Spoon and reamer augers - one from France one from Denmark
Spoon and reamer augers
museum tools back to life
The summer 2015 I was at a marked with some friends, there were a guy selling tools, he had gotten his hands on a museum that was closing down and so he had some interesting things, I bought a few, just the once I needed… Laugh.
The reason I did not buy too many, was that there were worm in all the wood and I don't bring that into my workshop shop, if I do, they have to get new wood or a treatment if I judge it possible.
Here they are, the museum tools.
Spoon auger, reamer and two old pole lathe turning tools hooks.
In this part I will restore the spade auger and an old French reamer / coppers auger (not on this picture) I got from E-bay some time back, but don't remember the details.
The spade drill have a long history, here: Study of a man using an auger, from The Seven Sorrows of the Virgin, Albrecht Dürer, ca 1496.
But also my Viking roots used this tool, when they were building their beautiful ships.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auger_(drill)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld/objects/s6UvkkCeQcioNH2sb5uHvw
First step is to take some measures, also I put a folding ruler next to it and takes pictures from all sides.
Since it is a former museum piece I want to be respectful to the original design, but not into exact copy, we have to remember these tools were made by hand.
It's clear to see that wood bugs have been having a party and a feast dinner here…
Grrrrrrrrrr
OK, I think you get it, I took about 20 pictures and used them during the restore.
So now I could take it all apart and throw the wood into the wood stove.
Ohhhhhh yes of course I also took notes on the dimensions.
Almost sad to see that fine old iron without it's handle.
Makes me realize how important it is that we keep them useful and in a working condition.
(On the taper you can see the museum numbers).
Marking the centre.
So I find some wood, had some round relatively hard wood laying in the scrap, the pole of an old parasol.
Yes this is not original and I really do not care. ;-)
Then roughly marking the main measures.
Cutting into the right dimensions by each mark.
Like this I have the rough measures and can be more playful from there.
Handle and body are defined, I go close to the end but leave enough to finish up.
Now time to play and try to make some fair hollows and rounds.
Same tour in the other end.
Then sanding.
Grits 80-100-18-320-600, dust
Now for the dilemma… Should I dye it or just give it a new handle?
I choose to dye and make it look old and used even I feel this is not the correct way.
I do it for two reasons, one is to do the challenge and second because I want it to fit in with all my old tools.
Dye, Danish oil, polish and wax.
Not to bad I think but still looks like new looking old…
I also make a second version for my old French taper.
Since it came with no handle, I play over the same theme.
Next step is to fit in the tools.
To drill down the centre I use a centre block like this I am sure to get it right.
First calibrating.
A step drill and what ever different tools to get close to the shape of the tool.
Here I am working on the old French.
Heating the metal, removing an old washer and straightening it out again.
For the spade auger, it is a wee more complex.
First a round hole.
And a Christmas beer.
Grrrr I forgot to back it up…
Well no problem, this will just add some charm.
As you can see I make a slot under the hole.
Cleaning it out with different tools.
I just clear up the mess and like this we have a base.
A problem is just a chance to see things in a new light.
It seems to fit.
Yeps, happy I am.
Time to make the wedge.
It's tuned to math the original.
The wedge shape made with a chisel.
We have a fine fit.
Almost too lucky, it fits perfect.
Time to give it charm.
That's it, also the mistake are now looking as if it was always there.
For me this is beautiful, so I am pleased.
Notice the wood now looks older, I used a burning in my forge and then oil wax and so on, finally I am happy.
Back to the French.
First making a hole with chisel.
Up to where we have a perfect fit.
Heating and shaping a washer.
Then the tang goes through the body and the washer.
Finally hammering the end until it makes a firm hold.
Another beautiful old tool got a new handle, again I am pleased, I think the handle suits the reamer.
My guess is that it had it's hay days in France as a tap auger, used for making holes for the taps in wine barrels.
Where is Wally?
I think they fit right in.
Ok, better get back to the wood.
(This photo is by Danish photographer: Kamilla Albek, she visited my shop and took a series of pictures).
Hope it could inspire others to bring back life to old tools.
