Tool Talk

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: scottg on February 20, 2014, 03:52:58 PM

Title: Latest Perfect Handle
Post by: scottg on February 20, 2014, 03:52:58 PM
Well I just finished up a heavy mechanics pattern driver. Its for Skip who sent me some tools and some candidates in swappage.

  This is stuffed with purpleheart. This is a dark hard tropical wood that's kind of light when you first work it. But in a couple years, especially with a little sunlight exposure, it ripens to a really deep deep burgundy color that is pretty much out of this world.

 I am still dragging pretty bad form the last heart work. Some medication they gave me is pretty much kicking my ass. I think its the drugs. Something has me pretty weak.
   But I did manage this, which started as a rusty mungy thing from the bottom of the barrel, so at least maybe I'm not totally worthless.
   yours Scott

(http://users.snowcrest.net/kitty/sgrandstaff/images/hometools/ph2.jpg)
   
Title: Re: Latest Perfect Handle
Post by: Nolatoolguy on February 20, 2014, 04:42:23 PM
Hope you feel better soon and the meds straighten out.

Looks like you have completed another great quality piece. Its always a pleasure to see your work.
Title: Re: Latest Perfect Handle
Post by: lbgradwell on February 20, 2014, 05:20:43 PM
Great stuff!
Title: Re: Latest Perfect Handle
Post by: Papaw on February 20, 2014, 06:11:04 PM
That is beautiful!! Skip will swoon over it.
Title: Re: Latest Perfect Handle
Post by: john k on February 20, 2014, 07:08:31 PM
Great work, Scott.   I've got to try some of those exotic woods.  Pallet oak just isn't cutting it. 
Title: Re: Latest Perfect Handle
Post by: skipskip on February 20, 2014, 07:59:25 PM
That CANT be the one I sent you......

HOKEY SMOKES!!!
Title: Re: Latest Perfect Handle
Post by: oldtools on February 21, 2014, 03:13:24 AM
WOW!! You got talent! beautiful wood & work!
Title: Re: Latest Perfect Handle
Post by: Batz on February 21, 2014, 04:21:51 AM
That's a very nice looking driver Scott, well done.
Title: Re: Latest Perfect Handle
Post by: Plyerman on February 21, 2014, 09:21:06 AM
She's a real beauty Scott, nice work!
Title: Re: Latest Perfect Handle
Post by: HeelSpur on February 21, 2014, 11:55:22 AM
Beautiful job Scott.
Title: Re: Latest Perfect Handle
Post by: johnsironsanctuary on February 21, 2014, 04:31:32 PM
You just knocked another one out of the park Scott! Sorry to hear about the pump problems. Hang in there, this too shall pass.
Title: Re: Latest Perfect Handle
Post by: Ietech on February 22, 2014, 09:51:20 AM
Well I just finished up a heavy mechanics pattern driver. Its for Skip who sent me some tools and some candidates in swappage.

  This is stuffed with purpleheart. This is a dark hard tropical wood that's kind of light when you first work it. But in a couple years, especially with a little sunlight exposure, it ripens to a really deep deep burgundy color that is pretty much out of this world.

 I am still dragging pretty bad form the last heart work. Some medication they gave me is pretty much kicking my ass. I think its the drugs. Something has me pretty weak.
   But I did manage this, which started as a rusty mungy thing from the bottom of the barrel, so at least maybe I'm not totally worthless.
   yours Scott

(http://users.snowcrest.net/kitty/sgrandstaff/images/hometools/ph2.jpg)
 

Beautiful handles --- well done!!!!  :)  I am currently working at another set of folding knife scales as time allows I am using Maple for these that I have cured for two years and it is as hard as a rock. I will post pics when I complete it.

I can sympathize with you on your heart work. I had Quad bypasses last March and wasn't released to return to any major activities for 5 months. It was a lot of exercise and determination but at 71yrs  I have returned to full time work at my conveyor maint. job. Keep up workin at it things will get better. :)
Title: Re: Latest Perfect Handle
Post by: DM11 on February 22, 2014, 10:22:52 PM
Hope you get to feeling better Scott. That driver is a bueaty!
Title: Re: Latest Perfect Handle
Post by: lauver on February 26, 2014, 10:20:11 AM
scottg,

You da PH man!!!

That driver is drop dead gorgeous.
Title: Re: Latest Perfect Handle
Post by: Aunt Phil on February 26, 2014, 01:54:49 PM
Well I just finished up a heavy mechanics pattern driver. Its for Skip who sent me some tools and some candidates in swappage.


