Quality Tool - Repaired and Things.

    Years ago I bought two galvanised pails.  These pails began as indoor floor washing etc pails. Over the course of time the pails hauled dirt, stones, saw dust, parts and tools. As the stuff rattled around in the cans the bottoms grew thinner and thinner, soon both of my pail's bottoms developed small leaks. 

  These heavy galvanised pails are so much more study and useful around the yard and garage  than typical plastic pails something needed to done to extend their working lives. If you look you can see the pails also have really comfortable handles with make them worth saving. 

   

   The solution is one of those things I do because I have a workshop with wood and some tools.  With compasses I measured  the inside diameter of the pail then cut out from 1/8 inch plywood a disk on the band saw.  Next I soaked the disk in exterior grade vanish.

  To install the new bottom I liberally coated the disk and the bottom with construction adhesive and put the new bottom in place holding it  by gravity clamps while the glue set. 

  The pails will still leak, slowly,  but be tight enough to carry water around the yard or beach and the new bottoms will distribute the general bashing enough for pails to last a long time.

  Project In progress: I have a design idea for this recycled mirror.  I am planning a rustic style wooden frame, that will help high light the cat tail silhouettes.

  

  And of course a work shop filled with potions and glues is where hiking boots go for maintenance.

  So our Grandchildren are back in school, my wife has been able to visit family in Sweden and we are mostly returning to "normal life".  I guess we have to cross our fingers and hope that everything goes according to plan.

  cheers ianw

 

More Shop Jobs

 

  A while ago a friend gave me this tin box. He knows that a shop always needs more storage space.  The box is large enough that it really needs handles on the ends.

    I picked an oak off cut to form the handles.  Oak is strong enough that the pieces don't have to be very large, and the handles can be polished smooth and comfortable.

  I shaped the  handles with hand tools. Planes, handsaw and rasps enabled me to make the handles one evening while listening books on tape. 

  

  When I was watering the house plants the other day I noticed:

  the wheeled pot stand upon which our Fish Tail Palm sits had really suffers from the damp.

How much? you can see the bow in the wood compared to the straight edge of the level.  The wheeled pot stand was 3/4 particle board with four casters on the corners.  Particle board is cheap and does not respond well to damp.  The palm tree had been over watered a few time lately and what strength the board had was gone

  The replacement is all around better quality and nicer looking.  I had a piece of kitchen counter which I trimmed with real wood, to improve its look and strength.

  The trim is held on with out door glue and pocket hole screws. 

  New wheeled stand with a cleaned and stained pot.

  It is nice to have a shop to play in.

cheers ianw