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I was approached by a gal at work asking if I could make a custom cane for her father who needs to use one, but refuses to. I gathered some information from her about her father: 1) he was an avid cb'er - handle was night hawk 747 2) he loves fishing 3) he is a man of God (a minister) 4) his name is Sam 5) his favorite bible verse is Philippians 4:16, and..... 6) he loves the "fish" symbol With that information I proceeded to layout a customized cane for Minister Sam i am extremely glad to hear he refuses to leave home without it and he is excited that the cane initiates many conversation providing him the opportunity to preach the Word of God. Some of the pictures are before the cleanup after staining. I lightly sand the piece to cleanup the areas where the stain got onto the surface.

Found this hammer head at an estate sale and bought it for the novelty of it. I have this hammer and thought I may be able to share the handle with is and treat it as a kit. They both have 3/8" fine threads but the screw driver was too long for the new ball peen head. There is only 2" hollowed out in the stem so I decided to make a handle for it. I found this piece of brass from a candle stick I saved from a previous project. As luck would have it it had 3/8" fine threads already in the end of it. Stuff does go right sometimes. Mounted it on the metal lathe and turned it down to 7/16". Found a suitable piece of Mahogany, drilled it and epoxied the two together. Turned it on the wood lathe and gave it a CA finish. Cut the head off a fine thread bolt to use as a connector to mate the hammer head and handle together. Then I got the idea to cut a tip off a Phillips screw driver, drill a hole in the 3/8" connector and mate the two together. So now the handle has a Phillips screw driver when twisted apart. I enjoy piddling around with projects like this. Gets the creative juices flowing.

My mind has been wondering again. I saw Walmart had those solar charged sidewalk lights for $1.00. I thought "why not make some patio lights. I used Cedar fence material and have made several variations. Some I just took the stake out and glued a string on to hang from above. Others I made small housing for and some have legs.

In doing ringmaster bowls it is sometime difficult to decorate the bottom on lathe and the many stripes of the glueup would make it a little blurry. On one of these I tried something different. I carved a flower and burned the background to make it stand out.Woods used are cherry,walnut, river birch and exotic I cannot remember.

I think I've found the lights that my wife will like. They do look really good on the patio I drilled a hole the same size as the light stem, painted with reflective particles paint and put a piece of black tape at the top to keep the bright LED from being seen by your eye. They will look really good on the patio tables.

Had a busy weekend doing a Founders Day craft show. It was a good show and very profitable. It did rain Friday evening but we were dry in the tent and people came out later. Today has been a busy day in the shop. My son is working on a few pieces for the youth section at church. Today he got the sound booth done. I was the jointer/planer operator. Tomorrow he starts on the welcome desk and we are staining the tables. my other sone was assembling cornhole boards. We got orders for seven sets at the show. Busy time!

Sam is a lucky man. Beauty of a cane he has acquired. Thanks for the story and especially all the pictures. The pictures really add to a multifaceted project such as this.

I received a frantic call from a friend asking for help. She had been trying to sell her home for approx. a year and now had it under contract. Her area requires an occupancy inspection and one of the failure issues was that it did not have hand railings for her four stairways. Her home is a $1M+ home and the architect for the home was a Frank Lloyd Wright understudy. She went to a local “stair” company and they would be able to start in 8-10 weeks. She asked me to make/install railings and railing from Home Depot was not acceptable. Her home has millwork throughout which has a very unique stain/finish. I told her that I will not be able to match the finish but I will do my best. During our conversation she informed me that she had old shutters in the basement. The shutters had been removed from her master bedroom many years ago. I was able to re-purpose the new railing from the shutters and keep much of the old shutter finish intact. My wife went to Sherwin Williams for me and they were able to mix a custom paint blend that went very well with the old finish. My friend came by today to give me a check. For a bonus she made me this awesome cherry pie. The cherries were recently picked in Wisconsin. There are 3 lbs. in this one pie. She asked me how much she owed me. I informed her of a price. She wrote the check, folded it, and handed it to me. I did not look at the check until much later. I was flabbergasted. The check was written for 2X the amount I asked for. The pie was awesome and the check was very nice. It is nice to be appreciated. Danl

You have a nice bottom, Gerald Seriously, that really adds a nice touch to the bowl.

