Folding Saw Horses done, Fish Begun

  Recently the plea went forth "my kingdom for  a saw horse". But not a really large awkward horse that takes too much space.  I researched and found a great video for folding saw horses from "Wood Working for Mere Mortals".   I made two horses following Steve's plans, more or less.  I found the strap hinges I used to be pretty flimsy and so I needed to add extra cross bracing to the moving pair of legs.  My horses are made from reused 2 x 4 and that wasn't a good idea either. The boards were pretty twisty requiring the bracing to be fitted individually.  All together though, two steady, stable folding saw horses. 

  Sitting on my work  bench now is a fish. I band sawed a fish shaped garden ornament  from more recycled material. The tail had to be glued together and so is drying before I shape the wood.  I plan to use a 4 1/2 inch grinder with a sanding disk and carbide rasps on my  oscillating multi-tool.

  Once the basic shape is achieved I will add on fins and gills from contrasting wood then finish the fish with deck sealer and let it swim through the garden.

  

 cheers, ianw

P.S. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. 

* enjoy a ham for the holiday*

Multi -Tool Tricks

    Just a short video showing a use from your multi-tool. A side note, I have two multi-tools, one was cheap and the other, the Fein is outstanding.

Trimming Wooden Plugs

   I have used a variety of saws and chisels to do this job, now that I have a multi-master it will always be my first choice.

Multi Tools

   Multi Tools inspire mixed feelings in my tool loving soul.  On my desk you see three multi tools, I have several others but these serve will serve to illustrate my feelings.
   The tools with the red handle is a Corona Fusion 11.  It claims to be 11 tools in 1.  As you can see it is has most of the classic gadgets.  I recently bought this tool from thetoolstore.ca, mostly on a whim.  My wife is the serious gardener and has serious garden tools.  This one will serve me as a secondary tool and make is so I do not have to borrow any of hers.  Is it a great tool no.  Is it a decent tool for the money, sure.  It has to be remembered that good by-pass pruners cost $60.00 and this whole thing cost around $20.00.  It will dead head roses and dig a few weeds and I expect to be perfectly happy with it, knowing it is a lower cost multi tool doing an average job at a variety of tasks.


  In the middle of the pack is my Filzer bicycle tool.  It is mostly a collection of hex keys with a Phillips and slot head screw driver thrown in for good measure.  It handles basic road side bicycle repairs, nothing more, nothing less.  It is a very light weight sturdy tool and I really hope to use very seldom.  There are a variety of companies make tools like this and two or three times a season they are needed they prove a real time and effort saver.  


   The lower tool we all recognize as a Leatherman tool.  Leatherman makes great tools.  I bought my first Leatherman years ago when I was an office manager for a lawyer.  The tool sat in my desk drawer and came out two or three times a week to deal with some fiddling issue relating to stuck drawers, uncooperative file cabinets and the occasional jammed printer/copier.   I can`t begin to estimate the time and money  that multi tool saved.  It was an instrument of measurement as well as a repair tool. If the problem was beyond the Leatherman, it was too big to be handled in house and a repair person was called.


  I strongly feel that multi tools have a real place in a shop and home.  The only thing that must be remembered is that they are a compromise tool, not the very best tool for the specific task, just a good tool for small stuff and better than using something that is not a tool at all (butter knife) to do a job.  Their strength is small size, handiness and multiplicity.  If I can I use the exact tool for the job, but that tool is not always were I am.