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Back to the chisel handle
My nemesis the chisel handle came to visit last night. After a few weeks of perfect discipline the handle loosened again. If you would like to see my previous attempt at a fix here is Big Sexy Hair followed by Water Torture. My next attempt will be following advice from my last post to see if the chisel handle is bottoming out in the socket.
Quick work with a file (4 strokes) and I banged the handle back in place. I’ll report later on the results.
Chisel Handle Fix
lie Nielsen makes great chisels, I only have one complaint which could be true of all socket chisels. The handle on the 1/8″ chisel will not stay attached. I’ve tried and blogged about some of the remedies I have used to keep the chisel together. The latest was hair spray. Today while using the chisel to clean out mortises it again came apart.
After a few seconds I remembered a comment from someone posting on my blog to try droping the handle into hot water and reattach.
Taking a break I boiled some water for the handle and some tea. Then i dorped the end in for a few seconds and slammed it back together.
So far so good.
Texas Heritage Woodworks
Like many woodworkers it is exceedingly rare to walk into another’s shop. The chance to try tools is not one to pass up. While I was a The Bad Axe Tool Works Sharpening School the chance to try out different tools was too good to pass up. Some were new, but many had been around the block several times.
One of my favorite tools was this saw vise. It is exceptionally well made, clamps with an iron fist and is very attractive. I know, we pay little attention to how our tools look, but really take a second peak.
It was only after I had used the vise multiple times that I realized it was made by Texas Heritage Woodworks. Not sure if this is for sale or a proto-type, but it was very impressive. Contrary to my extroverted style, I went to the web site and told the owner Jason Thigpen what a great product it was. Which prompted a very quick response thanking me. While on the site I noticed some aprons and tool rolls and other products. They all looked great!
If you haven’t look around lately, there are many small businesses that are supporting our craft. These businesses often consist of one or two people following their dream. I try to support them when possible and at the very least let others know who’s out there….
The Soul of a Saw
Walking into my shop you can see what is important. A band saw sits near the door, rust accumulates on the table, the blade wrapped around the adjustment knob and a spider seeks its next meal. Across the room is a jointer covered in dust and rust from lack of use. The metal cold, lifeless.
Before you is a bench, not a Nicholson or Roubo, but a bench built by a teenager and his father, modified and strengthened to fit a new purpose. Looking to the right is a large chest unfinished, but inside tools stand oiled and sharp anticipating the next task. On the left a smaller chest immediately at hand. Beneath the lid sit planes needed each day wood is worked. In the first drawer, chisels, marking knives and measuring tools. The second drawer contains saws, R.Groves from the 1790’s and Bad Axe Tools from LaCrosse. Across the shop,diamond plates ready to sharpen, unfinished projects and lumber unworked.
As a new project begins I reach for specific tools, some I put to use, others give me a sense of place. The mortise gage with is curved edges fits carefully in my hand, the Stanley number 7 brings to mind the many lives it has touched over 125 years. The R. Groves saw shows the marks of several lifetimes work. These tools hold secrets that are out of my grasp, but they pull me in. As the metal passes through the wood fibers, the tools speak, the handles warm and their soul shines.
Why do certain tools have a soul, while others sit cold and lifeless?
Spending the weekend sharpening saws with the team at Bad Axe Tools I had time to reflect on the art and science of tool making. Years seeking knowledge past and present, months finding the best steel and components and hours of sharpening, all for the birth of a saw. Watching the team I learned the steps of assembly, the areas of caution, I saw the precise movement of hands and eyes seeking perfection. I began to realize that components are only a small part of the soul, the majority comes from the passion of the saw maker.
Walking into Bad Axe Tool works you sense that passion is in abundance. Listening to the team build saws I feel my responsibility grow. The responsibility of the saw user to assemble the last piece of soul. As the the saw is worked and furniture built. Hands wear the handle, files shape and sharpen the blade, coats of wax and oil seep into the back and handle, scratches and dings appear. The saw becomes experienced and the soul strengthens and grows. When the time is right, and the saw passed forward, the soul becomes the responsibility of another and another. My Bad Axe Tool Works 15 ppi dovetail saw….
Perhaps you should consider tools with soul……..
Saw Blade Maintenance
Most of my blogs cover the hand tool aspects of my woodworking. like many of you I do use power tools when it makes sense. Today I wanted to quickly dimension several piece of lumber so the table saw came out. 
