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In Lew's July 12 Wednesday's Wisdom post he posted a video showing a wooden case tape measure being made. I have my front lawn sprayed for weeds and fertilized and the outfit that does it leaves a little trinket each time they come. This time it was a 3' tape measure with a cloth tape. It even has a metric scale on the other side and is spring retractable. I thought I could make a wooden case for it so I did. I turned a Walnut case to fit it and drilled a hole in the center for return button and then made a thin Poplar cap for the other side for a little contrast. I used a threaded rivet and screw to make the retract button. Have a look, it works well.

Well, almost anyhow. I shared a couple pics of the dormer work done earlier in the spring. The rest of the job fought me every step of the way. The floor was very uneven, ceiling texture would not stick uniformly, even the paint would not roll on the walls in a good fashion. But I stuck with it. Herewith, a couple before and after pics. Hopefully you will be able to tell which is which! Cal

I had just picked up a headline on another forum he passed away on 7/28. Not sure I ever saw him post here, but i do think he was a member at the Wood forum, and always used the moniker "Routerman". He was best known to ,most woodworker's for the books he wrote on using routers. God speed, Pat.

Thanks fellas for all the good ideas and you hit my concerns on the head about the hand being a thumb. I didn't like the hand after I made the clock, will improve that in the future. The Knot looked solid and unobtrusive when I cut it out, but after I glued it up and was routing the out side profile ,it blew out on me. Rather than starting over and being as it was a mock -up, I filled it with wood putty and kept on going. The future clocks will have better wood. I printed out the face myself on 8 1/2 X 11"PSA Label paper. It was drawn up by my cousin to my specifications. That is as large as I could print on letter sized paper. I can shrink the outside radius a tad to narrow the white margin. The white background is white melamine coated tempered Masonite from Lowes. It doesn't show in the picture, but the 1/16" clear acrylic lens on the front ,I also got at Lowes. The movement I bought on E-bay and comes with the hand included. it was hard to visualize the size of the hand before I got it. there were others with slim straight hands ,but they lacked character. Will improve on that though. Yup you guessed it, used the MiterSet Jig to set up the table saw miter gauge to cut the angles, that was the easiest part of the project. Stick,Why a 7-day clock? I am always a day early or a day late for appointments, Never can remember what day of the week it is. Herb

Hey Dan, I had 2 of those Atlas 6" (I know it is hard to believe) I sold both because the lack of room and the fact that I have the 2 South Bends. I had all kinds of accessories for the last one. Nice lathe and a lot of fun to use.

Got to ride along to visit a small section of The World's Longest Yard Sale.....Stopped at about half of the sales we found...I think I bought items from 8 different vendors....spent..$18...Soooo, first up was a "Truckstop-like" place in Cartegena, Oh area, on US 127.....large barn for selling Golf carts, another for selling sporting goods, another was the gas station/deli/grocery.....and a few tents of vendors....and another long building full of antiques.. Prices were a tad too high, for me... and.. Next booth.. Table in the center of this booth.. Yes, it says $9 for that block plane...Bought a pair of Yankee/North screwdrivers from one tent, and a Dunlap #3 from another... Stopped at a few other sales......one had this big tool.. Has a drive shaft to a PTO. Didn't have the room in the van...or the shop... Stopped at a place called "York Woods" (?) a campground in a woods. Also had quite a few vendors....one was 80% tools! Got a backsaw, a square, and another Yankee/North Bros. One other stop got me a short rip saw....Started the day with a twenty, came home with $2..for these? Square is a 12" model. Backsaw isn't much bigger. Might take a little clean up? Road weary now....might be too tired to try the shop today....Had tried to do a little rehab on the 5-1/2ppi rip saw.....glued a crack in the handle, and replaced one bolt.. Yep..THAT one (bolt and crack) Someone had peened the bolt over onto the nut....had to grind away to remove the bolt. Handle is sitting clamped up, with a bead of glue where the crack broke out.. Warranted Superior medallion...might take awhile to get it rehabbed? I think I'll sit and rest for awhile....

