New Addition Part 2

Almost a Year ago we found this little gem .

Its been a long slow process cleaning it up sanding off the Red Oxide which was hideous on the wheel and top frame. It had to be disassembled as it is very fragile. Repairs to the wheel had to be done, some glue slivers of timber to plug gaps. A ratchet tie down was used as a clamp around the circumference helped bring it back into round.

I hand sanded with steel wool and Danish Oil to put some life back into the wood it is very dry. Then it sat on the bench or parts of it did while the top was over on the tool box etc.  Constantly having to move it to access tools or work on other jobs was beginning to become annoying and possible damage to the whole wheel.

The original (when we bought it) small feet were not even the same sizes let alone shape meant replacing all of them, these new ones will be trimmed down a little yet.

The main legs were all screwed in and were loose these had to be tightened to make the frame more rigid. Photos below of the thread area.

The brace between either side and mount for the footman was broken at one end, a hand whittled dowel glued and fitted. The other end has had a wedge fitted at some stage to tighten it up.

 One of the new feet this is the shape of one of four of the original feet.

Left The peg hand whittled buy Sue to hold the wheel in place.

Right A missing peg replaced again hand whittled by Sue.

 Reassembled and its looking good, much more stable than 10 months ago.

Its still requires a lot of work, further sanding and oiling. I have to make bobbins and the flyer needs repair or total remake. Its one less spinning wheel in the workshop. Two more to go.

Dyeing & Carding of Fleece

 Sue has over the last month or so been dyeing and carding a variety of fleece. Alpaca, Husky/Mallamute and Merino.

This Alpaca was sent up by a good friend Geoff Steer who moved to Port Huon in Tasmania last year. 

 Hair of The Dog
 Carding fleece and Husky/Mallamute.

What a Week its Been

Yes for both of us we have had a busy week all sorts happening, with some time out also.

I spent many hours/days trying to get a decent internal sanded finish on a Tassie Blackwood Ginger Jar I am making with Black Hearted Sassafras lid .

The Blackwood was given to me by Pat Keefe some time ago, 3 years I think. It sat on the shelf looking at me often waiting for the right time and inspiration. I had an idea of shape and design that was to change dramatically.

While working away at another project I noticed a small amount of very fine dust on the shelf and some strange marks in the cambian layer of the Blackwood.

Pests and diseases
Acacia melanoxylon trees are highly susceptible to attack by Lorantheceous parasites and the fungus Armillaria mellea. .
Woodworm was my problem

This was not good.

First line of attack was a large garbage bag sprayed heavily with a can of Pest control spray even though the whole house has been sprayed a few times and the timber storage area. This was left outdoors for some weeks.

Next step a drowning in soapy water solution for about a week or more, then after a few days draining, a twenty minute session in the microwave which we share in the garage for dyeing and drying. 

In using the Microwave process I weigh up the size, weight, density and type of timber for temperature and length of time. I however always do the session in increments opening the door and checking periodically. I then left it for a few days before mounting it on a false tenon.

The original design due to worm holes, dry rot and cambian layer crumberling was not going to happen. During turning I had to change plans three times. 

I had to use some interesting tools for gouging out and turning the internal shape (photos of tools to come)

 Views of all 4 sides, colour change and the grain.

  

Internal 

With the Sassafras Lid fitted a very tight push fit.

In the photos on the right you can see remnants of the worm holes.




 
There was lots of sanding to do with this vessel especially internal.
I had to come up with something cheap and fast as reaching the bottom with fingers was just possible.






I purchased these all from Bunnings with my Christmas Birthday gift vouchers (plus a few other things) as can be seen I only used the battery drill and course grit and the hand held system. 
This I rested on the tool rest while working in an arc and flattening the bottom and smoothing the sides much as you would scrap.


Danish oil applied externally while Walnut Oil internally being its to be used for food (Ginger) awaiting drying before final finish. That will be a few weeks yet. I'll post a final photo here then.

Chinese New Year

Its been a few years since we celebrated Chinese New Year as a family,  often we went out to restaurants. It later became a family thing to do at home Sue cooking the meal. Often having others joins us, either friends of ours or the children's. The last Chinese banquet Sue did (2005 I think) took three days preparation, two days worth of cooking and 26 or was it 29 dishes for 14 of us.

Sue created a  Banquet this year of 10 dishes for the two of us with plenty left over.

Mini Spring Rolls plus Thai dipping sauce
San Choy Bow and Lettuce
Prawn Omelet with a nice sauce 
Fried Rice and Jasmin Rice
Spicy Tofu
Five Spice Vegetables
Garlic and Ginger Chicken 
BBQ Ribs and BBQ Honey Soy Chicken Wings both were cooked on the BBQ outside.


