Toolmaking Art » Tools

Multi-Functional Divider

Bob Strawn — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 04:03:05 +0000

I love multifunctional tools. Sadly, most of them don’t really work very well. Here is one that is a real gem.

The bottom divider is unmodified. Works great, and it can hold a pencil. The top one is modified by having one point ground down. It will not measure quite as small a gap. It is however a much more useful tool. The leather sheath above it holds extra bits and protects the divider.

The bit pocket has a snap at the top to put bits in and a snap at the bottom to pour them out. It is a bit flawed as the sharp bits fall right into your hand, so you need to be careful.

This tool will act as a divider, can draw circles, and cut circles.

First I take a normal bit, and grind it down

Original Phillips Bit

Bit ground down partially

Bit Ground to point

Point ground into a cutter

The point can be ground by putting the bit in a drill and spin grinding it with sandpaper. It can be done faster on a grindstone or belt sander.

Cutting bit in divider

A couple of important points. The flat of the cutter should go to the outside, and should be ground level with one of the six faces of the bit’s shaft. This way it is in line when you cut. The curved edge facing inward, tend to force the cut to maximum allowed diameter, making for a more stable line.

Circles cut and marked by divider

This bit is great for marking wood and leather. As you can see it will also cut. Bits can be made with steeper angles so they do not sink as deep, or with finer points to leave a finer mark. More conventional blades can be made as well.

Blade

With a nice divider able to cut, scribe, measure, scratch and mark, you have a pretty amazing tool. With a screw driver handle added to the kit, you can use the blades and points for an even wider range of functions.

I made a better version of the original sheath. Here it is on a belt with a pair of bottle holsters.

Divider Sheith on Belt with Bottle Holsters

The Bit holder uses one snap, and allows you to see and select the bit you want. The bit can be grabbed from the bottom to avoid the sharp points.

Improved Bit holder!

I got a bit of feedback desiring one of these made for them. So I have created an Etsy Store to sell stuff to those who don’t feel comfortable making their own. Since one of the major goals of Toolmaking Art is to encourage people to make their own tools, the prices will of course reflect this goal.

Bob

Radius Cutter/Scribe

Bob Strawn — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:08:52 +0000

Johnathan, recently posted on Woodnet his rendition of an inlay radius cutter. The design is one that Steve Latta showed in an article on Fine Woodworking. Lie-Nielsen sells one based on that design.

The tool is a very stable compass that can cut. My current need is one to mark a radius in steel. So I threw one together. It of course is a bit different.

The body is osage, the knob is mesquite, and the angle adjustable cutter/marker holder is ash.

The points where ground from old high speed steel drill bits and tempered hard. I need them hard because I am marking steel. In the picture below, you can see the radius cut into the edge of a head knife that I am making. The red just outside the cut is to show me where I need to grind off steel. I am using the thread end of a Chicago bolt to put the pivot in to give fine precision.

The arc on one side of the cutter tends to pull in as it cuts. This tends to reduce slop and make for a more precise cut.

The holder is tapered to fit into a tapered hole. The drilled hole in the end of the holder was drilled with the same bit that became the cutter. A pair of slices into the wood makes it grip the blade quite tightly when wedged into a tapered hole.

I even have a point for scribing instead of cutting. I will make another holder to wedge a pencil into the hole as well, when I need it later.

The hole was drilled, and then I used a sanding fid to taper it.

This is my sanding fid. A drill bit pushed to hard into wood so it locked in. Then the wood was turned to make a cone. A slit was cut in the end.

Now sand paper can be fed into the slit and wrapped around the cone.

Once it is wrapped, is is ready to sand out a nice taper.

The locking mechanism is simple, a threaded insert and a knob turned with a bit of brass thread and a nut epoxied into the end.

Opened up this can make a really big circle. Best of all, it is rock solid stable once set into position.

Bob

Making a Head Knife

Bob Strawn — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Here is my endless loop. I make stuff to make stuff to make stuff. Seriously. I have a theory that a leather tool box might be ideal. In any case I want to experiment. One thing that I need for this is a few leather tools. A lot I have bought, but one of the tools that I want can be fairly expensive for one as nice as I want to have.

I want a top notch, none better head knife. Sadly the economy is destroying my economy, so to afford a great tool, I will have to make it.