Ummmm...you really mean tool-aholic I think???... Once smitten, no cure, no hope, no going back, however think of it more like protecting the environment by preventing tools going to landfills or as a "No kill, tool rescue..." or maybe even a humanitarian endeavor preventing people who should not really possess tools from injuring themselves or someone else. When you think of it these ways Paul, you move from boarder-line hoarder to hero!

Are you trying to test my arithmetic also, Jess? Cal

I got one, placed it with my other glues for about three weeks. Today, my daughter brought a spin mop that the handle had come apart, and it looked like a piece that fallen out. I used the Dap glue to put it back together. As I went to put the bottle back, I looked at the ingredients on the label. Low and behold, it is super glue! Isn't that what cynaoacralate is? So, now where are we with this stuff? Is it gonna be what we need for gluing long lasting joints?

I'm betting he used his new Miter Set Jig.

It's handy but won't replace TBII in my shop.

I especially like the way the grain wraps around on the frame. This attention to detail on what you described as an prototype tells me your "production" models will be spectacular. One question. Where did you get a seven day movement like that? Klockit maybe?

Since you asked Herb...I agree with Kelly & Cal...to me the hand just seems to be disproportional to the face and the lettering. A thinner body and shorter wold be less overwhelming IMO...if you could find one with a brass or bronze border &/or stripe in the center would complement the clock face too I think... The only other thing which seems out of place to me is all of those days...I just don't seem to recall all those days in one week. Anyways, very cool idea and great overall design. It's going to make great gifts this year!!

I have DEFINITELY picked the wrong neighbours! John

Gee Ron, I don't know what a Chandler head is. Are you talking about the boring bar? If so Its a no name brand made in China. I do have one made is USA that was given to me, but I did not think is would be good in this instance. OK, so I looked it up Chandler on OX Tool and he has one and showed how it works. That is quit the head. The company is no longer is business, but none the less a great tool. I have to tell you that I have a ton of machine tools and many were given to me. What a shame that this country does not do anything anymore. I guess if they did I would not have been able to get my equipment at such reasonable prices. My neighbor a retired machinist gave me his Gersner (spelling) tool box because no one in his family was interested. BTW, it was full of tools. Paul

Used to have a saw like this when I was in elementary school. We'd hook up a drive belt to the tractor. My dad would put the wood on the table and tilt it in. I'd stand on the outside and catch the cutoffs and toss into a wagon. We heated our home this way for a number of years. Sat outside my grandfather's greenhouse & shed.

The way I install a pattern is to cover the wood with clear packing tape then I spray the stickum on to the packing tape then place the pattern on to the stickum. So It is better to have taped the pieces together first... No hurry and not as much screw ups. That last lady I did I forgot to put the packing tape down first and it took me half a day and lots of lacquer thinner to remove the pattern and clean off the stickum off the wood... If its a big pattern I get my wife to hold one end of the pattern while I try to place it exactly where it needs to be....I have made lots of messes installing them by my self with patterns that are large like 15 inch square.

sunday = white monday = dark blue tuesday = light green wednesday = powder blue thursday = grey friday = black saturday = red

The idea comes to me to do the different days in different colors. You could print on different colors of paper then as Jesse said cut it up and glue to masonite. Just a thought.

I like, but someone else mentioned a slightly shorter hand, that might be a good thing. Now, how do I get on the gift list?????

Be careful using them for stop blocks. I have some and they can be knocked off the mark because of not enough hold. They are great for gluing small stuff. Used the heck out of them when doing the inside out ornaments.

the others never finished...

I doubt if he would have had any critics at all if he had not invited it to start with. A person could show that clock to 50 people and ask them to make one and there would be 50 different versions of that clock.. On second thought only 2 maybe would have made one, the other 46 would have been too lazy..

unless it's just crap, or dangerous the way it was built, i've never criticized another's work. if you like it, or the person you made it for likes it, that's all that matters. my view on a project is immaterial. would i copy it? maybe. depends on what i want in my house. my style is not your style. and that's ok. if it was, it would be a very boring world. if someone asked me to make a version of that for their den, i might. but it would be my own take on things. it would not be an exact copy of someone else's work. show some imagination, some creativity, do it different from the herd. that said, i like it. it's different, it's nicely executed, and shows good craftsmanship and good creativity. not something you will find at Ikea or Wallymart. keep doing what you are doing.