Last week we learned that red, yellow and blue are the primary colors that can make all other colors. Now we apply that knowledge. When you mix two primary colors, you get secondary colors. green = blue + yellow purple = blue + red orange = yellow + red Now comes the important part. If you have a finish that has too much of one color, you add the color opposite to neutralize it, and a (mnemonic) to remember Color opposites Red <> Green (Christmas) Yellow <> Purple (Easter) Blue <> Orange (sorry, you're on your own here, unless like me you are a University of Illinois Alumnus) If you forget, just remember that the opposite of a primary color is a secondary by mixing the other two colors, and vice-versa. So, for example, if your color is too red, you can add some green to neutralize it. But in wood finishing, we have some "earth tones" that correspond to some of these colors Red - burnt sienna (brighter red) or burnt umber (darker red) Yellow - yellow ochre or raw sienna Purple - cordovan The finisher's color wheel shows what happens when you combine two of its colors. Unfortunately, unless you go to a non-big-box paint store, you are likely not to find these on a label, but rather, cordovan might be called "mahogany" or some other nickname. Although I knew this is theory, it became apparent when in a refinishing class one of the other students was working on a table he'd brought in. It was a really orange color after initial staining. The instructor made up a pure blue glaze and smeared it on. Immediately the ugly orange turned to a nice brown.

Great looking handle. But do you have to make us drool by mentioning a metal lathe?

Danl that sounds exactly like the story I ended up with when you asked me to make the 12 days of Christmas for your wife when you were laid up with self inflected injuries.. I also was flabbergasted when I looked at the check you sent me. So I should say thanks ole young man. Also glad to hear your other half is up and at em. Don't forget to return the pie dish with a note!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Al...time sure has flown by it seems. ...I wasn't but technically she was. I do like the story better the way you tell it though. Hope the Dr can help....heat & humidity &/or dampness with lots of rain sure can make the "Ritis" brothers do evil things.

Love the story. Bet the pie was delicious. I see you had the ice cream scoop at the ready, too.

WOW! Thanks for all the comments! method of carving - all by hand with knives and gouges. Hardest part was the area of the stick where you can see through (second set of pictures - on the right) The wood is basswood (2 x 2 inch square) The finish is just clear poly I would have to guess each stick took between 60 - 70 hours in total (obviously not all at once - LOL) Inspirations? Well lets just say each stick was limited to the carving technique (patterns) I knew how to cut. Then it was just a matter of fitting them together to make them look pleasing - like the center in the bottom picture - to tie the two fan shapes together - had to arch the pattern in the middle. As far as getting the shading - same technique I use on my plaques. I sealed the stick with about 4 coats of clear poly, when finished, I used a small brush and placed gel stain in the carved areas - let sit for a few seconds, then wipe off the high spots. The stain wipes off while remains in the carved areas. Thanks again for the comments and questions - feel free to ask away with any other questions. Bob (aka IrishWoodCarver & Sixty_Vette) BTW Dave - you are CORRECT! I learned over 40 years ago: "I CAN BE RIGHT, OR I CAN BE HAPPY" LOL

My haul from last weekend, this is just a partial inventory of what I brought home. I only had to clean and clear a widows garage and out building area. She was a complete sweetheart, I loved hearing the stories of her husband while my son and I worked. The above is just a fraction of what was bestowed upon me. How I came into this, her neighbors are lifelong family friends of ours, and long time friends of hers. She asked our friends what she should do with her late husband's tools, garage sell or give away to someone who will honor the inventory, our friends told her that they knew the perfect recipient of her generosity. Me. So this is how I came into the picture. I have a second Uhaul trip to make down to San Diego to help clear more out. Most of those boxes on my bench, have the same type of valuables you see in the open boxes I showed. Christmas in August.

Here are the walking sticks I completed for my wife and I. Hers has a queen topper, I have a king!

My brand of 3 interconnected circles covers the plug and that makes the center of the flower.

The pie was awesomely delicious. I do not think any will be left by time the picnic gets here. The ice cream scoop was for the homemade, hand cranked ice cream which my wife and I were the crankers and the ice cream was awesome also. All this reminds me of a true story. There was this man who was getting up there in his years and wanted to give some of his fortune to his nephews and nieces. He gave each $10,000. One of his nieces wanted to do something special to show her appreciation, so she baked him a pie. For the longest time all you hear was how that old man never returned my pie pan. Danl

appeared to have some paper waste partially clogging the line to the tank. poked it with a stick a few times, later ran some hot water from the kitchen sink (wife was cleaning up after doing some baking), and that rush of water seems to have washed the mess down the line. have the septic guy coming out tomorrow to check things out, and do a snake if needed. we normally pump the tank every 2 years, and that is due this fall, was planning on doing it in October. that may move up, or not. also, got 2 coats of poly on my little threshold piece. last coat tomorrow. septic field was put in 6 years ago, guaranteed for 10 years if we pumped every 2 years.

