I'll send you a PM, Pat.

 

Mailed it! Now I can open mine.

 

Just opened mine. Outstanding!

 

I got one from my sender today. Let me just say that he put in a lot of thought and creativity. Truly an impressive tool. As for mine, it is boxed and ready for me to feel good enough to get out of the house and go to the post office.

 

My teaser shot…

Didn't come out perfect…should fit right in with the others!

Marking gauge done. Boxing now, mail tomorrow.

 

Anybody got a better way?

Maur, I made the entire face of brass.

I also vote for three a year, after participating in the last 3 I'm feeling a little burned out on the swap. I need the summer off, time to go fishing. By September I'll be ready to jump back in.

 

I was going to use brass for something on mine, but ended up not doing it. I didn't want to introduce another layer into it, and didn't want to try to recess it in to the marking gauge in the the way I would have wanted to

 

The end is in sight for mine. Spent most of the day so far. I need to make and install the cutter (no heat treating here…), and decide on and apply a finish. It will be in the mail tomorrow or Wednesday.

 

All I need to do is sign mine some how and pack it up. I figured to use my wood burner but that didn't work the engraver looked bad so I think I am just going to use a fine point sharpie and let it go. I hope my recipient likes it if nothing else it could be a paper weight.

 

Nice teaser Terry.

 

True story. I did clamp and used a fence to "try" and guide the stamps to personalize the gauge I made. Did LJ swap first not too pleased then freehanded the recipients name, still not great but it was done. About a year ago I misplaced the numeral 1 from my set (it's in the shop someplace) so I went to my machinist friend to use his set. And of course being a machinist to the highest standards we had the thing all clamped down with a fence and he was eyeing everything with the magnifying visor. I stamp the two then line up the zero he gives the ok, I hit it and of course it's not lined up. A string of expletives spew from this 81 year old perfectionist, but it's too late it's done. The one and the three come out fine naturally. About the time I'm taking the gauge out of the clamps a woodworker friend of mine stops in the machine shop. Sees the gauge, fondles it and suggests I should give it to him. That was a huge compliment coming from him, but I told him I was part of a tool swap and was about to send it to someone I never met or had even talked to. The look on his face was hard to describe. He then asked how it worked and I explained everyone sends a gauge of their own making to the person they are assigned. His response was how did I know someone was going to follow through and send one to me. I said trust. I could tell from his expression he would never be involved in these swaps.
Today I received a gauge from ShellyB. I knew right away from the short antiqued thumb screw. I love it. Would not change a thing. Don't worry about the screw. You did a fantastic job. I couldn't be happier. More later, it's dinner time.
Jim

 

I've found the best way to line up the stamps is with a piece of tape. The tape makes the line. You follow the line with your stamps. Works like a charm, with a little practice of course.

 

Jim you probably had the 0 upside down.
Would have loved to see that guys face. Wonder what it would have looked like had you told him that if some one doesn't follow through there would be someone else, that you dont know and never met, that gives a second one out to make it right.

 

Thanks Jim I just realized I forgot to take pics before I sent it too…oops. So, when the time comes to share, would it be possible for you to share the pics for me? The deeper I get into woodworking, the more I realize my organization skills are really lacking….maybe adding woodworking into my already busy life is to blame. I'm never going to stop ww though, I can't quit working yet, payton still needs alot of my time, and I can't stand a dirty house. Guess I better come up with a plan or just stay unorganized lol.

 

Oh, I speaking of forgetting things because I am unorganized, I also meant to send a discription note. It's made with sapele and walnut. The blade is/was a jigsaw blade, and it's finished with bush oil and paste wax….I think that's all I forgot

 

It's good to see these going out in mass finally That means we will be able to share soon. I'm actually a bit worried about mine. I haven't heard a peep from my recipient and have no idea if it was received or "well received". Oh well.. just my paranoia peeking out lol.

 

I'm still waiting patiently on mine… though everytime I get a package I get excited thinking maybe it's my new guage!(I order alot of things online)

 

Is it too late to be part of this?

 

Mine is made,
1st Pan for some gold to pay for postage.
I have to hitch the dogs up to the sleigh,
chase the polar bears away from the igloo.
Then hope the stage coach does not get robbed by bad guys.

 

Don that is a great idea about the tape. I'm going to try that.
OJM no the zero was not upside down, the shanks on the stamps have a line to denote the bottom of the letter and that was against the fence. Still don't know what happened.
Thanks Shelly I knew all the woods but I was wondering where the blade came from. No worries about the photos, PM me your email address and I'll email some to you. You can pick and choose and post them where you want. I didn't really start taking photos of my work till I started hanging out on the different forums. It's still hard to stop the flow of work to take a photo, I just don't think of it. It does help having the camera/phone with me all the time. Plus I never needed a portfolio to sell my work so I never thought much about it. On the back side of my career now and I do wish I had taken more pics just to be able to share.
Jim

 

newplane, yes it is too late for this swap, but there will be one or two more this year, so check back on this thread.

 

Jim I'm the same way. I often have a hard time remembering to stop and take pictures in the middle of progress. I just want to keep going lol. That's why I started using a computer I built to do video or timeapse with a web cam mounted above my bench. That assumes I'm not too lazy to turn it on lol

Newplane Unfortunately, it's too late to join in on this swap as we've already drawn all the names and many of us have sent ours already. I'm guessing we'll likely be having another one shortly after this one ends though

 

Jim i was really just making a joke since the 0 looks the same either way.

 

I know, however they are not centered on the end of the steel for some reason. So it was a valid explanation.
Jim

 

Another good call Bondo, making the whole face out of brass would have been much easier.

Jim, great story, we truly have a great group of folks here on LJ.

My cutter is made, name stamped, and the first coat of finish applied! Should be able to send it out this week.