Re-learning or Why I should make notes in the shop

 

3 thread winders and what it looks like before I start to work.

   There is a company in Hamilton that provides historic products called Spencers Mercantile.  In the past I've made some thread winders for them to sell in their store.  I guess these were used before thread came on spools like it does now days.  Historically many of this type of small object was made out of bone or ivory, the last time I made four from poplar. Poplar was and is a common tree, easy to work and somewhat harder than pine. It was a harmless little distraction on a rainy evening.

   Last week Spencers Mercantile  ordered two dozen.  Now I have to get smart and develop a production system to make the thread winders efficiently.  Two dozen is not just fiddling around for a bit after supper any more.  Done properly 24 will not take too much time if my method is good. 

  First I gathered the wood, cut it with a mitre saw, drilled it on my drill press and then shaped it with a band saw. That represented only a few minutes work.

   Everything was going swimmingly, then I tried to decided how best to do the final shaping and sanding.  The following photos show some of the tools at my command. I left out the obvious, many different power sanders: finishing, belt and orbital.

needle files, knives and rasps

nearly every bit and burr that you can imagine

power shaft driven by my 1/2 drill.

   I worked away for sometime trying to quickly shape and sand the items smooth.  In my mind high tech + power = success.  I could not get a smooth enough result to suit me, regardless of bit, file or rasp; hand or electric powered.  In desperation I next  scoured the Lee Valley catalogue looking for the perfect burr for my drive shaft and planned a trip to their retail store for the following morning. After supper I took a coffee and went down stairs, not to work but to putter around, you know the routine, put some tools away and vacuum up the day`s mess, maybe fiddle with one small thing that was left on your bench from the afternoon.  Nothing big.  It was then that I discovered, or more correctly re-discovered the perfect tool.  The one that I had used the last time.

  The very best tool for quickly and easily finishing the thread winders.

a small bit of sand paper wrapped around a pencil.

   Sanding the thread winder is not that big a job,( It can be done by hand, quickly). When I have sanded the items smooth with the sand paper wrapped around a pencil I wax it.  It feels good to the touch and won't bleed colour.

   I spend hours in my shop, it is my Man Cave, my sanctuary, the place where  I can spend time doing things that are real.  Much of my working career was paper movement based, and not as satisfying as making stuff can be.   The thread winder is a case were had I made a few notes and taken a photo or two last time I would not have had to spend time re-inventing my wheel. The project would be done and I`d be onto something else. Will I learn from this experience?? as they say, Stay Tuned to see the thrilling conclusion.

  

Small Jobs and New Tools

   Last weekend I was at the Hamilton Wood Show and wondered past the Dura-Grit booth.  In the past I had purchases a couple of their sanding blocks and this time I saw that they were selling rasps.  I am very happy with my sanding blocks and so added the rasps to my collection of tools.

   One rasp is square with two sides 60 grit and the other two 120 grit while the round rasp is 120 grit. The section with the bonded grit is about 6 inches long and the handles are small in diameter but that is easy to fix.  I expect that I will wrap the round rasp's handle in tape.

   I make an assortment of smaller projects and I also do some scroll saw work.  Both types of project usually need small touch ups before finishing, until now I have used needle rasps, files, hand held rotary type tools and an all sorts of tricks and jigs.  These new rasps do a good job on small edges and I found working with them easy. Things I especially value in these rasps are the blunt ends and the length of cutting surface vs. the sharp ends on the short little needle files.  Cleaning out inside cuts on scroll saw projects will remain a needle file task but the outside edges will be touched up by these rasps in the future. ( and I will not poke myself if my mind wonders)

This is an example of the current small job.  These are Thread Winders.  A local store, Spencer's Mercantile   specializes in historic re-enactment products and I have been making some small things for them. The latest products are these thread winders in poplar, the new rasps worked great for easing edges after I cut them out on the band saw.