Tools and Machines

I don't mind admitting I like tools small, big old or new I have been using tools since a very young boy, through school and as an apprenticeship as a Coach/Motor Vehicle Builder, Mechanic and Spray Painter, working on computers and much more. Since joining the Ornamental Turners Group Of Australia I have had great pleasure in joining them at their yearly demonstration at Hare & Forbes Machinery House. This is a 3 day event which we have the pleasure of being at as Hare & Forbes are one of the groups sponsors.  The group of fellows/friends all take their Rose Engines or lathes in to show how we have made them and use them to decorate our wood turnings.

Members of OTGA

Darrell Smith with his weapon of mass destruction, this is a big man's gouge for deep hollowing. He had fitted an LED torch to the shaft to shed light into the vase along with the steady rest built by John Chapman (steady is nicknamed Stargate).

Bowl by Arthur Thomas decoration by Ray (me) & Dave Roberts

Lou Wouter's Rose Engine work

Daniel Roberts

Daniel & Dave Roberts OT

 Young Daniel Roberts although not a member (his dad is) Daniel is a very keen woodworker and is into tools and engineering.

Tim Peasley

Tim's acrylic

Peter Whitehorn

 Peter is the one who introduced me to the Ornamental Turners he and I go back a long way both having been coach drivers, a good mate.

Ornamental Turning Inspiration

We all look for inspirational work around us, on the net or by others. I have been following two fellows who are leading the way into Ornamental Rose Engines using CNC both with their own ideas yet crossing many paths and exchanging idea's.

These are Alan Battersby his site OT In Experiences 

His Rose Engine MKII design is simple and follows that of the typical look yet modernized with the use of CNC parts instead of Rosettes, cam's, index wheel.

The next is Bill Ooms his use of a CNC bed attached to his Jet mini lathe and now the use of a CNC Indexer

Both producing and writing their own software.
Through Alan's site I was lead to the amazing work of Dewey Garrett

I continue to follow as I build my own simple Rose Engine still a long way off.

A Lap Warmer

A good friend Peter down in Tassie - Smithton has been sending Sue Siberian Husky for some time now, his wife Sue requested a lap warmer if possible. Sue spun both the Husky fur and Merino together to get her yarn. Then using a 6" square loom wove the individual squares, it took some time due to a few family matters so sorry for the delay Peter & Sue.

It looks so fine and it is prior it being posted Sue placed it on my lap, I was surprised even on the cold day and my legs cold already it started warming them up quite quickly. Only concern is that Aura their Siberian Husky might be a bit put off with the scent of her own.

 Aura                                       Her Pedigree
 
 Edited 25th Oct:- I found the photo of the 6" square loom used.

6" loom

Heavy Metal for a Freind

Well I don't know about Christos but I had a top day yesterday, working with him was a true pleasure, he arrived promptly at 9ish we knocked off somewhere around 7ishpm.

I did warn him it would take all day..........it wasn't just welding was it Christos?

Our aim was to make a motor mounting bracket for Christos's wood lathe. Similar to this one.

 I am glad I had spent the day before making the slide blocks,  I had been given some old die steel just last weekend thanks Ken. I cut two 30x30by50mm with a 18mm hole drilled for the slide bars, I had drilled to 13mm as I wanted to double check the diam of the steel mounting rods first which Christos had to bring with him. We cut the 18mm rods to 8 inches (lathe is pre metric) drilled the blocks out to suit and a tidy up of the rods to allow better slide as they were only mild steel black metal. A pilot hole for a lock bolt drilled and Christos will tap a thread later for the securing bolts.

I had made up a paper pattern from measurements taken at Cumberland Woodworkers club off their similar lathe.

Christos's 10mm mounting plate which he said was 200x300 was in fact 160x300,  ok no problem Christos had already sorted that out. After a short deliberation as to orientation of the motor to the plate, and positioning the slide blocks and marking the 10mm plate for cutting we set to work. Cutting the 10mm plate on my metal bandsaw both in the horizontal and vertical positions as the plate shape required as seen in the photo with the slide blocks of the paper pattern. This photo is of us doing the 2nd cut for one of the slide blocks to fit into.

Christos as usual full of enthusiasm took to everything, we were dodging sun and rain with some work having to be done out doors. He watched sun setting and was getting worried as the evening drew on that welding wasn't going to happen. The welding well its rough, wrong rods, tripping the power more than once with high amps 120 I think but we got there. Just as rain started again and dusk and fading outdoor light, and me getting tired took hold.

Unfortunately he has the hardest job to do yet the holes we drilled for the axlial slide of the motor have to be cleaned up and 10mmplate thats no going to be easy using a file. hope it holds.

A weeks R&R Port Macquaire

 Taking a drive north of Coffs Harbour to Woolgoolga which has a large Sikh population. Lunch and then back to Emerald Beach for afternoon tea and a walk along Moonee Beach Reserve headland. Thanks Meri for the heads up a wonderful walk.  Coffs has an abundance of markets weekend and the Thursday fresh produce market which we head to just prior leaving. Picking up 3 ks of Honey and some fruit for on the road.

 Mal from Boutique Timbers has always said about dropping in when passing. Always call before hand just in case he's delivering  or at a show. However his son was at home. A nice drive so I thought, Sue will be speaking to Mal on her feelings about his driveway. A word of caution if its raining DON'T visit.

 The main reason for a 2 night stay at Port Macquarie was The Hastings Woodworkers via the Woodwork Forum had announced they were holding their annual woodshow. Also in Port at the same time a Photographic conference and car show unfortunately we could not make the latter two. I have to hand it to the Hastings club for an excellent show its layout, the members works and support by such as Artizan's Retreat incorporating Trend Timbers, Helen Harris Scroll Saw supplies and New England Woodworking supplies.

Treadle Lathe

Raffle Prize

Some of the models they make including the Wells Fargo Coach.

 Sue took all these photos in both the previous and this post using her Lumix digital camera. I took along my trusty yet to be developed Canon EOS 100 film SLR and video camera.

 
 Port Macquarie as the sun was setting.

 Thanks Sue for a wonderful trip.

19th October update to this post.

I finally picked up 4 rolls of developed photos today from the Canon EOS100 which I reckon through threat of being replaced by Digital produced some great photos. A new battery may have helped.