 I am still dragging pretty bad form the last heart work. Some medication they gave me is pretty much kicking my ass. I think its the drugs. Something has me pretty weak.
   But I did manage this, which started as a rusty mungy thing from the bottom of the barrel, so at least maybe I'm not totally worthless.
   yours Scott

 

I cannot strongly enough encourage you to run all the cardiac drugs you're taking through google and learn how they function.  Many inhibit uptake of oxygen and will over time make you weaker than a wet dish rag.

Do NOT take any "doctor's" word on the subject without checking.
A 2# drilling hammer WILL improve any "doctor's" hearing & communication skill.
Title: Re: Latest Perfect Handle
Post by: lbgradwell on February 26, 2014, 05:06:39 PM
A 2# drilling hammer WILL improve any "doctor's" hearing & communication skill.

Does this only work with a 2-lb. drilling hammer or are there options?
Title: Re: Latest Perfect Handle
Post by: Aunt Phil on February 26, 2014, 08:15:27 PM
4# would probably render the Quack unable to communicate.
2# seems about right, head would be something you could experiment with.

You could also try Buzzard Breath's technique he used on the Chinee CardioQuack.  Buzzard asked if he ever went sky diving.  Quack asked why.  Buzzard said experience might help when he got thrown out the window.  Quack said "Winrow no open".  Buzzard said it damn well would when the quack's head hit it.

Buzzard got himself a new CardioQuack after that appointment.
Title: Re: Latest Perfect Handle
Post by: skipskip on March 07, 2014, 12:19:52 AM
Well...

Screwdriver arrived in today's mail, nicely and safely packaged.

However it is NOT like pics show

It's  WAAAAY!!! better

HOLY SMOKES it's nice.

I turned off the light and I can read by the glow it emits.

Scott, thank you it's beauty.

Skip
Title: Re: Latest Perfect Handle
Post by: Chillylulu on March 07, 2014, 01:17:18 AM
Very nice. 

Did you use the technique outlined on your site with the purpleheart?

Does it cut well, it's very dense, right?

How did you polish the nickel / chrome?

Chilly

Title: Re: Latest Perfect Handle
Post by: gibsontool on March 07, 2014, 08:13:41 AM
Awesome work Scott, it's a beauty.
Title: Re: Latest Perfect Handle
Post by: scottg on March 07, 2014, 11:18:20 AM
Oh Good, glad it arrived safe Skip.
  Purpleheart can be a pain. Purpleheart may be the most variable wood I have ever worked. Some is easy to work and some just about impossible.
Sometimes it wants to scorch and burn at the drop of a hat! This particular piece was like that. 
   I am wondering if where the wood came from in the tree is what matters? Near the butt its compressed and grain reversals and tough as a cob? Higher up much more manageable?
  Or.........Maybe its just different trees and some are fairly mild and some seriously gnarly.

 The steel is ground and polished. You can do it to any kind of metal.
Its not instant gratification though. 

 First the steel is ground with grinders to shape it and remove surface imperfections. You are sculpting metal here. Everything shows. So you better take it slow and keep checking from all angles.
 
   And then when you get the shape you want, sanded through the grits (several).
 I use flap wheels, a narrow belt grinder, hard sanding disks, soft rubber disks covered with sandpaper and sanding mops which are narrow strips of sandpaper loosely tied together to follow irregular lines. 

  Finally, 2 different cloth polishing wheel setups. The first is sewed tight cotton with coarse cutting compound run fast (3600),  and the second a med sewed wheel with a cut 'n color compound run slow (1000rpm more or less) .
  The cut n color is a very light finish cut followed by high polish.

  I was lucky and scored 2 bars of the cut n color polish recently. I was just about out of polish and had to go shopping. Everything I was finding was either jokingly tiny (measured in ounces) or out beyond my budget. Bricks had gone way up.
I finally found some crusty crunchy old old stock, for cheap, and talked myself into taking a chance.  The bars were big (4 pounds) so I went for it. 
 Turns out, just below the oxidized surface the polish is outright superb!! Better than what I was using last month! 
  So yay
     yours Scott
     
Title: Re: Latest Perfect Handle
Post by: lauver on March 07, 2014, 11:19:37 PM
scottg,

Most of the gnarly wood I have found grew in extreme environments (i.e. hot, dry, windy, rocky, alkaline, steep, etc.).