When grinding down a few old drill bits to make other tools, I noticed that the spiral on a point was quite lovely. This inspired me to produce this design.    This is a scratch awl, for leather and woodwork. The awl itself is made of M2 tool steel. The handle is ash and leather with [...]]]>

When grinding down a few old drill bits to make other tools, I noticed that the spiral on a point was quite lovely. This inspired me to produce this design.    This is a scratch awl, for leather and woodwork. The awl itself is made of M2 tool steel. The handle is ash and leather with a stainless steel ring.  The grip by the way, is wonderful.  I am tempted to make several gouges and chisels with this grip.

The awl is made from a large metal cutting drill bit. This was first parkerized in zink bearing phosphoric acid. Then it was blued with Oxpho Blue. Afterwards it was ground down to a point leaving the spiral in dark blued steel as a contrast to the polished M2.

I love making awls, but I must admit to having more than enough of them.  So, I put it up for sale on my Etsy Page. This way, if it sell, I can get a bit more leather to learn on.

Bob

This tool is the result of playing around.  The tip is m2 hss tool steel, the hoops are stainless steel and the wood is mesquite.  I call this tool,  ‘Davros.’

It was rather fun to make, and I rather like it. I doubt I will make anymore like it as the materials cost is a [...]]]>

This tool is the result of playing around.  The tip is m2 hss tool steel, the hoops are stainless steel and the wood is mesquite.  I call this tool,  ‘Davros.’

It was rather fun to make, and I rather like it. I doubt I will make anymore like it as the materials cost is a bit high.  I am rather fond of making scratch awls, they are useful for layout and marking, and they are fairly easy to make.  The hats in the background are made by my brilliant wife!

I love the cap she made me!

As a shameless plug, she sells the pattern, and sometimes the hats on her Etsy shop.

Her deerstalker design is my real favorite!

Bob

This is a business that I am pleased to support!

Nice friendly Service,

Finished Goods, large and small.

They have lovely wood too!

For all of those who envy us our mesquite, osage, pecan and juniper (we call it cedar,) never fear, they will be happy to ship you some.

Bob

I have had the basic shape cut out for a while, but now I am back to it.  Here it is after the four basic cuts.

There are several styles of plane that stand out as icons. [...]]]> We will miss the great James Krenov.   I am making a Krenov Style Plane as a bit of a remembrance.

I have had the basic shape cut out for a while, but now I am back to it.  Here it is after the four basic cuts.

There are several styles of plane that stand out as icons. The Krenov is certainly one. It’s simplicity of construction, comfort in hand and grace standing there make it more than just a tool. No other plane form seems as friendly. To me, the Krenov invites innovation, use and a certain playfulness.

As far as pure aesthetic art, the Hong Kong style plane and the Krenov are to me the most graceful. Seeing either one give me a child like impulse to make a shaving with it. They have a similarity in their curves, yet the Krenov comes across as clearly Western.

In use, a well matched Krenov is a revelation. No other plane comes close to the comfort in use. The Krenov plane is first and foremost a user. It is friendly to the hands, and if it was made right, it’s curves fit your hands wonderfully. That is the entire point of the Krenov. Simple ergonomics. The beauty of the shape is entirely incidental.

It is also quite revolutionary, it breaks the user free from mass production and from the quantified widths and lengths that are assumed by the industry. In a time of mass produced power sanders that scream as they score wood and throw allergens into the air, Krenov, with this plane, introduced many a craftsman to look past the mass produced tools.

Krenov never accepted that his tools might be treasures. He would not allow the prices he sold them for to become extraordinary. James Krenov was quite stubborn in the adherence to his standards and to his philosophy.

The Arts and Crafts Movement is still quite alive, in some great part, due to James Krenov. Many of us are inspired by the works of the brilliant craftsmen and designers who have contributed and are still contributing to this form. Krenov was not one of the original founders of the Arts and Crafts Movement, yet, in my limited understanding of the form, I cannot think of another designer and craftsman who was as true to the original spirit of the Arts and Crafts Movement.

Yet there is more to his philosophy. So many craftsmen have had their work, joy of work and designs influenced by James Krenov, that in subtle ways his personal movement is probably larger than the Arts and Crafts.

The end buyer of of fine furniture may be shopping around and looking for a maker that matches their ideals. The collectors may have books of lovely Arts and Crafts homes, rooms and furniture. The buyers of fine furniture may be making selections based purely on style. Not everyone looking for original designs is looking for Arts and Crafts. Krenov has influenced many of the great craftsmen and artists currently living and creating. He has changed how they perceive wood, and even work. James Krenov has influenced so many, that it may in fact be hard to find a fine original work these days, in any style, that is not in part, a Krenov.

Godspeed James!

Spills are the nifty little spirals of wood.  A rabbet of course is a plane that can cut right into the edge of a corner.   My goal is to have a left and right handed spill rabbet with adjustable fences.  But first [...]]]> I am designing a rabbet plane, that will also make spills as I work.

Spills are the nifty little spirals of wood.  A rabbet of course is a plane that can cut right into the edge of a corner.   My goal is to have a left and right handed spill rabbet with adjustable fences.  But first I needed to test my designs.

This is an interesting item, it is quite a lovely bit of art, and a fairly flawed tool right now. The angles are odd and most photographs give poor information to the brain. I have not managed to do justice in a photo here.

The picture above, shows the section of wood that remains holding the two sides together.  As a result of the flexibility of osage, this plane can survive the stresses.  However the wedge grip on the blade, does not allow for too wide a shaving to be cut, before the blade slides back.  A face added to the side, making this more like a Krenov, would make it a usable plane.  It might however destroy the aesthetic and ease of examination.  Since this is a test of concept, I will leave this one alone, as an example and a warning.

I have several references on spill planes, and it is an interesting item.  Most of the references have subtle disclaimers.   I take this to mean, that inconsistent results are common.  I went with a 45 degree skew and a 45 degree bed angle to make it a bit simpler.   It is not real simple. the angles and the cone are kind of a bear.

Here is what I did.  First I made the cone shaped hole.  I clamped down the block and arranged a 45 degree angle on my drill press. I then drilled a shallow hole with a large forstner, followed by a less shallow hole with a smaller forstner, followed by a small hole.  This gave me a wedding cake form to start with.  The wedding cake was made a touch off center, as I had to adjust my design as I made it.

Then I made a cone reamer. I took a nice big spade bit and ground it into a wide point. I then ground the edges that would face the cut, in order to make it cut a little better. I used a marker on the edge of the cone reamer and did some test work in pine. The edge that kept the mark was shorter, so with a touch of grinding and retesting, I managed to make an even reamer. If the sides are not even, then the reamer will beat the edges if you use any serious speed. I wanted exact so I did not use a brace. I will use a brace next time however, as I think it will do a better job. You can see the cuts I made in the cone, they were not eliminated. Largely because, I really like the look of them and they will not get in the way of spills leaving the plane. On my final model, I will probably not have any, unless I can figure out how to make them consistent.  The burn marks in the cone are due to play in my cheap HF drill press.   While I love them and think they add to the appearance, they were not done on purpose.

After that I used a razorsaw 650 ryoba to hand cut the bed. I wanted as clean and precise a finish as possible to start. This cut needs to be rather precise.

The wood is a block of osage.