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86K views 542 replies 69 participants last post by  LittleBlackDuck 
#1 ·
3D Printing in the Workshop

While this topic doesn't strictly fit into the guidelines of timber product, it does incorporate the processing of said prerequisite, however, to err on the side of veto wizards I decided to blog instead of projecting it.

Flooring Floor Plastic bottle Cylinder Material property


Plumbing valve Plumbing fixture Flooring Floor Valve


Gas Audio equipment Cable Composite material Electronic device


Automotive tire Fluid Bicycle part Bicycle fork Gas


Vehicle Automotive tire Steering wheel Bicycle tire Fender


Pneumatic tool Handheld power drill Drill Hammer drill Power tool


We need to set the mood!

Once upon a time there was this aging geriatric, living in Churchill Australia that was getting paranoid about dust inhalation into his alcohol infested body. He chose to purchase a Shop-Vac and attached a few tools to with the deft application of copious reels of duct tape… and all was good. As the tools began to breed like rabbits, the old man realised that he may need to invest in another Shop-Vac (or look alike). He purchased a 2.5" "shop-vac" rated the same hose dimension as his previous one and was hoping for integrated compliance. Glory be… why is 2.5" in "Shop-Vac" speak different in size to the 2.5" in "Hitachi" speak. More duct tape and frustration attempting to integrate… and all was NOT good.

I'm sure this is not a rare tale of Robinson Crusoe (mis-located in Churchill), as I am certain most of us can relate to this chagrin.

Whilst pursuing the gratification of attending one of our local wood shows, several years ago, there was this revolutionary stand selling 3D printers. While the interest was huge, the sales was little huge. Somehow I had the insight to contemplate the use of 3D printed items in a workshop and I bit the bullet, fired a few shots and proceeded to procure one. much to the missus's sacrifice of another pair of shoes… she has expensive shoes (I dare not say big feet). My immediate though was about shop-vac integration through customised couplings. Well I was not disappointed.

I now do not fear dust extraction compatibility with any tool I possess and at times scrap the proprietary supplied adapter for a shop made (3D printed) customised one.

While 3D printed paraphernalia can be used throughout the house I have tried to limit my contribution to items I have created for the workshop. Rather than clutter this blog with a myriad of photographic illustrations, I have created the following post-Christmas "STOCKING FILLER" to highlight what I have blundered across for use in the workshop (be warned… there are 90+ pickies in the PDF… guaranteed cure for insomnia).

Now for a touch of woodworking. You can (as I have) create many of these items on a lathe, however, repeatability is not a push button on that skew chisel. I can churn off as many 3D's as I like and all the same… I often disguise some with different colours just to confuse myself.

I hope I can get some people's creative juices flowing, as not all workshop creations are made of wood… especially regarding workshop aids.

Thanks for taking the time to get this far!
 

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#27 ·
3D Printing in the Workshop

While this topic doesn't strictly fit into the guidelines of timber product, it does incorporate the processing of said prerequisite, however, to err on the side of veto wizards I decided to blog instead of projecting it.

Flooring Floor Plastic bottle Cylinder Material property


Plumbing valve Plumbing fixture Flooring Floor Valve


Gas Audio equipment Cable Composite material Electronic device


Automotive tire Fluid Bicycle part Bicycle fork Gas


Vehicle Automotive tire Steering wheel Bicycle tire Fender


Pneumatic tool Handheld power drill Drill Hammer drill Power tool


We need to set the mood!

Once upon a time there was this aging geriatric, living in Churchill Australia that was getting paranoid about dust inhalation into his alcohol infested body. He chose to purchase a Shop-Vac and attached a few tools to with the deft application of copious reels of duct tape… and all was good. As the tools began to breed like rabbits, the old man realised that he may need to invest in another Shop-Vac (or look alike). He purchased a 2.5" "shop-vac" rated the same hose dimension as his previous one and was hoping for integrated compliance. Glory be… why is 2.5" in "Shop-Vac" speak different in size to the 2.5" in "Hitachi" speak. More duct tape and frustration attempting to integrate… and all was NOT good.

I'm sure this is not a rare tale of Robinson Crusoe (mis-located in Churchill), as I am certain most of us can relate to this chagrin.

Whilst pursuing the gratification of attending one of our local wood shows, several years ago, there was this revolutionary stand selling 3D printers. While the interest was huge, the sales was little huge. Somehow I had the insight to contemplate the use of 3D printed items in a workshop and I bit the bullet, fired a few shots and proceeded to procure one. much to the missus's sacrifice of another pair of shoes… she has expensive shoes (I dare not say big feet). My immediate though was about shop-vac integration through customised couplings. Well I was not disappointed.

I now do not fear dust extraction compatibility with any tool I possess and at times scrap the proprietary supplied adapter for a shop made (3D printed) customised one.

While 3D printed paraphernalia can be used throughout the house I have tried to limit my contribution to items I have created for the workshop. Rather than clutter this blog with a myriad of photographic illustrations, I have created the following post-Christmas "STOCKING FILLER" to highlight what I have blundered across for use in the workshop (be warned… there are 90+ pickies in the PDF… guaranteed cure for insomnia).

Now for a touch of woodworking. You can (as I have) create many of these items on a lathe, however, repeatability is not a push button on that skew chisel. I can churn off as many 3D's as I like and all the same… I often disguise some with different colours just to confuse myself.

I hope I can get some people's creative juices flowing, as not all workshop creations are made of wood… especially regarding workshop aids.

Thanks for taking the time to get this far!
... Thanks for the idea, now I can sell my duct tape stocks and simply print my own adapters.
- JimYoung
Glad it gave you ideas JY. Not trying to teach you how to suck eggs, just remember to taper it slightly, only about 1-2mm along a 50-60mm length for that better fit.
You'll find that you can now make all your tools so incestuous that you'll never know who's coupled with whom.
 

Attachments

#28 ·
3D Printing in the Workshop

While this topic doesn't strictly fit into the guidelines of timber product, it does incorporate the processing of said prerequisite, however, to err on the side of veto wizards I decided to blog instead of projecting it.

Flooring Floor Plastic bottle Cylinder Material property


Plumbing valve Plumbing fixture Flooring Floor Valve


Gas Audio equipment Cable Composite material Electronic device


Automotive tire Fluid Bicycle part Bicycle fork Gas


Vehicle Automotive tire Steering wheel Bicycle tire Fender


Pneumatic tool Handheld power drill Drill Hammer drill Power tool


We need to set the mood!

Once upon a time there was this aging geriatric, living in Churchill Australia that was getting paranoid about dust inhalation into his alcohol infested body. He chose to purchase a Shop-Vac and attached a few tools to with the deft application of copious reels of duct tape… and all was good. As the tools began to breed like rabbits, the old man realised that he may need to invest in another Shop-Vac (or look alike). He purchased a 2.5" "shop-vac" rated the same hose dimension as his previous one and was hoping for integrated compliance. Glory be… why is 2.5" in "Shop-Vac" speak different in size to the 2.5" in "Hitachi" speak. More duct tape and frustration attempting to integrate… and all was NOT good.

I'm sure this is not a rare tale of Robinson Crusoe (mis-located in Churchill), as I am certain most of us can relate to this chagrin.

Whilst pursuing the gratification of attending one of our local wood shows, several years ago, there was this revolutionary stand selling 3D printers. While the interest was huge, the sales was little huge. Somehow I had the insight to contemplate the use of 3D printed items in a workshop and I bit the bullet, fired a few shots and proceeded to procure one. much to the missus's sacrifice of another pair of shoes… she has expensive shoes (I dare not say big feet). My immediate though was about shop-vac integration through customised couplings. Well I was not disappointed.

I now do not fear dust extraction compatibility with any tool I possess and at times scrap the proprietary supplied adapter for a shop made (3D printed) customised one.

While 3D printed paraphernalia can be used throughout the house I have tried to limit my contribution to items I have created for the workshop. Rather than clutter this blog with a myriad of photographic illustrations, I have created the following post-Christmas "STOCKING FILLER" to highlight what I have blundered across for use in the workshop (be warned… there are 90+ pickies in the PDF… guaranteed cure for insomnia).

Now for a touch of woodworking. You can (as I have) create many of these items on a lathe, however, repeatability is not a push button on that skew chisel. I can churn off as many 3D's as I like and all the same… I often disguise some with different colours just to confuse myself.

I hope I can get some people's creative juices flowing, as not all workshop creations are made of wood… especially regarding workshop aids.

Thanks for taking the time to get this far!
how the hell did i miss this,even papadan was on it?
 

Attachments

#29 ·
3D Printing in the Workshop

While this topic doesn't strictly fit into the guidelines of timber product, it does incorporate the processing of said prerequisite, however, to err on the side of veto wizards I decided to blog instead of projecting it.

Flooring Floor Plastic bottle Cylinder Material property


Plumbing valve Plumbing fixture Flooring Floor Valve


Gas Audio equipment Cable Composite material Electronic device


Automotive tire Fluid Bicycle part Bicycle fork Gas


Vehicle Automotive tire Steering wheel Bicycle tire Fender


Pneumatic tool Handheld power drill Drill Hammer drill Power tool


We need to set the mood!

Once upon a time there was this aging geriatric, living in Churchill Australia that was getting paranoid about dust inhalation into his alcohol infested body. He chose to purchase a Shop-Vac and attached a few tools to with the deft application of copious reels of duct tape… and all was good. As the tools began to breed like rabbits, the old man realised that he may need to invest in another Shop-Vac (or look alike). He purchased a 2.5" "shop-vac" rated the same hose dimension as his previous one and was hoping for integrated compliance. Glory be… why is 2.5" in "Shop-Vac" speak different in size to the 2.5" in "Hitachi" speak. More duct tape and frustration attempting to integrate… and all was NOT good.

I'm sure this is not a rare tale of Robinson Crusoe (mis-located in Churchill), as I am certain most of us can relate to this chagrin.

Whilst pursuing the gratification of attending one of our local wood shows, several years ago, there was this revolutionary stand selling 3D printers. While the interest was huge, the sales was little huge. Somehow I had the insight to contemplate the use of 3D printed items in a workshop and I bit the bullet, fired a few shots and proceeded to procure one. much to the missus's sacrifice of another pair of shoes… she has expensive shoes (I dare not say big feet). My immediate though was about shop-vac integration through customised couplings. Well I was not disappointed.

I now do not fear dust extraction compatibility with any tool I possess and at times scrap the proprietary supplied adapter for a shop made (3D printed) customised one.

While 3D printed paraphernalia can be used throughout the house I have tried to limit my contribution to items I have created for the workshop. Rather than clutter this blog with a myriad of photographic illustrations, I have created the following post-Christmas "STOCKING FILLER" to highlight what I have blundered across for use in the workshop (be warned… there are 90+ pickies in the PDF… guaranteed cure for insomnia).

Now for a touch of woodworking. You can (as I have) create many of these items on a lathe, however, repeatability is not a push button on that skew chisel. I can churn off as many 3D's as I like and all the same… I often disguise some with different colours just to confuse myself.

I hope I can get some people's creative juices flowing, as not all workshop creations are made of wood… especially regarding workshop aids.

Thanks for taking the time to get this far!
how the hell did i miss this,even papadan was on it?
- pottz
********************e… I thought I had you blocked, don't wan't you getting ideas and printing a couple of genitalia extensions.
 

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#30 ·
Metal bolts in timber threads.

Boys and Girls, if you are only interested in bargain basement solutions, please jump in the lift and press "G" for "Going Down to the bargain basement", exit the lift and go home without reading further.

Fluid Wood Automotive tire Audio equipment Gas


I am here to readily assist you in parting with your hard earned shekels without remorse, and if you are interested in a better solution (at a cost), read on. No… I don't have shares in the product and the retailer is not related to the "waterfowl family Anatidae" (Ducks 2u).

In the past I have occasionally used metal bolts in timber by cutting the timber thread using an appropriate tap from a low end tap and die set.
Toolbox Tool Hand tool Audio equipment Set tool

I labelled the oft used taps so I didn't have to think each time,
White Light Office equipment Line Grille


Then one day when I was trying to find that elusive imperial bit of hardware in our local dedicated fasteners retailer, I saw a set of taps and associated drill bits designed to handle our standard metric hardware and advertised as specifically suitable for woodworkers. Being a sceptic, I was mesmerised by the ad and even though I thoroughly quizzed the sales person, soon after I was heading back to my workshop to test my new thread making kit.
Wood Hand tool Metalworking hand tool Gas Tool

I used to use this as a demo of wooden threads to woodworking guests in my workshop,
Wood Fastener Household hardware Rectangle Hardwood


I'm not going to say that after that I always used metal bolts in timber threads, but when I have used them, I was never disappointed. I am continually amazed at the amount of pressure that could be applied before the humble timber turned into fire wood.

Back in February 2017 I saw this video about timber threaders being designed by "The Wood Whisperer " and an accomplice. Being a fan of timber threads I couldn't resist the temptation to place an order.

Today, August 2017 (a mere 6 moths later), my set of imperial and metric taps arrived. I immediately made a bee line (ok, teleported down using the phone booth) to my workshop and decided to compare my "original dedicated" 10mm tap with the newly arrived Spagnoulo (TWW) offering.
Wood Font Hardwood Wood stain Document


As always, it wouldn't be a Duck's Tale if I didn't digress. I was vaguely aware that my newly acquisitioned NOVA Drill Press had a tap feature and under duress, I quickly perused the instruction relating to that function.
Communication Device Telephony Office equipment Gadget Font


After a few button presses, the drill was configured to do some tapping (if only it could do the same with beer).
Gadget Audio equipment Gas Font Machine

While the speed is displayed as 900rpm, for tapping it was automatically reduced to 100rpm (what a bonus).

Now let's digress from the digression and waddle back to the story. I loaded each of the two 10mm taps and drilled the recommended holes.
Wood Automotive tire Flooring Floor Bumper

Product Wood Flooring Gas Drilling


Scurrying for a couple of 10mm bolts I was fortunate to find some as I would have had to tackle a couple of 12mm bolts with my die (and I didn't want to die today… never thought about tapping 12mm holes… DOH!).
Wood Gas Metalworking hand tool Tool Hardwood


After threading the two bolts, I tried the wobble test… I passed it with flying colours as I hadn't had a drink all afternoon, however, the original tap exhibited a slight wobble while the new tap was virtually immovable. Now I will reflect that I have not had any issues with the old threads as once the bolt was cranked up, all play was taken out. The TWW taps were designed with greater tolerances and to give you an indication, the old tap's specs recommended an 8.5mm hole while the new one's was suggested at 7.5mm. Overall the TWW threads were much tighter providing a more secure fit. As screwing progressed (hmm.. do you screw a bolt as you don't bolt a screw… preferably, unless your old… I digress if you hadn't noticed), I had to resort to using a spanner much earlier than the "original" tap.

Now not everyone taken in by my silken salesmanship will purchase the taps and then go out and spend $2,400 on a tap assisting NOVA drill press. Well for all you skinflints the TWW taps are just as much at home with the use of a drill (cordless, or for you senior seniors, a corded one) though variable speed is recommended.
Pneumatic tool Plant Drill Handheld power drill Milling


When using the hand held drill, the lead in may not be exactly 90° but as you progress even just slightly in, it aligns with the pre drilled hole and creates as tight a fit as with the NOVA. The taps can be used in a drill with either a variable or hex chuck.

The new set is now ready to be bolted to the wall,
Font Gas Cylinder Fastener Nut


You may all wonder what was that lonely first picture doing… Well he's part of the following conspiracy in presenting my acid test to all you skeptics out there… you know who you are!

Drilled a hole in a piece of pine and tapped it with a 10mm bit,
Pneumatic tool Handheld power drill Drill Hammer drill Wood

Remember the first picture? OK, here it is again in case the grey matter is having a sabbatical,
Fluid Wood Automotive tire Audio equipment Gas

Decided to attack it with an 8mm allen key from the safety of my mini vice,
Wood Tool Hand tool Hardwood Gas

After a significant amount of torque and fear of risking another hernia, I eased up on the bolt,
Wood Gas Fastener Audio equipment Composite material

You may have noticed that the head "countersunk" a good 5mm+ into the pine without affecting the integrity of the thread.

You may say it's only pine… "It's only pine!" That is why I managed to countersink, hardwood would (pardon the stutter) provide greater grip and countersinking resistance.

What does all this mean? Anyone wants a set of metric taps with complimentary drill bits. I paid $90 for the set and am prepared to relinquish it to a friendly home for maybe a donation of a cask of vino (locally).

For all those not interested in this topic, please go back and re-read the 1st paragraph and don't bother to read the rest.

PS. If you all stay good Boys and Girls and eat all your greens, I may post a review about wooden threads. Some may scream NO MORE and by pure mathematics, the remainder didn't, but you'll all have nightmares wondering if and when.
 

Attachments

#31 ·
Metal bolts in timber threads.

Boys and Girls, if you are only interested in bargain basement solutions, please jump in the lift and press "G" for "Going Down to the bargain basement", exit the lift and go home without reading further.



I am here to readily assist you in parting with your hard earned shekels without remorse, and if you are interested in a better solution (at a cost), read on. No… I don't have shares in the product and the retailer is not related to the "waterfowl family Anatidae" (Ducks 2u).

In the past I have occasionally used metal bolts in timber by cutting the timber thread using an appropriate tap from a low end tap and die set.

I labelled the oft used taps so I didn't have to think each time,


Then one day when I was trying to find that elusive imperial bit of hardware in our local dedicated fasteners retailer, I saw a set of taps and associated drill bits designed to handle our standard metric hardware and advertised as specifically suitable for woodworkers. Being a sceptic, I was mesmerised by the ad and even though I thoroughly quizzed the sales person, soon after I was heading back to my workshop to test my new thread making kit.

I used to use this as a demo of wooden threads to woodworking guests in my workshop,


I'm not going to say that after that I always used metal bolts in timber threads, but when I have used them, I was never disappointed. I am continually amazed at the amount of pressure that could be applied before the humble timber turned into fire wood.

Back in February 2017 I saw this video about timber threaders being designed by "The Wood Whisperer " and an accomplice. Being a fan of timber threads I couldn't resist the temptation to place an order.

Today, August 2017 (a mere 6 moths later), my set of imperial and metric taps arrived. I immediately made a bee line (ok, teleported down using the phone booth) to my workshop and decided to compare my "original dedicated" 10mm tap with the newly arrived Spagnoulo (TWW) offering.


As always, it wouldn't be a Duck's Tale if I didn't digress. I was vaguely aware that my newly acquisitioned NOVA Drill Press had a tap feature and under duress, I quickly perused the instruction relating to that function.


After a few button presses, the drill was configured to do some tapping (if only it could do the same with beer).

While the speed is displayed as 900rpm, for tapping it was automatically reduced to 100rpm (what a bonus).

Now let's digress from the digression and waddle back to the story. I loaded each of the two 10mm taps and drilled the recommended holes.



Scurrying for a couple of 10mm bolts I was fortunate to find some as I would have had to tackle a couple of 12mm bolts with my die (and I didn't want to die today… never thought about tapping 12mm holes… DOH!).