Bet the pie was delicious, but the story is even better.

Thanks! Every week I learn new stuff!

I like your color wheel . The one I bought relates more directly to dye and no burnt umber. DYE COLOR WHEEL

Not to hijack the tip but to extend it. Sand with lathe on for the first 2-3 grits and then sand with lathe off. Last 2-3 grits sand with the grain.

Dan, that is too kool, Came out really good. now you have a tool and a show piece combined. Herb

Dan, that is a great story - I am sure your neighbor appreciated your willingness to help (well it is pretty obvious she was grateful).

That'll teach you to not hide things from us!

Absolutely gorgeous.

True artistry, wonderful job

Great story Dan and even greater friendship. Obviously she trusted you to do the work and wanted to show how thankful she was for your willingness to help. Can't wait to get to @Fred W. Hargis Jr's to taste that pie you're sending him. Don't worry about sending the ice cream, we'll get some locally

Beautiful setting for a craft show. Glad to know things are going well.

Not much of a weekend . Spent Saturday finishing up some turnings. Spent about 2 hours blowing out dust and vacuming the shop. Started turning and the first blank had a crack, the second I got a catch and blew it up and the last looked so good before I turned a hole in it . So we shall not talk of this Monday again. I may have to join Steven and hibernate on Mondays.

Way ahead of ya Gerald!!! The one thing I had not thought of though was doing one at a time. Great suggestion.

@John Morris Here is an idea. For the stuff that is duplicate or you do not want use it in the raffle one item at a time instead of a lot. Make a great money raser for a great cause.

came in 3rd out of 18 at yesterday's IDPA match, shooting my Colt Gold Cup. today is some tiling in my office. got all the cuts done, taking a break for lunch, will get thinset mixed up and then set the tiles in place.

And they call me a Bandit?

Wonderful, great story. You'll ship that pie to us for the gathering next week, right? Man, 3# in one pie....whoa, baby.

Great experience and a great ending, thanks for relating it to us, glad you were able to meet her expectations. Herb

Glad to hear you had that feel good experience. Kudos.

Mmmmm... there’s enough pie for everyone, right?!

Guys, thanks all for the wonderful comments, I am still not sure what happened here. It's all a little overwhelming actually. I am going to create a bio on the gent who owned these tools, his story is very interesting. And I am going to showcase the tools he owned with good images, a pictorial essay of sorts, it's the way I know to keep his legend alive. He was in the Navy, WWII and Korea, after his service he became a shop teacher in high-school. The tools given to me reflect the work he did, and he did everything. He knew metal, he taught metal shop, he knew wood most definitely, he taught wood shop, and in addition he was an accomplished leather worker, his wife showed me his leather work, his belts are beautiful, and he made his own tool covers too. He excelled in chip carving, and I have yet to take a tour of their home, she stated when I return she'd like me to see all the furniture he made for their home. He also made knives, I have a box of hunting knives with handles made from differing species of wood, and deer antler as well. Once the dust settles, I am going to make her something very special, using many of the hand tools from her late husband. And I will make another trip down there and give it to her. @Gerald, you bet, I can't wait to expand my skills, it's funny, I never would have been interested in chip carving, till I saw his inventory of chip carving knives, now it's a must for me to learn. I can get really interested in expanding my skills, when the proper tools are presented, because I love using tools, I'll learn another craft just to get a chance to use another type of tooling. Thanks again guys

Well looks like highway robbery w/o a gun....... Hope to see some expanded works from you now . How about a large carved statue?

It just pays to live right,good on you, John. Herb

Good things come to those who have done good things. You certainly are deserving of being the next generation of care taker for such wonderful tools. I'm quite curious what woodworking use he had devised for the battery terminal spreader pliers though.

Too bad you can't keep most of it since your wife's new car has overtaken the shop space. Well it was fun while it lasted.

Nice sets of tools. I'm sure her husband would be happy with where his tools ended up. I know they will be well taken care of and used well.

Very,very,very,nice. They are fit for a royalty too. Could never imagine doing anything like that. You have to enjoy your work. Herb