Best thoughts,
Mads
Spoon and reamer augers
museum tools back to life
The summer 2015 I was at a marked with some friends, there were a guy selling tools, he had gotten his hands on a museum that was closing down and so he had some interesting things, I bought a few, just the once I needed… Laugh.
The reason I did not buy too many, was that there were worm in all the wood and I don't bring that into my workshop shop, if I do, they have to get new wood or a treatment if I judge it possible.
Here they are, the museum tools.
Spoon auger, reamer and two old pole lathe turning tools hooks.
In this part I will restore the spade auger and an old French reamer / coppers auger (not on this picture) I got from E-bay some time back, but don't remember the details.
The spade drill have a long history, here: Study of a man using an auger, from The Seven Sorrows of the Virgin, Albrecht Dürer, ca 1496.
But also my Viking roots used this tool, when they were building their beautiful ships.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auger_(drill)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld/objects/s6UvkkCeQcioNH2sb5uHvw
First step is to take some measures, also I put a folding ruler next to it and takes pictures from all sides.
Since it is a former museum piece I want to be respectful to the original design, but not into exact copy, we have to remember these tools were made by hand.
It's clear to see that wood bugs have been having a party and a feast dinner here…
Grrrrrrrrrr
OK, I think you get it, I took about 20 pictures and used them during the restore.
So now I could take it all apart and throw the wood into the wood stove.
Ohhhhhh yes of course I also took notes on the dimensions.
Almost sad to see that fine old iron without it's handle.
Makes me realize how important it is that we keep them useful and in a working condition.
(On the taper you can see the museum numbers).
Marking the centre.
So I find some wood, had some round relatively hard wood laying in the scrap, the pole of an old parasol.
Yes this is not original and I really do not care. ;-)
Then roughly marking the main measures.
Cutting into the right dimensions by each mark.
Like this I have the rough measures and can be more playful from there.
Handle and body are defined, I go close to the end but leave enough to finish up.
Now time to play and try to make some fair hollows and rounds.
Same tour in the other end.
Then sanding.
Grits 80-100-18-320-600, dust
Now for the dilemma… Should I dye it or just give it a new handle?
I choose to dye and make it look old and used even I feel this is not the correct way.
I do it for two reasons, one is to do the challenge and second because I want it to fit in with all my old tools.
Dye, Danish oil, polish and wax.
Not to bad I think but still looks like new looking old…
I also make a second version for my old French taper.
Since it came with no handle, I play over the same theme.
Next step is to fit in the tools.
To drill down the centre I use a centre block like this I am sure to get it right.
First calibrating.
A step drill and what ever different tools to get close to the shape of the tool.
Here I am working on the old French.
Heating the metal, removing an old washer and straightening it out again.
For the spade auger, it is a wee more complex.
First a round hole.
And a Christmas beer.
Grrrr I forgot to back it up…
Well no problem, this will just add some charm.
As you can see I make a slot under the hole.
Cleaning it out with different tools.
I just clear up the mess and like this we have a base.
A problem is just a chance to see things in a new light.
It seems to fit.
Yeps, happy I am.
Time to make the wedge.
It's tuned to math the original.
The wedge shape made with a chisel.
We have a fine fit.
Almost too lucky, it fits perfect.
Time to give it charm.
That's it, also the mistake are now looking as if it was always there.
For me this is beautiful, so I am pleased.
Notice the wood now looks older, I used a burning in my forge and then oil wax and so on, finally I am happy.
Back to the French.
First making a hole with chisel.
Up to where we have a perfect fit.
Heating and shaping a washer.
Then the tang goes through the body and the washer.
Finally hammering the end until it makes a firm hold.
Another beautiful old tool got a new handle, again I am pleased, I think the handle suits the reamer.
My guess is that it had it's hay days in France as a tap auger, used for making holes for the taps in wine barrels.
Where is Wally?
I think they fit right in.
Ok, better get back to the wood.
(This photo is by Danish photographer: Kamilla Albek, she visited my shop and took a series of pictures).
Hope it could inspire others to bring back life to old tools.
Best thoughts,
Mads