After threading the two bolts, I tried the wobble test… I passed it with flying colours as I hadn't had a drink all afternoon, however, the original tap exhibited a slight wobble while the new tap was virtually immovable. Now I will reflect that I have not had any issues with the old threads as once the bolt was cranked up, all play was taken out. The TWW taps were designed with greater tolerances and to give you an indication, the old tap's specs recommended an 8.5mm hole while the new one's was suggested at 7.5mm. Overall the TWW threads were much tighter providing a more secure fit. As screwing progressed (hmm.. do you screw a bolt as you don't bolt a screw… preferably, unless your old… I digress if you hadn't noticed), I had to resort to using a spanner much earlier than the "original" tap.

Now not everyone taken in by my silken salesmanship will purchase the taps and then go out and spend $2,400 on a tap assisting NOVA drill press. Well for all you skinflints the TWW taps are just as much at home with the use of a drill (cordless, or for you senior seniors, a corded one) though variable speed is recommended.


When using the hand held drill, the lead in may not be exactly 90° but as you progress even just slightly in, it aligns with the pre drilled hole and creates as tight a fit as with the NOVA. The taps can be used in a drill with either a variable or hex chuck.

The new set is now ready to be bolted to the wall,


You may all wonder what was that lonely first picture doing… Well he's part of the following conspiracy in presenting my acid test to all you skeptics out there… you know who you are!

Drilled a hole in a piece of pine and tapped it with a 10mm bit,

Remember the first picture? OK, here it is again in case the grey matter is having a sabbatical,

Decided to attack it with an 8mm allen key from the safety of my mini vice,

After a significant amount of torque and fear of risking another hernia, I eased up on the bolt,

You may have noticed that the head "countersunk" a good 5mm+ into the pine without affecting the integrity of the thread.

You may say it's only pine… "It's only pine!" That is why I managed to countersink, hardwood would (pardon the stutter) provide greater grip and countersinking resistance.

What does all this mean? Anyone wants a set of metric taps with complimentary drill bits. I paid $90 for the set and am prepared to relinquish it to a friendly home for maybe a donation of a cask of vino (locally).

For all those not interested in this topic, please go back and re-read the 1st paragraph and don't bother to read the rest.

PS. If you all stay good Boys and Girls and eat all your greens, I may post a review about wooden threads. Some may scream NO MORE and by pure mathematics, the remainder didn't, but you'll all have nightmares wondering if and when.
LMAO :<))
 

Attachments

#60 ·
Bottled sawdust

Boys and girls, I just finished watching another one of those videos where the author advises the use of sawdust in the glue squeeze out to create that seamless join especially when you finish up using a zig saw instead of the zag saw…
GREAT TIP!

Now if you are like me, there is never enough time to finish clamping before the glue starts to set, let alone go foraging for enough sawdust to mix into the squeeze out/gaps… and sometimes I have craters.

If you are a clean freak… OOPS, the shop would be spotless and if you are not then the sawdust on the floor should be contaminated by cigarette butts, empty tinnies and leftover micro-waved leftovers.

I went to my supermarket and could not find any bottled sawdust on the shelf; I lodged a serious complaint with the manager. Arriving home and failing a Google search, I decided to bottle my own brew.

I am a dust freak… (the missus says I use the word "dust" too freely…) so I have posse of cyclone collectors (Dust Deputies) front ends to all my dust collectors and shop vacs.

One of the DD's is for my sanding and from that I can harvest very fine sawdust. Another one "front ends" behind my mitre saw. This can supply me with the coarse dust.
Table Furniture Drinkware Desk Wood


Some of that dust I then sieve to give me the medium dust…, here's the proof,
Food Ingredient Cuisine Wood Dish


Now a lot will say that the saw dust may not match the job… especially if you use diversified timber. I suggest farm more frequently after processing specific timbers… alternatively put some of that scrap we all brag about and spend a few hours making dedicated dust, bottle it
Drinkware Liquid Food storage containers Mason jar Fluid


and try not to mix it up with your favourite alcoholic beverage.

Often you'll be caught with your pants down and don't have matching saw dust, I feel that a contrasting "hair line" is better than a gaping hole or congealed glue (often yellow, white or grey) that cannot be coloured without excavating the fill… and then you fill it with what?

Just make sure you have reserves and next to the project during glue up.

Hope this may inspire some to make some saw instead of the traditional bull.
 

Attachments

#61 ·
Bottled sawdust

Boys and girls, I just finished watching another one of those videos where the author advises the use of sawdust in the glue squeeze out to create that seamless join especially when you finish up using a zig saw instead of the zag saw…
GREAT TIP!

Now if you are like me, there is never enough time to finish clamping before the glue starts to set, let alone go foraging for enough sawdust to mix into the squeeze out/gaps… and sometimes I have craters.

If you are a clean freak… OOPS, the shop would be spotless and if you are not then the sawdust on the floor should be contaminated by cigarette butts, empty tinnies and leftover micro-waved leftovers.

I went to my supermarket and could not find any bottled sawdust on the shelf; I lodged a serious complaint with the manager. Arriving home and failing a Google search, I decided to bottle my own brew.

I am a dust freak… (the missus says I use the word "dust" too freely…) so I have posse of cyclone collectors (Dust Deputies) front ends to all my dust collectors and shop vacs.

One of the DD's is for my sanding and from that I can harvest very fine sawdust. Another one "front ends" behind my mitre saw. This can supply me with the coarse dust.
Table Furniture Drinkware Desk Wood


Some of that dust I then sieve to give me the medium dust…, here's the proof,
Food Ingredient Cuisine Wood Dish


Now a lot will say that the saw dust may not match the job… especially if you use diversified timber. I suggest farm more frequently after processing specific timbers… alternatively put some of that scrap we all brag about and spend a few hours making dedicated dust, bottle it
Drinkware Liquid Food storage containers Mason jar Fluid


and try not to mix it up with your favourite alcoholic beverage.

Often you'll be caught with your pants down and don't have matching saw dust, I feel that a contrasting "hair line" is better than a gaping hole or congealed glue (often yellow, white or grey) that cannot be coloured without excavating the fill… and then you fill it with what?

Just make sure you have reserves and next to the project during glue up.

Hope this may inspire some to make some saw instead of the traditional bull.
Dear DDW
Dead Duck Walking,

I see some jars and cake making items kleptoed from the kitchen … thats death sentence behaviour LBD.

A woodchipper comes to mind.

As for being caught with your pants down, to the best of my knowledge I havent met a duck yet that actually wears pants.

You really do not need that much sawdust (unless you are building something measured in cubits) just put some in a zip lock bag write the species on it, stash it away in a safe place and you will live longer.
Then after dark try to sneak all the wifes gear back into the kitchen unnoticed ensuring that you remove any evidence of tampering first.

BTW where is the video link please.
 

Attachments

#67 ·
Sharing shop vacs between power tools.

Boys and Girls,

While this may be old hat to most, I've had enough friends (another one today/yesterday) saying that it's a good idea, so I thought it might be worth a shout out.

If you have a shop vac with an automatic outlet and share it amongst a number of tools during the one session, bridge the two with a power outlet plugged into the dusty.
Vehicle Motor vehicle Bicycle handlebar Bicycle Electrical wiring


You can then plug each of the power tools into a spare outlet and give them all access to the dusty without dancing the power point shuffle.
Automotive tire Bicycle tire Electrical wiring Cabinetry Bicycle fork


No matter which tool you turn on, it will automatically activates the dusty… just don't forget to switch
the hose… and watch both ends ends if you have more than one hose feeding the one dusty.
Automotive tire Wood Electrical wiring Engineering Gas


I use the same concept sharing the same dusty between my 2 mitre saws,
Motor vehicle Hood Automotive exterior Automotive fuel system Automotive exhaust


with a gentle reminder sign to get my act together,
Wood Motor vehicle Audio equipment Gas Automotive tire


which is toggled depending on the status of each saw. This sign is a very recent addition making clean up less arduous chore…

MY other (central) dusty also has provision for sharing, albeit loosely attached, as it is used to vacuum the full workshop and occasionally used for tools,
Gas Engineering Automotive tire Machine Wood


If you already perform this practice, there's no need to read this article.
 

Attachments

#68 ·
Sharing shop vacs between power tools.

Boys and Girls,

While this may be old hat to most, I've had enough friends (another one today/yesterday) saying that it's a good idea, so I thought it might be worth a shout out.

If you have a shop vac with an automatic outlet and share it amongst a number of tools during the one session, bridge the two with a power outlet plugged into the dusty.
Vehicle Motor vehicle Bicycle handlebar Bicycle Electrical wiring


You can then plug each of the power tools into a spare outlet and give them all access to the dusty without dancing the power point shuffle.
Automotive tire Bicycle tire Electrical wiring Cabinetry Bicycle fork


No matter which tool you turn on, it will automatically activates the dusty… just don't forget to switch
the hose… and watch both ends ends if you have more than one hose feeding the one dusty.
Automotive tire Wood Electrical wiring Engineering Gas


I use the same concept sharing the same dusty between my 2 mitre saws,
Motor vehicle Hood Automotive exterior Automotive fuel system Automotive exhaust


with a gentle reminder sign to get my act together,
Wood Motor vehicle Audio equipment Gas Automotive tire


which is toggled depending on the status of each saw. This sign is a very recent addition making clean up less arduous chore…

MY other (central) dusty also has provision for sharing, albeit loosely attached, as it is used to vacuum the full workshop and occasionally used for tools,
Gas Engineering Automotive tire Machine Wood


If you already perform this practice, there's no need to read this article.
Yep! Tats worth a post.
 

Attachments

#84 ·
Safety in the Shop #1: Go - No Go indicator for the Band Saw

Boys and Girls,

I got inspired by J'J's handy hint in his blog Gauges in the Shop #1: Go - No Go gauge for Lathe Chuck and thought I might share this simplified indicator I use on my band saw.

It consists of a hunk of red coloured MDF
Wood Rectangle Jewellery Art Electric blue


though you can paint it any colour if you are colour blind as long as it's not invisible ink and manages to annoy the hell out of you when dangling in your sight,

It is attached to the my tension handle of the BS,
Motor vehicle Engineering Gas Machine Electric blue


by twine through a hole at the end of the handle and traipsed over the top of the BS, dangling down the operational side. Ensure the hole is drilled in the handle end or you may not get enough leverage at the other end unless you use heavy duty tug boat rope.

When the dangling chunk of red MDF blocks my view I know the tension on the blade is off…
Yellow Motor vehicle Gas Machine Machine tool


and when the red doesn't annoy me I know the tension hasn't been released when I havent used the bandsaw for a couple of days forcing unnecessary pressure on narrow blades. Has saved many 1/4" blades.

You don't need a math's degree to work out the length of the string, however, I do recommend the MDF be measure in millimeters rather than meters… unless you want a good workout not provided by lifting a glass of beer/vino.

If you don't have a bandsaw, I'm sure you could attach this indicator to your cask of vino so you don't loose it among your other tools.
 

Attachments

#85 ·
Safety in the Shop #1: Go - No Go indicator for the Band Saw

Boys and Girls,

I got inspired by J'J's handy hint in his blog Gauges in the Shop #1: Go - No Go gauge for Lathe Chuck and thought I might share this simplified indicator I use on my band saw.

It consists of a hunk of red coloured MDF
Wood Rectangle Jewellery Art Electric blue


though you can paint it any colour if you are colour blind as long as it's not invisible ink and manages to annoy the hell out of you when dangling in your sight,

It is attached to the my tension handle of the BS,
Motor vehicle Engineering Gas Machine Electric blue


by twine through a hole at the end of the handle and traipsed over the top of the BS, dangling down the operational side. Ensure the hole is drilled in the handle end or you may not get enough leverage at the other end unless you use heavy duty tug boat rope.

When the dangling chunk of red MDF blocks my view I know the tension on the blade is off…
Yellow Motor vehicle Gas Machine Machine tool


and when the red doesn't annoy me I know the tension hasn't been released when I havent used the bandsaw for a couple of days forcing unnecessary pressure on narrow blades. Has saved many 1/4" blades.

You don't need a math's degree to work out the length of the string, however, I do recommend the MDF be measure in millimeters rather than meters… unless you want a good workout not provided by lifting a glass of beer/vino.

If you don't have a bandsaw, I'm sure you could attach this indicator to your cask of vino so you don't loose it among your other tools.
The de tensioning lever was a bit of a sore point with me for exactly the same reason.
What I did was to remove the original lever and add a longer piece of threaded rod pushing out from being hidden behind the saw frame into view so when I use the saw eye can see it.

Kitchen sink Sink Tap Motor vehicle Gas


Sorry about the laundry clutter but not everybody has a workshop

BTW where have you been for so long? I hope you are OK.
Saw the Johny Joke but Google would not let me log on to acknowledge your nice Shirt.
 

Attachments

#94 ·
Power Tools a_CORD_ing to LBD.

Boys and Girls,

With the popularity of cordless tools that boast the one battery runs millions of different skins phylosophy, the days of the recalcitrant power cord is becoming a relic of the past.
As my collection of power tools are on the ever increasing decline (hmmm, as the missus would say "you oxymoron") I thought I'd share this idea as I reckon that many Lumberjocks will refuse to sever their power umbilical.

Now there are many classifications of tools, but I put them into one of two classes… friendly or unfriendly. The friendly ones are the tools with the soft rubber cords that have the tendency to behave themselves… the Fe$tool cords,
Electrical wiring Gas Engineering Audio equipment Machine


and the Fein,
Wood Gas Automotive exterior Power tool Machine


immediately come to mind. The unfriendly ones are those cheap Chinese tools with the hard plastic cords, that always manage to direct the tool in the opposite direction to the user's intention.

In the past I was guilty of sacrificing quality for the holy shekel and finished up with curly cords that even a hair straightener could not rectify… like this Ryobi grinder,
Automotive tire Bicycle tire Wood Table Bicycle part


they all refused to get cramped back in their molded plastic box without some sort of dexterous manipulation,
Gas Electrical wiring Auto part Machine Engineering


Now I'm sure that many of us were/are still guilty of this practice,
Wood Electrical wiring Gas Handheld power drill Cable


of tying the cord and extension together to prevent inadvertent separation. Unless your extension was made of that same "unfriendly" plastic, you finished up with a lopsided knot that would snag onto everything, in or outside the workshop.

My initial effort to tame this snake was to shorten it enough that it didn't have to be rolled up to be put away
Table Wood Gas Desk Engineering


Even with this DeWalt biscuit joiner, I kept looking for a second box to accommodate the cord before its circumcision, and now after the snip,
Motor vehicle Engineering Machine tool Gas Machine


Unfortunately this brought that knot far too close to the tool,
Pneumatic tool Electrical wiring Cable Gas Wood


and still managed to retain the disuniformity of the knot.

This was solved when I discovered this little plug securing gizmo made out of plastic coated heavy duty spring steel,
Wood Electrical wiring Gas Audio equipment Cable


that slip on and off with the same ease as a well lubricated rubber.

However, the operational end of the power was always a long way away at the other end of the cord.

My next gen. solution incorporated the inclusion of an in line switch at the business end of the extension.
Table Wood Engineering Gas Bumper


I thought this inline switch was such a good idea and started to incorporate the concept in all my extensions,
Comfort Linens Publication Tablecloth Art


Electricity Electrical wiring Gas Engineering Electrical supply


Audio equipment Electrical wiring Automotive tire Gas Train


Automotive tire Material property Audio equipment Wood Tints and shades


Gas Wood Auto part Metal Electric blue


Wood Gas Cable Electrical wiring Wire

phew.

As my collection of extensions expanded, while I will seldom cry poor, this fitting of inline switches was becoming a costly, if not to mention, a timely exercise.

Then I came up with the idea of a mini, inline switch extension which I could front end onto any length extension cord and still manage to control the power at the working end,
Automotive tire Wood Table Engineering Gas


Wood Table Tool Automotive exterior Gas


the downside was that I needed 2 plug securing gizmos.

Somewhere I also picked up this plug lock that I found lurking on a bench,
Wood Gas Electrical wiring Engineering Machine


it was unused as it's not as good quality as the others, though it lets you hang the cord.

While on the topic of mini cords, I created several of these "extensions"
Automotive tire Electrical wiring Automotive exterior Gas Cable


to access those power points whose physical position may make them inaccessible due to the plug poking straight out,
Gas Electrical wiring Wood Electrical supply Pipe


as not all extension cords have the low profile plug and this saves replacing it (or buying an extension with the low profile plug. I could have put an inline switch on these, but even I realised that I'd have to flip two switches within 6" of each other to activate, if I adopted this design.

While this item was designed to address power tools it can just as easily be used on a 1 or 2m extension cord for machinery that hide the power point behind them… this is the use of most of my inline cords in the above examples.
 

Attachments

#95 ·
Power Tools a_CORD_ing to LBD.

Boys and Girls,

With the popularity of cordless tools that boast the one battery runs millions of different skins phylosophy, the days of the recalcitrant power cord is becoming a relic of the past.
As my collection of power tools are on the ever increasing decline (hmmm, as the missus would say "you oxymoron") I thought I'd share this idea as I reckon that many Lumberjocks will refuse to sever their power umbilical.

Now there are many classifications of tools, but I put them into one of two classes… friendly or unfriendly. The friendly ones are the tools with the soft rubber cords that have the tendency to behave themselves… the Fe$tool cords,
Electrical wiring Gas Engineering Audio equipment Machine


and the Fein,
Wood Gas Automotive exterior Power tool Machine


immediately come to mind. The unfriendly ones are those cheap Chinese tools with the hard plastic cords, that always manage to direct the tool in the opposite direction to the user's intention.

In the past I was guilty of sacrificing quality for the holy shekel and finished up with curly cords that even a hair straightener could not rectify… like this Ryobi grinder,
Automotive tire Bicycle tire Wood Table Bicycle part


they all refused to get cramped back in their molded plastic box without some sort of dexterous manipulation,
Gas Electrical wiring Auto part Machine Engineering


Now I'm sure that many of us were/are still guilty of this practice,
Wood Electrical wiring Gas Handheld power drill Cable


of tying the cord and extension together to prevent inadvertent separation. Unless your extension was made of that same "unfriendly" plastic, you finished up with a lopsided knot that would snag onto everything, in or outside the workshop.

My initial effort to tame this snake was to shorten it enough that it didn't have to be rolled up to be put away
Table Wood Gas Desk Engineering


Even with this DeWalt biscuit joiner, I kept looking for a second box to accommodate the cord before its circumcision, and now after the snip,
Motor vehicle Engineering Machine tool Gas Machine


Unfortunately this brought that knot far too close to the tool,
Pneumatic tool Electrical wiring Cable Gas Wood


and still managed to retain the disuniformity of the knot.

This was solved when I discovered this little plug securing gizmo made out of plastic coated heavy duty spring steel,
Wood Electrical wiring Gas Audio equipment Cable


that slip on and off with the same ease as a well lubricated rubber.

However, the operational end of the power was always a long way away at the other end of the cord.

