Moan moan moan!


I've been such a lazy blogger of late..but have felt like doing a lot of moaning and thought I'd best not ..but, hey ho, thats life!! I've nearly finished the on going long standing sage green wagon now..phew.just a little more to go it's colours are subtle so don't show up to well in photos. (first moan!) I bought a horsebox to live in ..an Iveco and after the initial 'oh my giddy aunt what have I done' I'm getting used to the idea of having to mend numerous leaks re-registering the thing, finding all sorts of fiddlearse annoyances that must be fixed ...long winded exasperating headaches of whatdoyoudoforthebestspaceuse etc when I really love to live in a cosy little woody shack and I've got an ugly metal box! (2nd moan, that consists of a few!) On the bright side, there is Ben, who stresses not and can figure out solutions (after a period of time) I've huffed and flompt about before the period of time. We've stripped horsey compartments and metal, have a tub full of huge nails, screws, rusty bolts and now are planning to weatherproof the 'thing'. I'm sure I'll eventually warm to it when the woodburners in and toasted marshallows are on the go...that however will be a while...and a very cold while!!

Craft Fairs...well...less said the better for me..great for a local social event (easier making a living being hired stalker)...but I'm rather bored with them, I have to say..even the cakes were rubbish at the last one.. I wasn't going to put that, just in case, but, honestly they were naff. I may have to stick to pretty pictures in the future, as I have nothing of value, use or of real interest, except to anyone else who fancies a grumble. May start a cynics page. So here's a pic of 'the thing'....mmm....the green wagon and a custard on I did ages ago...just because I like it. Happy Grumbling!

As promised, I've finally taken pics of some of my new(ish) home-made chisels. They are all made with an extra strong, hard & extremely sharp Cobalt steel. This metal is actually designed for cutting ultra tough metals (titanium, stainless steel, Inox etc.) which allows them to out-perform normal chisels by miles. They stay sharp up to 15 times longer than normal HSS (high-speed-steel) and stay sharp for weeks when used on only wood (my regular chisels require re-grinding every couple of hours at best). They are even capable of turning stone on a wood lathe!

The very best thing about them is that the steel is designed to work at red-heat. Normally the grinding of a chisel is a very precarious process as any over heating of the tip will destroy it's temper (requiring a complete regrind to remove the affected portion) - these chisels love it!

Some of the handles are a little messy, I would like to get them a little more professional looking but, once they've been used a bit they all look the same anyhow!

The first two were actually birthday presents for Sarah to complete a set that her Dad gave her;

The Yew wood handles polished up beautifully and definately have the nicest shape and feel of all the handles I've made. Yet to be ground & sharpened....

All the others have been made with more traditional Ash handles, as I use them most days I didn't go to the same lengths to finish them off as nicely. The first is a strangely named 'Skewchigouge' (skew chisel & gouge in one) - copied straight from the Axminster catalogue.

A very versatile chisel it also makes one hell of a scraper!

The next is a shorty, (maybe this should have been for Sarah...), yet to be ground for use as I can't decide which of three options to go for but, it'll either be specially for beads or coving.

Next one is a square ended scraper, very useful for narrow openings - bottom of narrow bowls, egg cups etc.

The next is another copied straight from Crown tools in the Axminster catalogue - a 'splay tool'. The diagonally ground diamond tip allows it to be used like 5 different tools in 1. Only problem is that it's so sharp that if you have an accident (a 'dig') it'll go straight through the work before you can flinch - I have literally cut work in half by mistake!

The last 2 are; this very thin parting tool,

(this 1 is actually designed for cutting work in half)....

....& this large scraper which is work in progress - the tang needs lengthening before fitting into the handle and the end needs to be rounded on one corner for finishing larger bowls.

But, it hasn't been all play and no work! I finished this small Oak bedside cabinet/table for a lady, unfortunately it went before I could get decent pics - a dark dingy woodshed isn't the best place to take pictures but, it was raining outside so I had no choice!

Lots more plates & bowls to show too but, no piccies yet so they'll have to wait for the next blog.