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17th July 2005, 02:00 AM #1
Sure is quiet. How about some small tools to look at?
Just a smattering of small stuff I have made in the last week or so. Also made a few quick and ugly drawers, a file house and a chisel rack, but they are really ugly, and I wouldn't want to crack your monitor with them.
Up the back is a small router plane, 50mm x 60mm x 25mm high, plus the maple sole piece. The pic isn't quite so nice as it shows my dodgy filing up really well. In the hand, it looks chrome plated, just got lucky there I guess. Maybe it will be a nice red-orange tomorrow. The blade is a piece of 3/8" silver steel bashed to shape, filed and ground closer to shape, hardened and tempered then honed. The edge it takes is very nice. Better than I expected from a water quenching steel. And as an added bonus, if I take the sole off, the tip of the blade lines up with the front of the steel body, so it will work as a bullnose as well. I desinged it like that, but the end result was more luck than skill.
The thing standing up to the right is a wider blade for the same plane. Made form a steel 'rivet' with a piece of cheapo spade bit welded to the end, shaped then hardened and tempered. Much easier than bashing steel into shape.
The little black thing is a small burnisher for curved scrapers. Just a piece of 1/4" silver steel, a small brass washer and a small piece of ebony. Nothing special, but it works.
Finally, a small marking knife I made. Another cheapo spade bit bashed into shape again, ground and hardened. A piece of wood I cannot name with flat planed into it, thanks to Derek for the design idea on that one, and a small piece of brass as a ferrule kinda thing. It's not a cap, but a solid piece that's set into the handle. the blade is just pressed into the handle, so if I get sick of the design, turn up another one and change it over.
Just wanted to liven the place up a little is all.
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17th July 2005 02:00 AM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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17th July 2005, 04:29 AM #2
I don't have any small tools but here's a really big one
If at first you don't succeed, give something else a go. Life is far too short to waste time trying.
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17th July 2005, 08:46 AM #3
Look good Schoo !!! ....I'm impressed by anyone who even attempts hardening and tempering
How's the blade held in that small router ....just tension ?
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17th July 2005, 08:56 AM #4
Good stuff Schtoo. Some impressive metalworking.
Those are my principles, and if you don't like them . . . well, I have others.
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17th July 2005, 03:46 PM #5Originally Posted by Gumby
nice way to pass the time Schtoo, lookin goodBruce C.
catchy catchphrase needed here, apply in writing to the above .
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17th July 2005, 05:17 PM #6
Uhh, no. No tension.
That little knob on the back is the screw that locks the blade in place. Just a wooden ball (I went the easy route and bought a small bag of small wooden balls. You could use and small bag of balls you might find though I guess...), drilled a 4mm hole through it, tapped it to 5mm, countersunk the back and stuck in the approriate 5mm stainless screw, epoxied in there for good measure. I left the screw head open, just in case it decides to be a little tight, as that knob is also a good place to push it from. Just as well, because when I went to adjust it today, it had locked up. No problem, just grabbed a drewscriver and undid it.
Hardening and tempering is actually pretty easy, provided you go about it the right way. On that blade in there, it's a 3/8" rod with a bend in it. To harden, apply heat just behind the blades tip, so as not to burn the tip itself. Burn it and it's dead. Get it to a nice cherry red then I dunk it in a bucket of water. Back to the sandpaper to get a nice clean and polished area around the blade, then apply heat on the body of the blade, well back from the tip. If you are careful and don't rush it, the oxide colours should slowly creep up toward the tip. I usually quench it as soon as it turns at the tip for something that isn't going to be abused like this or a knife. Scribers a little more colour. Burnishers I don't temper at all, and I quench in brine.
Just a little practise is all that's needed really. And it's cheap! There's under $5 of materials locked up in that router plane, and less than $2 in the knife.
I do have a plan for another router plane in the future. A much nicer one. An aluminium bronze casting seems to be the leader right now.
Gumby, I live here now, but I used to live there. Do I need to spell out why I am staying here for now?