My next gen. solution incorporated the inclusion of an in line switch at the business end of the extension.
Table Wood Engineering Gas Bumper


I thought this inline switch was such a good idea and started to incorporate the concept in all my extensions,
Comfort Linens Publication Tablecloth Art


Electricity Electrical wiring Gas Engineering Electrical supply


Audio equipment Electrical wiring Automotive tire Gas Train


Automotive tire Material property Audio equipment Wood Tints and shades


Gas Wood Auto part Metal Electric blue


Wood Gas Cable Electrical wiring Wire

phew.

As my collection of extensions expanded, while I will seldom cry poor, this fitting of inline switches was becoming a costly, if not to mention, a timely exercise.

Then I came up with the idea of a mini, inline switch extension which I could front end onto any length extension cord and still manage to control the power at the working end,
Automotive tire Wood Table Engineering Gas


Wood Table Tool Automotive exterior Gas


the downside was that I needed 2 plug securing gizmos.

Somewhere I also picked up this plug lock that I found lurking on a bench,
Wood Gas Electrical wiring Engineering Machine


it was unused as it's not as good quality as the others, though it lets you hang the cord.

While on the topic of mini cords, I created several of these "extensions"
Automotive tire Electrical wiring Automotive exterior Gas Cable


to access those power points whose physical position may make them inaccessible due to the plug poking straight out,
Gas Electrical wiring Wood Electrical supply Pipe


as not all extension cords have the low profile plug and this saves replacing it (or buying an extension with the low profile plug. I could have put an inline switch on these, but even I realised that I'd have to flip two switches within 6" of each other to activate, if I adopted this design.

While this item was designed to address power tools it can just as easily be used on a 1 or 2m extension cord for machinery that hide the power point behind them… this is the use of most of my inline cords in the above examples.
your cord crazy duckie,i can see the head line now, man found strangled to death in workshop full of power cords,obviously a cord horder-lol.
 

Attachments

#119 ·
Easy(er) way to use double sided tape.

Boys and Girls,

I normally poo-poo authors that say a few words and then direct their audience to a YouTube video or to a different forum/WEB, however, this is another one of those tips that make workshop practices so much easier that I thought I'd break my own rules (this time).

OK, I folded, and had to make my voice be read.

When using double sided tape, a lot of people (me inclusive) cut off strips of tape with scissors, apply it to the timber and then swear like a trooper when you can't peel off the backing tape.
If you are guilty, read on, otherwise waste your time on a better article than this one.

This is a link to the tape I currently use,
Fluid Automotive tire Paint Wood Wood stain


now I'm not spruiking the supplier, however, if you browse the link you can the specs to find your own supplier. The Titebond was included in the picture to create a size reference… it is NOT there to suggest you need glue to hold the tape (DOH!). You may notice, and the rest may not notice, and a lot couldn't give a damn, however, there is 33m of the tape in each roll.

The tape is paper backed and micro thin and is not subject to distortions and compressions if you apply excessive downward force with the router (tool).

The secret is to not cut with scissors but rather leave some trailing paper backing
Automotive tire Wood Audio equipment Gadget Gas


and tear the tape off (remember its thin… very thin compared to the 3M and such offerings). You may need to add an extra strip, however, the time to do that is a helluva shorter than trying to peel off the backing.

All further crap aside, I made this quick video for Rob on an easy way to use double sided tape…

Fortunately after posting the video on YouTube, a chap/chapette with the moniiker of Kris s identified the phantom author (which prompted me to make this blog official) and I thoroughly recommend it's viewing and professional presentation… sorry for those that viewed my offering before reading this.

While we both (us 2 movie starts) are demonstrating with the use of paper tape, I believe the same method could be used for heavy duty (carpet) tape for all you power hungry skeptics. I use the word believe, as I have only tested this on the paper tape and was to tight to go and purchase some heavy duty just for a demo.
 

Attachments

#120 ·
Easy(er) way to use double sided tape.

Boys and Girls,

I normally poo-poo authors that say a few words and then direct their audience to a YouTube video or to a different forum/WEB, however, this is another one of those tips that make workshop practices so much easier that I thought I'd break my own rules (this time).

OK, I folded, and had to make my voice be read.

When using double sided tape, a lot of people (me inclusive) cut off strips of tape with scissors, apply it to the timber and then swear like a trooper when you can't peel off the backing tape.
If you are guilty, read on, otherwise waste your time on a better article than this one.

This is a link to the tape I currently use,
Fluid Automotive tire Paint Wood Wood stain


now I'm not spruiking the supplier, however, if you browse the link you can the specs to find your own supplier. The Titebond was included in the picture to create a size reference… it is NOT there to suggest you need glue to hold the tape (DOH!). You may notice, and the rest may not notice, and a lot couldn't give a damn, however, there is 33m of the tape in each roll.

The tape is paper backed and micro thin and is not subject to distortions and compressions if you apply excessive downward force with the router (tool).

The secret is to not cut with scissors but rather leave some trailing paper backing
Automotive tire Wood Audio equipment Gadget Gas


and tear the tape off (remember its thin… very thin compared to the 3M and such offerings). You may need to add an extra strip, however, the time to do that is a helluva shorter than trying to peel off the backing.

All further crap aside, I made this quick video for Rob on an easy way to use double sided tape…

Fortunately after posting the video on YouTube, a chap/chapette with the moniiker of Kris s identified the phantom author (which prompted me to make this blog official) and I thoroughly recommend it's viewing and professional presentation… sorry for those that viewed my offering before reading this.

While we both (us 2 movie starts) are demonstrating with the use of paper tape, I believe the same method could be used for heavy duty (carpet) tape for all you power hungry skeptics. I use the word believe, as I have only tested this on the paper tape and was to tight to go and purchase some heavy duty just for a demo.
THANKS
 

Attachments

#124 ·
Easy(er) Way to Change Your Dust Collector Bag

Boys and Girls,

Another one of my plagiarised hints.

One of the things I will criticise about LumberJocks is that there is a wealth of information out there that just doesn't seem to get sufficient distribution onto the "ignorant". Now no offence meant to members as many may consider everyone knows about "it", whatever "it" may be, and there probably have been a number of past posts that the search engine did not reveal.

Even if the subject has been telegraphed, it may be hidden in the archives that new members may not investigate due to their arachnophobia or share my phobia of ihatereadia.

Unless you have one of these type of cyclones (bought or shopmade)
Fender Gas Automotive tire Engineering Cylinder


attached to your dusty, you will find the chore of replacing the collector bag will resurect your desire to turn into an octopus, much like in the past history of your prom night.

You may ask why am I writing all these blogs all of a sudden. Well I have come to the realisation that some of my knowledge resides in the part of my brain that alcohol may affect… so let's not waste the opportunity.

Allow me to introduce you to the ideal solution. Take a look at this blackboard and the answer is right in front of your eyes,
Gas Machine Technology Electronic device Engineering


You are a dumbcoff... unless you screamed, it's a bleeding whiteboard (DOH!).

Dumbcoff or not, the answer is still in front of your eyes… no not the picture, the magnet holding up the picture…
Line Electrical wiring Gas Audio equipment Composite material


even if you're colour blind you should realise it is not a blackboard as magnets would not stick to it.

This solution has been lurking in the background for over 4,000 years (some may argue that a Greek shepherd named Magnes first experienced it's characteristic) and ever since been waiting for the dust extractor to be invented.

Now here we happen to have a dusty without a cyclone,
Gas Machine Electric blue Auto part Electrical wiring


that was previously dressed with the assistance of duct tape,
Automotive tire Hood Motor vehicle Automotive design Automotive lighting


For this demo I have taken the band off, put it aside and pulled the dusties panties down around his knees,
Automotive tire Motor vehicle Electrical wiring Gas Engineering


now slip the plastic bag back on and place the magnets to hold the bag.

Sleeve Textile Automotive tire Denim Material property


Sleeve Natural material Collar Tints and shades Electric blue


I decided to use a heavier one where I overlap the bag (trial and error),
Sleeve Natural material Electric blue Terrestrial plant Water


I suggest you distribute the magnets around the perimeter because if you put them all in one place, you might as well hold the bag with your free hand.

It's then just a "simple" job of placing the band and locking it. However,
  1. Don't "band" over the magnets or you won't be able to do step 2. Take note of #2 in one of the paragraph below.
  2. Don't forget to remove the magnet as after several bag replacements you'll have built up a large residue of magnets and you'll run the risk of running out of them.

Ready for use,
Hood Automotive tire Motor vehicle Fender Gas


Now in all fairness, you will need to pick your magnet carefully,
  1. Too small and it will not hold the bag.
  2. Too big, it'll attract the band on top of it, which kaboshes #1 in the previous
    paragraph.

I decided NOT to make a video of this as my animal nightie was at the dry cleaners, so I'll direct you to this video.

Enjoy your bagging… just don't bag me for posting this blog.
 

Attachments

#125 ·
Easy(er) Way to Change Your Dust Collector Bag

Boys and Girls,

Another one of my plagiarised hints.

One of the things I will criticise about LumberJocks is that there is a wealth of information out there that just doesn't seem to get sufficient distribution onto the "ignorant". Now no offence meant to members as many may consider everyone knows about "it", whatever "it" may be, and there probably have been a number of past posts that the search engine did not reveal.

Even if the subject has been telegraphed, it may be hidden in the archives that new members may not investigate due to their arachnophobia or share my phobia of ihatereadia.

Unless you have one of these type of cyclones (bought or shopmade)
Fender Gas Automotive tire Engineering Cylinder


attached to your dusty, you will find the chore of replacing the collector bag will resurect your desire to turn into an octopus, much like in the past history of your prom night.

You may ask why am I writing all these blogs all of a sudden. Well I have come to the realisation that some of my knowledge resides in the part of my brain that alcohol may affect… so let's not waste the opportunity.

Allow me to introduce you to the ideal solution. Take a look at this blackboard and the answer is right in front of your eyes,
Gas Machine Technology Electronic device Engineering


You are a dumbcoff... unless you screamed, it's a bleeding whiteboard (DOH!).

Dumbcoff or not, the answer is still in front of your eyes… no not the picture, the magnet holding up the picture…
Line Electrical wiring Gas Audio equipment Composite material


even if you're colour blind you should realise it is not a blackboard as magnets would not stick to it.

This solution has been lurking in the background for over 4,000 years (some may argue that a Greek shepherd named Magnes first experienced it's characteristic) and ever since been waiting for the dust extractor to be invented.

Now here we happen to have a dusty without a cyclone,
Gas Machine Electric blue Auto part Electrical wiring


that was previously dressed with the assistance of duct tape,
Automotive tire Hood Motor vehicle Automotive design Automotive lighting


For this demo I have taken the band off, put it aside and pulled the dusties panties down around his knees,
Automotive tire Motor vehicle Electrical wiring Gas Engineering


now slip the plastic bag back on and place the magnets to hold the bag.

Sleeve Textile Automotive tire Denim Material property


Sleeve Natural material Collar Tints and shades Electric blue


I decided to use a heavier one where I overlap the bag (trial and error),
Sleeve Natural material Electric blue Terrestrial plant Water


I suggest you distribute the magnets around the perimeter because if you put them all in one place, you might as well hold the bag with your free hand.

It's then just a "simple" job of placing the band and locking it. However,
  1. Don't "band" over the magnets or you won't be able to do step 2. Take note of #2 in one of the paragraph below.
  2. Don't forget to remove the magnet as after several bag replacements you'll have built up a large residue of magnets and you'll run the risk of running out of them.

Ready for use,
Hood Automotive tire Motor vehicle Fender Gas


Now in all fairness, you will need to pick your magnet carefully,
  1. Too small and it will not hold the bag.
  2. Too big, it'll attract the band on top of it, which kaboshes #1 in the previous
    paragraph.

I decided NOT to make a video of this as my animal nightie was at the dry cleaners, so I'll direct you to this video.

Enjoy your bagging… just don't bag me for posting this blog.
Love it - never would have thought of it. I struggle regularly now maybe less so - Thanks
 

Attachments

#143 ·
Dis_CORD in the workshop

Boys and Girls,

Dis cord or dat cord, no matter which cord, they both get in your way when trying to manoeuvre tools around in a small workshop.

Let's re-introduce capital punishment and all those guilty, should be hanged. Unfortunately, electrocution or lethal injection is reserved for the delinquent operators.

The pinnacle of this suspension method are these snap hooks (surprisingly, made by Pinnacle),
Motor vehicle Wood Font Material property Gas


I used to make my own hanging noose, using rope eyes,
Go Wood Audio equipment Gas Font


and 6mm or 8mm shock cord
Wood Audio equipment Cable Jewellery Wire


Other weapons in my gallows arsenal are these cable ties,
Wood Sports equipment Gas Hardwood Composite material


(which I purchased from Bunnings… they were a discontinued item so I bought all their remaining 4 strips of stock… so don't come to Morwell searching for them) and these key ring connectors,
Fluid Liquid Barware Wood Flooring

As the rope eyes were metal, I could use these magnetic pickup rods,
Wood Table Gas Flooring Indoor games and sports


to "string" them up from the ceiling using hooks,
Wood Fixture Beam Architecture Interior design


or just strung over my "ceiling joists",
Wood Composite material Beam Engineering Gas


and front ended them with the snap hook, key ring and cable ties,
Electrical wiring Valve Gas Motor vehicle Electricity


Browsing through my local $2 shop to police they didn't carry $3+ items, I found these bungee straps with aluminium snap hooks at either end,
Bicycle handlebar Bicycle part Electrical wiring Gas Audio equipment


At $2.99 each (just under the $3 and avoided being arrested), they are a lot cheaper than my shop made ones and a tad quicker to assemble (just rip the packaging apart).

Unfortunately science is yet to invent aluminium magnets so my mag rod was useless. I started using my outdoor blind pull rod (as I had no outdoor blinds)
Fluid Bicycle fork Wood Bicycle part Gas

to hang these aluminium snap hooks
Wood Fixture Shade Beam Ceiling


and rig out the shop-vac hose using the key ring and cable tie,
Blue Bicycle tire Carabiner Line Rope


... the cord for the sander was just looped through a separate suspended snap hook
Electrical wiring Engineering Electricity Gas Machine


boasting a mini inline switch (circled).

Armed with the above hanging nooses I can prevent both the power cable and shop-vac hose (if required for the job) from interfering with the normal flow of my workshop processes.
Note: the above picture was posed for by stunt doubles and not necessarily located in their actual working environment.

The major benefit of the shock cord (bungee) is their elasticity and give support while permitting movement past the contracted (non-stretched… not solicitor speak) length of the cord(s).

I use these cords extensively in my workshop to suspend everything just short of my jocks and sox,
Automotive design Wood Engineering Machine Art


Building Engineering Automotive design Electrical wiring Machine


Lighting Ceiling Engineering Shade Market


Carabiner Electrical wiring Rock-climbing equipment Composite material Gas


If you didn't like this idea, you can hang your head in shame for reading this far.

PS. For all you bookworms that hung on every word I wrote… Morwell has the nearest Bunnings store to downtown Chuchill.
 

Attachments

#144 ·
Dis_CORD in the workshop

Boys and Girls,

Dis cord or dat cord, no matter which cord, they both get in your way when trying to manoeuvre tools around in a small workshop.

Let's re-introduce capital punishment and all those guilty, should be hanged. Unfortunately, electrocution or lethal injection is reserved for the delinquent operators.

The pinnacle of this suspension method are these snap hooks (surprisingly, made by Pinnacle),
Motor vehicle Wood Font Material property Gas


I used to make my own hanging noose, using rope eyes,
Go Wood Audio equipment Gas Font


and 6mm or 8mm shock cord
Wood Audio equipment Cable Jewellery Wire


Other weapons in my gallows arsenal are these cable ties,
Wood Sports equipment Gas Hardwood Composite material


(which I purchased from Bunnings… they were a discontinued item so I bought all their remaining 4 strips of stock… so don't come to Morwell searching for them) and these key ring connectors,
Fluid Liquid Barware Wood Flooring

As the rope eyes were metal, I could use these magnetic pickup rods,
Wood Table Gas Flooring Indoor games and sports


to "string" them up from the ceiling using hooks,
Wood Fixture Beam Architecture Interior design


or just strung over my "ceiling joists",
Wood Composite material Beam Engineering Gas


and front ended them with the snap hook, key ring and cable ties,
Electrical wiring Valve Gas Motor vehicle Electricity


Browsing through my local $2 shop to police they didn't carry $3+ items, I found these bungee straps with aluminium snap hooks at either end,
Bicycle handlebar Bicycle part Electrical wiring Gas Audio equipment


At $2.99 each (just under the $3 and avoided being arrested), they are a lot cheaper than my shop made ones and a tad quicker to assemble (just rip the packaging apart).

Unfortunately science is yet to invent aluminium magnets so my mag rod was useless. I started using my outdoor blind pull rod (as I had no outdoor blinds)
Fluid Bicycle fork Wood Bicycle part Gas

to hang these aluminium snap hooks
Wood Fixture Shade Beam Ceiling


and rig out the shop-vac hose using the key ring and cable tie,
Blue Bicycle tire Carabiner Line Rope


... the cord for the sander was just looped through a separate suspended snap hook
Electrical wiring Engineering Electricity Gas Machine


boasting a mini inline switch (circled).

Armed with the above hanging nooses I can prevent both the power cable and shop-vac hose (if required for the job) from interfering with the normal flow of my workshop processes.
Note: the above picture was posed for by stunt doubles and not necessarily located in their actual working environment.

The major benefit of the shock cord (bungee) is their elasticity and give support while permitting movement past the contracted (non-stretched… not solicitor speak) length of the cord(s).

I use these cords extensively in my workshop to suspend everything just short of my jocks and sox,
Automotive design Wood Engineering Machine Art


Building Engineering Automotive design Electrical wiring Machine


Lighting Ceiling Engineering Shade Market


Carabiner Electrical wiring Rock-climbing equipment Composite material Gas


If you didn't like this idea, you can hang your head in shame for reading this far.

PS. For all you bookworms that hung on every word I wrote… Morwell has the nearest Bunnings store to downtown Chuchill.
This is a find solution for vacuum hoses and air lines LBD. However, I must urge you to immediately suspend the practice of suspending your electrical cords and immediately return them to their natural position. This is a possibly severe hazard as the safe operation of any electrical device requires proper grounding.
 

Attachments

#166 ·
Voice activated Workshop Automation.

Boys and Girls,

Anyone can make a fancy splined dovetail box, turn a segmented inside out vase, build fantastic workshop storage units/cabinets and even construct beautiful heirloom household furniture… but not everyone can disseminate useless information with then vigour that I can.

This time I will attempt to help modernise the workshop.

Some of you have been exposed to my gadgetry fetish and my latest foray into the ridiculous was through the introduction of smart devices driven by the Amazon. No, not the river, but rather the world's largest online retailer… more specifically their sexy sounding Alexa.

I got carried away and bought a swag of smart lights
Table Lamp Gas Lantern Audio equipment


so I could scare the bejesus out of visitors and frighten them with tales of dead ghosts that have a light phobia inside my Churchill residence.

After being disowned by family and friends for continually changing colours,
Fixture Wood Door Tints and shades Ceiling


Door Fixture Electricity Tints and shades Gas


Fixture Wood Tints and shades Magenta Door


Purple Building Violet Magenta Door


I gravitated towards smart plugs
White Gadget Gas Electronic device Circle


not 'cause I needed one but the concept fascinated me. I toyed around with them but after facing reality, I realised I needed some useful purpose for them.