Oh and fresh Lemon Grass Tea

Over & Under 12 Gauge Shotgun Pen

A neighbour Wayne is a pen collector as well as a keen shotgun shooter I made him a Bolt Action Pen last year. He had heard of the Over & Under 12 Gauge Shotgun Pen about the same time it just took a while for them to land here.

This Gold Roller Ball Kit purchased from Pops Shed.

Ian Dorno of Hunter Valley Custom Pens made the acrylic as close as possible to the Red Winchester shell case. Wayne's Stringy Bark was again used for the lower barrel.

 The finished pen weighs approx 16 grams the shell cap end is smaller than the real 12 Gauge shell in diameter.


Updated 5th February to add.

I ordered 2 Gun Metal kits also these were supplied by Mark from 043turning.

I decided instead of a separate post I'd just add this Gun Metal one here.

Acrylic was given to me some time ago I think by Sam, it was very dark almost black a test turn gave a purple colour. It looks very Tortoise shell the reflextion of the brass tube enhances it.

Timber is Stringy bark.

 

Looking Back To Look Forward

I was always taught never look back unless your looking forward. This I have been doing for some time to see where and how I can improve on what I am doing using the knowledge I gained during my life and in my trade training days and long after.

I started my training long before leaving school, firstly with my dad in what ever he did about the home or when he was woodworking, gardening etc. Progressing to mowing lawns for others and weeding gardens, running errands (from the age of 6 I was sent to corner stores over 2 miles away). I doubt if we see this sort of thing today. The treat was a penny's worth of lollies would be enough to last a whole day, whilst sixpence worth a week.

Oh I have run off track oh well it shows I was taught responsibility from a young age.

So roll onto a few years ahead and things like paper runs, pamphlet drops, behind the counter in a service station while the mechanic worked in the garage doing repairs (this was when we had mechanics and fuel at one place). Kitchen hand in an Swedish Inn Restaurant on weekends. School holiday work at Grace Bro's Roseland's my first real pay packets oh and Tax.

Then onto my apprenticeship as a 1st year Motor Mechanic for Wight Ford (now City Ford) they were just off William Street in the city, just down from Kings Cross close to the Swedish Inn. After about three months I was asked to transfer to become a Coach Builder as the company had to many apprentices if I had said no I would have had to leave three others did.

At Technical Collage (now TAFE) I signed up for my first year, the course was titled Coach Building the following year it became known as Motor Vehicle Building to be more in line with modern day vehicles being built.
Some where during the first year one of the fellows at Tech come into a situation where by he had to leave his employment at Custom Coaches Manufacturing Company and find another apprenticeship he went on to be a Saw Dr.
I was finding my time at Wright Ford a strain as my work there was far from what I was learning at Tech. I was still doing mechanical as well as "Rattle & Squeaks" as we used to call it, it was an amazing nine months tho I leaned a lot. Worked on some brilliant and now legendary cars now collectors items, such as the Ford XW GT and XY GTHO, Capri, Cosworth engined Escort racing vehicle of John Pierce.

So somewhere about October I transferred to Custom Coaches at Sturt St Smithfield where I spent the next 4 1/2 years building Buses and Coaches.

My first year Tech teacher Mr Bob Macky was due to retire he had been the courses had teacher for a  number of years, he was an old school tradie and very much into Vintage and Veteran restorations and grounded me more into woodwork. I had taken metal and woodwork as electives at school MR Woods another tradie who became a teacher during the Vietnam War teacher shortage and Mr Bryant in metal work.

The trade of Coach/Motor Vehicle Building encompasses so much from humble cars, trailers, horse floats, caravans, truck of all descriptions. Even though Custom Coaches allowed me to travel along a wide multi lane road from chassis line to finish line, Fibre glass, repair, machine/top shop, a short stint in upholstery. It would never spread wide enough as the trade itself does. It even covers welding, machine shop use of basic lathe work, design/draughting and development and pattern making. You see even push/motor bikes and horse drawn vehicles were covered during my first two years at Tech. 

I located a few videos to give some insight into a little of my past although I worked at none of these places. They do not completely cover my career as I did go on to become a licensed Mechanic and Spray Painter during the years while a Coach Driver/Yard Person after leaving Custom Coaches.

Multi tasking they deemed it during the 80's it didn't last, companies wouldn't pay for the additional skills you brought into their work place.......something about Union's wouldn't allow it.

Below are links to a few videos of.

Vintage Restoration

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=c1jb2bOPKjc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQDfps2Qe_I

Motor Vehicle Building

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1QVUHbOlHU&feature=related

Now whats the reason for looking back to look forward.......I still play with wood and steel when the body allows it and its with my past I shall continue to travel forward.

Skeins & Spindles

This where and why we started our Blog Skeins (Wool) and Spindles (Wood). We work together and apart to create what ever it is we create at the time and as said "Often their paths cross as Sue delves into wool and Ray makes more wooden things for Sue to play with."

