Hi - Thanks to Ron Dudelston, John Morris, Dennis Mitchell, Larry Buskirk, John Moody, and Lewis Kauffman for your warm welcome and interest and questions.  For you and the rest of the site,  here's an introduction to myself, the book I'm currently working on, and the first set of questions I have for some of the expert woodworkers here.  For anyone who is able to help me by answering these and follow up questions or by giving me online/video/etc. demonstrations, I will include your name and profession in the credits page of my book.  My initial questions are at the bottom of this post and here is a little about me and the book which I'm working on.
About Me:

My grandfather, Joseph DeLorm, was a woodcarver as was his father.  Grandpa carved for most of his life and his father (my great-grandfather) also built wooden row boats.  When my grandfather was 14, he built a small rowboat and from time to time he would mention it.  This book is to honor all woodworkers of all kinds, from woodcarvers to boat builders.  In my book I highlight my grandfather's talent for carving, he could carve any kind of bird and the feathers literally fluffed.  This is the reason that in my book I have the design of the boat include a carved fish at the bow of the rowboat.  My grandfather passed away 3 years ago at age 83 and the book will be dedicated to him and his memory.  My name is Valarie Farnham I am a poet and children’s writer. I am submitting my first book to publisher it is a book called “The Tales of Singing Sparrow, Singing Sparrow and The Land of The Gorilla’s.†I am writing a series of books based on the exploits of a little girl named Singing Sparrow. The heroin in my books inhales learning of every kind, whether she’s trying to help animals and preserve their environment or looking at those less fortunate and wondering how she can help their welfare or listening to her grandfather tell his story how he learned the art of boat building.

Here are the details of the book I am working on: The Tales of Singing Sparrow, Down by the Bay By Valarie Farnham

Synopsis:  My current book “The Tales of Singing Sparrow, Down by The Bay†is about a poor boy named Joseph who lives on the bay in Webster New York during the period of 1935. He is poor like many during the depression but he feels especially poor because he has some classmates who have wealth. He envies his classmates because he feels they will have a better summer than he will because he cannot afford to do the fun and exciting things afforded to his wealthy school marms. But to his surprise he has a summer filled with exploring the bay and the animals that live there. His father a boat builder was commissioned to build a luxury row boat for a rich merchant and has asked Joseph to chip in and help. For the first time in Joseph’s life he is given an allowance; he learns the value of a hard day’s work, he learns the process of boat building while learning that it is also an art form. He comes away from that experience with a new found respect for his father’s trade and a different outlook on life. By the end of summer Joseph realizes it’s not how much money one has in his pocket that matters the most but how you appreciate what you’ve already got and how you can embrace and celebrate it.

More in depth details of the book:

     This book is about a girl whose grandfather is going to tell her a bedtime story. But it’s not just any bed time story it is about the summer of 1935 when Grandpa Joe was just 8 years old. It was the summer he learned a DeLorm family trade, boat building! Joseph’s last day of school, before summer vacation was about to begin started out as a morbid one. His teacher had given the class an assignment for all of the pupils to keep a summer journal. She wanted all of her students to jot down things that they did throughout the summer. Some of Joseph’s classmates were going away on family vacation or going to summer camp or swimming in their own private pool. But Joseph was poor and the depression put even harder times on his family. Most of his classmates were also very poor but this did not make him feel any better. He wanted to do all of those exciting things that the kids with money would be doing. He walked home from school sullen with nothing to look forward to that summer. But that night over dinner his pa announced a rich merchant heard of his boat building skills and commissioned a luxury row boat he wanted built for his family! This news meant that pa would be given a hefty payment once the boat was built. The money up front would improve things quite a bit but not enough that it could be used for frivolous expenses. So even though Joseph was excited by this fortunate news he still felt that his summer vacation would be boring and quite dull. But Joseph learns that right in his very own back yard there are many adventures to be discovered. Joseph and his cousin George went fishing; they explored the bay area and the animals that lived there; and when Joseph was not exploring the bay and all its wonders he was helping pa build a row boat. For the first time in Joseph’s life he is given an allowance; he learns the value of a hard day’s work, he learns the process of boat building while learning that it is also an art form. He comes away from that experience with a new found respect for his father’s trade and a different outlook on life. By the end of summer Joseph realizes its not how much money one has in his pocket that matters the most but how you appreciate what you’ve already got and how you can embrace and celebrate it.

Description of the row boat:

Era: Luxury wooden row boats of the 1930’s, 1935 to be exact

Built by a crafted boat builder for a wealthy a merchant

Location: Boat is built in Irondequoit Bay, Webster New York

Boat Size (14' in length and 4'2" in beam)

Similar in style to a Whitehall or a Jersey Skiff or a Dory Hall but flat in the back

Example:

Classic boat : open rowing boat

WHITEHALL SPIRIT TYEE 14 - 14' 2"ft

 - Boat can also become a sail boat and the boat has a motor as an option to rowing.  Boat will need a keel so it can become a sailboat.

