Thread: Secondhand tools on eBay

Have purchased from him, also. Not bad stuff, most of the time. Fully agree with your assessment that he's not well-versed in the nature of Japanese tools, but he is certainly honest. Would recommend him without hesitation.

What would we do without Ebay? Fortunately, tool performance remains primarily in the hands of the user and independent of quality - so reasonable prices almost always equate to a good buy IMO.

Nicely said, Steve. )

Thanks. Speaking of good buys, have you checked out:
Tools from Japan, Japanese woodworking tools direct from Japan. ?

BTW, what's up these days?

Nice site, Steve -- thanks!

Working a lot, several projects going at once... no money coming in 'til they're done. Which is a bummer. But theyr'e getting closer to finished. The queue is slow, for the first time. Had two potential clients delay their jobs because of financial woes. Never been without stuff waiting to come in. But I think I've got enough to keep me going for a while, so I'll just assume things are going well. )

Workshop is up and running and every bit as wonderful as I hoped it would be. Actually, it's even better.

What's up with you?

Not much. Since I don't do any woodworking for a living, I don't have to worry about such things (I'm happy to hear you are surviving, if not prospering. Hopefully things will improve soon. And I would like it if I could translate my efforts into paying customers, but I'm really not that reliable so I envy you who can manage it). So I have no complaints. Just puttering and dealing with the usual ups and downs (kids, bills, etc.). Always looking for tools at a bargain (added Neil's ebayer to my list of favourites).

Here's one of my recent completions (also posted this in the box making section):
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...g?t=1255459387

Steve

Dude! It's gorgeous!

See, I could never make anything like that. I'm just making stuff someone made a hundred years ago (or really badly) look up to snuff.

That's a beautiful box. What woods are they? And am I correct in thinking there's no finish on it? Do you plan one?

Damn, Steve. I'm in love with it!

Gosh, darn Thank you.

Its elm and walnut with tung oil for the finish (I've since also waxed it, but you can't see much difference from the way it is in the picture. I made it for my wife for her birthday in July.

Its pretty basic woodworking, so not anything one would have trouble making. It started out as an armoire but I kept cutting one leg too short and had to scale everything down...

Repairing, refinishing and replacing as you do certainly requires some serious head scratching and takes a lot of skill to make everything go back together and look nice to boot.

It's not just the skill, Steve -- it's that incredibly elegant design.

It's the finishing I find the most satisfying. Making something look like it ought to. No (blecch!) polyurethane shiny yuckiness. Just nice finishes that bring out the wood (or enhance an otherwise dull wood). The repair work is kind of hit-and-miss in terms of what comes into the shop. But the finishing... man, that's satisfying. That and sometimes having clients throw their arms around me when they see their pieces. Beats the 35 years I spent as a professional writer, where the best you could generally hope for was a not too brutal edit. ;-)

Thanks Steve for the link to Tools From Japan store. I've bookmarked it.

Also, nice writing bureau there. I can imagine some nice dovetails tucked away inside.

.....

Thanks Neil,

There are no dovetails (main reason is because I suck at making them), but also because, in this case, the way the four corners are thicker than the sides/back/front inside as well as outside so I just used my favourite 'ol standby M & T and glue.
Here's a pic of the inside:
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...g?t=1255459430

The bottom is cheap 1/4" plywood but I fiddled with the colour by darkening with potassium permanganate (an old recipe I found but not recommended due to toxicity issues) and then scorching with a propane torch (which I did before assembly) and (fortunately) covering with black felt so can't be seen anyway.
If you notice the hinges (small walnut shims required) - that's another oops correction.
I also need to add a chain or leather strap as a stay to keep the lid from going too far back and putting strain on the hinges which are not the beefiest (or rather the teeny little screws that hold them).

I'm with you on the finishing Becky - I love to "see" the wood so only ever use stuff that doesn't alter the colour or mask the grain too much. I like tung oil (when its appropriate for the wood) because it is non-toxic and super simple to apply (just rub it on with your hands). Wax, if added for more protection is just as simple and doesn't cover anything up. Obviously, you need more choices than those in your line of work, but value (as do your customers) the importance of highlighting the natural beauty of the wood.

If only we oldies could be spruced up as easily. I think I'd look good in polyurethane (semi-gloss only tho...). On second thought, just turn down the lights (or off altogether).

Steve

Have you ever read George Frank's "Adventures in Wood Finishing"? [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Wood-Finishing-Charonne-woodworking/dp/091880406X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258693030&sr=8-1"]Amazon.com: Adventures in Wood Finishing: 88 Rue de Charonne (A Fine woodworking book) (9780918804068): George Frank: Books[/ame]

Great book with terrific finishes and fixes in it.

Yep. Could use a bit of sprucing up myself. ;-)

I've not read that book, but I'll keep an eye out for it - sounds pretty good.

Also, I've done business with Tools from Japan and can highly recommend him (Stu Tierney). He has a blog (also linked from the store website):
Tools from Japan blog.
although has been pretty quiet lately, but posts lots of good gen.

Originally Posted by Sheets

Thanks Neil,

There are no dovetails (main reason is because I suck at making them), but also because, in this case, the way the four corners are thicker than the sides/back/front inside as well as outside so I just used my favourite 'ol standby M & T and glue.
Here's a pic of the inside:
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...g?t=1255459430

Steve, now that I can see the inside construction, I agree that M&T was more appropriate.

Fitting hardware is always a pain. If only we could make our own!

Your wife must be very happy with her birthday gift.

.....