The Woodworking Life
What do you do while glue dries?
comments (6) August 23rd, 2009 in blogs
Derek Cohen, member
1 user recommends
What do you do while glue dries?
I never seem to have enough hours in the day. Hyperactive? Heh. Woodworking is generally reserved for weekends - if there is nothing on in the family - and, if I get lucky, an afternoon off during the odd week. I am aware that many do not even get as much time as this. So we have to make every moment count.
The current project is a small freestanding wardrobe (closet) for the spare room for guests. It will have some hanging space and a couple of drawers. Essentially a big dovetailed box. The panels are Tasmanian Oak. Here they are, some glued and some waiting for the glue to dry.
While glue dries I build small things.
For several months I have wanted to make a heavy duty marking knife. I have plenty of detail/dovetail knives for detail work, but I everyone needs a knife you can lean on when scribing deeply, such as shoulder or dado lines which will then be undercut in preparation for sawing.
I bought a couple of $5 kiridashi knives (Japanese laminated steel) on eBay about two years ago. These are ½” wide and perfect. One will do the job. Just need a decent handle, something ergonomic and pleasing to the eye.
I have been mucking about with Indian Ink as a dye for wood. It has a nice effect – you can make it as dark as you like … from an ebony-dark to a slightly transparent-let-the-grain-through tint. I tried for a mid position. It looks darker here.
Back of blade:
I filled in the hole at the end of the handle (from the lathe) with a brass screw…
And it works wonderfully. I ground a new bevel (25 degrees with a 35 degree tip – reduced from about 25 degrees to avoid breakage). Then honed the blade freehand on Shaptons to 12000. It is sharp enough to shave with.
I showed the knife to Jamie, my 16 year old son. His head nodded appreciatively and his eyes gleamed (I know he loves knives but otherwise is not interested in woodworking). Anyway, I had a piece of the kiridashi knife over, so I made him a miniature version. Mine is 6 ¾” long. His is just 4”. It’s so cute.
Oh well .. the glue has dried and it is time to flatten panels ..
So what do you do while the glue dries?
Regards from Perth
Derek
I never seem to have enough hours in the day. Hyperactive? Heh. Woodworking is generally reserved for weekends - if there is nothing on in the family - and, if I get lucky, an afternoon off during the odd week. I am aware that many do not even get as much time as this. So we have to make every moment count.
The current project is a small freestanding wardrobe (closet) for the spare room for guests. It will have some hanging space and a couple of drawers. Essentially a big dovetailed box. The panels are Tasmanian Oak. Here they are, some glued and some waiting for the glue to dry.
While glue dries I build small things.
For several months I have wanted to make a heavy duty marking knife. I have plenty of detail/dovetail knives for detail work, but I everyone needs a knife you can lean on when scribing deeply, such as shoulder or dado lines which will then be undercut in preparation for sawing.
I bought a couple of $5 kiridashi knives (Japanese laminated steel) on eBay about two years ago. These are ½” wide and perfect. One will do the job. Just need a decent handle, something ergonomic and pleasing to the eye.
I have been mucking about with Indian Ink as a dye for wood. It has a nice effect – you can make it as dark as you like … from an ebony-dark to a slightly transparent-let-the-grain-through tint. I tried for a mid position. It looks darker here.
Back of blade:
I filled in the hole at the end of the handle (from the lathe) with a brass screw…
And it works wonderfully. I ground a new bevel (25 degrees with a 35 degree tip – reduced from about 25 degrees to avoid breakage). Then honed the blade freehand on Shaptons to 12000. It is sharp enough to shave with.
I showed the knife to Jamie, my 16 year old son. His head nodded appreciatively and his eyes gleamed (I know he loves knives but otherwise is not interested in woodworking). Anyway, I had a piece of the kiridashi knife over, so I made him a miniature version. Mine is 6 ¾” long. His is just 4”. It’s so cute.
Oh well .. the glue has dried and it is time to flatten panels ..
So what do you do while the glue dries?
Regards from Perth
Derek
posted in: blogs
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Comments (6)
Posted: 1:51 pm on October 24th
I sympathise with you about your son`s disinterest in the wonders of wood as I am in the same position with my son who turns 24 today. In all other ways we have similar interests but I can`t get thru there.
Wouldn`t do if we were all the same , which is why some of us older and slower ones appreciate all of your work and the care with which you present it to us on sites like this and other forums.
Ron B in Hobart
Posted: 8:51 pm on September 24th
I sympathise with you about your son`s disinterest in the wonders of wood as I am in the same position with my son who turns 24 today. In all other ways we have similar interests but I can`t get thru there.
Wouldn`t do if we were all the same , which is why some of us older and slower ones appreciate all of your work and the care with which you present it to us on sites like this and other forums.
Ron B in Hobart
Posted: 8:49 pm on September 24th
Glueing up a job can then be left till the next day.
Greetings from Brisbane
Cheers
Posted: 7:29 am on August 24th
I like to glue up parts at the end of the day so I can sleep through the drying process. Then I wake up earlier than I should and rush back to the shop to take the clamps off.
Posted: 6:36 am on August 24th
Really, it's a big waste of my energy. I think it's something that will decrease as I become more sure of my woodworking skills.
C. S. Mark
Posted: 11:54 am on August 23rd
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