The making of a table

[Toolfool]

Can you fillet fish with that thing ?

 

[RivennHewn]

Can you fillet fish with that thing ?

Me? No.

But have you seen what a Viking woman can do with a knife?

 

[Toolfool]

Me? No.

But have you seen what a Viking woman can do with a knife?

No. Am I missing something ?

 

[RivennHewn]

No. Am I missing something ?

Hell if I know, I just said that 'cuz it sounded cool.

But, here is some Black and White pics of some of the other knives I've made.

There are so many other craftsmen that make knives far superior to mine, but I like knives that are tools to be used. A knife should be ok left out in the garden overnight, or used to clean fish or deer, or get scratched up a bit in your tool box or the glove box of your truck.

I own a couple knives that are to 'Nice' to leave my dresser, but those aren't the ones I love.

I tend to prefer the more utilitarian type.

 

[larry_g]

Saw the above on the TV and thought that you may have gotten into the movie prop business. Or is this really you? Good craftsmanship and good people, you seem to fit both.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[RivennHewn]

Thanks Larry,

I kinda wish i was involved. I'm betting there is better money in making Toyota commercials than there is in making tables.

It does remind me of the old walnut tree we took down from my grandfather's property after he died.

My dad cut it down and trailered it from Idaho to Seattle, where we had it milled into lumber.

Still have some of those boards in the shop, waiting for a personal project.

 

[RivennHewn]

Hope you all get to spend some time in your garage tomorrow. I know where I'll be.

Wishing your 2018 is full of saw dust, grinder sparks, the smell of Kroil and turpentine , and all the time and money you need to finish your projects

 

[1/2 Cup]

Riven, spot on

All the best for the New Year..

 

[shephd]

Riven,
Happy New Year to you and everyone. I've been trying to get some motivation to work on projects around my place and your thread here and the flatbed thread have helped so thanks for taking the time to post. Enjoy the day and the year ahead.
Cheers,
Tom

 

[drivesitfar]

Riv: happy 2018 to you too and i used to agree about the holidays, but as our kids became adults and we are now empty nesters the HOLIDAYS are a lot better and almost approaching the days when we were young.

nice looking projects always coming out of your shop so i'll still stop in to check in and see what you are up to and post when i think i can add something more than WELL DONE!!

speaking of a Lathe my dad gave me his Shopsmith that i haven't taken out of his house yet and it's been maybe 10 years now since he mentioned it was mine to have when i needed it. since it looks like you might know your way around a wood lathe and you seem to have all your fingers and most of your senses would you mind posting a few safety tips and maybe a few ideas on how a few of us could get started using the lathes we own or ones we can buy. last time i used a wood lathe was in 8th grade woodshop in 1969 so even though i still have the bowl i turned i'm a little more than rusty.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=378908

cheers and here's to another year above dirt for both of us.

 

[RivennHewn]

Riven,
Happy New Year to you and everyone. I've been trying to get some motivation to work on projects around my place and your thread here and the flatbed thread have helped so thanks for taking the time to post. Enjoy the day and the year ahead.
Cheers,
Tom

Tom,
Thanks for the nice post. Much appreciated.



All the best to you in the new year, Drives.

I too had an 8th grade shop class where I 1st used a lathe. Then, I didn't touch one for about 30 years.

The things I remembered from shop class were ease into the wood, and hold on to the dang tool.

Those have pretty much gotten me by.

I've picked up a bit of experience since bring home my lathe, all trial and error.

It's ok to fail, as long as you keep your eyes and fingers intact.

Safety is the only thing that is important. My main rule is to not turn the machine on until I've double checked everything, twice.

 

[PugetDude]

Hope you all get to spend some time in your garage tomorrow. I know where I'll be.

Wishing your 2018 is full of saw dust, grinder sparks, the smell of Kroil and turpentine , and all the time and money you need to finish your projects

+1

 

[machine_punk]

Happy New Year! I did get to spend some time in the shop today.

I'm liking your most-recent projects...blacksmithing is one of those things I plan to get to eventually, after fiberglass/carbon fiber, machining, foundry...and on and on.

Kev

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Rivenn I have gone through your total blog of over 4 years of your projects, vision and expertise. This exercise took me a fair bit of time as I covered the total package. While your one of a kind tables, tool rebuilds, leather work etc were unbelievable I did manage to learn more than a few things which is why I am a GJer. Good job and hope you have even more experiences to share with us in the new year.

 

[RivennHewn]

Thanks Puget/ Kev.

And thanks Miss the Pontiacs for the positive feedback.

I'm always a bit humbled when someone takes the time to read thru all my wanderings.

Some days the ideas flow like water, and some days(like now) I'm so wrapped up at work that I just don't seem to put anything together.

Here's to hoping that there is plenty of shop time this year!!

 

[RivennHewn]

Dropped a few big ones today.

Brought it home and started tuning some vintage chisels.

This one is a Douglass MFG Co. 2" tang chisel.

One of my favorite old time edge tool maker's, but this one was a bit of a basket case.

After squaring it up, I got a nice grind on it.

Then honed on the leather wheel, and it was good enough to shave my arm.

Maybe a new handle tomorrow

 

[1/2 Cup]

Riven, too nice.

That's one thing I really need to get a whole heap better at and that's sharpening things

Regards

 

[RivennHewn]

Riven, too nice.

That's one thing I really need to get a whole heap better at and that's sharpening things

Regards

I have always struggled with sharpening. I can get good results, but it takes too much time.

