Almost Weekly Blog

[charlese]

Was a busy week in this shop. Started by emptying the DC. Did I ever say I hate that job? Well this time I waited too long and the thing was FULL!! Shouldn't have said "Ill just wait until I finish this part of the project" One thing I re-discovered was the usefulness of that folded bag and the bulge on the back of the plastic. When the bag was unfolded there was enough excess plastic to close it with one inch of plastic to spare.

Finished another shutter this week. HVLP sprayer is working great!

Had a little time on Saturday, so turned out a toothpick dispenser. Got the idea from the latest Wood Mag. Had a piece of walnut that I ruined for a pepper mill by cutting out a deep part where it didn't belong. Although it was too small for the size shown in the mag., I went after it anyway. As it turned out the shape of the top is about the only thing that resembles the magazines sample. Saw no need for the fancy finial they used, so made a smaller handle.

Serviced the Mark V yesterday. Installed a new drive belt. Amazing how mush better it sounds now. Also is is a little slower. The old belt was just slightly under 1/2" wide, but had stretched over the years and at high speed was right at the top of the lower sheaves. The new belt fit right on specs and no speed adjustment was needed.

[ATTACH]1705[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]1706[/ATTACH]

[jbillups]

very nice... i wish i could be doing lathe work... truth be told my shop is still a ways away from being ready to make anything. oh well.. setting the shop up is half the fun

[nuhobby]

Turning Out nicely, if I say so myself!

[kd6vpe]

Charlese,
What a great idea. I really like that little thing. Is there a disk of wood at the bottom of the dowel that pulls the toothpick up with the top? I have some scrap about that size that I want to try to do the same with. It would be useful.

[greitz]

Nice project, Chuck! Nice fit on the top! I saw that plan also and thought it was, at the moment, beyond my capabilities. I think you've now inspired me to give it a try sometime. Thanks!

Gary

[charlese]

Charlese,
What a great idea. I really like that little thing. Is there a disk of wood at the bottom of the dowel that pulls the toothpick up with the top? I have some scrap about that size that I want to try to do the same with. It would be useful.

Actually there's a little cup on the bottom. The plans said to drill a 1 1/4" hole 3 3/8" deep. My holder was too narrow for this, so I drilled a 1" space. Then turned a 1"+ cylinder about 1 1/4" long. Then sanded the cylinder so it fit into the 1" hole in the holder. Drilled 5/8" diameter, 1/4" deep into the end of that cylinder. Then drilled 1/4" - 1 1/4" deep, to hold the dowel. Parted the cylinder to leave 1/2" and eureka! - there's a 1/4" deep cup with a 1/4" thick bottom. The sides are very thin but it works, and beats the dickens out of digging into a box of picks!