New Tool

Update 8/27/13

Now that I've actually used the tool I 'm very pleased. Not the fastest, but for unusual cutting tasks, it'l be fast enough. I have removed the depth gauge, and it's holder, as I don't feel a need for it yet. One allen screw holds the whole assembly on. Blades are expensive, though there are some aftermarket ones now. Multifit is one company; and the savings are significant. They have a section just for Porter Cable.

New toys! Well, actually I think this is going to be a well used new tool. It's an oscillating multi-tool, capable of cutting wood or metal, etc., sanding, especially hard to reach corners, and scraping, such as wallpaper, or various adhesives.

The tool was originally invented by the German Fein co. as a means of cutting casts off of broken limbs. The oscillating blade won't cut skin. I've seen a video of somebody touching a moving blade; said it tickled. I think I'll wait until I accidentally touch a moving blade. 8-) Fein's patent has run out, so there are a lot of different brands making these tools.

Some projects that the tool will be used on:

Cutting into a trim board on the house without removing said board to stub in a new piece of trim because of rot.

Scraping wall paper. I've played with it a little in the studio; it will probably be as efficient as steaming off wall paper, and probably far more pleasant.

Cutting between two porch floor boards that have buckled, to give them some room to be laid back flat.

I'm also looking forward to trying it the next time I need to enlarge a rabbet.  I'm thinking this might be the right tool for the job. It can plunge cut, so the corners of a joined frame will be square, and the model I have has a depth gauge, though a masking tape line on the blade would work also.

The machine pictured, Porter-Cable PCE605K, link at right, I chose for several reasons. Good reviews on the interwebs. (We know if it's on the interwebs, it's true). Corded, as I thought the need to own and keep charged multiple batteries, was less convenient that just plugging it in, and running until the job was done. (Which, should the need arise, not preclude me from buying a cordless one). I own several Porter Cable tools already, and have been very happy both with the design of the tools, and the availability of parts and accessories. That last is huge. The Porter Cable, with a nice case, and a good, though mostly sand paper, assortment of accessories was $99.00 on Amazon. The box stores have them at $130.00. Harbor Freight has their brand at $20.00. Fein has some as high as $400.00

As I've played with the tool I've decided that it will be as precise as I am; it is a hand tool, with out any real provision for guides or fences. I'll need to be patient, as forcing the tool is just going to ruin the blade, and they are expensive, though as more adopt these tools, blade prices will come down.

So, keep calm, carry on, and sally forth to cut something ... 8-)

Bron

The Moon and Basswood

Moon Over Basswood

The Morning Basswood

Leaves, bracks, and nutlets.

Basswood with rodent, also the volunteer shoots from the base of the trunk.

Gluing Ornaments

Above, another of the plaster ornamented frames. I'm using the plastic syringe, foreground, to inject glue into the cracks at the bottom of the ornaments. Directly under the miter is a blob of glue that has dripped. The frame is resting on a support stand at an angle so the glue can run into the area needing glue. 

The crack is visible under the ornaments. This side of the frame has suffered some damage from moisture, and has been overpainted, obscuring the original finish.

Heavy, plaster ornaments.

I'm working on some frames from late 19th. century or early 20th. The heavy, deep, and severely undercut ornaments are in plaster. In order to make replacements, with the materials on hand, I'm basically molding and casting just the tops of the missing ornaments. In the picture above, a top has been positioned with the help of some screws.

Here, I've built a dam of masking tape, prior to filling, through the front, with plaster, the undercut parts. There are wire reinforcements through the "top' castings.

Another ornament top, showing the positioning screws, and the reinforcing wires. The "tops" are resting on the screws, glued into position with cyanacrylate glue.

And the above ornament with the masking tape dam. When the bottoms are filled, essentially I'll be carving the replacement ornaments, using the tops as a guide, along with the remaining parts of the original ornaments.

What you are seeing in the above photos is the original finish applied to this frame. Water gilt karat gold for the highlights; then a bronze powder pigment paint for the body. The bronze powder has tarnished  to the point of being dark brown. Sometimes they tarnish to a dark, earthy green. I'm going to restore the karat gold as needed, and then repaint the body, using non-tarnishing mica powders for the gold pigment, in a shellac medium.

In the last two photos, plywood overlaid splines are visible, to reinforce the miters. I've added hide glue where I could, but these are very difficult frames to disassemble, as the ornaments, and wood substrate are often cross nailed, and there are numerous reinforcing nails for the cast ornaments. So, the add on splines.

Musing on the technology to produce these type of frames, I'm assuming that the ornaments were cast using rubber molds, that could be pulled free of the undercuts. Corner ornaments were probably cast last. Interesting frames, and somewhat rare compared to composition ornament frames, though this methodology is the only means to produce these heavy, and undercut ornaments.

Attic windows.

Nice triple window.

The old No. 6 Firehouse

And, just a garage.

Free Form Carving

In a previous post, here, Studio Scenes III, I mention a random orbit sander. There are actually two, except for color, identical machines. The one in the back, light gray, has a flexible pad, for sanding curved forms. The black one has the standard pad for flat surfaces. Below, some other tools for free form carving, both for furniture and picture frames.