And now, I don't even have to vote for them anymore! At least I don't encourage the tools anymore...
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18th July 2005, 05:28 AM #7Originally Posted by Schtoo
As easy as you say harding and tempering is ...gota say .....still impressed.... I can learn a lot from you on this I can tell..... I'll try and pick at your brain when your not looking .......
What do you use for a heat source ?..I bought recently a little MAPP gas type torch (those used for brazing) just for doing a little plumbing around the house......for small jobs I'm guessing I'll be able to temper with it, but probably not harden..... guessing big time.......you could probably put me straight.......what do you use ? .....Have you made up your own forge ?
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18th July 2005, 01:50 PM #8Member
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What do you use for a heat source ?..I bought recently a little MAPP gas type torch (those used for brazing) just for doing a little plumbing around the house......for small jobs I'm guessing I'll be able to temper with it, but probably not harden..... guessing big time.......you could probably put me straight.......what do you use ? .....Have you made up your own forge ?
Apricotripper
The link below has details of a small forge made from a coffee can
http://www.paragoncode.com/shop/micro_forge/
He talks about ceramic blanket for a insulator, not sure how easy that is to get. I was going to try lining one with fire clay (available from potters supplies) when and if I ever get around to it.
John
John
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18th July 2005, 02:32 PM #9
I can't find MAPP gas here, so I get to use propane.
For small stuff, it works ok. Anything bigger than those blades though, and either oxy or a proper forge would be best. Anything like a plane blade demands something that is hot over a wide area, and oxy probably isn't going to be right for that.
Soon enough, I will probably make up a small forge. I have a spare hair dryer that will be happy enough as the air source, and charcoal is cheap and plentiful here as fuel. Simple and effective.
That slot in the front isn't a slot. It's a join in two pieces of steel I didn't bother to grind flush. I considered it, but I figure it might be of some help aligning the blade or the tool to the work. Maybe not, but I am not a real stickler for looks on tools. Just as long as it works, I am happy.
And the router works like a champ! Gave it it's first test fang yesterday and it doesn't do anything besides cut smoothly. I was surprised by how little tear out there was with a light cut. Very nice.
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18th July 2005, 02:54 PM #10Originally Posted by JTonks
From Schoo....
'Maybe not, but I am not a real stickler for looks on tools. Just as long as it works, I am happy'
you and me both by the sound of it.......some of the tools I've made are pretty primitive in the looks department.......what I do to hand planes probably makes poor Mr. Stanley turn in his grave......but , WHO CARES eh ? as long as it works.... I have a couple of planes that I'd argue are as good as if not better than 'performance' production planes that cost hundreds. And I've just put them together using all sorts of parts, some of which I can't identify.......yet it doesn't matter as long as they give results.....
Anyway congrats on the router......better go........seeya.
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18th July 2005, 04:35 PM #11Originally Posted by Gumby
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18th July 2005, 05:20 PM #12Originally Posted by GroggyIf at first you don't succeed, give something else a go. Life is far too short to waste time trying.
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19th July 2005, 12:33 AM #13Originally Posted by Gumby
I'll elaborate a little since someone asked.
Last year there was an article about her in the Age, she built a (quite passable) table at Get woodworking in Williamstown. I bumped into her and hubby last Dec at the airport (Virgin airlines) and chatted to her about it. Hubby was ignored and we talked tables for 10 - 15 mins.
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19th July 2005, 02:21 AM #14Originally Posted by JTonks
Just an old holden wheel rim lined with any old clay that comes to hand; when the clay bakes and falls out, I just pack in some more. Got a vacuum blowing thru the centre to provide draft and use ordinary BBQ charcoal/beads as a fuel.
Works like a charm, made a few swords for the kids and, ermmm... "bigger" kids, from old leaf springs. Wouldn't want to try to fish small parts out of it though.Last edited by Skew ChiDAMN!!; 19th July 2005 at 02:26 AM. Reason: bloody typos...
- Andy Mc
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