RHS Wisley Craft and Design Fair - November 30th 2013

I thought you would be interested in my pictures of this years Craft & Design Fair at RHS Wisley in Surrey.

David Burton

David had a selection of his leather topped tables and also a selection of items made from timber recover from the Cutty Sark sailing ship.

HP Woodcraft

Nice selection of boxes and clocks from HP woodcraft

Jeff Soan Wooden Creatures

Jeff Soan Wooden Creatures

Jeff's wooden creatures were articulated - the seal was very realistic when stroked!

Mike and Gill Hayduk

Mike and Gills fascinating wooden puzzles.

Millstone

Millstones Salt and pepper mils.

Wisley Craft and Design Fair - overview

One of three large marques - 100+ top class exhibitors were there

Robert Ingham

Robert Ingham was displaying some of his wonderful boxes.

Stephenson Design

Stephenson Design

Stephenson Design

Stephenson Design

I loved the boxes and small furniture made by Stephenson designs..

Tiffany Jane Design

Tiffany Jane had some great up-cycled decorative items.

Bowl turning on BBC "Tudor Monastery Farm" series.

I enjoyed see Robin Wood turning some bowls on the new BBC series “Tudor monastery farm”. Here is a link to his website. http://www.robin-wood.co.uk/

Workshop update - Nov 2013

I have added 3 * 8” wide shelves above my bench to replace the old board I had screwed to the wall. These are much more useful and allow me to use the whole bench top for working instead of having it cluttered with tools.

Next job is to make some mounting fixtures on the particle board shown to store and display my small collection of traditional woodworking tools. I will then mount the board on the wall next to the shelves, behind the bandsaw. It is looking good - I am pleased with how my work area is developing.

Wooden Box hinges - trial piece

As you can see above, the hinges I purchased for the 'Archibald Knox' chest (see earlier post) I am making, are not suitable because the fixed part of the hinge cannot be screwed cleanly onto the back side of the chest because it is too short. So I was reminded by my good lady of a hinge design that was used on a gift box bought for us from Columbia, (thanks Chris and Adri)   

As shown, the rear face of the box is left sitting above the front and side levels and the rear of the lid fits over this. A pair of pins are then inserted through the lid sides and into this raised back face of the box creating pivot points. This is very simple design, but works really well.

So as a test, I built a small pine box using the same design for the lid hinge as used in the gift box. The pine box is made of pine off cuts and is 7" * 9.5" * 4" high. I haven't driven the pins in fully yet as I need to finish the varnishing. 
I am not sure if I will use this method on my larger Knox chest as I fancied having some Art Deco style hinges on there, but I am sure I will use the method on other boxes I am planning for storing tools etc.

Does this hinge design have a name ?

Please let me know

Workbench back in position

My refurbished workbench is now back in position. I have cleared my old cupboard out of the way to make way for my Band saw and it fits nicely along side the bench with clear access to the table. I have given the top of the bench 3 coats of satin varnish. The next job is to replace the tool rack above the bench with a new tool cupboard. I am thinking of having a separate cupboard for my planes and special tools that I can hang with a french cleat, perhaps then I will be able to bring it into the house for the winter to help prevent the special tools rusting in the damp conditions.

Under - bench cupboard build

Bench rear view

Bench front view

I had a productive day yesterday - I built the under-bench cupboard for storage. I may use sealed plastic stacking boxes for storage or just add some doors. I need to fit my little circular saw under the bench and this may prevent a door closing. So I am thinking about my options.

Workbench refurbish continuing

Front View

Veritas bench pup with pop-up stop

Rear View with additional bracing

Vice with embedded rear face under Ash cap.

Bench Refurbish is progressing.

My project to refurbish my old family workbench is progressing. I have fitted the new top, although I can still lift it out at the moment. Some bracing has been installed at the rear of the bench to aid stability, and the vice has been recessed into the top with the rear face below the ash filler piece. I think it should work well, as when I tighten a piece of timber in the vice it is held against the edge of the top as well as the rear face giving more grip.

Finally I have added 8 dog holes and a pop-up end stop to secure longer pieces for working. I can add more holes if I find I need them.

The next step will be to devise and build some under bench storage. I would like a few drawers for tools, but wonder if this may be a bit too tricky.

My bench refurbishment has started!

My bench refurbishment has started!. - I have been using this vintage workbench on and off for 17 years now. Before then it was my wife's fathers, we think he probably built it in the 1950's. Recently I have tried to do more joinery work on it and realized that it's age has left it very curvy in places making planning and general woodwork quite tricky. The tool well was also lined with old floorboards and when I lifted the first one it had woodworm. I am going to try and keep the front board in place for sentimental reasons. I have patched up a couple of edges that had heavy wear - but hopefully once it is flattened it should be OK. I have picked up some timber from Wicks that was good value at about £10. Initially I was going to leave a tool well - but I have now decided to replace all of the well boards with the new timber and make the bench flat. If it is not successful I will have to make a complete new hardwood top, I will post again when it is up and running.

Archibald Knox Chest progress - hinges

Blacksmith Hinges - I found 4 hinges in an antiques shop in Henley over the weekend. They are the right style I need for my Knox chest. The fixed part of the hinge is too short to wrap around the edge of the chest, (see picture 2) so I will have to change the design and surface mount them. I will split the door along the line of the hinge pins, leaving about an inch fixed to the case. Picture 3. The are not like the ones on the AK chest but as near as I can get I think. I am not equipped to make make own metal hinges at this time.

Archibald Knox Cabinet

Archibald Knox cabinet - I have started building my version of the cabinet above that was apparently presented to Mr Archibald Knox, the great Liberties designer. I am using reclaimed pine (old decking boards). Depending how it works out, I may decide to build one in oak - I have a large very old plank in mind for this job. The plan is old school tech drawing style - plan, front and end elevation. I treated myself to a copy of Visio off ebay that I am fairly familiar with as I use it occasionally at work.

Wiki about Mr Knox»

Small Rustic side table

Rustic stool - I collected pieces of rhododendron timber from my local wood and made it into the little side table as shown. I have never collected raw timber to use for woodwork before so I was interested to see how the timber reacted as I worked it. It was very interesting to discover the way it dries, how the grain changes direction, how it moves as it is glued up etc. So I felt it was a very worthwhile exercise - I learned a lot from the experience and can recommend it.

Building a small cupboard

A great instructional video from Richard - The English Woodworker

Ciutadella woody pictures

These are few of the 'woody' pictures I took in Ciutadella, Menorca last week.

Side table in Ciutadella

I spotted this robust, but elegant, side table in the Convent and Cloister of Saint Augustine in Ciutadella, Menorca. I like the unusual Spanish design.

Menorca gate

This is the traditional Menorca gate that is usually made from Olive wood I believe. It is interesting that the angle piece in each gate slopes down towards the middle from the hinge side, and not the reverse e.g. middle top to lower hinge side, as is usual with UK gates.   

These are pictures of a new gate piece used in a shop display in Ciutadella  Menorca. It was very nicely made presumably by a local artisan.

Sash Clamp and bench vice for holding workpiece

I like the use of a sash clamp in the bench vice to secure work for planing. Picture from Paul Sellers blog.
http://paulsellers.com/2013/06/perfect-benches-revisited/