With this new toy, I'm getting great results much quicker. Couldn't be happier!

 

[1/2 Cup]

I have always struggled with sharpening. I can get good results, but it takes too much time.

With this new toy, I'm getting great results much quicker. Couldn't be happier!

Done well.

 

[Toolfool]

Always wanted a Tormek.

 

[RivennHewn]

Always wanted a Tormek.

I should have bought one years ago.

You still have to spend the time lapping the flats by hand, but it's sooooo worth it.


Decided to clean and tune the very 1st plane I ever bought.

Then tested it on some gnarly burl.

effortless, with a touch of butter

 

[Toolfool]

Sweet !

 

[royce]

You will be a hero when you get the kitchen knives and scissors dressed.
I got the drill bit jig for mine and would recommend trying one before purchasing it.
It is expensive and I don't care for it.

Royce

 

[RivennHewn]

Sweet !

I'm having fun


Royce,
Thanks for the feedback on the drill bit jig.

I'm thinking I'll pick up the knife jig and the gouge jig, then give my wallet some recuperation time.

 

[RivennHewn]

One last tool sharpening post.

I have a Martin's spokeshave circa 1900. It's cutting edge was in pretty poor condition. I had to re-square it, then give it it's primary bevel and finally the micro bevel. Pic is in progress:

It's a convex sole shave, and just might be one of my favorites.

 

[royce]

The gouge jig is like magic, I'm betting you'll love it.

Royce

 

[Jayman17]

Hello Riv
Happy New Year! Just wanted to say I've read all of this thread and the one for your truck and have enjoyed following along and watching your projects. Very creative use of the materials you obtain. Congrats on the Tormek purchase, looks like it's helping with the sharpening tasks. Looking forward to future projects.
-Jay

 

[RivennHewn]

Thank you, Jay.

I'm plowing thru a project at work, and it's sucking up all my time. Hoping to get past it in a few weeks.
Kinda cutting into my shop time, but it pays the bills.

 

[RivennHewn]

Taking a bit of a detour down a long lost path.

Playing around with some of my carving tools and some Southern Pine I collected from an old pallet.
It was some 'Fat Wood', with a high sap content. It stuck to my cutting tools and required constant cleaning with acetone.

I added a coat of my new concoction to the outside.

I mixed some charcoal, some soot I made, pine pitch, turpentine, and a few other ingredients. Paints on nice.

Making soot with a long wick 'lantern'

Then a coat of red milk paint.

The outside will get lightly sanded to reveal the black and raw wood underneath.

The inside will get a thicker coat of the black mix with a higher pine pitch and varnish content. This will make it more water resistant.

 

[RivennHewn]

Finishing the little hollow vessel bowl was slow, because the pitch pine/ soot mixture didn't want to dry. Next time I'll add some Japan Drier to the mix to speed up the drying process.

Sanded through the milk paint, soot layer, and into the wood, leaving an interesting pattern on the outside.

Still need to finish the inside of the bowl.

 

[Strouty]

That looks very nice!

 

[Toolfool]

That's pretty cool !

 

[RivennHewn]

Thanks Strouty/ Tool,

Small projects are all I seem to be able to tackle these days.

With the current work load, the short hours of daylight, and the crappy weather ,I just can’t get up for anything bigger.

 

[Toolfool]

If you're interested, Japan Woodworker has some nice diamond stones on sale today only.

 

[VWingman]

Beautiful work as usual. I always look forward to your updates.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

You have a great thread. The bowl is amazing! You must have an incredible collection of tools. Are there any tools that you have and never used?

 

[RivennHewn]

If you're interested, Japan Woodworker has some nice diamond stones on sale today only.

Dang. I used to sport an impressive woodie everytime I'd get a new catalog from the Japan Woodworker.

I guess I didn't spend enough money there, as they took me off the mailing list.

Beautiful work as usual. I always look forward to your updates.

Thanks so much! I get so much from GJ, I feel I at least need to try to give back a bit.

You have a great thread. The bowl is amazing! You must have an incredible collection of tools. Are there any tools that you have and never used?

I never use the pretty ones. I usually sell those to afford more tools that actually aren't afraid of work.

 

[PugetDude]

Nice work (as always) , Riven. Always impressed by your project posts.

 

[Jayman17]

Finishing the little hollow vessel bowl was slow, because the pitch pine/ soot mixture didn't want to dry. Next time I'll add some Japan Drier to the mix to speed up the drying process.

Sanded through the milk paint, soot layer, and into the wood, leaving an interesting pattern on the outside.

Still need to finish the inside of the bowl.

Wow, I've never seen that before, really interesting. Is that completely dry to the touch and hard?

-Jay

 

[RivennHewn]

Nice work (as always) , Riven. Always impressed by your project posts.

Thanks, There is a crazy amount of hours in carving and finishing this small vessel.
It's been more of an exploratory expedition than a deliberate task.

I'll take what I learn and use it again somewhere else (I hope).

Wow, I've never seen that before, really interesting. Is that completely dry to the touch and hard?

-Jay

The black mixture was slow to dry. I've added the japan drier, and that seems to have helped as it's dry now.

The red is a flat finish milk paint. The black is hard to describe. It's super shiny, and super opaque. Reminds me of lead paint as far as sheen and shine.

There is a lot of soot mixed in with the varnish, tung oil, turpentine, pine sap, and beeswax/oil.

I haven't found a recipe, so it's all make it up as I go.

Once it cures/ dries, it should be water proof and quite durable.