After the first cut I realized I had to make some changes, burn marks marked the freshly sawn edge and I could hear the saw struggle with what should have been an easy cut. Removing the blade, build up was obvious on each tooth.
Grabbing a pair of gloves, oven cleaner and a grocery bag. I sprayed each tooth, placed the blade in a bag, tied the bag shut and let it sit for an hour. Not sure where I picked up this method of cleaning a blade but it works well and is quick.
While waiting for the magic to happen I cleaned the surface of the saw and waxed it. then decided to check the alignment of the fence.I have done this periodically and every time I find that the alignment has strayed so it was with little surprise that I had to spend a few minutes making adjustments to the fence.
The saw is a Delta contractors saw made in the early 90’s. Noting fancy but it has been adequate over the years. 
My only real grip has been the need to make this fence adjustment over and over again. As long as I remember to continue checking, it should not be a problem going forward.
Opening the grocery bag I pulled out the saw blade and wiped away the oven cleaner. In a couple of minutes I could see that it had worked its magic and all of the accumulated residue was gone.
Placing it back into the saw, I double checked its alignment and found no issues.
Once buttoned up the saw was ready to work. Grabbing the oak I continued to dimension the pieces I would need to make the Craftsman style lantern. The cuts were correctly aligned with no burn marks and I sensed no more struggle from the saw.
Quick compass
My geometry teacher in high school could draw perfect circles on the board every time. The rest of us earthlings have to resort to tracing various shapes or a compass. Since I may make more than one shop stool, I decided to make templates for the arches. Searching around for paint cans, jar lids and other round items it soon became apparent that I would not be tracing the arches. Taking 30 minutes I made a compass from some scrap a pencil stub, nail and bolt. It’s not beautiful but the arches look good.
Sitting down to write this blog I looked online and saw several posts on making compasses. Perhaps I will make a beam compass next…..
Hairspray and Chisels
The chisels that I have used for a few years are socket chisels made by Lie Nielsen. Generally they have performed well and they appear frequently as tools used in the works of others. I have one frustration which is with the number of times the handles come loose from the chisel. It is generally related to humidity and occurs mostly over the winter months when I assume the humidity is at its lowest. After a couple of years I have experimented with methods to keep them together and been successful with the exception of the 3/8″ chisel. It defies my efforts. So today I reached for my secret weapon.. My daughters hairspray! In the past I have used my wife’s hairspray. But clearly I had to move to something stronger….
A couple of quick sprays into the socket and I go back to work.
Magnifying light
While sharpening a saw several days ago I found myself struggling to place the file correctly and managed to skip some teeth and resharpen others. Not sure if it is because of incorrect lighting or need to upgrade my glasses prescription. Looking around the local stores I found some magnifying lights that looked promising, what did not appeal to me was the price tag, generally they ranged from 80 to $150.
Sitting in front of my computer I found the same light at Lee Valley for considerably less, they even sold a bushing so I could mount it right to my bench. Sharpening my next saw took considerably less time with much better results.
Split Nut Driver
A couple of months ago I picked up a couple of saws from Hackney Tools. These were two R. Groves saws made in the late 1700s to early 1800s.
Through others posts I knew these saws had a good reputation, but until I had them in hand no idea of the wonderful balance and heft of the saws. The weight from the brass back is exactly correct to enable the saw to glide through the wood. Needing to tighten the handles on one of the saws I soon realized that they were held together by traditional split nuts.
A little research and it became clear that several people make split nut drivers. however it was also clear that making your own would not be difficult. Digging through my boxes of “soon to be useful” material,
I stumbled upon several old drill bits that were wide enough to make the driver. Several minutes with a file and there it is….a split nut driver!
The saw handle came off easily and after some light cleaning it was reattached and is now tight. I’m thinking a handle would go well on the driver but I have yet to figure out how to stop it from spinning in a handle. Thoughts for another day…..
Saw Vise goes to Work
A few hours and the problems with the vise have been corrected, shellac added and it’s off to work.
Taking some oak scraps I made plugs to take care of my mis-drilled holes. After the glue dried I pull out my drill press and carefully drilled a hole for the clamping bolt. While things were set up I re-drilled the hole for the hinge pin making it large enough for a 5/16 wooden pin.
Finally I finish sanded the vise and added a couple of coats of shellac and went for a test drive.
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