Glad to see you're putting that jig to use, Herb...Excellent quality work as always (even for a mock-up). I have to agree with everyone on the hand...too overwhelming and a distraction. I would scale it down, just a tad. I'm not personally impressed by the background colors...the white is always clean and makes thing pop, but a brighter contrasting color to the white border would be more pleasing to my eye. In addition, I don't care for the medieval/Old German script. I find it hard to read. All of it is personal preference, though. Where did you find the background? I've been thinking of making one of these for my Mother. She's 96 and no longer remembers what day it is.

I guess I thought all along it was just a form of CA glue. I never saw it as a replacement for PVA, but as another glue to use when the need was there.

I love seeing the process Paul. I have a 6" Atlas metal lathe and dabble in the machining process myself sometimes.

Cal, I just wanted to see if you were paying attention Actually, I was born in 49 so..... I am almost afraid to look at that auction, I think that part of my problem with tool is I look at them and think I can fix that. I may as well put all my equipment to use. Paul

I wouldn't change a thing Herb. It looks great. I'm with Gene though. How did you get the tight miters?

I like it Herb. I might suggest a smaller hand, though. This one doesn't point to the day of the week, it points to the open space border. Cal

Herb the most important part of you project is what did you think when you finished it...Hey when I finish something and I am pleased how it turned out...........Thats it right there. I have to please me first of all. Wife and everybody else don't know squat....And after looking things over I know if I did this and that and changed whatever it MIGHT look better or probably would look worse but I always consider the first one is the goat.

No suggestions from here. I like it. Gee, how'd you get those tight miters?

Did you ever lose track of time in the shop? Next thing I knew, it was suppertime? Just the Highlights from today's shoptime follies.. Ok...had to shut down and restart the computer, and do a full scan....GrandBRAT been on it again...Grrrr As for that crooked joint? We have ways. . Just until the glue dries. I got the last of the web-frames done today... Stacked the two sides together,....hmmm Hmm, bandsaw to hog most of that extra off....clamp the two sides together again. Set the mess up in the vise at the bench. Planes to remove the saw marks.. Set one side off out of the way....and make a rebate for the plywood back to sit in.. Had to make this one a stopped rebate, used a mallet and chisel to get what the Stanley 45 could not. Got both rebates done, decided to start adding web-frames. Brought a Walnut plank down to the shop, to get the "set-back" needed for the front of the frames, then glue and screws.. Squares to make sure things go in square to the sides.. When I flipped this over onto the other side...not everything lined up.....clamps to pull tings back, cussing, a shim for the top frame..cussing....squares everywhere...cussing...finally got all the frames to where they needed to be....and then set this mess down on it's own four feet.. Had to glue and screw a shim at one end of the top frame ( compost happens) Decided to find out how long a piece of walnut to cut....to make trim pieces...Laid out two cut lines, and...how to cut this thing? The D-8 crosscut saw I had sent out to be sharpened a while back. ( couldn't get to the circular saw..) Had to joint a straight edge on one edge of the three boards...yes, I got three planks from two cuts.. Forgot how bad Walnut smells when cut...anyway, needed the straight edge because I needed to resaw these down a bit Will need to joint those edges, cut a dovetail on each end, once I figure out how long to make these face frame parts. I think these will wait for another day......almost 5 straight hours in the shop, today.....I think. Stopped for suppertime....and closed up the shop. Maybe I can get a little bit done, tomorrow? Stay tuned to this Batty Channel

You guys are right I am a tool alcoholic and can't quit. Do they have a TAA? I really need it. I am starting to do it with everything. For example, I started playing a little guitar thinking that it would help my brain. Well I now own 14 and I also have 6 amps. I did sell a few and need to think about selling some more. I also have 4 garden tractors and 1 small loader/backhoe. As for space, I guess I do have more then average sometimes it is good and sometimes not. Hey anybody know of any good tool deals. Oh, I just remembered that I still have a Simplicity garden tractor I bought at age 16 (1965). The tractor was used a 1953 model. I am the second owner. I have been married going on 42 years, but only one wife and she has a lot of patients with me. Paul

