... as I prepare for the next furniture build.

 

I collected some rather nice fiddleback Jarrah from The Timber Bloke for the hall table (for my niece) that is now starting. (It has some nice challenges, but that is all for later) ...

 

 

The workshop becomes a dogs breakfast when I get underway, although I tidy up as much as I can. So I take time between builds to clean up, repair anything that needs to be done, and build a few items that have been percolating in my imagination. 

 

There was a recent posting of a new Moxon dovetail vise ...

 

 

More recently, I finally added a bench stop to the end of the bench ...

 

 

This has the cork rubber ("crubber", as BenchCrafted refer to it) lining used on the Moxon and legvise. It had excellent non-slip properties (seek it out from outlets that sell gaskets)...

 

 

I love it! This stop works so well for face planing.

 

As many know, I have been field testing pre-production tools for Lee Valley/Veritas for many years. Some of the prototype tools are replaced later with production tools, and I am sometimes left with useable but unsaleable tools. A number of years ago it was bench chisels. It occurred to me that I could turn a 1/4" O1 chisel (which had a few bites in the sides) into a fishtail chisel for half blind dovetails. All that was needed was a hand grinder and some patience. The wood was stained ebony ...

 

 

This are so useful when clearing the waste (Rob Lee assures me that fishtail chisels are to be produced by Veritas at some time - their design, not mine). The offset angle is 6:1, which will work with the socket angles I prefer.

 

A few years ago I made a birds cage awl from carbide for starting screw or drill holes. The square grind here is 25 degrees for the primary bevel and it has a 35 degree micro secondary bevel for durability. The handle is shaped for down force ...

 

 

It occurred to me that I could convert very easily a screwdriver into a scratch awl. I wanted this one for marking holes more precisely. 

We've probably all made screwdrivers like these. This one was made some years ago ...

 

 

Take a damaged screwdriver insert, insert it into a cordless drill and spin it against a disk sander until it forms a point (at about 20 degrees) ...

 

 

Time now to focus on the hall table ...

 

Regards from Perth

 

Derek

Nice mods Derek, screwdriver to awl, I love it.

That bench end stop, now why the heck had I not thought of that, simple and a very easy to do addition to any bench, appreciate that great tip as well.

5 minutes ago, derekcohen said:

The workshop becomes a dogs breakfast when I get underway

I love the differing expressions around the world, I had a nice chuckle on that one.

 

Thanks for the great tips!

I like the idea of a scratch awl from a screwdriver.  Those things are cheap to buy in bulk and would make great gifts with more than just a  scratch awl as it's use.  NICE!!

Yep I like all your ideas but that screwdriver scratch awl takes the cake . Gotta make one already have a extra HF driver for parts and a long hex for the point, just thinking long will look better. Oh that drill for sharpening is a fantastic idea.

Ditto.  

I have usually just trashed those worn out bits, I see a couple new scratch awls in my future

Thanks for the idea Derek.

I will start another thread with a couple tools that I have made.  I will have to take a couple pics first.

Like a line from a song from the 70s said..

"Meet the new Boss....same as the old Boss..."

Actually have 2 of the blue handled awls.  And..you can even drive them with a hammer...