Now I happen to use remote power swithches and foot powered power-boards in my workshop to control tools and in particular my dusties from a distance. I wrote several articles about this topic. I'm not encouraging anyone to read them, however, if you want some background information these links may help to confuse you even more:
  1. One point shop vac clean up.
  2. Dust extraction made easy(er) with remote control.
  3. FOOT Powered Machinery.

Many of my machinery either used a foot controlled power board or this remote controlled power point,
Electrical wiring Gadget Cable Electronic device Wire


that I hang around my neck,
Dress shirt Textile Sleeve Collar Wood


Hanging jewelry from my neck reminds me of my hippy days, however, when bending over the table saw I am reminded of the movie Class of '77 where someone got dragged into a saw blade and he got a bit more than a short back and sides. Consequently, all my workshop upper body attire incorporate a pocket that I can slip the remote into (if I remember),
Product Textile Sleeve T-shirt Grey


while prostrating myself over that whistling saw blade.

This unsafe practice of a dangling extrusion from my body was forever paramount in my mind, every time I operated the table saw, so it was with eager enthusiasm that I decided to try using Alexa to substitute for the remote, and reserve the remote for potentially less blood thirsty amputations.

I replaced the remote power point with one of these units,
Automotive tire Motor vehicle Bag Automotive exterior Bicycle part


and attempted to give my new life manipulating female the power to determine my fate.

Unfortunately speaking photos have not been invented yet… (note the deliberate avoidance of saying pictures with sound as they are called something like movies and were invented a long time ago)… so I resorted to one of those name dropping movies to demonstrate the power of that Amazon called Alexa. To get some bearing of the sound that eventuated, you may need to "listen" to (yep "listen" to the video to hear Alexa do her thing) this YouTube video... actually forget may as it is now June, so "listening" is a must...

One of the benefits of the smart plugs is that the use Wi-Fi which has better penetration (between machinery) than the infrared power points.

The only downside of this scenario was that I had to literally scream at Alexa, not cause she's dumb or can't understand English (though she is hard of hearing when I forget to put my teeth in), but the dusty is so loud it tends to deafen my voice. Sometimes she got so upset with my attitude that I had to repeat myself. Nevertheless, Alexa operates from a power point, so it could be brought closer.

I do not recommend using the smart plug to power Alexa... DOH! the suggestion was made and behold it wasn't by me!

Now I'm not sure of the longevity of this solution, as with time, I may revert back to the dangling (not darling) remote, especially if Alexa plays dumb, however, the main purpose was to introduce readers who have not encountered this electronic marvel and hopefully give them inspiration for some use of it in their workshop… Share these gizmos with family and it sure beats the heck out of the grand-kids buying pa hankies and sox for Christmas.

Unfortunately you do need an Alexa,
Automotive design Motor vehicle Engineering Machine Fictional character


Google Home or some other media controlling device. As I always listen to talk-back radio, through the Internet (as the reception over a real radio is impossible in downtown Churchill), I have these Alexa's scattered all around the house so she can follow me while I slink around from room to room.

The other downside is (which turns my "only downside" statement above into a big fat taradiddle) that you need a smart phone to link Alexa with the smart devices… after that you can throw away or sell your phone as it's not needed, unless you want to turn your light on for burglars, while you are interstate. But then again you could annoy the hell out of them (burglars) by continually switching the lights off remotely, while they diligently attempt to rob your house.

Now for all you thrifty shoppers that seem to be more concerned about the shekels before your eyes,
Snake Scaled reptile Reptile Serpent Font


(refer to the price list below… (below below)…. (way below, below below ), you should already have an Echo dot in your house… and if you haven't one, you should already have an Echo dot in your house… catch my drift? Now that you have the dot in your house, consider that a good LED will cost up to $12, while a non-coloured smart light will set you back $15… you don't even need a calculator to work out paltry extra in cost.
These lights can be set up around dim lit tools/work-stations and you don't need a third hand to turn on the light while holding your work with your other two hands.
With the smart plug you could toggle any non-mag switch controlled machinery (noise permitting).

And if I haven't mentioned it before (no need to re-read as I don't think I have), you don't need a qualified sparkie to install these.
Having said that, I'm hanging out for the smart switches to become available here in Australia at a more economical price, however, legally they will require a qualified sparkie to fit them… unless you're a regular law breaker in which case the sparkie doesn;'t have to be qualified. I am eager to install one to control my workshop's neons which are currently controlled by a ceiling pull switch.

Wanna hob-knob with the elite? If you lash out those extra few shekels for a coloured light, you can turn it green and make those cheap HF tools look like a Fe$stool "without the price tag".

Suggestion! I do recommend you take up drinking rum… if only to keep the throat lubricated to be able to partake in Alexa speak.

For those who eagerly sought after prices (shop around and you might be able to pay a little more than liste below… yep you've reached that below):

  • Echo dot (gen 2)....$29
  • Echo dot (gen 3)....$35
  • Smart light…..........$15
  • Smart Light Color….$29
  • Smart plug…..........$25
  • Smart switches…....$85+ (none economical enough to buy in Australia and USA suppliers wont ship).
  • Good LED globe…...$12

PS. Sorry pottzy, its not the clock saga I promised… that's still being evaluated by the censors and my legal team.

PPS. I did find that the genio plug worked better in my workshop than the TP-Link. I believe it had to do with my Internet reception through a 250mm concrete slab as their performance couldn't be separated in my office.
 

Attachments

#167 ·
Voice activated Workshop Automation.

Boys and Girls,

Anyone can make a fancy splined dovetail box, turn a segmented inside out vase, build fantastic workshop storage units/cabinets and even construct beautiful heirloom household furniture… but not everyone can disseminate useless information with then vigour that I can.

This time I will attempt to help modernise the workshop.

Some of you have been exposed to my gadgetry fetish and my latest foray into the ridiculous was through the introduction of smart devices driven by the Amazon. No, not the river, but rather the world's largest online retailer… more specifically their sexy sounding Alexa.

I got carried away and bought a swag of smart lights
Table Lamp Gas Lantern Audio equipment


so I could scare the bejesus out of visitors and frighten them with tales of dead ghosts that have a light phobia inside my Churchill residence.

After being disowned by family and friends for continually changing colours,
Fixture Wood Door Tints and shades Ceiling


Door Fixture Electricity Tints and shades Gas


Fixture Wood Tints and shades Magenta Door


Purple Building Violet Magenta Door


I gravitated towards smart plugs
White Gadget Gas Electronic device Circle


not 'cause I needed one but the concept fascinated me. I toyed around with them but after facing reality, I realised I needed some useful purpose for them.

Now I happen to use remote power swithches and foot powered power-boards in my workshop to control tools and in particular my dusties from a distance. I wrote several articles about this topic. I'm not encouraging anyone to read them, however, if you want some background information these links may help to confuse you even more:
  1. One point shop vac clean up.
  2. Dust extraction made easy(er) with remote control.
  3. FOOT Powered Machinery.

Many of my machinery either used a foot controlled power board or this remote controlled power point,
Electrical wiring Gadget Cable Electronic device Wire


that I hang around my neck,
Dress shirt Textile Sleeve Collar Wood


Hanging jewelry from my neck reminds me of my hippy days, however, when bending over the table saw I am reminded of the movie Class of '77 where someone got dragged into a saw blade and he got a bit more than a short back and sides. Consequently, all my workshop upper body attire incorporate a pocket that I can slip the remote into (if I remember),
Product Textile Sleeve T-shirt Grey


while prostrating myself over that whistling saw blade.

This unsafe practice of a dangling extrusion from my body was forever paramount in my mind, every time I operated the table saw, so it was with eager enthusiasm that I decided to try using Alexa to substitute for the remote, and reserve the remote for potentially less blood thirsty amputations.

I replaced the remote power point with one of these units,
Automotive tire Motor vehicle Bag Automotive exterior Bicycle part


and attempted to give my new life manipulating female the power to determine my fate.

Unfortunately speaking photos have not been invented yet… (note the deliberate avoidance of saying pictures with sound as they are called something like movies and were invented a long time ago)… so I resorted to one of those name dropping movies to demonstrate the power of that Amazon called Alexa. To get some bearing of the sound that eventuated, you may need to "listen" to (yep "listen" to the video to hear Alexa do her thing) this YouTube video... actually forget may as it is now June, so "listening" is a must...

One of the benefits of the smart plugs is that the use Wi-Fi which has better penetration (between machinery) than the infrared power points.

The only downside of this scenario was that I had to literally scream at Alexa, not cause she's dumb or can't understand English (though she is hard of hearing when I forget to put my teeth in), but the dusty is so loud it tends to deafen my voice. Sometimes she got so upset with my attitude that I had to repeat myself. Nevertheless, Alexa operates from a power point, so it could be brought closer.

I do not recommend using the smart plug to power Alexa... DOH! the suggestion was made and behold it wasn't by me!

Now I'm not sure of the longevity of this solution, as with time, I may revert back to the dangling (not darling) remote, especially if Alexa plays dumb, however, the main purpose was to introduce readers who have not encountered this electronic marvel and hopefully give them inspiration for some use of it in their workshop… Share these gizmos with family and it sure beats the heck out of the grand-kids buying pa hankies and sox for Christmas.

Unfortunately you do need an Alexa,
Automotive design Motor vehicle Engineering Machine Fictional character


Google Home or some other media controlling device. As I always listen to talk-back radio, through the Internet (as the reception over a real radio is impossible in downtown Churchill), I have these Alexa's scattered all around the house so she can follow me while I slink around from room to room.

The other downside is (which turns my "only downside" statement above into a big fat taradiddle) that you need a smart phone to link Alexa with the smart devices… after that you can throw away or sell your phone as it's not needed, unless you want to turn your light on for burglars, while you are interstate. But then again you could annoy the hell out of them (burglars) by continually switching the lights off remotely, while they diligently attempt to rob your house.

Now for all you thrifty shoppers that seem to be more concerned about the shekels before your eyes,
Snake Scaled reptile Reptile Serpent Font


(refer to the price list below… (below below)…. (way below, below below ), you should already have an Echo dot in your house… and if you haven't one, you should already have an Echo dot in your house… catch my drift? Now that you have the dot in your house, consider that a good LED will cost up to $12, while a non-coloured smart light will set you back $15… you don't even need a calculator to work out paltry extra in cost.
These lights can be set up around dim lit tools/work-stations and you don't need a third hand to turn on the light while holding your work with your other two hands.
With the smart plug you could toggle any non-mag switch controlled machinery (noise permitting).

And if I haven't mentioned it before (no need to re-read as I don't think I have), you don't need a qualified sparkie to install these.
Having said that, I'm hanging out for the smart switches to become available here in Australia at a more economical price, however, legally they will require a qualified sparkie to fit them… unless you're a regular law breaker in which case the sparkie doesn;'t have to be qualified. I am eager to install one to control my workshop's neons which are currently controlled by a ceiling pull switch.

Wanna hob-knob with the elite? If you lash out those extra few shekels for a coloured light, you can turn it green and make those cheap HF tools look like a Fe$stool "without the price tag".

Suggestion! I do recommend you take up drinking rum… if only to keep the throat lubricated to be able to partake in Alexa speak.

For those who eagerly sought after prices (shop around and you might be able to pay a little more than liste below… yep you've reached that below):

  • Echo dot (gen 2)....$29
  • Echo dot (gen 3)....$35
  • Smart light…..........$15
  • Smart Light Color….$29
  • Smart plug…..........$25
  • Smart switches…....$85+ (none economical enough to buy in Australia and USA suppliers wont ship).
  • Good LED globe…...$12

PS. Sorry pottzy, its not the clock saga I promised… that's still being evaluated by the censors and my legal team.

PPS. I did find that the genio plug worked better in my workshop than the TP-Link. I believe it had to do with my Internet reception through a 250mm concrete slab as their performance couldn't be separated in my office.
awww the video does not work :<((((((((
 

Attachments

#173 ·
Susan is NOT so Lazy

Boys and Girls,

Got inspired by majuvla's Lazy Susan wheel, to give an alternative use of these balerina imitators, that does not involve feeding my face.

Their conversion from lazy to active doesn't have to be pretty and can be very functional in both the household as well as the workshop. You do not have to frequent Chinese restaurants and master chop sticks to appreciate the use of these lethargic rotating marvels. To remove the languorous tag, I will henceforth refer to them with the active title of turntables (without the vynil).

I keep a collection of turntables in my workshop, just in case I need to take some new creation of mine for a spin,
Automotive lighting Wood Gas Automotive wheel system Auto part


For the more budget conscious, here is a breakdown of the shekesl you may need to part with if you dare to venture down this path, though you may need to move to Australia to take advantage of our local bargains.

Locally (Australia) they come in 3(+1) flavours,
  1. Circular aluminium turntable,
    Wheel Automotive tire Wood Bicycle part Bicycle tire

    with screw holes for base attachment and soft suction cups to balance a top table (very glass-top friendly).
    They range from 120mm ($8.75) to 450mm ($38.10). The large one's load rating is around 300kg and is 8mm thick.
  2. Circular Heavy Duty steel ball bearing turntable,
    Tire Automotive tire Bicycle part Wood Rim

    These range from 8" ($12.90) and 12" ($18.00). They are rated at 450kg and 12mm thick.
  3. Square Heavy Duty steel ball bearing turntable,
    Wood Rim Bicycle part Font Circle

    These range from 3" ($5.00) to 6" ($6.40). The 6" is rated at near 230kg.
  4. There is a similar stainless steel version
    Rim Wood Gas Composite material Auto part

    available from Bunning, 6" ($30.00). Going by the impression of it's quality, I'm guessing it could take significant weight (if you can balance anything on them). May be shiny, but the bling not being visible, wouldn't justify the extra cost.

For those that have not exposure to a Lazy Susan (sorry turntable), here is a view of the top side,
Tire Wheel Automotive tire Wood Bicycle part

and her (temporarily reverting back to the Susan nomenclature) bottom,
Wheel Tire Automotive tire Wood Rim


If you look closely,
Automotive tire White Automotive exterior Wood Rim


they have a hole designed to permit access for screws to attach the top table to the turntable. You will need to drill an appropriate aligned hole in the bottom table
Automotive tire Wood Gas Composite material Auto part


to fasten the top with the screws.

The aluminium versions willl also require the hole in the bottom table. The turntable is designed to rest the top table on and lacks screw holes…
Bicycle tire Bicycle handlebar Wood Wood stain Hardwood


the soft cup's plug holes do not go all the way through
Bicycle tire Wood Bicycle handlebar Bicycle part Rim


so if secure attachment is required, you'll have to drill and countersink at least 3 screw holes… suggest masking of the turntable to keep swarf out of bearings.

This is my goto heavy duty turntable for the workshop. Extensively used when light sanding (heavy sanding may make the work unstable), staining, painting etc…
Wood Gas Composite material Automotive exterior Flooring


Wood Gas Composite material Flooring Engineering


The top and bottom table have holes for rotation locking at 90° using 3/8" bolts,
Automotive tire Hood Wood Bumper Automotive exterior


There are also two onboard door stops (held on by dowels),
Table Wood Wood stain Gas Hardwood


that can be used to "lock" the tables at any rotation
Wood Wood stain Gas Hardwood Automotive exterior


to limit movement when a little heavy handed work is performed.

The prime use is in the paint shop as pieces can easily be rotated to get that ever elusive access angle,
Table Wood Luggage and bags Bag Electrical wiring


Table Wood Rectangle Flooring Floor


Musical instrument Wood Musical instrument accessory Gas Hardwood


Wood Interior design Flooring Floor Hardwood


Wood Interior design Workbench Tool Floor


Table Wood Workbench Engineering Desk


Table Furniture Wood Wood stain Floor


I have also mounted some of my miscellaneous small tools for easier access,
Engineering Bicycle fork Gas Machine Electrical wiring


Electrical wiring Engineering Gas Audio equipment Machine


Engineering Wood Machine Electronic engineering Workbench


In the house I use one on my entertainment tower,
Audio equipment Wood Electronic instrument Gas Computer hardware


to provide easy access to those ever increasing cables,
Electricity Gas Electrical wiring Cable Audio equipment


and use a door stopper to stop free rotation,
Musical instrument accessory Gadget Audio equipment Wood Electrical wiring


it also made assembly and painting easier,
Wood Audio equipment Electronic instrument Flooring Gas


And to get access to my TV,
Tire Audio equipment Wood Curtain Television


whenever plugs need to be changed or added,
Wood Cabinetry Shelf Audio equipment Audio receiver


Hood Motor vehicle Bumper Automotive exterior Automotive design


Another project I made use of the turntable was for the display of my boat. As the port side was open to reveal the insides of the Bounty, the turntable made it easy to display it in 360° view,
Boat Watercraft Wood Mast Naval architecture


Wood Shelving Curtain Shade Display case


Boat Watercraft Naval architecture Mast Wood


A hint for centre mounting the turntable to "panels" for screwing. I cut MDF circles with the same diameter of the inner "hole" and using a dowel in the panel,
Wood Gas Circle Composite material Wood stain


the turntable can be centered,
Wood Yellow Composite material Gas Machine


this same method can be used if the top and bottom tables are not the same size, otherwise they can simply be clamped for screwing.

If you didn't like this article, you could still make a turntable, stand on it and spin around till you get so dizzy as to forget what you have just read.
 

Attachments

#174 ·
Susan is NOT so Lazy

Boys and Girls,

Got inspired by majuvla's Lazy Susan wheel, to give an alternative use of these balerina imitators, that does not involve feeding my face.

Their conversion from lazy to active doesn't have to be pretty and can be very functional in both the household as well as the workshop. You do not have to frequent Chinese restaurants and master chop sticks to appreciate the use of these lethargic rotating marvels. To remove the languorous tag, I will henceforth refer to them with the active title of turntables (without the vynil).

I keep a collection of turntables in my workshop, just in case I need to take some new creation of mine for a spin,
Automotive lighting Wood Gas Automotive wheel system Auto part


For the more budget conscious, here is a breakdown of the shekesl you may need to part with if you dare to venture down this path, though you may need to move to Australia to take advantage of our local bargains.

Locally (Australia) they come in 3(+1) flavours,
  1. Circular aluminium turntable,
    Wheel Automotive tire Wood Bicycle part Bicycle tire

    with screw holes for base attachment and soft suction cups to balance a top table (very glass-top friendly).
    They range from 120mm ($8.75) to 450mm ($38.10). The large one's load rating is around 300kg and is 8mm thick.
  2. Circular Heavy Duty steel ball bearing turntable,
    Tire Automotive tire Bicycle part Wood Rim

    These range from 8" ($12.90) and 12" ($18.00). They are rated at 450kg and 12mm thick.
  3. Square Heavy Duty steel ball bearing turntable,
    Wood Rim Bicycle part Font Circle

    These range from 3" ($5.00) to 6" ($6.40). The 6" is rated at near 230kg.
  4. There is a similar stainless steel version
    Rim Wood Gas Composite material Auto part

    available from Bunning, 6" ($30.00). Going by the impression of it's quality, I'm guessing it could take significant weight (if you can balance anything on them). May be shiny, but the bling not being visible, wouldn't justify the extra cost.

