Start of the new workbench

Well it all started back here a few years ago...

http://berinsblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/my-new-workbench-begins.html

Now I have seen and worked with a few workbenches in my time.

Every year at college on the fine craft degree you would be assigned a new workbench.

I would start the year by planing it perfectly flat, squaring the vice jaws

and screwing my tool box inside the workbench.

Now I have never been able to afford a new workbench.

But I have paid for a few books on how to make them.

So up to now I have made a few and always for specific functions.

For example:

Holding my lathe in a narrow outbuilding,

For my wife to wedge clay on,

For sharpening...

What I want now is a planing bench.

Yes I am tempted by a Japanese planing bench and even had the wood cut and ready to make one!

Now that is dedication to the idea of completing a project.

But I never did make it - not even sure what happened to those lovely planks now...

Seriously where did they go? Oh yes outdoor benches...

So I thought what do I have access to?

Well some old school workbenches obtained very cheaply and made from

very well seasoned 50mm thick beech.I used to have so many 

of these lying around without a home.

A book by Robert Ingham which really inspired me with his MDF top

(yes I really did say I loved the idea of a MDF top because

I really am tired of planing the bench down every year when it moves)

Also what is more stable that I have access to?

Robert Ingham does know a thing a two about making stuff properly.

Incidentally Alan Peters was very particular about planing benches.

He was the external examiner for my year group at College.

Steve Hopper who runs the Furniture course at Bridgwater college 

used to work for Alan making his furniture.

A legend he was.

So my plan is to cut up some old workbenches and 

create something for planing on, but that is about all I hope.

I like sawing and planing by hand.

Would never use a circular saw, funny that.

So how stable will a 50mm thick MDF layer on top of 50mm of seasoned beech be?

Seriously I have no idea but I am going to give it a go.

Also I intend it to be reversible so any problems the 50mm top 

can be flipped over or changed.

I have the idea it will slot into a 50mm thick beech frame.

I can then work on having a full width planing stop.

One at each end - always been a dream of mine.

A push stop and a pull stop.

Western / Eastern.

Scraper Planes

So there comes a time when you hit that interlocking grain

and reach for your scraper plane of choice.

Now personally I have never been able to justify the expenditure on a dedicated

steel scraper plane, I just seemed to have always got by with one of these:

But I really don't do enough to justify them all.

So what are my favourites?

Well I really like the Stanley 80 and my little Japanese one.

(A Dai-naoshi sole adjusting plane I made with an old (unknown)

Japanese kanna blade - a good way of using a shortened blade

and giving it some more life)

Once you get a Ron Hock blade tuned up and in these old 

Stanleys you really notice a difference.

So time to sell the toothed scraper and Stanley 81 I think.

Although I did really enjoy making the Jarrah base for the No.81

as the original Rosewood one was missing.

The Interlocking Mobius Ladder Story

Well I started this about 8 years ago.
In another workshop - at a different house.
You can see an image in the background that was my inspiration.

I started carving it in a blond mahogany and 

after 25 hours decided I was not going to be happy with 

such an open grain so decided to start again!

You can see the lime at the front and the plastic templates.

Ice cream boxes cut up are ideal and stand out in the mountain of shavings.

The approach to carvings of this type is to ensure they stay connected

for as long as possible as they become very springy when finally finished.

The carving below shows the same method being deployed on a 

different carving that I also completed recently.

Essentially it is a steering wheel.

So another 25 hours later I was back at this same stage again...



You can see version one hiding in the background.
It has since been cut up and thrown on the fire and those 25 hours 
of carving have kept me warm (again) for a few minutes...

Chop your own firewood and it warms you twice.





Cutting through and connecting with the 'other side' is so satisfying.
It is one of the very best moments - then cleaning up all evidence!

So having been on and off the carving for 8 years and 60 hours...
The moment of cutting its umbilical cord had arrived...







Now at this point I would like to add a little more information about 
what carving means to me.
For it is the perfect moment of FLOW that you can experience 
when engaged in an activity that can ultimately provide you with one 
of the most grounding and satisfying experiences in life. 
That is why I love it so much.

However elements of what I have perceived as essential to the process 
are now proving very artificial and boring to me.
I saw an old friend doing a tongue in cheek series of videos the other day.
He was pretending to be a 'good old English craftsman' teaching 
good old woodwork values and skills.
The irony being he is a superb craftsman, far removed from 
the world he was making fun of.
It made me wonder what place this all has now.

This same person was really offended when advised he could return to his village
and sell furniture to the locals. That advice was a little out of date for sure.

However getting back to my values...
I am tired of sanding and of staring at polished lime.
So this carving was straight of the tool and needed a different finish.

So I went a bit mad and gave it 2 coats of Burgundy chalk paint and then
one coat of clear wax and one coat of dark wax.





The final piece took 40 hours start to finish.
The finish makes it feel a little older than it really is to me.
More of a curio, with an old story.
You could argue it has only one surface - just like a mobius strip or sphere.
(as I rounded the edges)
But it is also a ladder, a never ending springy stairway...

More tools this week

Axminster Belt and Disk Sander:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262673079191?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Collection from Wells, Somerset.

Moore and Wright 6" Vernier Calipers:



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262673087935?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


Emir Toothed Scraper Plane:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262677454881?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


Record No. 020 Compass Plane:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262676975826?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


Rare Preston Patent adjustable stop chamfer shave no.1392:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262677475461?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


Vintage Metal Oil Can:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262677486532?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Tools for Sale!

Well sometimes you need to just take a stock check on life.

I have come to the conclusion that as I am not using many of my tools and machines any more that it is time to sell them.

I am hoping that someone else can put them to better use!

To be honest I might sell quite a few things over the coming months.

So if you like tools (like I used to) then keep your eye on my ebay account.

Selling on Ebay has been on my to-do list for a long time!

So this week:

Set of 4 Crown Butt chisels:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Crown-Butt-Chisels-/262666679395?hash=item3d28277463:g:fGoAAOSw4shX8WI5

Grab a bargain - only 99p so far....

Denbeigh Fly Press no.3

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262666658232?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

You will need to collect this beauty from Wells, Somerset.

I used to use it with my name stamp.

Record 073 Shoulder Plane

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262666710266?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Much better condition than so many out there.