 - The boat has a seat at the back (transom) of the boat, two benches in the middle and a seat at the front (foredeck) deck of the boat. (Slot in the middle for a keel to be lowered possibly and for an umbrella to keep out the shade.)

 - There are pillows on top of the seating for comfortability.

  - The row boat has a fish head carved in the front of the boat that has half of the face on each side and scales that trail off the boat’s sides

 - There are ornamental carvings on the back of the boat and on the ridge of the boat.

 - There are carvings on the oars as well.

 - The name of the boat is engraved in the wood. Named “My little Katieâ€

Here are my initial questions:

1)  The age group for this book is between ages of 8 through 10.   This book will highlight the main important steps in wooden boat building.   It's not written like a boat building instructional manual, but rather will pick and choose the steps that children will find most interesting.  For example, I am having his father start out by showing him how to polish and sharpen the tools.  I've done quite a bit of research on hand cranked grinders of this time period.   I am using a "hand cranked grinder" to not only sharpen some of the tools but also to polish some of the tools with a "muslin wheel".

My first question is: would it be improbable to use a hand crank grinder with a muslin wheel attached during this time period as a way to polish and clean off tiny specks of rust of hand tools like chisels.

2) I am also interested in what types of cleaning liquids or solvents he would have used to clean these tools.  Would it be something like mineral spirits or if he was poor would he simple use something like gasoline?

3) I am a visual person, for example I've been watching instructional videos on sharpening chisels and other tools using a hand cranked grinder.  I'm a thorough researcher but I find that interviewing people pertaining to my book and having visual examples is very helpful.  If there is anyone on this forum who can point me to any instructional videos on cleaning/polishing hand woodworking tools with a hand crank grinder using a muslin wheel that would be greatly appreciated?

Valarie, the books sound fascinating.  I'm an avid reader and I think the subject matter would intrigue young minds, especially boys.  I can chime in on questions 1 and 2 but will leave # 3 to the hand tool experts here.  It would be my opinion that given the era of the depression, a hand grinder would be totally appropriate.  In fact, you could highlight the frustration/anguish that Joseph has with the wheel quickly losing speed and the need to re-spin it repeatedly.  As for a cleaning agent, I would suggest kerosine simply because kerosine was very common to the period and was used for just about everything.

 

Please keep us updated on the progress of the books here at TPW.

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Ron Dudelston
Site Administrator

Above and Beyond WoodWorks

Hi Valarie and, WELCOME.

HURRY with that book! My grand kids are 6 and 7. I'd love to give them that book.

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Gene
'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

Valarie, Welcome and the book and research sound very interesting.

We'll certainly see what we can do to offer up our assistance to your research.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

And I just read Ron Dudelston's reply and I think he is dead on. Kerosine would have been what I was thinking also.

John Moody said:

Valarie, Welcome and the book and research sound very interesting.

We'll certainly see what we can do to offer up our assistance to your research.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

Valarie,

You might find some information here-

http://www.renaissancewoodworker.com/

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time Traveler and Purveyor of the Universe's Finest Custom Rolling Pins!

Valarie, John Moody and I talked today and he had an interesting observation.  What we call kerosine today was one called coal oil.  Though one is derived from coal and one from petroleum, the base product is the same.  it is our opinion that the term coal oil may be a better term than kerosine.

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Ron Dudelston
Site Administrator

Above and Beyond WoodWorks

The term "coal oil" could lead to some interesting research and conversations among the youngsters, too.

My granddad always had a 3(?) gal, can of coal oil in the machinery shed. The spout lid was long ago lost. A corn cob served the purpose.

He'd often use that cob and others to start the fires for the boiling pots when we butchered.

Ahh, the memories an old term like coal oil can call up. I can still smell it. And, the aromas of the greasy, oily old farm machinery. Silage smells mixed with gasoline, sweat, Granddad's pipe and the mustiness of that old shed. After a morning fixing a tractor or hay rake in the shed, we would use coal oil to pre-wash our hands before going in for dinner (midday meal). And granny soaked grandad's bibs in coal oil before she would allow them in her wringer washing machine. Who needed Oxy or 409 when you had coal oil and granny's lye soap?

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Gene
'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

I love those memories You are recalling Gene.

Gene Howe said:

The term "coal oil" could lead to some interesting research and conversations among the youngsters, too.

My granddad always had a 3(?) gal, can of coal oil in the machinery shed. The spout lid was long ago lost. A corn cob served the purpose.

He'd often use that cob and others to start the fires for the boiling pots when we butchered.