For those that have not exposure to a Lazy Susan (sorry turntable), here is a view of the top side,
Tire Wheel Automotive tire Wood Bicycle part

and her (temporarily reverting back to the Susan nomenclature) bottom,
Wheel Tire Automotive tire Wood Rim


If you look closely,
Automotive tire White Automotive exterior Wood Rim


they have a hole designed to permit access for screws to attach the top table to the turntable. You will need to drill an appropriate aligned hole in the bottom table
Automotive tire Wood Gas Composite material Auto part


to fasten the top with the screws.

The aluminium versions willl also require the hole in the bottom table. The turntable is designed to rest the top table on and lacks screw holes…
Bicycle tire Bicycle handlebar Wood Wood stain Hardwood


the soft cup's plug holes do not go all the way through
Bicycle tire Wood Bicycle handlebar Bicycle part Rim


so if secure attachment is required, you'll have to drill and countersink at least 3 screw holes… suggest masking of the turntable to keep swarf out of bearings.

This is my goto heavy duty turntable for the workshop. Extensively used when light sanding (heavy sanding may make the work unstable), staining, painting etc…
Wood Gas Composite material Automotive exterior Flooring


Wood Gas Composite material Flooring Engineering


The top and bottom table have holes for rotation locking at 90° using 3/8" bolts,
Automotive tire Hood Wood Bumper Automotive exterior


There are also two onboard door stops (held on by dowels),
Table Wood Wood stain Gas Hardwood


that can be used to "lock" the tables at any rotation
Wood Wood stain Gas Hardwood Automotive exterior


to limit movement when a little heavy handed work is performed.

The prime use is in the paint shop as pieces can easily be rotated to get that ever elusive access angle,
Table Wood Luggage and bags Bag Electrical wiring


Table Wood Rectangle Flooring Floor


Musical instrument Wood Musical instrument accessory Gas Hardwood


Wood Interior design Flooring Floor Hardwood


Wood Interior design Workbench Tool Floor


Table Wood Workbench Engineering Desk


Table Furniture Wood Wood stain Floor


I have also mounted some of my miscellaneous small tools for easier access,
Engineering Bicycle fork Gas Machine Electrical wiring


Electrical wiring Engineering Gas Audio equipment Machine


Engineering Wood Machine Electronic engineering Workbench


In the house I use one on my entertainment tower,
Audio equipment Wood Electronic instrument Gas Computer hardware


to provide easy access to those ever increasing cables,
Electricity Gas Electrical wiring Cable Audio equipment


and use a door stopper to stop free rotation,
Musical instrument accessory Gadget Audio equipment Wood Electrical wiring


it also made assembly and painting easier,
Wood Audio equipment Electronic instrument Flooring Gas


And to get access to my TV,
Tire Audio equipment Wood Curtain Television


whenever plugs need to be changed or added,
Wood Cabinetry Shelf Audio equipment Audio receiver


Hood Motor vehicle Bumper Automotive exterior Automotive design


Another project I made use of the turntable was for the display of my boat. As the port side was open to reveal the insides of the Bounty, the turntable made it easy to display it in 360° view,
Boat Watercraft Wood Mast Naval architecture


Wood Shelving Curtain Shade Display case


Boat Watercraft Naval architecture Mast Wood


A hint for centre mounting the turntable to "panels" for screwing. I cut MDF circles with the same diameter of the inner "hole" and using a dowel in the panel,
Wood Gas Circle Composite material Wood stain


the turntable can be centered,
Wood Yellow Composite material Gas Machine


this same method can be used if the top and bottom tables are not the same size, otherwise they can simply be clamped for screwing.

If you didn't like this article, you could still make a turntable, stand on it and spin around till you get so dizzy as to forget what you have just read.
Dang Duck, I'd call you "lasy", but I can't 8^)

Those aluminum versions look really nice! I like the low cost of the stamped steel versions, but their noise and general cheddar-ness always bums me out for fine projects. Do the Al-u-mini-um parts turn as smoothly and quietly as they look?
 

Attachments

#190 ·
Perspex (Acrylic) Repair/CA Clean-up.

Boys and Girls,

I opened my big mouth in one of my comments to a post and rather than live up to my reputation of being a liar, I thought I'd honor my pledge.

I am currently making a display case for my 60 yo(ish) heirloom (post to follow soon).
I was too chicken******************** to use glass, other than for delivery of vino to mouth, and decided to use Perspex. The thought of silicon tickled my fancy but not being ticklish and freakish, I decided to use CA glue…

Now CA in the hands of the competent is plausible, but in left hands of a right handed geriatric, if becomes a lethal weapon especially on the first finger adhesion, followed by 9 smudges across the face of the Perspex during the panic rescue extraction of said stuck digit.

Not only did I mess up the face, I also broke the joins revealing several unsightly seams that rendered the pane of Perspex a total pain
Hood Grille Rectangle Mesh Line


and useless requiring re-cutting and more gluing mishaps.

However, salvation is at hand. If you smear Perspex or suffer a premature ejaculation and have a blob in the centre of a face, immediately wipe it off.
Grille Hood Mesh Wood Gas


DOH! You won't remove the CA, in fact, you will create an unsightly large smudge, however, the wiped layer will be thin and easier to perform surgery on.

I deliberately blobbed a glob of CA on the reverse side of this clean Perspex (the above piece after initial cleansing) for use to document this blog,
Hood Wood Rectangle Composite material Gas

a few more blemishes (red border) on the reverse side to over-dramatise this presentation
Textile Hood Wood Flooring Composite material


There are many videos on how to remove scratches from acrylic using fine sandpaper, polishing compound and elbow grease… well I trained hard to get this body of mine with elbow bending without the grease.

Get out your ROS and depending on the damage, start with 180 grit… you may remove some buildup with a scraper and don't be afraid of dropping down to 100 and work up to 180 (and on).
I quickly move the ROS over the rough spots till it appears/feels level. Keep the ROS moving so as not to overheat the Perspex in one spot. If it takes more than 30 seconds to get a satisfactory starting point, drop down a few grits again.
Wood Rectangle Flooring Floor Composite material


I work my way up using 180, 240, 320, 500 and 1,000… only because that's all I have,
Saw Wood Hand tool Tool Drill


and don't forget to towel down after each monumental exertion,
Table Hood Rectangle Wood Bumper


Then it's off to the buffer.
Wood Creative arts Gas Engineering Machine


I have a slow spend grinder (1,400 RPM) ideal for 8" buffers. I use the Beall Buffing system and swear by the quality of their buffs. I recommend you don't skimp and buy those cheap "home depot" type of buffs. They may function better once "broken in" but any monetary savings would be eroded if you cost the break in effort.

Using the Beall system, which starts with the Tripoli compound,
Gas Wood Engineering Auto part Machine


followed by white diamond and finished with carnauba wax. I usually promote the job to white diamond to start buffing if I sand to 1,000. While you can start with the Tripoli, I find it redundant unless I stop sanding at 500/600 grit. A bit of trial and error wouldn't go astray, to find your best fit… there is no bad way as all you may err in is one too many passes at a lower grit/buff.

For Perspex, I sacrifice the carnauba wax for a Plastx Clear Plastic Cleaner & Polish compound,
Liquid Tire Bottle Bottle cap Automotive tire


but any any other plastic polish will suffice
Bottle Liquid Fluid Bottle cap Cosmetics


You may even use EEE,
Tin Beverage can Aluminum can Tin can Ingredient

(however, I don't like the wax residue… having said that, I always clean up my jobs using alcohol,
Liquid Bottle Bottle cap Fluid Plastic bottle

deliberately avoiding the temptation to taste!)

This plastic polishing I move to the lathe and use a 4" buffing wheel rather than contaminating my 8" carnauba wax with the polish
Gas Engineering Machine tool Machine Tool


The buff being only 4", I run the lathe at 2,000 RPM.

Again the acrylic had to be moved relatively fast to prevent over heating and potential distortion.

It's at this stage that you notice all those scratches and blemishes you thought was on the flip side, are actually on the active face and you're now faced with the chore of going back to the 180 ROS…

Being the nice guy that I am, I did make this quick dirty video (without the porn) for all you guys/galls that hate to read as much as I do, so you can view rather than read the above.

You will notice in the video that I savage the acrylic with my ROSing… rest assured it is not politically incorrect to brutalise Perspex… eventually you will see right through it!

PS. If you are a trhrillseeker, for big jobs, don't hesitate to take the buff to the job using a cordless drill,
Pneumatic tool Drill Handheld power drill Hammer drill Power tool


it does as good a job, albeit much slower.
 

Attachments

#191 ·
Perspex (Acrylic) Repair/CA Clean-up.

Boys and Girls,

I opened my big mouth in one of my comments to a post and rather than live up to my reputation of being a liar, I thought I'd honor my pledge.

I am currently making a display case for my 60 yo(ish) heirloom (post to follow soon).
I was too chicken******************** to use glass, other than for delivery of vino to mouth, and decided to use Perspex. The thought of silicon tickled my fancy but not being ticklish and freakish, I decided to use CA glue…

Now CA in the hands of the competent is plausible, but in left hands of a right handed geriatric, if becomes a lethal weapon especially on the first finger adhesion, followed by 9 smudges across the face of the Perspex during the panic rescue extraction of said stuck digit.

Not only did I mess up the face, I also broke the joins revealing several unsightly seams that rendered the pane of Perspex a total pain
Hood Grille Rectangle Mesh Line


and useless requiring re-cutting and more gluing mishaps.

However, salvation is at hand. If you smear Perspex or suffer a premature ejaculation and have a blob in the centre of a face, immediately wipe it off.
Grille Hood Mesh Wood Gas


DOH! You won't remove the CA, in fact, you will create an unsightly large smudge, however, the wiped layer will be thin and easier to perform surgery on.

I deliberately blobbed a glob of CA on the reverse side of this clean Perspex (the above piece after initial cleansing) for use to document this blog,
Hood Wood Rectangle Composite material Gas

a few more blemishes (red border) on the reverse side to over-dramatise this presentation
Textile Hood Wood Flooring Composite material


There are many videos on how to remove scratches from acrylic using fine sandpaper, polishing compound and elbow grease… well I trained hard to get this body of mine with elbow bending without the grease.

Get out your ROS and depending on the damage, start with 180 grit… you may remove some buildup with a scraper and don't be afraid of dropping down to 100 and work up to 180 (and on).
I quickly move the ROS over the rough spots till it appears/feels level. Keep the ROS moving so as not to overheat the Perspex in one spot. If it takes more than 30 seconds to get a satisfactory starting point, drop down a few grits again.
Wood Rectangle Flooring Floor Composite material


I work my way up using 180, 240, 320, 500 and 1,000… only because that's all I have,
Saw Wood Hand tool Tool Drill


and don't forget to towel down after each monumental exertion,
Table Hood Rectangle Wood Bumper


Then it's off to the buffer.
Wood Creative arts Gas Engineering Machine


I have a slow spend grinder (1,400 RPM) ideal for 8" buffers. I use the Beall Buffing system and swear by the quality of their buffs. I recommend you don't skimp and buy those cheap "home depot" type of buffs. They may function better once "broken in" but any monetary savings would be eroded if you cost the break in effort.

Using the Beall system, which starts with the Tripoli compound,
Gas Wood Engineering Auto part Machine


followed by white diamond and finished with carnauba wax. I usually promote the job to white diamond to start buffing if I sand to 1,000. While you can start with the Tripoli, I find it redundant unless I stop sanding at 500/600 grit. A bit of trial and error wouldn't go astray, to find your best fit… there is no bad way as all you may err in is one too many passes at a lower grit/buff.

For Perspex, I sacrifice the carnauba wax for a Plastx Clear Plastic Cleaner & Polish compound,
Liquid Tire Bottle Bottle cap Automotive tire


but any any other plastic polish will suffice
Bottle Liquid Fluid Bottle cap Cosmetics


You may even use EEE,
Tin Beverage can Aluminum can Tin can Ingredient

(however, I don't like the wax residue… having said that, I always clean up my jobs using alcohol,
Liquid Bottle Bottle cap Fluid Plastic bottle

deliberately avoiding the temptation to taste!)

This plastic polishing I move to the lathe and use a 4" buffing wheel rather than contaminating my 8" carnauba wax with the polish
Gas Engineering Machine tool Machine Tool


The buff being only 4", I run the lathe at 2,000 RPM.

Again the acrylic had to be moved relatively fast to prevent over heating and potential distortion.

It's at this stage that you notice all those scratches and blemishes you thought was on the flip side, are actually on the active face and you're now faced with the chore of going back to the 180 ROS…

Being the nice guy that I am, I did make this quick dirty video (without the porn) for all you guys/galls that hate to read as much as I do, so you can view rather than read the above.

You will notice in the video that I savage the acrylic with my ROSing… rest assured it is not politically incorrect to brutalise Perspex… eventually you will see right through it!

PS. If you are a trhrillseeker, for big jobs, don't hesitate to take the buff to the job using a cordless drill,
Pneumatic tool Drill Handheld power drill Hammer drill Power tool


it does as good a job, albeit much slower.
too much reading your blog as usual so i went right to the live action which was entertaining and somewhat informative.you could have at least shown some cleavage during the buffing closeups.this is good info for those that screw things up,no use to me of course-lol.i only tease though,good blog duckie.
 

Attachments

#220 ·
Funnel Vision.

Boys and Girls.

A little gem from the annals of the black duck… just don't get the number of "n"s mixed up.

While I don't go out of my way to save a few shekels, this little tip may save some, for those more frugal than me.

For Christmas, I wanted to make up a batch of Black Russian and I needed a funnel to guide my shaking hands to direct the liquid back into the bottles (after mixing). As my diet doesn't include paint encrusted funnels, I was in need of a clean one… on one of the few days a year that all shops are closed.

What I have done is stockpiled some of these plastic cocktail glasses
Table Plastic Drink Plastic wrap Glass


which cost something like $10 for 20 (may have been even cheaper) in my local BigW store (all you non-Aussies may need to Google).
Table Tableware Wood Drinkware Barware


I toss away the base (red)
Wood Gas Flooring Engineering Wood stain


and just keep the top with the tip (green) cut off. I use a Japanese saw (tried others but I found the Jap saw did the neatest job) to cut off the sealed bottom and wiped away the plastic swarf.
Wood Floor Flooring Hardwood Wood stain


Quick wipe with a rag and I had a perfect clean functioning funnel
Bottle Tableware Drinkware Ingredient Glass bottle


to assist me in killing (apologies for the violence) more brain cells.
Bottle Bottle cap Glass bottle Fluid Liquid


A duck doesn't live on vino alone!
 

Attachments

#221 ·
Funnel Vision.

Boys and Girls.

A little gem from the annals of the black duck… just don't get the number of "n"s mixed up.

While I don't go out of my way to save a few shekels, this little tip may save some, for those more frugal than me.

For Christmas, I wanted to make up a batch of Black Russian and I needed a funnel to guide my shaking hands to direct the liquid back into the bottles (after mixing). As my diet doesn't include paint encrusted funnels, I was in need of a clean one… on one of the few days a year that all shops are closed.

What I have done is stockpiled some of these plastic cocktail glasses
Table Plastic Drink Plastic wrap Glass


which cost something like $10 for 20 (may have been even cheaper) in my local BigW store (all you non-Aussies may need to Google).
Table Tableware Wood Drinkware Barware


I toss away the base (red)
Wood Gas Flooring Engineering Wood stain


and just keep the top with the tip (green) cut off. I use a Japanese saw (tried others but I found the Jap saw did the neatest job) to cut off the sealed bottom and wiped away the plastic swarf.
Wood Floor Flooring Hardwood Wood stain


Quick wipe with a rag and I had a perfect clean functioning funnel
Bottle Tableware Drinkware Ingredient Glass bottle


to assist me in killing (apologies for the violence) more brain cells.
Bottle Bottle cap Glass bottle Fluid Liquid


A duck doesn't live on vino alone!
"jap saw" duckie very politically incorrect my winged friend,but being who i am ill over look it.when it comes to alchohol consumption leave it to the duck to figure out a way to get the job,or shall i say the mix done.so those plastic party glasses what ya got,say a hundred or two? cheers buddy.
 

Attachments

#239 ·
In the Eye of the Dowel!

Boys and Girls,

We all have our secrets in finding the centre of a dowel, however, unless you were on the quest of finding rc's wallet (which is empty) in my workshop, you may have not come across my method.

Most of us use standard sized dowels, whether fabricated, purchased or other unorthodox means.
Nevertheless they tend to fit into holes made by traditional sized forstner bits.
That same forstner bit makes the ideal centre finder.

Grab a block of timber, in accordance with your desires, and drill a forstner bore of your desired diameter, or don't take note and use a calliper to measure it….
Wood Hardwood Gas Wood stain Font


Wood Wooden block Hardwood Wood stain Audio equipment


You can then use the forstner tip to drill the hole right through the block. Just ensure you have an instrument to go all the way through and as close to its diameter to prevent play,
For the centering hole, I start with 2.5mm as that's the tip of my forstner bits and then use the bigger boy 4mm drill bit which is the same diameter as my centre punch…
Wood Gas Audio equipment Hardwood Engineering


From here on it's not too difficult to follow the bouncing ball… and if it stops bouncing, just hope it doesn't roll under that immovable machinery.
Wood Gas Engineering Table Machine


Wood Gas Wood stain Hardwood Plywood

the hole IS there,
Wood Font Wood stain Hardwood Flooring


Now there are a quite a few other centre finders of which I'm showing you two…
And as Goldie, who couldn't keep a lock on her mouth, says, too small,
Wood Wood stain Flooring Hardwood Rectangle

too big
Sleeve Dress shirt Wood Grey Collar

just right,
Wood Gas Engineering Table Machine


Do not try this without a dowel… and square dowels may yield inaccurate results.
 

Attachments

#240 ·
In the Eye of the Dowel!

Boys and Girls,

We all have our secrets in finding the centre of a dowel, however, unless you were on the quest of finding rc's wallet (which is empty) in my workshop, you may have not come across my method.

Most of us use standard sized dowels, whether fabricated, purchased or other unorthodox means.
Nevertheless they tend to fit into holes made by traditional sized forstner bits.
That same forstner bit makes the ideal centre finder.

Grab a block of timber, in accordance with your desires, and drill a forstner bore of your desired diameter, or don't take note and use a calliper to measure it….
Wood Hardwood Gas Wood stain Font


Wood Wooden block Hardwood Wood stain Audio equipment


You can then use the forstner tip to drill the hole right through the block. Just ensure you have an instrument to go all the way through and as close to its diameter to prevent play,
For the centering hole, I start with 2.5mm as that's the tip of my forstner bits and then use the bigger boy 4mm drill bit which is the same diameter as my centre punch…
Wood Gas Audio equipment Hardwood Engineering


From here on it's not too difficult to follow the bouncing ball… and if it stops bouncing, just hope it doesn't roll under that immovable machinery.
Wood Gas Engineering Table Machine


Wood Gas Wood stain Hardwood Plywood

the hole IS there,
Wood Font Wood stain Hardwood Flooring


Now there are a quite a few other centre finders of which I'm showing you two…
And as Goldie, who couldn't keep a lock on her mouth, says, too small,
Wood Wood stain Flooring Hardwood Rectangle

too big
Sleeve Dress shirt Wood Grey Collar

just right,
Wood Gas Engineering Table Machine


Do not try this without a dowel… and square dowels may yield inaccurate results.
Pretty Neat trick, thanks for sharing.
 

