http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/677158...

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/6771586/109016867.jpg

    When excavation reaches the incipient stage of only discoloration of otherwise sound wood, CPES (an epoxy sealer) may be useful to...
  20. Brown Rot, White Rot and other Wood Pestilence.

    Note: I'll assume you have similar Down Under. Otherwise just enjoy our troubles. ;)




    Grow, mill and airdry enough lumber, plus restore several old boats and you eventually get to see it...
  21. Compared to Oxpho it wears off quickly, offers...

    Compared to Oxpho it wears off quickly, offers inferior rust protection, and likes to after-rust after application. Use lots of oil.
  22. Replies
    5
    Views
    1,516

    The HU612MAX shown was specified by the...

    The HU612MAX shown was specified by the earthquake-code engineer. Rated for around 3000lb.

    http://www.strongtie.com/products/connectors/hangertables/face_ss-df3.html

    And it hardly supports...
  23. Replies
    5
    Views
    1,516

    350lb beam. Two, 1200lb-capacity clamps. It...

    350lb beam. Two, 1200lb-capacity clamps. It just looks squirrelly.
  24. Replies
    5
    Views
    1,516

    Only with Jorgies

    Jorgenson, the heavy-duty cast iron and steel American clamp popular with boatbuilders.

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/3297171/277999059.jpg
    ...
  25. Replies
    1
    Views
    4,976

    Scribe-fitting Difficult Profiles

    Ever have to scribe fit a kitchen cabinet to fit a wavy and out-of-plumb wall? How about fitting a bulkhead or partition-wall panel into the inside hull of a yacht or ship? Can you scribe fit a...
  26. Replies
    4
    Views
    2,239

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/179127...

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/17912799/280287215.jpg
    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/17976228/281480259.jpg

    When not on the road in a tool roll, I store my files and...
  27. Replies
    4
    Views
    2,239

    Two Filing Horses

    The first storm of the year with 4 inches of rain gave me an excuse to get under cover for a day and make a taller horse for saw filing. Either I’m getting taller or my eyes are getting worse, and...
  28. Any cold gun blue will work for your purpose. ...

    Any cold gun blue will work for your purpose. Sporting Goods and gun shops have it. The Oxpho comes in small bottles and is better rust protection but spendy...and only available from...
  29. It's a different trade, for sure. And probably...

    It's a different trade, for sure. And probably the last one of mandatory professional hand saw use. Who else today really needs a large selection of rip saws? ;)
  30. http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/179127...

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/17912799/280198221.jpg

    Keeping your angles constant when changing sides takes practice, and it’s also useful to move your work lights so you can clearly...
  31. http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/179127...

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/17912799/280287726.jpg

    Jointing is where you add or subtract “breast”, the amount of crown in the tooth line. Crown breasted saws are more difficult to...
  32. http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/179127...

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/17912799/280198055.jpg

    Sanding is followed by a green rouge buff against the direction of sanding to restore some shine.
    ...
  33. New Life for an Old Saw – Advanced Filing and Restoration

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/17912799/280197342.jpg

    A 6-dollar flea market beater? Yes, but this one is a Disston Acme 120, originally a cabinetmaker’s finish saw tapered and...
  34. Replies
    16
    Views
    2,893

    The men I grew up in the 1950's well before any...

    The men I grew up in the 1950's well before any craft revivals with weren't directed by anybody as whether houses or boats, they only built on speculation. None of them liked to work for clients on...
  35. Replies
    16
    Views
    2,893

    On Labor Day

    From retired shipwright Dave Fleming:

    http://www.vintagesaws.com//othermakers/offer.JPG

    "Twas only a kit of carpenter's tools
    We were chancing off that night.

    The man who owned the tools...
  36. Replies
    10
    Views
    3,562

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/174814...

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/17481462/271962017.jpg

    And the grinding marks easily cleaned up by drawfiling.
  37. Replies
    10
    Views
    3,562

    Part II Lump and Cup Removal ...

    Part II
    Lump and Cup Removal



    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/17481462/271961822.jpg

    On saws that have been kinked repeatedly or severely, it’s common to achieve a straight...
  38. Replies
    10
    Views
    3,562

    This just a small trial balloon to see if I can...

    This just a small trial balloon to see if I can satisfactorily explain something significantly more complicated than tuning a block plane. This will eventually be a major magazine article on...
  39. Replies
    10
    Views
    3,562

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/174304...

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/17430481/270960405.jpg

    Only after the blade is straight and tensioned do I continue with rehabilitation. This saw was habitually filed without...
  40. Replies
    10
    Views
    3,562

    Straightening Bent Handsaw Blades

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/17430481/271048395.jpg

    The best Western and Japanese handsaws are quite thin yet in competent hands won’t kink in a cut, and the spring steel they are...
  41. Replies
    20
    Views
    3,434

    To show how much better these forum discussions...

    To show how much better these forum discussions are than editors, and how much I gain from them, here's my draft introduction for the article:



    Thanks.
  42. Look at my post on block planes. Same thing. ...

    Look at my post on block planes. Same thing. Except to adjust a #4 mouth you use shims to close it and a file to open it.

    All hand plane are only chisels in glorified jigs.
  43. Replies
    20
    Views
    3,434

    And the sole and work piece. But thanks, if...

    And the sole and work piece.

    But thanks, if you had that thought, others will, and it can stand some wordsmithing before it goes final.
  44. Replies
    20
    Views
    3,434

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/170202...

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/17020258/263582053.jpg

    And as a rabbet plane, this L/N hasn’t enough depth for anything deeper than a quarter inch, although it would work well as a...
  45. Replies
    20
    Views
    3,434

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/170202...

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/17020258/263582057.jpg

    Neither did the pre-war #65 with Hock iron.

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/17020258/263582382.jpg

    Nor did the...
  46. Replies
    20
    Views
    3,434

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/170202...

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/17020258/263580659.jpg

    Once more to the jointer table with 60-grit, I attack the plane soles. First I mount the iron and set the adjustable mouth to...
  47. Replies
    20
    Views
    3,434

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/170202...

    http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/17020258/263581262.jpg

    And degrease with mineral spirits followed by strong trichloroethylene, a suspected carcinogen, so here I wear gloves, which are...
  48. Replies
    20
    Views
    3,434

    Block Plane Selection and Rehabilitation

    I gave my heirloom Stanley #60 ˝ away to the oldest boy awhile back thinking my larger Stanley #65 alone would suffice, and miss not having a small plane for the apron pocket.
    ...
  49. Replies
    12
    Views
    9,239

    The steel anvil does the real work....the wood...

    The steel anvil does the real work....the wood anvil (they were often end grain lignum vitae) merely cleaned up any dents caused by mis-hits after the blade was tensioned on the steel anvil.

    The...
  50. Replies
    12
    Views
    3,257

    Excellent point. The ideal amount of set is...

    Excellent point.

    The ideal amount of set is the minimum amount that prevents the saw from binding in the type of wood the saw is asked to cut. Airdried softwood at 12% EMC will require more set...
Results 1 to 50 of 213
Page 1 of 5 1 2 3 4