Ahh, the memories an old term like coal oil can call up. I can still smell it. And, the aromas of the greasy, oily old farm machinery. Silage smells mixed with gasoline, sweat, Granddad's pipe and the mustiness of that old shed. After a morning fixing a tractor or hay rake in the shed, we would use coal oil to pre-wash our hands before going in for dinner (midday meal). And granny soaked grandad's bibs in coal oil before she would allow them in her wringer washing machine. Who needed Oxy or 409 when you had coal oil and granny's lye soap?

---

Gene
'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

hey, that sounds like a neat idea!!!!

The carving of the oars and such step by step would be great for a kid to follow along!!! especially when it is personalized to the child as well as actually sailing in the boat.

Most likely they would not have polished their tools if they were poor. Taken care of them yes. Wiping them down with coal oil, removing the dust and placing them away with care. In 1926 a Stanley No. 5 Jack Plane would have cost 5.00. That would have been a lot of money for a single tool. They would have taken great pride in the tools they had.

Just my thoughts. Later time, but I remember how my dad took care of his tools.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

To Ron and John Moody: Excellent suggestions about kerosine and coal oil.  My husband had suggested gasoline and your suggestions make more sense. 

To Gene:  I especially like all of your detail about the various uses of coal oil and I really enjoyed the way you wrote about your grandfather's usage of it.  Thanks so much for your interest in my book for your kids!

To dragon1: I'm glad you think this would be interesting to kids!http://thepatriotwoodworker.com/forum/topic/listForContributor?user=2l6j8mghuntct' class="fn url">

To Lewis: Thanks for pointing me to that site, I will definitely check it out.

Just to give a little more detail about the character of Joseph's pa, George who is the boat builder.  Before the depression he had received quite a few commissions building rowboats, mostly common rowboats.  He invested mostly in his tools for his business and to support his family.  He lived very much off the land, living by the bay near Webster, NY - he would catch muskrats and fish to add to his family's food.  When the depression hit he had to sell most of his animals and even some things in his home but wouldn't sell his tools yet because it was very important to him to keep up his family's trade.  Right before he got this commission he was getting desperate and pondering selling some of his tools. 

So I very much agree with John that he would have kept them in very good condition because his tools were everything to him.  But the wrinkle is that although they were safely put away, he hadn't used his tools much in the preceding months due to spending his time finding work, working odd jobs, and dealing with a great deal of stress.  In this section of the book, cleaning the hand planes and chisels, I'm thinking that he would just like to clean them to a fine polish because he is a perfectionist and wants to show his son how to be meticulous with tools.  I'm planning to start with cleaning the tools because I think that a father would have started with simple tasks that the son could do as a way to start learning about tools and handling of them.  In addition, I think it would be interesting to the reader to not only mention an interesting tool but also a unique usage of it.

So hypothetically, if either the tools had become a bit dirty/rusty and/or if he wanted to show his son how to use a hand grinder in a non dangerous (to the tools and him) way, would it work to replace the grinding wheel on the crank with a muslin wheel, soak the muslin with coal oil, and clean the tools by spinning the crank and running all of the metal parts of the tool across the wheel?

Okay, I can follow that. Excellent background. I was just looking at it from the statement of being poor.

Several ways of removing rust from the tools and depending on the level of rust is using a razor blade or I have a small wire brush with brass bristles. It looks almost like a tooth brush only sightly larger. Putting a lubricant on the piece and working it with the brush helps to remove the top layer rust without scratching the surface of the tools. Then take a cotton cloth and clean the surface.

Today I put a fine layer of furniture wax on the bottom and side of the plane to keep the rust from coming back and oil the moving parts. I am sure there would have been some type of wax or paraffin they would have also applied to the sole of the tool. Not only would it keep it from rusting, but helps it to glide smoothly across the piece of wood.

It was late last night when I finished so I forgot to take any pictures but I was cleaning up a Stanley No.4 made between 1888 and 1892. I pretty much used the above technique to clean the plane. This left the patina on the side not making it shiny but putting a finish on it. I'll try to put up some picture of it this weekend.

Valarie Farnham said:

Just to give a little more detail about the character of Joseph's pa, George who is the boat builder.  Before the depression he had received quite a few commissions building rowboats, mostly common rowboats.  He invested mostly in his tools for his business and to support his family.  He lived very much off the land, living by the bay near Webster, NY - he would catch muskrats and fish to add to his family's food.  When the depression hit he had to sell most of his animals and even some things in his home but wouldn't sell his tools yet because it was very important to him to keep up his family's trade.  Right before he got this commission he was getting desperate and pondering selling some of his tools. 

So I very much agree with John that he would have kept them in very good condition because his tools were everything to him.  But the wrinkle is that although they were safely put away, he hadn't used his tools much in the preceding months due to spending his time finding work, working odd jobs, and dealing with a great deal of stress.  In this section of the book, cleaning the hand planes and chisels, I'm thinking that he would just like to clean them to a fine polish because he is a perfectionist and wants to show his son how to be meticulous with tools.  I'm planning to start with cleaning the tools because I think that a father would have started with simple tasks that the son could do as a way to start learning about tools and handling of them.  In addition, I think it would be interesting to the reader to not only mention an interesting tool but also a unique usage of it.