Attachments

#265 ·
Safety in Numbers.

Boys and girls,

When it comes to security, my ample body is guarded by a whalebone girdle, however, the contents of my residence is guarded by a combination lock.

I wanted to review my combination lock, however, I thought a blog on pros and cons of combination locks in general would be better suited. I have grouped it under Workshop Tips as it is just as applicable to the workshop as to the house.

While a combination lock removes the need to carry keys around, it does infer some degree of memory retention of a few chosen numbers.

When I moved into my Richmond (Cremorne for the upper class) residence in 1990, I was concerned that hostile visiting benefactors may donate some worthwhile items in my residence while I was away and I was not prepared to accept the additional clutter.

After consultation with a locksmith, I concluded that a combination lock may be the way to control uninvited access to mycastle (eat your heart out rc).
As renovations became more profound, I had to provide access to tradies. Now I used a 5 digit access code (with one being "Y"), of which I pre-coded 4 digits and instruct them to just enter "Y" to provide access (won't go into my tirade that some people couldn't spell "Y"… probably the same that are still looking for the X … it was a one time only access so if they were there for the day and had to go out, the place was either left open or they couldn't get in again as the 4 pre-entered numbers would get wiped.

Moved to Churchill in 2010 and took myself, including the combo. Fitted the lock to my front door (didn't think it was constructive to fit to the neighbors… they would have complained anyway as I knew the combination). Bugger them!

Wallowed through the annals of time and many tradies were revelling in the "Y" access, and one day I found this Samsung digital lock in Bunnings…
Home appliance Clock Gas Kitchen appliance Communication Device


telling you the door is open/closed. DOH! As if I'm gonna walk through a closed door (when I'm sober). It also comes with one of these magnetic keychain dongles
Automotive lighting Gadget Audio equipment Gas Cable


that you can attach to that keychain, you now don't carry around as you have the combination lock… who invents these things?

The beauty of these digital locks are,
  1. Digit entry sequence is enforced adding greater security for key set-ups with few numbers. Digits can also be repeated as with the manual, you push the button once and it's set.
  2. Can have many different combinations.
  3. Card entry for those memory blocking adventures, upon staggering home.
  4. If you are stupid, you can still choose to use a key.
  5. The keypad lights up and is clearly legible in the dark.

What I have found that when it comes to tradies (or any temporary foreign access) I use their mobile number as their entry code and delete it after the job is done.

Not that I'm overly security conscious, affectively I have 5 different access points (with internal/external and some double locks) to the house with security doors over some… that adds up to 18 keyed alike locks… If a dodgy tradie decided to copy a loaned key, that'd be 18 new tumblers at $25 each +inconvenience I'd have to replace. I've done this elsewhere in the past, but then I only had 2 locks to consider.

You may notice that there is still a manual combination lock above the digital on the front door…
Fixture Font Door Rectangle Gas

the reason is that the Samsung digital cannot be secured from the inside. The lock can be engaged but anyone can open it from the inside..
Camera lens Fixture Dead bolt Point-and-shoot camera Digital camera

The manual has a 2 way deadlock that secures both inside and outside. I use this as well for prolonged trips from the house… normally it's left unlocked.

I had the normal Lockwood deadlocks on one of my backdoors and a manual combination on the workshop (inside was lockable). Again you may see 2 locks on my workshop… I do not use the lower circular lock (except on long trips).

I was strolling through Bunnings one day, looking for things I could afford but did not need and came across a digital version of the Lockwood manual combination deadlock.
Automotive lighting Automotive exterior Vehicle door Gadget Door


Automotive lighting Motor vehicle Automotive design Wood Automotive exterior

My backyard Bunnings did not carry this line when I bought the Samsung.
The beauty of these locks was that you can replace the outside keypad and retain the inside keyed lock.
Fixture Gas Handle Household hardware Dead bolt


it also comes with a magnetised credit card sized access "key" that fits snugly into a wallet,
Rectangle Font Logo Electric blue Carmine


providing it's not packed out with currency notes (your wallets safe rc)... Just don't confuse it with your Dan Murphy's card,
Rectangle Font Electric blue Electronics accessory Number


as it sends shop security buzzers troppo!

Now here in Victoria, our "ever caring" government decided to pass a law that a spa environment has to be kiddie secure… 1 week after I bought my new spa…
I had to fence it in and make entries secure. Fortunately, now I had a location for the old manual combination locks,
Brown Wood Wood stain Font Handle


Unfortunately in this electronic age we are continually faced with battery issues… no, not getting beaten up (well, yes, that can be an issue) but running out of juice. For me, I am fortunate that with 3 digital combination locks they should not all run out at the same time and on prolonged trips I do take a key with me as backup on one of the keyed entry.
Alternatively the Samsung has a "backup" key (if you carry it around based on your keyless principle).
A "dead" Lockwood can be jump started with a 9V battery… and we all carry one around… actually the workshop has one of these locks right behind where I park the car and I always (repeat always) carry at least one of these 9V torches
Liquid Wood Material property Circuit component Computer data storage


Liquid Fluid Wood Material property Tints and shades

(hell I can see another review coming up) in the car.

Word of warning… never advertised in the spruiking literature, an adverse sun on the keypad could block out visibility of the numbers…. for me that was a big gotcha as I had to cup the keypad to see, however, was rectified when I built the carport in front/over the door.

While on the topic of ????
  1. The Samsung opens automatically on correct key entry… the Lockwood still requires a turn of the knob… and a correct key… the decision is yours… "hands free" or drop the package to turn the knob.
  2. The Samsung has ease of criminal exit… the Lockwood needs a key (or a hacksaw/sledge hammer) to exit. The latter not an issue in most workshops…
  3. Samsung uses 2 batteries… Lockwood uses 4 and lasts twice as long and easier to replace.
  4. Samsung uses aster (*) to confirm entry… Lockwood tells you you're an idiot with the same key. A mix of the two (which I have) can be confusing/frustrating.
 

Attachments

#266 ·
Safety in Numbers.

Boys and girls,

When it comes to security, my ample body is guarded by a whalebone girdle, however, the contents of my residence is guarded by a combination lock.

I wanted to review my combination lock, however, I thought a blog on pros and cons of combination locks in general would be better suited. I have grouped it under Workshop Tips as it is just as applicable to the workshop as to the house.

While a combination lock removes the need to carry keys around, it does infer some degree of memory retention of a few chosen numbers.

When I moved into my Richmond (Cremorne for the upper class) residence in 1990, I was concerned that hostile visiting benefactors may donate some worthwhile items in my residence while I was away and I was not prepared to accept the additional clutter.

After consultation with a locksmith, I concluded that a combination lock may be the way to control uninvited access to mycastle (eat your heart out rc).
As renovations became more profound, I had to provide access to tradies. Now I used a 5 digit access code (with one being "Y"), of which I pre-coded 4 digits and instruct them to just enter "Y" to provide access (won't go into my tirade that some people couldn't spell "Y"… probably the same that are still looking for the X … it was a one time only access so if they were there for the day and had to go out, the place was either left open or they couldn't get in again as the 4 pre-entered numbers would get wiped.

Moved to Churchill in 2010 and took myself, including the combo. Fitted the lock to my front door (didn't think it was constructive to fit to the neighbors… they would have complained anyway as I knew the combination). Bugger them!

Wallowed through the annals of time and many tradies were revelling in the "Y" access, and one day I found this Samsung digital lock in Bunnings…
Home appliance Clock Gas Kitchen appliance Communication Device


telling you the door is open/closed. DOH! As if I'm gonna walk through a closed door (when I'm sober). It also comes with one of these magnetic keychain dongles
Automotive lighting Gadget Audio equipment Gas Cable


that you can attach to that keychain, you now don't carry around as you have the combination lock… who invents these things?

The beauty of these digital locks are,
  1. Digit entry sequence is enforced adding greater security for key set-ups with few numbers. Digits can also be repeated as with the manual, you push the button once and it's set.
  2. Can have many different combinations.
  3. Card entry for those memory blocking adventures, upon staggering home.
  4. If you are stupid, you can still choose to use a key.
  5. The keypad lights up and is clearly legible in the dark.

What I have found that when it comes to tradies (or any temporary foreign access) I use their mobile number as their entry code and delete it after the job is done.

Not that I'm overly security conscious, affectively I have 5 different access points (with internal/external and some double locks) to the house with security doors over some… that adds up to 18 keyed alike locks… If a dodgy tradie decided to copy a loaned key, that'd be 18 new tumblers at $25 each +inconvenience I'd have to replace. I've done this elsewhere in the past, but then I only had 2 locks to consider.

You may notice that there is still a manual combination lock above the digital on the front door…
Fixture Font Door Rectangle Gas

the reason is that the Samsung digital cannot be secured from the inside. The lock can be engaged but anyone can open it from the inside..
Camera lens Fixture Dead bolt Point-and-shoot camera Digital camera

The manual has a 2 way deadlock that secures both inside and outside. I use this as well for prolonged trips from the house… normally it's left unlocked.

I had the normal Lockwood deadlocks on one of my backdoors and a manual combination on the workshop (inside was lockable). Again you may see 2 locks on my workshop… I do not use the lower circular lock (except on long trips).

I was strolling through Bunnings one day, looking for things I could afford but did not need and came across a digital version of the Lockwood manual combination deadlock.
Automotive lighting Automotive exterior Vehicle door Gadget Door


Automotive lighting Motor vehicle Automotive design Wood Automotive exterior

My backyard Bunnings did not carry this line when I bought the Samsung.
The beauty of these locks was that you can replace the outside keypad and retain the inside keyed lock.
Fixture Gas Handle Household hardware Dead bolt


it also comes with a magnetised credit card sized access "key" that fits snugly into a wallet,
Rectangle Font Logo Electric blue Carmine


providing it's not packed out with currency notes (your wallets safe rc)... Just don't confuse it with your Dan Murphy's card,
Rectangle Font Electric blue Electronics accessory Number


as it sends shop security buzzers troppo!

Now here in Victoria, our "ever caring" government decided to pass a law that a spa environment has to be kiddie secure… 1 week after I bought my new spa…
I had to fence it in and make entries secure. Fortunately, now I had a location for the old manual combination locks,
Brown Wood Wood stain Font Handle


Unfortunately in this electronic age we are continually faced with battery issues… no, not getting beaten up (well, yes, that can be an issue) but running out of juice. For me, I am fortunate that with 3 digital combination locks they should not all run out at the same time and on prolonged trips I do take a key with me as backup on one of the keyed entry.
Alternatively the Samsung has a "backup" key (if you carry it around based on your keyless principle).
A "dead" Lockwood can be jump started with a 9V battery… and we all carry one around… actually the workshop has one of these locks right behind where I park the car and I always (repeat always) carry at least one of these 9V torches
Liquid Wood Material property Circuit component Computer data storage


Liquid Fluid Wood Material property Tints and shades

(hell I can see another review coming up) in the car.

Word of warning… never advertised in the spruiking literature, an adverse sun on the keypad could block out visibility of the numbers…. for me that was a big gotcha as I had to cup the keypad to see, however, was rectified when I built the carport in front/over the door.

While on the topic of ????
  1. The Samsung opens automatically on correct key entry… the Lockwood still requires a turn of the knob… and a correct key… the decision is yours… "hands free" or drop the package to turn the knob.
  2. The Samsung has ease of criminal exit… the Lockwood needs a key (or a hacksaw/sledge hammer) to exit. The latter not an issue in most workshops…
  3. Samsung uses 2 batteries… Lockwood uses 4 and lasts twice as long and easier to replace.
  4. Samsung uses aster (*) to confirm entry… Lockwood tells you you're an idiot with the same key. A mix of the two (which I have) can be confusing/frustrating.
OMG I gunna get some revenge soon'

hey I got a Santa delivery!

Plant Wood Grass Sidewalk Road surface


Grass Automotive exterior Automotive lighting Hood Food
 

Attachments

#276 ·
Quick connect "Dusty" extraction.

Boys and Girls,

If you tend to share your 100mm diameter dust extraction between your machinery, you may find these 100mm DWV PVC Standard Pan Collar fitted at the action end of the hose handy.
Automotive tire Wood Gas Engineering Auto part


and just slip over the 100mm "machinery" outlet,
Automotive tire Gas Engineering Auto part Machine


Wood Thigh Automotive design Gas Knee


Plumbing Cylinder Gas Engineering Machine


You may need to "cheat",
Automotive tire Wood Gas Engineering Machine tool


Automotive tire Wood Rim Gas Engineering


Gas Auto part Engineering Machine Nut


When you start with a new one,
Automotive tire Tire Wood Automotive wheel system Circle


You may need to use a bit of effort, but they will loosen up. Afterwards, even as they loosen up, the suction will keep them attaches as they do a very good seal (arf…arf..)…
I have all my extenders rigged with these suckers,

Blue Purple Gas Wood Human leg


For all you imperialists, feel free to skip back and substitute 4" for 100mm.
 

Attachments

#277 ·
Quick connect "Dusty" extraction.

Boys and Girls,

If you tend to share your 100mm diameter dust extraction between your machinery, you may find these 100mm DWV PVC Standard Pan Collar fitted at the action end of the hose handy.
Automotive tire Wood Gas Engineering Auto part


and just slip over the 100mm "machinery" outlet,
Automotive tire Gas Engineering Auto part Machine


Wood Thigh Automotive design Gas Knee


Plumbing Cylinder Gas Engineering Machine


You may need to "cheat",
Automotive tire Wood Gas Engineering Machine tool


Automotive tire Wood Rim Gas Engineering


Gas Auto part Engineering Machine Nut


When you start with a new one,
Automotive tire Tire Wood Automotive wheel system Circle


You may need to use a bit of effort, but they will loosen up. Afterwards, even as they loosen up, the suction will keep them attaches as they do a very good seal (arf…arf..)…
I have all my extenders rigged with these suckers,

Blue Purple Gas Wood Human leg


For all you imperialists, feel free to skip back and substitute 4" for 100mm.
Man, now I have another reason to visit Australia! Nothing like that here in the States. That looks awesome.
 

Attachments

#286 ·
Cleaning a Cleaner.

Boys and Girls,

You may be wondering what this is all about, however, if you weren't following the bouncing ball you may have arrived here before the drinks refreshment cart.
For those that are now perplexed, may I suggest you peruse my blog about Stupid Ideas/Buys on Bricking up a house-vac.

However, with this offering…
You get to kill two birds with one stone... and by that I don't mean a bloody big stone on two tiny little birds
You get,
  1. a Stupid Ideas/Buys instalment (elsewhere).
  2. a handy Workshop Operational Tips instalment (here).

How I extricated myself.

I remembered my Perspex (Acrylic) Repair/CA Clean-up. blog and thought that a cordless "buff" and some auto-polish
Fluid Saw Automotive tire Gas Sports equipment


may be my salvation.

Removed the opaque bin from the Dyson
Automotive lighting Kitchen appliance Gas Food Machine


and smeared a good coating of polish on the inside. Mounted the drill with one of the pads I used for cleaning up the Perspex and buffed away,
Liquid Fluid Drinkware Bottle Solution


After a few minutes I replaced the Dyson with the clear bin… at least clearer.
Liquid Drinkware Fluid Plastic bottle Ingredient


Moral of the story is that if you have enough useless tools in your workshop, you'll eventually find something that will fix the impossible.
 

Attachments

#287 ·
Cleaning a Cleaner.

Boys and Girls,

You may be wondering what this is all about, however, if you weren't following the bouncing ball you may have arrived here before the drinks refreshment cart.
For those that are now perplexed, may I suggest you peruse my blog about Stupid Ideas/Buys on Bricking up a house-vac.

However, with this offering…
You get to kill two birds with one stone... and by that I don't mean a bloody big stone on two tiny little birds
You get,
  1. a Stupid Ideas/Buys instalment (elsewhere).
  2. a handy Workshop Operational Tips instalment (here).

How I extricated myself.

I remembered my Perspex (Acrylic) Repair/CA Clean-up. blog and thought that a cordless "buff" and some auto-polish
Fluid Saw Automotive tire Gas Sports equipment


may be my salvation.

Removed the opaque bin from the Dyson
Automotive lighting Kitchen appliance Gas Food Machine


and smeared a good coating of polish on the inside. Mounted the drill with one of the pads I used for cleaning up the Perspex and buffed away,
Liquid Fluid Drinkware Bottle Solution


After a few minutes I replaced the Dyson with the clear bin… at least clearer.
Liquid Drinkware Fluid Plastic bottle Ingredient


Moral of the story is that if you have enough useless tools in your workshop, you'll eventually find something that will fix the impossible.
LittleBlackDuck:

Once again,you've made my day. It's not often that Master Woodworker and Master Wordsmith come in the same package.
 

Attachments

#293 ·
Scrollsaw Ease for Arthritic Knuckles...

Boys and Girls,

Another plagiarised idea expanded, though I cannot find the offering, I believe Steve Good had a hand in it somewhere.

I was sick and tired of having arthur gnaw at my knuckles every time I tried to swing my Excalibur (scroll saw) in a deftly duel with a lance (piece of wood).

I initially purchased a set of these round knobs for my Excalibur scroll saw,
Automotive tire Grey Tread Rim Automotive wheel system


to facilitate my grip, only to find them not that much better than the original ones for the final tightening of the knobs.

I resorted to my favourite sandbox and designed these knob fasteners in SketchUp and 3D printed them,
Automotive tire Household hardware Gas Automotive wheel system Auto part


They proved to be an improvement, but I kept popping blades so I can only assume my pansy grip was not manly enough to wield the mighty Excalibur.

Back to the drawing board, I finalised on this design to accommodate the round knobs,
Wood Gas Cylinder Fastener Screw


and when the scrolling task was done, I had to reach for the tool and some spinach to undo my previous over exuberance of the twists.

Never prepared to let moss grow under my shoes (only fungus between the toes), I thought that if this gizmo worked so well with my round knobs, they should work equally well with the original…
DOH! What a moron, the round knob tool did not fit the elongated original one so I had to redesign it to fit,
Wood Plant Gas Cylinder Audio equipment


Wood Line Wood stain Hardwood Sewing


voila… worked like a charm… and just to prove I'm ambidextrous (well at least two handed) I put each of the fasteners at opposite ends of the tool
Wood Hardwood Cylinder Audio equipment Musical instrument


so I would now have to decide which end to use… life was not meant to be easy.

The following is a link to the scaled PDF for the Excalibur that can be printed and scrolled (or band sawed followed by heaps of sanding… you choose) for the fasteners.

The holes in the fastener parts are for dowel alignment to prevent slippage during glue up as I laser cut mine (x2) from 6mm MDF and laminate. Carry the dowels into the ends of the grip for strength.

