A New Handle on Things

I heard a fellow once extoling the virtues of his hammer " I've had that hammer since new its only had three new handles and one new head".

Not so this hammer yes I've had it since new, but its only had .........yes this is its thrid new handle, but its the first one I have turned since my school days. The head would be 30+ years old. The new handle is Sydney Blue Gum and style of the handle is suited to my use.

It was practice for an up and coming project on a smaller scale in Oval Turning or offset turning.

Rosewood Bowl and Amazing find

This Rosewood bowl has sat around the bench waiting for a lid, I began to worry about damaging it so finaly finished it with out one. Everyone who has seen it says make a lid. What do you think? I was going to use a contrasting wood such as Jacaranda.

In processing some more NSW scented Rosewood for another job I cut a piece in half to find true heart. It has now been put aside for another purpose.

Weaving Broken Twill

Sue was in the mood to weave so set up this Broken Twill in preparation for another project.
Normally there is no big deal with setting up the warp for the next weaving project but in this case the reed had been out of the loom for several months awaiting cleaning after more than usual wear on the wool and silk warp used for the last stole. Rust needed to be removed and so there would be no traces left in the next project - a natural coloured linen table runner and placemats set, I wove this stole. The warp was a white and maroon synthetic yarn which a friend had kindly given me when she finally let go of her weaving equipment. The weft was the last of the white wool yarn I bought from Carol Olde's mill when she was still in Taminda, the industrial area of Tamworth.

A New Years Project

Enter the New Year and we had some friends over for dinner during the break. Alan brought me a restoration project he'd rescued from his neighbour who was having a clean out of the garage. It was destined for the skip. Alan assure it could be fixed, he obviously has faith in me not sure why.

The piece was/is a family heirloom 200+ year old Hebridean Spinning wheel the owners descendants had brought it with them from Scotland. A well used wheel in its day. It was missing a leg, broken adjustment knob used to tension the drive belt, one of the tower supports for the maiden was also broken.

This wheel looks to be hand worked rough hewn form English Oak the underside of the base is as it would have been when created.

I'll post progress reports on restoration as I go.

This what it should look like

In the mean time to see a complete Hebridean Wheel visit Spinning Fishwife's Blog and some additional photo's


Ray

A few more Presents

I hadn't realised its been so long since the last update so I am going to have to backstep a little and fill in.

 

Prior Christmas I made or was making quite a few things. Bottle Stoppers these were placed on the Christmas Eve Table as first in best dressed snapped up quickly.

A small Jarrah Chopping Board for Sue this is old growth forest Jarrah escued from a home renovation.

A Radiata Pine Book Case for Sue's craft room. Its been a while since I have done through mortise and tennons (used for the bottom shelf) and box joints (used for the top shelf). The two shelves are held in by shelf pins maing them adjustable. , I prefer to drill these individualy no jig, I made a simple jig to aligne them. I have always had better luck in lining them up and depth setting.

Christmas come and Gone

Its been a busy period for Sue knitting, teaching weaving, quilting 3 quilts 2 for our grandsons and one for a friends little girl. These are Alphabet quilts with all Australian animals depicted, the reverse sides each different. While Bianca our granddaughter got her first Christmas Stocking.

Sue's Charity knitting

Sue hasn't stopped either, jumper for an artist (not shown here) Finger and hand Puppets for a Charity Christmas gifts.

Behind In Posting

Yes I know it been a while since the last session of news and what we have been doing.

I am just going to do the one post for all the things I have been up to, well nearly all some have to be left till after Christmas as they are gifts.

I made a second batch of pens same timbers as the first, then a change of style of pen a Sierra kit twist type. Three different timbers Purple Heart with Gun Metal Grey and Chrome fittings Belinda spotted this and it was her birthday present, Bottle Brush from son Peter's back yard and Spalted Macadamia both Black and Gold trim.

Purple Heart with Gun Metal Grey and Gold fittings.


Also a Cheese knife with a handle made from Sydney Blue Gum.





Two 5mm lead Workshop Pencils one for Sue  Spalted Macadamia, one for myself Acrylic difference being one has a centre band. Kits are from http://www.043turning.com.au/ Mark is a pleasure to deal with as is his wife and father. Always ready with tips and tricks.

A bit of scrap I had laying around got turned into a natural edge bowl timber is unknown but is a Eucalyptus.

A Trivet out of Camphor Laurel some amazing colour and pattern.

Since August I have been also working on some recycled Oregon for a coffee table. I thank a friend Alan for his help in dressing, cutting and jointing the timber leaving me with not much to do but glue and assemble. I wish!! it had been that simple and that had been the case. The top cupped badly in more then one place. It had been in doors in situ, while we went away for a week.

Weights and a good soaking and clamping for a period of time, a frame made which helped resolve the problem, giving us a coffee table the whole family can use and the grand kids can enjoy with out fear of damage.
Finished with a few coats of Wipe On Polly.

I Vowed never to turn pens

I love pens over the years I have gained many either as presents or picked up in my travels, making them is easy. Assembling them with my fingers and hands with my CMT and arthritis to say the least frustrating.

I wanted to make some bought the kits from Timberbits all Slimline's. Timbers are in the
Line up photo left to right
2 Jarrah
3 Red Cedar one of which has the darker base no idea how that happened as while cutting I marked them as matching pairs.
2 Mackay Cedar
2Tassie Oak
3 English Oak

Finished with WOP Wipe on Polly

These are gifts for staff at Liverpool Hospital nurses mainly who cared for me during my stint in there last January.

Workshop Time

Time in the workshop is often spread between setting up making things repairing tools, cleaning, sharpening or making jigs, tools etc. I am no different I like to make what I can with the limited space I have.

Recent purchases meant I need such time to make mobile stands one for a metal bandsaw one for  dill press. Lockable front wheels with rear stable table is longer at the rear by half again so tipping over doesn't happen. Sideways tipping isn't a problem if it does get that way I will add outrigger's for the back wheels.

No photo's of the bandsaw base yet as I am waiting for glue to dry.

In the mean time a clean up took place culling scrap timbers not worth keeping, either to small or good for firewood only.


Not knowing I was about to receive a stack of old Jarrah stair treads 11 in all these will add to the other 6 or so I had already been given from a house renovation.

Also made some new turning tool handles to replace a set I was not comfortable with photo's to come, all New Guinea Rosewood. Much happier now.