To start with, fortunately, I have a bit of Classic NOS Sheffield O1. Best stuff for holding a great edge, and stropping easily, so the next step is laying it out. I usually make a couple of tools at a time, in case I mess up. In this case, I decided to go ahead and make a few. Since I have scant leatherworking knowledge, I may make a few mistakes on the way.

Here is my initial layout.

Sadly the cuts were not going to work with the tools I have at hand for cutting. I had to make a less efficient layout that I could actually cut.

As this is nice tool steel, I tried to cut out to make good scraps for other tools.

After drilling and cutting, they are beginning to look more like head knives!

Now I need to be able to mark a center point of the blades arc and perfect the blade to that arc. This will enable me to rig a jig to sharpen it more easily later. This means, I need to be able to scribe a consistant line from a center point.

So I need to make a tool for that purpose. Fortunately the Texas heat has cooled down a bit this week.

Bob

A Nice Rack!

Bob Strawn — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:00:47 +0000

Seriously, I love this tool rack system! It looks to be economical, flexible and functional. Plus the modular system allows you to rearrange things as you get more tools. The only real down side, is that tool storage systems that you can’t close are a bit more suseptible to dust and rust. If your shop is air conditioned and has good dust control, then this is not so important. For me it is a bit of an issue. Not that my current methods are any better.

David Pickard, the designer sent me an email offering router bits for linking to his site’s, http://www.woodshopics.com/ and http://www.woodshopbits.com/ (carbide router bits).

Here is the thing though, I like David’s work, but I don’t like tailed, screaming, wood manglers. (Routers) I own three of the damned things, and I have fortunately been able to avoid using any of them for the last two years.

I am not a purist, I love my cordless drill and my bandsaw, but I prefer to be bathed in quite peace, without hearing protection, goggles or risk of motor based finger mangling. If you do use routers, by all means check out David’s goods, in any case, be sure to check out his storage system. He is definitely a clever designer!

Don’t think for a moment that this is a show of integrity and resistance to selling out, if Clark & Williams, Lee Valley, Bridge City, or Lie-Nielsen made me an offer, I would sell out in a moment!

Bob

South East Texas Tomato Festival

Bob Strawn — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:00:38 +0000

This weekend, I traveled to Washington on the Brazos to see the South East Texas Tomato Festival!

The bridge was out, so we had to take a detour, but it was all worth it. The folk there are testing, and comparing heirloom and a bit more recent varieties of tomatoes.

They had a huge range of tomatoes for the tasting. Seriously they had tables covered with a wide range of samples that they were quite generous with. I came away with a bit more than I can manage, but I will have to try. I have never seen so many different tomatoes side by side.

I am rather used to reinventing the wheel whenever I start researching. These wonderful folk have done major research and have produced wonderful data and evidence side by side, that I could see, touch and taste!

I managed to give a few Magenta Spreen plants away, and a few I’itois Onions as well, so I don’t feel too guilty. But indeed I am in these folks debt! The enjoyment, information and seeds that I came home with are treasures indeed!

Here are the tomatoes they gave me to take home and get seeds from!

Most of these are small to medium. I prefer smaller because they mature faster and I am more likely to get some before the bugs and birds consume them. The big one in the middle however was too much to pass up. It is a near perfect balance of tomato qualities and it is named in honor of the great Paul Robeson! I had to have it!

There are 15 varieties here for me to try out. Two of them are mysteries, since I managed to fail on documenting them.

Mystery Tomato number 6, Purple somethingorother.

Mystery Tomato number 12, labeled Red Odd. I guess that is it’s name now.

After extracting seeds, these tomatoes made a wonderful fresh tomato sauce!

I saved the seeds in their juice.

Then I covered the juice and seeds with plastic wrap.

Within three or so days mold will have covered the juice, and the goop will be really slimy and very acidic. This will kill most tomato diseases. Then I will wash the seeds in a strainer and spread them on cloth to dry. After they no longer stick to things, I will put them in packets for next year and plant a few of each for this year.

And yes, I made the rack for the shot glasses. A chunk of cedar with holes drilled in it. I added feet to it so the shot glasses don’t touch the table below. Simple enough, but it will keep the seed ordered and manageable.

Bob