The grip can be either a large dowel or a lathe reject-spindle. A few (actually more than a few) longitudinal bandsaw marks will ensure a herculean grip while tightening… and hope for a repeat feat of strength when loosening.
 

Attachments

#294 ·
Scrollsaw Ease for Arthritic Knuckles...

Boys and Girls,

Another plagiarised idea expanded, though I cannot find the offering, I believe Steve Good had a hand in it somewhere.

I was sick and tired of having arthur gnaw at my knuckles every time I tried to swing my Excalibur (scroll saw) in a deftly duel with a lance (piece of wood).

I initially purchased a set of these round knobs for my Excalibur scroll saw,
Automotive tire Grey Tread Rim Automotive wheel system


to facilitate my grip, only to find them not that much better than the original ones for the final tightening of the knobs.

I resorted to my favourite sandbox and designed these knob fasteners in SketchUp and 3D printed them,
Automotive tire Household hardware Gas Automotive wheel system Auto part


They proved to be an improvement, but I kept popping blades so I can only assume my pansy grip was not manly enough to wield the mighty Excalibur.

Back to the drawing board, I finalised on this design to accommodate the round knobs,
Wood Gas Cylinder Fastener Screw


and when the scrolling task was done, I had to reach for the tool and some spinach to undo my previous over exuberance of the twists.

Never prepared to let moss grow under my shoes (only fungus between the toes), I thought that if this gizmo worked so well with my round knobs, they should work equally well with the original…
DOH! What a moron, the round knob tool did not fit the elongated original one so I had to redesign it to fit,
Wood Plant Gas Cylinder Audio equipment


Wood Line Wood stain Hardwood Sewing


voila… worked like a charm… and just to prove I'm ambidextrous (well at least two handed) I put each of the fasteners at opposite ends of the tool
Wood Hardwood Cylinder Audio equipment Musical instrument


so I would now have to decide which end to use… life was not meant to be easy.

The following is a link to the scaled PDF for the Excalibur that can be printed and scrolled (or band sawed followed by heaps of sanding… you choose) for the fasteners.

The holes in the fastener parts are for dowel alignment to prevent slippage during glue up as I laser cut mine (x2) from 6mm MDF and laminate. Carry the dowels into the ends of the grip for strength.

The grip can be either a large dowel or a lathe reject-spindle. A few (actually more than a few) longitudinal bandsaw marks will ensure a herculean grip while tightening… and hope for a repeat feat of strength when loosening.
I know its always 5 O'Clock somewhere and it looks like new blade time as well

the mighty Excalibur yet another great tool brand sadly bitten the dust

 

Attachments

#300 ·
In a Tight Scrape.

Boys and Girls,

Just in case you find yourself in a tight spot, this little gizmo may get you out in a scrape.

I needed a scraper small enough to scrape the inside of the windows of one of my model toys a while back, after finding that sandpaper was altering the general shape too much.

I used the "normal" card scraper sharpening technique to prepare one of my paint scrapers.
In operation on pine,
Wood Gas Tool Wood stain Hardwood


walnut,
Wood Gas Handwriting Tool Metalworking hand tool


hard maple,
Wood Rectangle Natural material Beige Hardwood

(actually that was a lie as I went and bought a new one to convert…)

I wanted to use my old favourite (bottom one),
Wood Tool Hand tool Antique tool Japanese chisel

however, it has been with me for over 50 years and it's being held in trust for a boxed display…

Just a couple of hints, aimed at the uninitiated, for scraper sharpening.
Nylon blocks with rare earths make a good vertical holder,
Wood Gas Composite material Bumper Automotive exterior


Wood Rectangle Flooring Gas Art

... for the more frugal… just a wooden block will suffice.

For those of delicate hand, a fly-wire screen spline split down the length can protect your baby soft palms,
Rectangle Wood Gas Gadget Hardwood


A split block (bandsaw kerf) with "hold in place wings" is a good addition to hold a scraper for edge rolling,
Ruler Wood Office ruler Rectangle Flooring


Rectangle Wood Floor Wood stain Hardwood

The "wings hold it in place while the scraper is positioned and the vice tightened.
Wood Wood stain Plank Rectangle Hardwood
(cheap Chines…)
and it doesn't object to interracial vices, ...(expensive Australian)
Wood Hand tool Gas Machine Engineering


PS. Don't try this on plastic scrapers… after about 5 attempts, I reaslised it doesn't work!... They just don't hold an edge.
 

Attachments

#301 ·
In a Tight Scrape.

Boys and Girls,

Just in case you find yourself in a tight spot, this little gizmo may get you out in a scrape.

I needed a scraper small enough to scrape the inside of the windows of one of my model toys a while back, after finding that sandpaper was altering the general shape too much.

I used the "normal" card scraper sharpening technique to prepare one of my paint scrapers.
In operation on pine,
Wood Gas Tool Wood stain Hardwood


walnut,
Wood Gas Handwriting Tool Metalworking hand tool


hard maple,
Wood Rectangle Natural material Beige Hardwood

(actually that was a lie as I went and bought a new one to convert…)

I wanted to use my old favourite (bottom one),
Wood Tool Hand tool Antique tool Japanese chisel

however, it has been with me for over 50 years and it's being held in trust for a boxed display…

Just a couple of hints, aimed at the uninitiated, for scraper sharpening.
Nylon blocks with rare earths make a good vertical holder,
Wood Gas Composite material Bumper Automotive exterior


Wood Rectangle Flooring Gas Art

... for the more frugal… just a wooden block will suffice.

For those of delicate hand, a fly-wire screen spline split down the length can protect your baby soft palms,
Rectangle Wood Gas Gadget Hardwood


A split block (bandsaw kerf) with "hold in place wings" is a good addition to hold a scraper for edge rolling,
Ruler Wood Office ruler Rectangle Flooring


Rectangle Wood Floor Wood stain Hardwood

The "wings hold it in place while the scraper is positioned and the vice tightened.
Wood Wood stain Plank Rectangle Hardwood
(cheap Chines…)
and it doesn't object to interracial vices, ...(expensive Australian)
Wood Hand tool Gas Machine Engineering


PS. Don't try this on plastic scrapers… after about 5 attempts, I reaslised it doesn't work!... They just don't hold an edge.
nice tutorial ducks i wish i actually used the scrapers i have but just dont care for them much myself.nowhere to plug em in-lol.
 

Attachments

#309 ·
Having trouble drumming up tension?

Boys and Girls,

A lot of people seem to have trouble getting the roll of sandpaper holding on their drumsander and start contemplating turning to the dark side of hook and loop conversion.

Before you bite the bullet, try the following first. Ensure the paper is wrapped tightly on the drum. The paper doesn't have to abut between turns/wraps.

To stop the end from slipping out, bend it over itself before you manouver it into the tensioning clip.
Wood Tool Wood stain Table Bumper


The sandpaper face on both sides inhibits slip
Wood Automotive exterior Gas Office equipment Tints and shades


Seat it fully down the tension clip.
 

Attachments

#310 ·
Having trouble drumming up tension?

Boys and Girls,

A lot of people seem to have trouble getting the roll of sandpaper holding on their drumsander and start contemplating turning to the dark side of hook and loop conversion.

Before you bite the bullet, try the following first. Ensure the paper is wrapped tightly on the drum. The paper doesn't have to abut between turns/wraps.

To stop the end from slipping out, bend it over itself before you manouver it into the tensioning clip.
Wood Tool Wood stain Table Bumper


The sandpaper face on both sides inhibits slip
Wood Automotive exterior Gas Office equipment Tints and shades


Seat it fully down the tension clip.
I don't have problems getting new paper keeping it on without ripping off after a few minuets run time is different story.
 

Attachments

#316 ·
Refresh the memory and Graffiti your tools.

Boys and Girls,

If you suffer a case of forgetfulness and remember how to read, continue, otherwise… hmmm… I forget… come back later… things might have changed.

I am getting old quicker than birthdays seem to come around. While Uncle Alzhi hasn't caught up to me (yet), I'm a guilty advocate of,
  • Hate to RTFM.
  • Loathe to play what-ifs with a chain of allen keys or wrenches/sockets.
  • Continually skin knuckles or strip threads in trying to twist things the wrong way.
  • Cause ill-rest in the household with the proliferation of prolonged, profound profanities.
  • … and many more shortcomings that I care not to remember.

If you can relate to any of the above symptoms, salvation is at hand… with the dexterous use of a texta (sharpie in Yankee speak)
There are far too many things to concern oneself in the workshop than trying to remember/recall that fine print in the bloody manual that no one ever needs or bothers to read, until the book can't be found and you have all 3 hands full of activity needing immediate attention.

Now this revelation is not in writing instructions on the back of your hand or on the forehead (even if you can read backwards), but to use a texta to deface your tools in an endeavor to refresh your memory.

I have gone around and written handy tips onto my tools with a texta and refresh it whenever it starts to fade/wear. These tips can be in the format of a number, a word, a full paragraph or even a song.

Some may think I have to be a scatter brain or mentally challenged to have to write these "instruction", that I may be, however, all I will own up to is that with all the different machines in my workshop, it's another variable I don't have to fret over… my tools, my shop, my rules and my lack of memory…

Here is a collection of my cheat sheets to give some ideas to get you started…

Reminder to lower the table to a specific height for function change on my jointer/thicknesser combo,
Handwriting Font Art Writing Ink

and an around about way, to pull the plug to flip the lid,
Hood Grey Automotive tire Automotive design Handwriting

raised table compensation for the thin stock sled (actually you need to subtract and not add… but, I already know that),
Table Wood Rectangle Desk Wood stain

and indicate the lock position for feeder,
Gas Electrical wiring Font Cable Electrical supply


Even brand new tools get a tag for open/close direction of collete,
Gas Bumper Automotive lighting Wood Bicycle part


Allen key size for bandsaw bearing adjustment,
Household hardware Gas Composite material Machine Auto part

and the bandsaw's fence adjuster rotation direction for the away direction,
Bicycle Automotive tire Bicycle tire Wheel Bicycle part


Drum sander Up/Down rotation direction,
Gas Handwriting Nickel Metal Auto part

Spanner size for drum sander bolt head,
Automotive tire Automotive exterior Bumper Rim Automotive lighting


Spindle sander release direction. Diagram indicated the rotation of the attachment not to be confused with the spindle… remember it's a left hand thread,
Light Blue Road surface Asphalt Font


I have 3 buffs for my 2 wheel slow speed grinder so each buff could finish up on either wheel depending on order of change. As the left hand spindle has a left hand thread, marking the side the buff is oriented makes undoing the nut a 1st. up operation.
Wood Gas Circle Door Carmine

The markings refer to the outside facing of the buff… RHS mount,
Grey Eyelash Art Linens Circle

LHS mount,
Eyelash Grey Wood Snout Wool


Direction of the adjustment wheel for my router table's Incra LS positioner… bit away from fence,
Wood Publication Office equipment Tints and shades Parallel

the other way, closer to fence
Publication Wood Book Writing implement Tints and shades


Latche chuck open/close rotation,
Motor vehicle Automotive tire Hood Automotive fuel system Automotive design

Locking nut size for my lathe extension mount,
Automotive tire Gas Bumper Automotive wheel system Auto part


While the allen key size was written on my disc sander, this magnet mount save me a walk to the key rack,
Automotive tire Automotive exterior Gas Motor vehicle Automotive wheel system


Even the Fe$tool gets two tags (even though the spindle lock has directional arrows),
Gas Machine Engineering Audio equipment Close-up


Automotive tire Wheel Auto part Rim Bumper


Ryoni trimmer gets the hinge side marked for base mounting. Hinge on wrong side interferes with thumb placement during operation,
Automotive tire Synthetic rubber Vehicle Bicycle part Personal protective equipment


The shop vac is in auto mode 99% of the time, however, the markings are on the front hidden from obvious view,
Terrestrial plant Wire Font Cable Machine


I have replaced the locking bolt on my drill press raiser handle by a ratchet spanner. Directions takes the conjecture out of operation,
Gas Engineering Machine Auto part Automotive tire


My Bessey gear clamps can be confusing depending on orientation, no need for a 50-50 chance of correct direction regardless of orientation.
Automotive tire Automotive lighting Material property Gas Font


I have two mitre saws feeding the one shop vac,
Wood Luggage and bags Gas Motor vehicle Machine


Automotive tire Motor vehicle Hood Automotive exterior Automotive fuel system


Automotive tire Hood Motor vehicle Automotive design Rim

swap this laser cut/printed sign to identify saw the vac is NOT attached to,
Wood Font Gas Bumper Hardwood


Even the laser gets a prompt for replacement after the lens is removed and cleaned,
Bumper Automotive exterior Automotive design Font Auto part

and a prompt for software table height settings for 3mm and 6mm MDFs respectively,
Gadget Rectangle Font Composite material Laptop accessory


There are more but I'm sick of typing and running out of sharpies.

Become an Ektoe and start tagging.

PS. Once you start tagging your tools, somehow you tend to remember without the prompt.
 

Attachments

#317 ·
Refresh the memory and Graffiti your tools.

Boys and Girls,

If you suffer a case of forgetfulness and remember how to read, continue, otherwise… hmmm… I forget… come back later… things might have changed.

I am getting old quicker than birthdays seem to come around. While Uncle Alzhi hasn't caught up to me (yet), I'm a guilty advocate of,
  • Hate to RTFM.
  • Loathe to play what-ifs with a chain of allen keys or wrenches/sockets.
  • Continually skin knuckles or strip threads in trying to twist things the wrong way.
  • Cause ill-rest in the household with the proliferation of prolonged, profound profanities.
  • … and many more shortcomings that I care not to remember.

If you can relate to any of the above symptoms, salvation is at hand… with the dexterous use of a texta (sharpie in Yankee speak)
There are far too many things to concern oneself in the workshop than trying to remember/recall that fine print in the bloody manual that no one ever needs or bothers to read, until the book can't be found and you have all 3 hands full of activity needing immediate attention.

Now this revelation is not in writing instructions on the back of your hand or on the forehead (even if you can read backwards), but to use a texta to deface your tools in an endeavor to refresh your memory.

I have gone around and written handy tips onto my tools with a texta and refresh it whenever it starts to fade/wear. These tips can be in the format of a number, a word, a full paragraph or even a song.

Some may think I have to be a scatter brain or mentally challenged to have to write these "instruction", that I may be, however, all I will own up to is that with all the different machines in my workshop, it's another variable I don't have to fret over… my tools, my shop, my rules and my lack of memory…

Here is a collection of my cheat sheets to give some ideas to get you started…

Reminder to lower the table to a specific height for function change on my jointer/thicknesser combo,
Handwriting Font Art Writing Ink

and an around about way, to pull the plug to flip the lid,
Hood Grey Automotive tire Automotive design Handwriting

raised table compensation for the thin stock sled (actually you need to subtract and not add… but, I already know that),
Table Wood Rectangle Desk Wood stain

and indicate the lock position for feeder,
Gas Electrical wiring Font Cable Electrical supply


Even brand new tools get a tag for open/close direction of collete,
Gas Bumper Automotive lighting Wood Bicycle part


Allen key size for bandsaw bearing adjustment,
Household hardware Gas Composite material Machine Auto part

and the bandsaw's fence adjuster rotation direction for the away direction,
Bicycle Automotive tire Bicycle tire Wheel Bicycle part


Drum sander Up/Down rotation direction,
Gas Handwriting Nickel Metal Auto part

Spanner size for drum sander bolt head,
Automotive tire Automotive exterior Bumper Rim Automotive lighting


Spindle sander release direction. Diagram indicated the rotation of the attachment not to be confused with the spindle… remember it's a left hand thread,
Light Blue Road surface Asphalt Font


I have 3 buffs for my 2 wheel slow speed grinder so each buff could finish up on either wheel depending on order of change. As the left hand spindle has a left hand thread, marking the side the buff is oriented makes undoing the nut a 1st. up operation.
Wood Gas Circle Door Carmine

The markings refer to the outside facing of the buff… RHS mount,
Grey Eyelash Art Linens Circle

LHS mount,
Eyelash Grey Wood Snout Wool


Direction of the adjustment wheel for my router table's Incra LS positioner… bit away from fence,
Wood Publication Office equipment Tints and shades Parallel

the other way, closer to fence
Publication Wood Book Writing implement Tints and shades


Latche chuck open/close rotation,
Motor vehicle Automotive tire Hood Automotive fuel system Automotive design

Locking nut size for my lathe extension mount,
Automotive tire Gas Bumper Automotive wheel system Auto part


While the allen key size was written on my disc sander, this magnet mount save me a walk to the key rack,
Automotive tire Automotive exterior Gas Motor vehicle Automotive wheel system


Even the Fe$tool gets two tags (even though the spindle lock has directional arrows),
Gas Machine Engineering Audio equipment Close-up


Automotive tire Wheel Auto part Rim Bumper


Ryoni trimmer gets the hinge side marked for base mounting. Hinge on wrong side interferes with thumb placement during operation,
Automotive tire Synthetic rubber Vehicle Bicycle part Personal protective equipment


The shop vac is in auto mode 99% of the time, however, the markings are on the front hidden from obvious view,
Terrestrial plant Wire Font Cable Machine


I have replaced the locking bolt on my drill press raiser handle by a ratchet spanner. Directions takes the conjecture out of operation,
Gas Engineering Machine Auto part Automotive tire


My Bessey gear clamps can be confusing depending on orientation, no need for a 50-50 chance of correct direction regardless of orientation.
Automotive tire Automotive lighting Material property Gas Font


I have two mitre saws feeding the one shop vac,
Wood Luggage and bags Gas Motor vehicle Machine


Automotive tire Motor vehicle Hood Automotive exterior Automotive fuel system


Automotive tire Hood Motor vehicle Automotive design Rim

swap this laser cut/printed sign to identify saw the vac is NOT attached to,
Wood Font Gas Bumper Hardwood


Even the laser gets a prompt for replacement after the lens is removed and cleaned,
Bumper Automotive exterior Automotive design Font Auto part

and a prompt for software table height settings for 3mm and 6mm MDFs respectively,
Gadget Rectangle Font Composite material Laptop accessory


There are more but I'm sick of typing and running out of sharpies.

Become an Ektoe and start tagging.

PS. Once you start tagging your tools, somehow you tend to remember without the prompt.
are they DYMO lables on the clamps ? :<)))

Sleeve Rectangle Automotive tire Automotive exterior Auto part


i find these to be very confusing :<((((((((
 

Attachments

#339 ·
Threaded MDF (POC).

Boys and Girls,

It's hard to imagine the blog I wrote about RivNuts was over 2 years ago. I was surprised by some of the comments saying they have been around for years, so I have to fess up that I didn't discover them.
Whether they be called Rivnuts, Nutserts, pop-nuts or even beer nuts, it's my blog so I'll refer to these,
Liquid Wood Household hardware Automotive tire Cylinder

as Rivnuts…. and as I remember my youth, they also come in rubbers,
Automotive tire Tire Rim Audio equipment Gas

which I'll refer to as rubber inserts, so we are all under the same blanket.