The Skeins light colour are Wool from Fairfield Spinners Guild not dyed at all it is the fleece colour, spun in the grease (lanolin) and then washed.

The coloured were dyed earlier these are Wool and Alpaca as posted earlier in December.

These are all for a joint project between Izzy and myself.

Eleven Drop Spindles made out of off cuts from various woods. Huon and Rosewood segmentation x2, Segmented Spalted Macadamia, Burl, Oak, Elm a couple of unknown timbers. Sue had asked for some fine spin types to replace those which had been seconded by the ladies whom had fallen in love with ones Sue used often when demonstrating.

Leaders and stems and notch fitted by Sue, all tested for weight and balance.

Knocked Off My Perch

Lucky escape yesterday and again today.

I use an old gas lift draughtsman stool when out in the workshop puts me at almost standing height  and normal lathe working height. Has wheels two lockable if need be makes getting about the garage/workshop easy.

Yesterday I was sitting sharpening tools, when my son noticed that welds under the seat were cracked 1/4" was all that was stopping me from toppling off in any direction. From a height of about 750mm+.

Imagine me just the day before leaning over while on the stool at full height to pick up stuff I had dropped on the floor. Face plant or over backwards when rolling about the workshop.

Set too today and weld the two cracks, started packing up when due to heat transfer the seal blew lifting the seat off the bench and almost hitting me as it was up-side down.

So now without a stool to work on ATM no wood turning till I get it.   I have a spare but its 45k's away possibly pick it up Wednesday.

I will be checking the welds first.

Just edited 8th Jan 1300hrs I have been using the term "Draughtsman" instead of "Draftsman" . The difference is the correct English spelling of Draughtsman and someone had pointed out it should be "Draftsman" the American spelling. Being English I'll continue with the correct spelling.

 

They Come in Three's from Tree's

I had was getting frustrated over the Christmas break due to weather here in Sydney its been all over the place temps of 20C to 35C wet and windy. I couldn't work on what I really wanted to so I started 3 small bowls.

A piece of Coolabah  Burl given o me by Pat Keefe.
A Piece of QLD Beach  given to me years ago by a fellow called Noel from QLD.
A piece of Banksia.

All are approx 120/130mm (5" to 6") dia and 50mm (2") high.

Coolabah  Burl is as Pat say's Concrete like to turn, hard as rock, blunts even the best tools. This piece has some wonderful grain and colour. I had planned on first picking it off the shelf to turn the opposite side to which I did. I found someone had drilled a 1/4 hole about 3/4 deep, unless I filled it it was useless as the base side. The other side was rough and ready.

I am so glad it worked out this way as no one would have ever seen the brilliant work nature had done in creating the interesting grain. Yes the bowl design and my first idea's were lost but it was worth it.

Right is the base side of the bowl and the rot which had set in, this is the bark side. It was to be the top and then I was going to hollow out a vessel.


 Queensland Beech
A very pail timber which if spalted (has began to stain/rot due to being wet) can have some interesting advantages.


Banksia
I think this piece came from David Laird of the OTGA. Strange wood to describe to turn very open grained.

 

Santa's Christams Helpers

A good friend Alan Flett had a project to do and asked if Sue and I would also like one or two for our grandsons as Christmas present....... a little detail and we were more than willing.

So began the major project of construction of four 3 story Car Parks with elevator,ramps and Heli Pad.

Alan as Engineer works manager designed the whole lot.. He cut out the main shapes from MDF, drilled the holes for the dowel which was to be the joiner for the columns. Made the first series of columns. Constructed the ramps and lift.

Sue painted all the main MDF, the columns and painted the lines and parking bays.

I cut and drilled the remainder 40+ columns and the joiner dowels, turned the lift crank and parts.

Our grandchildren all four where thrilled to bits so much so we have to make another for young Brodie's 2nd Birthday come February. Nathan and Christian were just over joyed and started playing with them even before presents were given out as they were to large to wrap.

No early photos were taken by us although Alan and I did do a running Collaboration thread on the Toy Section of the Woodwork Forum

 The 8 story car park, the only way Sue and I could store it during painting as I was also making other things.

To cut all the small dowels I designed up a cutting jig. I used a piece of pine, drilled the depth of the two required lengths and also a relief hole so I could push out the off cut pieces. I just held the block then in a vice and had two dowels cut into two sizes in a fraction of the time.

 Alan's fitting of the lift section and ramps. The ramps are plastic electrical conduit which is used to hide cables.

 Lift mechanism fitted. H for the Heli pad painted.

 The four Car Park's all with names and final painting done just days before Santa arrived.

 The Fuel dowser's Alan also designed and made and fitted.

Sue and I would like to thank Alan for the pleasure of seeing our grand children's joy and faces when they saw them.