Left to right, a small electric chain saw, an industrial grinder, that has grinding heads, cut-off heads, sanding pads, and just in front, a chain saw wheel. To the right of that, an air die grinder, fitted with a large carbide burr. There are a variety of cutters, grind wheels, cut off wheels, etc., available for it. I have a slightly smaller one that has different size collets allowing me to use some of the same tools for my Foredom tool, here. Then, the random orbit sander with the flexible pad.

Some examples of frames and furniture that used some or all of the tools mentioned above:

Apropos rants.

Andrew Sullivan has a nice response to the President of the United States remarks the other day, appropriate to my own thoughts:

http://dish.andrewsullivan.com/2013/07/21/the-defuser-in-chief/ 

Studio Scenes III

Another corner of the studio. Previously, here, and here. At the bottom, black hump is a shop vac, which is connected to a random orbit sander by that white hose. To the left, a belt sander, which is a handy tool to have in any shop. Grind things, shape wood ...etc. A little higher on the right, a magnetic tool holder holding metric allen wrenches, and old brad driver, and some hemostats, another tool that comes in quite handy at times. Above, and to the left, my joining vise and the two support boards.

Here the combination at work, with the vise being obscured by the frame being joined. I'll take some better pics showing the set-up, soon, not now. 8-) , and a post with some more clarity about mitre joining.

Walnuts

The walnuts have started dropping, sometimes with a resounding thump. Previously, here, I've written about Walnuts. That post was from September 27, 2011.

Today, July 21, 2013 seems early, not that a few don't drop early, but for me to notice the roof thumping. The squirrels will be happy.

Basswoods, and Rants.

I'm sorry, I seem to have been side tracked, and have been neglecting the Basswoods. Above. petals and bracts on the street. With careful observation, one might deduce that I live on a street that is paved with bricks. A recent post explains bracts.

And now, a little curmudging from the Hinterlands:

Some rambling rants from the Hinterlands. You might sense a certain, liberal bias, but I’m actually a fiscal conservative. Never could figure out, why the so called conservatives ran up such debt; then a tax and spend liberal could balance the budget, and have surpluses. Must be missing something.

Government, why this hatred for government?  This, " drown it in a bathtub"?   Safe food, and water?Paved streets? Police and Fire protection? National defense? Weather warning systems? Well, Grover, back in my youth, there was a saying, "love it or leave it". I just don't get it, hating government from folks who proclaim themselves  "patriots". Yes, I know there are excesses and overreaches, but let's move on, cause I seem to be missing something.

Ahh, Unions. So, how many in favor of no limits on hours worked per day? Hours per week? Benefits? Nah, you don't need benefits, we, your employers will take care of you. And, if business is slow, well, you

could work for less pay, to help us out? Ohh, you’re hurt? You're fired,must have been doing something wrong. Ever hear of company script,that could only be used at the company store? Oh children, you should read some history. But,again, I seem to be missing something; moving on.

Detroit and the auto industry. Not much is ever mentioned about a huge problem; we all drive toyotas and hondas now. I know, they make em here, in non union plants, cause we all think unions are evil. Where do the profits go? Again, I seem to be missing something. And, along these lines, when much younger, I couldn't understand Jewish people, driving Mercedes Benzes, sending profits to people, who in some cases, literally tried to exterminate them. Must be missing something.

Race? The President gave a very nice little speech, talk the other day, in which he very gently tried to explain what it is to be an African male. Mostly, the rabid, right wing attack dogs left it alone, though there are always exceptions. Some egregious exceptions. The more “foamy at the mouth’’ ones are saying racism is over in America. Say What? I’m sorry, but I’ve already had some issues with my “African, Catholic, Jewish” kid, and with my “Chinese Catholic” kid. Not to mention the Polish, Lithuanian stuff. John Scalzi, well known author, has written a nice piece, somewhat on this  subject:  So, if you’re a straight, white, male,  ..... maybe you should  ....  shut up.

Gettysburg, Melville, Longstreets's assault on the Union lines.

Gettysburg

by Herman Melville

O Pride of the days in prime of the months

  Now trebled in great renown,

When before the ark of our holy cause

Fell Dagon down-

Dagon foredoomed, who, armed and targed,

Never his impious heart enlarged

Beyond that hour; God walled his power,

And there the last invader charged.

He charged, and in that charge condensed

  His all of hate and all of fire;

He sought to blast us in his scorn,

And wither us in his ire.

Before him went the shriek of shells-

Aerial screamings, taunts and yells;

Then the three waves in flashed advance

  Surged, but were met, and back they set:

Pride was repelled by sterner pride,

  And Right is a strong-hold yet.

Before our lines it seemed a beach

  Which wild September gales have strown

With havoc on wreck, and dashed therewith

Pale crews unknown-

Men, arms, and steeds. The evening sun

Died on the face of each lifeless one,

And died along the winding marge of fight

And searching-parties lone.

Sloped on the hill the mounds were green,

  Our centre held that place of graves,

And some still hold it in their swoon,

  And over these a glory waves.

The warrior-monument, crashed in fight,

Shall soar transfigured in loftier light,

A meaning ampler bear;

Soldier and priest with hymn and prayer

Have laid the stone, and every bone

Shall rest in honor there.