If you couldn't be bothered to read the above link, the rivnuts are inserted using this setter,
Bumper Bicycle part Gas Automotive exterior Auto part

For all you thrillseekers (politically correct way of saying skinflints) that don't want to part with your shekels for a similar tool, you can always seat them using two spanners and a spare nut, or replace one of the spanners with a hex wrench… especially if the bolt has an allen head,
Hand tool Wood Gas Metalworking hand tool Tool


Material property Hand tool Tool Wood Gas

sorry, you figure it out (as I have the tool)... though I compare this method to popping normal rivets, with a mouth devoid of dentures.

I'm far from an expert and still coming to grips with the setter and the nuts,
Skateboard Wood Bumper Electric blue Skateboarding Equipment


I make a lot of jigs and workshop enhancements, and can see some use/benefit of threads in MDF.
As there hasn't been a proliferation of coverage for these here at LJ's, I thought I might get the ball rolling and share some of my findings to those that are unfamiliar with them. Any reciprocal education by seasoned users is/are eagerly welcome.

I haven't used it enough to do a thorough review, however, the notion of threads in MDF made me think of rivnuts to see what I can achieve with them.

I have used threads in solid wood and wouldn't go past The Wood Whisperer's taps… they have tolerances designed for wood and are better suited than metal taps… in my opinion worth the extra shekels.
Saw Wood Automotive tire Bumper Hardwood


Unfortunately the nature of MDF precludes it from taking a thread and after buying a set of Wood Whisperer's taps I had heaps sitting idle… I found that the two inserts below just don't cut the mustard… or better worded, cut/ripped MDF,
Body jewelry Azure Silver Earrings Natural material

The one on the left is the woodworkers common threaded insert that still requires a non friendly MDF thread, while the one on the right is the DIY hackers insert, which requires a hole and a hammer to drive it home… also not MDF friendly.

I believe that rivnuts are primarily designed for use for sheet or thin metal,
Wood Electric blue Composite material Automotive exterior Rectangle

(up to 6mm… though some may work in thicker metal at higher bolt gauges). I wanted to extrapolate this concept to thinner sheets of MDF (like 3mm or 1/8"),
Blue Rectangle Wood Grey Gas


Grey Silver Wood Natural material Gas


To set up this POC (Proof Of Concept), I designed a box using SketchUp as a "vehicle" to carry the rivnuts in MDF and see if it was viable.
Initially I was restricting my rivnut "popping" into 3mm MDF (more on this later), so I used my laser cut, dowel aligned, MDF lamination technique to build up a layer of 12mm thick MDF,
Rectangle Table Gas Circle Aluminium


Rectangle Wood Gas Font Metal

and laser friendly format,
Font Circle Gas Technology Audio equipment


Cut on the laser and then off to the workshop,
Blue Bumper Wood Automotive exterior Electric blue

popped two rivnuts into the 3mm MDF
Light Gas Electric blue Composite material Wood

tested fit
Composite material Gas Bumper Rectangle Auto part

and glued up with PVA using the dowels for alignment,
Wood Gas Auto part Metal Aluminium


Cleaned up using flush cut, chisel and sander,
Blue Wood Calipers Electric blue Metal


Wood Gas Hardwood Engineering Flooring


Hand tool Wood Metalworking hand tool Tool Set tool


Wood Gas Cable Machine Wire

The four sides were then glued together using CA,
Gas Electrical wiring Engineering Electric blue Machine

with the aid of the "tenon" cut layer of each laminated side,
Wood Gas Composite material Metal Aluminium


I had no reservations on bolting something firmly flush against the "box",
Wood Model aircraft Toy airplane Monoplane Aviation

however, I did have concerns about pulling force on the rivnuts. While this is no great scientific experiment, I rigged this setup and managed to break the 6mm MDF I used when I continued to spread the clamps,
Table Wood Engineering Machine Desk

Still the same "scientist" operating the hardware, I rigged this larger piece of 6mm MDF to demonstrate forces in action by the bend in the 6mm MDF,
Wood Table Workbench Engineering Creative arts

naturally unmeasured, however, I would be happy to trust it with lighter weights and forces.

I also toyed with the rubber inserts,
Automotive tire Tire Rim Audio equipment Gas

I made a video of this "box" and tried some basic tests and made a total arse of myself, wasting good footage in bastardising the use of these rubber inserts. I'm sure many illegitimates will attest to failing rubbers. I abandoned the concept, however, eventually came back and made a confessional video when I found the error of my ways.

What I found was that you do not pre-pop the rubber insert. Just drill the hole,
Wood Electric blue Composite material Automotive exterior Rectangle


shove it in,
Window Wood Bumper Automotive exterior Gas


and then just bolt it in,
Fixture Bumper Automotive exterior Window Gas


Wood Gas Metal Machine Plywood


Wood Gas Recreation Indoor games and sports Electric blue

I found that it worked equally well in solid timber… drill the hole,
Blue Wood Rectangle Gas Hardwood

slip in the rubber,
Wood Rectangle Gas Font Jewellery

and screwed it,
Wood Gas Hardwood Recreation Flooring

though still with the absence of scientific stress tests.

After some comments made to the video, I promoted the 6mm rivnuts from 3mm MDF to 6mm with success,
Wood Audio equipment Hardwood Plywood Wood stain

Thanks rc

Just to prove I don't always talk ********************… here's a jig I was forced to make out of timber,
Wood Floor Flooring Rectangle Hardwood

as it blew out when I needed "threads" in MDF,
Building Table Wood Rectangle Gas


Please don't rush out and buy yourself a set of Rivnuts and setters… Not until I buy a few shares in the company.
 

Attachments

#340 ·
Threaded MDF (POC).

Boys and Girls,

It's hard to imagine the blog I wrote about RivNuts was over 2 years ago. I was surprised by some of the comments saying they have been around for years, so I have to fess up that I didn't discover them.
Whether they be called Rivnuts, Nutserts, pop-nuts or even beer nuts, it's my blog so I'll refer to these,
Liquid Wood Household hardware Automotive tire Cylinder

as Rivnuts…. and as I remember my youth, they also come in rubbers,
Automotive tire Tire Rim Audio equipment Gas

which I'll refer to as rubber inserts, so we are all under the same blanket.

If you couldn't be bothered to read the above link, the rivnuts are inserted using this setter,
Bumper Bicycle part Gas Automotive exterior Auto part

For all you thrillseekers (politically correct way of saying skinflints) that don't want to part with your shekels for a similar tool, you can always seat them using two spanners and a spare nut, or replace one of the spanners with a hex wrench… especially if the bolt has an allen head,
Hand tool Wood Gas Metalworking hand tool Tool


Material property Hand tool Tool Wood Gas

sorry, you figure it out (as I have the tool)... though I compare this method to popping normal rivets, with a mouth devoid of dentures.

I'm far from an expert and still coming to grips with the setter and the nuts,
Skateboard Wood Bumper Electric blue Skateboarding Equipment


I make a lot of jigs and workshop enhancements, and can see some use/benefit of threads in MDF.
As there hasn't been a proliferation of coverage for these here at LJ's, I thought I might get the ball rolling and share some of my findings to those that are unfamiliar with them. Any reciprocal education by seasoned users is/are eagerly welcome.

I haven't used it enough to do a thorough review, however, the notion of threads in MDF made me think of rivnuts to see what I can achieve with them.

I have used threads in solid wood and wouldn't go past The Wood Whisperer's taps… they have tolerances designed for wood and are better suited than metal taps… in my opinion worth the extra shekels.
Saw Wood Automotive tire Bumper Hardwood


Unfortunately the nature of MDF precludes it from taking a thread and after buying a set of Wood Whisperer's taps I had heaps sitting idle… I found that the two inserts below just don't cut the mustard… or better worded, cut/ripped MDF,
Body jewelry Azure Silver Earrings Natural material

The one on the left is the woodworkers common threaded insert that still requires a non friendly MDF thread, while the one on the right is the DIY hackers insert, which requires a hole and a hammer to drive it home… also not MDF friendly.

I believe that rivnuts are primarily designed for use for sheet or thin metal,
Wood Electric blue Composite material Automotive exterior Rectangle

(up to 6mm… though some may work in thicker metal at higher bolt gauges). I wanted to extrapolate this concept to thinner sheets of MDF (like 3mm or 1/8"),
Blue Rectangle Wood Grey Gas


Grey Silver Wood Natural material Gas


To set up this POC (Proof Of Concept), I designed a box using SketchUp as a "vehicle" to carry the rivnuts in MDF and see if it was viable.
Initially I was restricting my rivnut "popping" into 3mm MDF (more on this later), so I used my laser cut, dowel aligned, MDF lamination technique to build up a layer of 12mm thick MDF,
Rectangle Table Gas Circle Aluminium


Rectangle Wood Gas Font Metal

and laser friendly format,
Font Circle Gas Technology Audio equipment


Cut on the laser and then off to the workshop,
Blue Bumper Wood Automotive exterior Electric blue

popped two rivnuts into the 3mm MDF
Light Gas Electric blue Composite material Wood

tested fit
Composite material Gas Bumper Rectangle Auto part

and glued up with PVA using the dowels for alignment,
Wood Gas Auto part Metal Aluminium


Cleaned up using flush cut, chisel and sander,
Blue Wood Calipers Electric blue Metal


Wood Gas Hardwood Engineering Flooring


Hand tool Wood Metalworking hand tool Tool Set tool


Wood Gas Cable Machine Wire

The four sides were then glued together using CA,
Gas Electrical wiring Engineering Electric blue Machine

with the aid of the "tenon" cut layer of each laminated side,
Wood Gas Composite material Metal Aluminium


I had no reservations on bolting something firmly flush against the "box",
Wood Model aircraft Toy airplane Monoplane Aviation

however, I did have concerns about pulling force on the rivnuts. While this is no great scientific experiment, I rigged this setup and managed to break the 6mm MDF I used when I continued to spread the clamps,
Table Wood Engineering Machine Desk

Still the same "scientist" operating the hardware, I rigged this larger piece of 6mm MDF to demonstrate forces in action by the bend in the 6mm MDF,
Wood Table Workbench Engineering Creative arts

naturally unmeasured, however, I would be happy to trust it with lighter weights and forces.

I also toyed with the rubber inserts,
Automotive tire Tire Rim Audio equipment Gas

I made a video of this "box" and tried some basic tests and made a total arse of myself, wasting good footage in bastardising the use of these rubber inserts. I'm sure many illegitimates will attest to failing rubbers. I abandoned the concept, however, eventually came back and made a confessional video when I found the error of my ways.

What I found was that you do not pre-pop the rubber insert. Just drill the hole,
Wood Electric blue Composite material Automotive exterior Rectangle


shove it in,
Window Wood Bumper Automotive exterior Gas


and then just bolt it in,
Fixture Bumper Automotive exterior Window Gas


Wood Gas Metal Machine Plywood


Wood Gas Recreation Indoor games and sports Electric blue

I found that it worked equally well in solid timber… drill the hole,
Blue Wood Rectangle Gas Hardwood

slip in the rubber,
Wood Rectangle Gas Font Jewellery

and screwed it,
Wood Gas Hardwood Recreation Flooring

though still with the absence of scientific stress tests.

After some comments made to the video, I promoted the 6mm rivnuts from 3mm MDF to 6mm with success,
Wood Audio equipment Hardwood Plywood Wood stain

Thanks rc

Just to prove I don't always talk ********************… here's a jig I was forced to make out of timber,
Wood Floor Flooring Rectangle Hardwood

as it blew out when I needed "threads" in MDF,
Building Table Wood Rectangle Gas


Please don't rush out and buy yourself a set of Rivnuts and setters… Not until I buy a few shares in the company.
Great presention, as always. I enjoy your posts, they make me LOL in the morning. Keep it up.
 

Attachments

#350 ·
CA-Finish "layers counter" for Pen turners.

Boys and Girls,

If you've never turned a pen and I don't mean on a lazy susan,
Automotive tire Hood Automotive exterior Bumper Automotive design

or never intend to turn one, there's nothing here for you and recommend you exit.

If you do indulge in pens and never used or intend to use CA finish, pretend you never intend to turn one and go to the previous sentence.

If you hate reading as much as I do, skip to the last two pictures, though you may never know what this crap is all about.

For all you CA finishers…
Automotive lighting Cosmetics Audio equipment Liquid Gas

and I don't mean automobile without its r's… how many times have you lost track of the number of layers you put on?

If you only lay down 1 or 2, which is bugger all, pretend you don't use CA finish and go to sentence 2 above.

For those thrilseekers that wish to continue, don't forget you can always end your sentence on the current line and simply exit.

When finishing a pen blank,
Gas Electric blue Machine Metal Engineering

I usually apply 20 layers of my CA and BLO concoction,
Liquid Bottle Fluid Solution Wood

To 4 drops of CA on some paper toweling, I add 1 drop of BLO.
This I apply to the blank (initially sanded to 400 grit) with the lathe running at around 1,800rpm… and tear the "infected tip" off the strip of toweling after application. I usually apply 5 layers and then go for a vino break to give the CA time to cure… Not for too long, but enough to lose count… especially after a few breaks and vinos.

Now for a history lessons… I used to depend on finger counting when I started pen turning and only applied around 5 layers, but as I got more adventurous I upped my layers quota and quickly ran out of fingers.
Initially I used a "blackboard" and chalk to keep trace,
Automotive tire Wood Gas Handwriting Machine

Then I graduated to a "whiteboard" and chalk. I found I couldn't read the white chalk so I replaced it with a green whiteboard marker,
Handwriting Gas Font Machine Automotive design

but that was a long walk in the workshop for each layer (purple dotted)
Rectangle Yellow Font Parallel Slope

so I graduated to a small "whiteboard" at the lathe,
Handwriting Motor vehicle Gas Machine Automotive exterior

The problem I had was that I was always picking the marker off the floor,
Road surface Wood Flooring Asphalt Floor

I then progressed to these counters that I purchased from Bunnings…
Milling Wood Machine tool Gas Machine


Wood Rectangle Watch Material property Hardwood

I initially thought of buying 20 of them and moving each one to a new pile as a progress marker, until I realised it had a lever and pressing that lever I could record the new layer by incrementing the counter. When the display reached 0020,
Wood Gas Font Electric blue Metal

I reached my target and was finished… just don't forget to look at the counter regularly or that 20 may have inflated.
One of the beauties of this counter was that you could keep an accurate count even in the dark, as long as you could find the lever and don't accidentally push it when searching for it… accidentally recording a "missing" layer.
One thing I also found was that if you missed your mark and laid down 21 (or 22), you didn't have to press it 9997 (or 9998) times to get to my accurate destination of 0020, but just clear it and cheat by only quickly pressing it 20 times (sshhh!).

Unfortunately, I often forgot to press the lever with each layer, so by the time I was finished (gut feeling and CA shortage), the counter only registered 3 or 4 layers. I needed a better counting method!

Consequently, to solve my math's issue, I now simply drop the torn off piece of applicator into a receptacle/tray… this is where you impatient buggers should have skipped to (last 2 pictures)…
Engineering Machine Gas Metal Composite material


Ingredient Sleeve Recipe Beige Dish


and when I have a pile of 20 I'm done… just ensure you use the same basket all the time and you don't get a flash of cleansies and empty it out before you finish applying all the CA layers.

For all you readers that skipped as suggested, you should be glad, but you won't know why… And for all the others that didn't, don't you wish you did?

Keep safe.
 

Attachments

#351 ·
CA-Finish "layers counter" for Pen turners.

Boys and Girls,

If you've never turned a pen and I don't mean on a lazy susan,
Automotive tire Hood Automotive exterior Bumper Automotive design

or never intend to turn one, there's nothing here for you and recommend you exit.

If you do indulge in pens and never used or intend to use CA finish, pretend you never intend to turn one and go to the previous sentence.

If you hate reading as much as I do, skip to the last two pictures, though you may never know what this crap is all about.

For all you CA finishers…
Automotive lighting Cosmetics Audio equipment Liquid Gas

and I don't mean automobile without its r's… how many times have you lost track of the number of layers you put on?

If you only lay down 1 or 2, which is bugger all, pretend you don't use CA finish and go to sentence 2 above.

For those thrilseekers that wish to continue, don't forget you can always end your sentence on the current line and simply exit.

When finishing a pen blank,
Gas Electric blue Machine Metal Engineering

I usually apply 20 layers of my CA and BLO concoction,
Liquid Bottle Fluid Solution Wood

To 4 drops of CA on some paper toweling, I add 1 drop of BLO.
This I apply to the blank (initially sanded to 400 grit) with the lathe running at around 1,800rpm… and tear the "infected tip" off the strip of toweling after application. I usually apply 5 layers and then go for a vino break to give the CA time to cure… Not for too long, but enough to lose count… especially after a few breaks and vinos.

Now for a history lessons… I used to depend on finger counting when I started pen turning and only applied around 5 layers, but as I got more adventurous I upped my layers quota and quickly ran out of fingers.
Initially I used a "blackboard" and chalk to keep trace,
Automotive tire Wood Gas Handwriting Machine

Then I graduated to a "whiteboard" and chalk. I found I couldn't read the white chalk so I replaced it with a green whiteboard marker,
Handwriting Gas Font Machine Automotive design

but that was a long walk in the workshop for each layer (purple dotted)
Rectangle Yellow Font Parallel Slope

so I graduated to a small "whiteboard" at the lathe,
Handwriting Motor vehicle Gas Machine Automotive exterior

The problem I had was that I was always picking the marker off the floor,
Road surface Wood Flooring Asphalt Floor

I then progressed to these counters that I purchased from Bunnings…
Milling Wood Machine tool Gas Machine


Wood Rectangle Watch Material property Hardwood

I initially thought of buying 20 of them and moving each one to a new pile as a progress marker, until I realised it had a lever and pressing that lever I could record the new layer by incrementing the counter. When the display reached 0020,
Wood Gas Font Electric blue Metal

I reached my target and was finished… just don't forget to look at the counter regularly or that 20 may have inflated.
One of the beauties of this counter was that you could keep an accurate count even in the dark, as long as you could find the lever and don't accidentally push it when searching for it… accidentally recording a "missing" layer.
One thing I also found was that if you missed your mark and laid down 21 (or 22), you didn't have to press it 9997 (or 9998) times to get to my accurate destination of 0020, but just clear it and cheat by only quickly pressing it 20 times (sshhh!).

Unfortunately, I often forgot to press the lever with each layer, so by the time I was finished (gut feeling and CA shortage), the counter only registered 3 or 4 layers. I needed a better counting method!

Consequently, to solve my math's issue, I now simply drop the torn off piece of applicator into a receptacle/tray… this is where you impatient buggers should have skipped to (last 2 pictures)…
Engineering Machine Gas Metal Composite material


Ingredient Sleeve Recipe Beige Dish


and when I have a pile of 20 I'm done… just ensure you use the same basket all the time and you don't get a flash of cleansies and empty it out before you finish applying all the CA layers.

For all you readers that skipped as suggested, you should be glad, but you won't know why… And for all the others that didn't, don't you wish you did?

Keep safe.
20 layers ducks,so you start with a slim line and end up with a cigar pen ? i always love the journey's you take us on from the start to the finish,always a wild ride.so when this began i though you were gonna give us a tutorial on ca pen finishing,but no, merely a long tale of how to count layers.i should have listened and skipped to the end as recommended-lol.
 

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