Thanks guys for the support. OK, so after calming down with some sleep I decide the first thing to so was to jump the wiring to make sure the motor worked. Well it was A - OK. I expect that the cord was cut so now one would use the saw in the state it was. So after that I finished disassembling the saw. As you can see by the three pictures just what I am going to need to do. At this writing I am finished doing the boring of the rough aluminum casting. I wanted to make sure I have a clean and straight surface. Picture 1 is how it is supposed to be, and, #2 is how it is # 3 is the material I intend on using for the repair. I'll take more pictures as I proceed. Paul

Ok,last night..went to check on the fan...whether I remembered to turn it off, or not.. Did a double check of a mortise I had laid out, but not chopped.....it was on the wrong side....compost happens So, this afternoon, I corrected that and cut a new mortise.. Then went and finished that frame... Had the feeling this was going to fight the entire way. Large holes? So I can attach the frames to the sides of the case....much easier to forstner bit and pilot drill when stuff isn't in the way..DAMHIKT....Another "issue" was screws to hold the kickers in place....Countersink wasn't working right, some of the screws were way too long. The screws that were too long? took them back out and ground off the excess. Two kickers for the two drawers. This one is the top frame...only the top of case is above it. Clamped and glued up, and set aside.. Saw work... This is the angle used, to make the cut.. To cut the sides of the mortise. Then a bit of work with the chisel.. And dig a hole at the far end. Lay the chisel flat, as to pare, and pop the waste right out. Clean things up and do a dry fit, or three,, And another short rail is fitted. About these short rails....all were cut from a 1 x2 x8' board.....not the best looking ones, either.. And some were a hair wider than others...we have ways..(yep, that is my sore thumb..) Ok, got them all squared up ( one even had a twist to it) and close to the same size....I chucked the Forstner bit into the drill press ( cordless didn't spin fast enough) and made a few holes.. Counter-bores, then a drill bit to make the pilot holes. Rather do these now, than try it went things are all glued up. All I needed was two holes per rails. Allowed a space for the drill to get in and drive some screws... I have had to trim just under an 1/8" off the ends of these kickers....must have cut on the wrong side of the lines...Oh well. I was going to try and get all the frames done, today.....ran out of those type of clamps.....pipe clamps would have been just too much. Called it a day, and let the glue dry....tomorrow, I can get the last two frames done....maybe. Stay tuned to this Bat Channel.....

That room looks so much more inviting than it was.Love it

You DO realize there was a dozen in there to begin with, right? John

Good for you Ralph

I like that idea, Gerald, thanks for mentioning it. I will just change the print file to do that, if that is the case. Herb

I have read that super glue does not hold up in the long haul. You are right: I agree on TBII.

very well done Cal...

Very, very nice Cal...I really like the baseboard and door casing width and detail. Running the floors on a diagonal is a great touch too. Very befitting for a Southern Georgia home.

Came across the news feed today. Though oriented toward production, useful information.

Hanging around for the next episode of "Dew It to It!"

Apparently, there are TWO wood mallets running around in the shop? Might have over-did yesterday......that, or some truck has run over me...a few times... Three mortises need done. one glue-up need to get out of the clamps....MAYBE another can be clamped up? Maybe after Brunch? Need to bring in the boards for the webframes, too..... Need a Mountain Dew, so BOTH eyes can be awake....ummmmm

As long as the bench was cleaned off...might as well set up for some mortises.. Laid out where to dig a few holes at.. Laid out a few tools.. Might need these, as well.. Need a decent clamp to hold things still long enough to chop a few holes... Gotta have this.....best way to chop a mortise....sitting down. First mortise.. And a dry fit....the Haunched Tenon even fits.. And this is what a haunched tenon look like...Next hole.. And another dry fit.. And kept going until all five were done, on this stile.. More dry fits...there was a crack...in the stile....had to go back and glue it up. Got about this far on the second stile....back was hurting, thumb was sore...just left the toys out.. Hmmm, must be seeing double... Called it a night, always a chance tomorrow of getting something done. Stay tuned...

Hmm, I always remembered it as "Few Tell" I have a friend, Bill Fee. On my GPS it says "Bilfy" and on my phone it says, "Feeble"

found my error: should be - MOCTRP measure once, cut twice, redraw plan..... don't follow me around, i'm lost.