So hypothetically, if either the tools had become a bit dirty/rusty and/or if he wanted to show his son how to use a hand grinder in a non dangerous (to the tools and him) way, would it work to replace the grinding wheel on the crank with a muslin wheel, soak the muslin with coal oil, and clean the tools by spinning the crank and running all of the metal parts of the tool across the wheel?

Valarie,

Maybe you have seen these links. Not sure they have what you need but they may provide a starting point-

http://www.highlandsnj.com/history/
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/legacies/NJ/200003319.html
http://www.lib.umich.edu/articles/search?kw=%22Jersey%20Skiff%22

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time Traveler and Purveyor of the Universe's Finest Custom Rolling Pins!

Hi John,

All the tools in my book are of course antique and I have been researching chisels and planes on the internet. I found some pretty good pictures of these tools but I can always see more photos of these antiques. I would appreciate it greatly if you would take a few pictures of any tools that you have that have some age or history to them that you think would be prudent to my project. I would love to see this Stanley No.4 made between 1888 and 1892! I am researching all the chisels and planes right now then I am onto researching all the saws that would have been used in boat building at this time. Thanks for the info on how to clean and protect these tools as well it is very helpful. I am going to the port Townsend WA boat fest in Sept and will see some of these tools used in demonstrations.

Valarie

John Moody said:

Okay, I can follow that. Excellent background. I was just looking at it from the statement of being poor.

Several ways of removing rust from the tools and depending on the level of rust is using a razor blade or I have a small wire brush with brass bristles. It looks almost like a tooth brush only sightly larger. Putting a lubricant on the piece and working it with the brush helps to remove the top layer rust without scratching the surface of the tools. Then take a cotton cloth and clean the surface.

Today I put a fine layer of furniture wax on the bottom and side of the plane to keep the rust from coming back and oil the moving parts. I am sure there would have been some type of wax or paraffin they would have also applied to the sole of the tool. Not only would it keep it from rusting, but helps it to glide smoothly across the piece of wood.

It was late last night when I finished so I forgot to take any pictures but I was cleaning up a Stanley No.4 made between 1888 and 1892. I pretty much used the above technique to clean the plane. This left the patina on the side not making it shiny but putting a finish on it. I'll try to put up some picture of it this weekend.

Valarie Farnham said:

---

John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

Hello there Lewis,

Thanks for those links! New Jersey is not that far from Rochester NY so all boat history from New England to NY state is of great importance to my book. So thanks a bunch!

Valarie

Lewis Kauffman said:

Valarie,

Maybe you have seen these links. Not sure they have what you need but they may provide a starting point-

http://www.highlandsnj.com/history/
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/legacies/NJ/200003319.html
http://www.lib.umich.edu/articles/search?kw=%22Jersey%20Skiff%22

---

Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time Traveler and Purveyor of the Universe's Finest Custom Rolling Pins!

Valerie,

Ran across this site and found a bunch of references to boat building as well as other things you might find handy

http://archive.org/

http://archive.org/search.php?query=boat%20building%20AND%20mediatype%3Atexts

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time Traveler and Purveyor of the Universe's Finest Custom Rolling Pins!

I use old hand tools and sometimes use a hand crank grinder. Like someone else said at first you may try to crank the grinder up to speed and use both hands to hold the tool, but you soon find that to be frustrating and not very efficient. Then you learn to crank with one hand and guide the tool with the other hand. I can see a fatherly figure watching that frustration grow to a point then giving a word of advise to set a youngster on the better path.

All very fascinating, Valarie, welcome to the Patriot Woodworker.  As a boy, I spent time with my grandfather in the tool shed at the hand cranked stone...guess who got to do the cranking...midst urging to turn it at a consistent speed and relentlessly without letting it slow down?   He was a farmer, not a boat builder, but a farmer that was a builder in his younger days.  I have his handmade wooden tool box and tools with his initials and "1907" carved in the front.   What he sharpened most, in my recollection, was his scythes, they still harvested hay and oats with a scythe, put 'em up bundles staked in shocks, and then loaded with a pitchfork onto a wagon pulled by horses or mules to the thrashing machine.  He use the scythe also to control the grass and weed along the fence rows; he carried an oblong shaped whetstone in his back pocket that he pulled out every once in a while to give the blade a few swipes on each side.  We only went to the wheel at the end of the day and not every day if I remember right.  He always shared "philosophy" with me as he worked, whether cutting fence rows or toting water to the dozens of trees he planted every year.

I have twin grandsons that just turned 4, can't wait to get them a copy of your book when it's done.