LeTurbo

Out in Bellville South, Hairy. Sort of Triangle Farm, Stikland, UWC area.

You really are from a different world

Final one. It's called the Notre Dame. One of my Facebook groups posted pics of the roof structure of the cathedral before it burned down. I loved all the intersecting braces. In the old days, they used a science called Stereotomy to design it all. Essentially, it uses a compass to plot all the intricate intersection of straight and curved pieces of gothic arches and transepts. They could draw the structure out, and cut all the joints in the workshop (either in stone or wood), haul it into place, and everything linked perfectly. Unfortunately, I don't know stereotomy, so this was a bit of a hit-and-miss fiddle that relies more on glue than on properly crafted joints. Neverthless, I think I could jump on it with all my 60kgs, and it probably wouldn't even flex. The wood is saligna, with a Rubio Monocoat light grey fiinsh to give it a dusty, aged look. The Victoria Titanium also needs a complete overhaul, which I'll get to shortly. It's had a chequered history. Stolen one Saturday morning from right under my nose in Woodstock, found again at Cash Converters (fairly trashed in the few hours the tik-head had it in his possession), then rebuilt by Nils. Somehow, I've never related to it as well after that event, so it gets ridden very seldom, maybe once a year.

I went a bit sideways here, because I had these very skinny bits of beech - about 4mm X 8mm - and ash in the left-overs box. So it was interesting to see whether they'd still be able to handle the weight adequately. The only disadvantage is the slight side-to-side movement; more strutting was needed there. I suppose the inspiration was one of those tall old trestle bridges we saw in good cowboy movies, just before it got blown up by the train robbers. I used Rubio Monocoat as the finish, simply because I had a sample bottle of Castle Brown on the workbench. I works better on the ash than on the beech. This Le Turbo is my baby, owned since 1985, and will be buried with me in a Le Turbo shaped coffin.

This rack is a rip-off of a design on Pinterest. Also beech. What it did was show me that my little Metabo mitre saw isn't entirely accurate - you can actually see the blade and slider mechanism flex slightly on angle cuts. Contrary to my usual practice, I also did this one with screws and used saligna dowels to cover their heads. The Colnago has been seriously covered with dust in the workshop. It's next in line for a complete stripdown. I bought her many years ago here on the Hub. She did the Argus as a loan bike to an American girl, who managed to crash on Chappies, bending the bars and smashing the r/h brake lever. Nils managed to replace it all nicely. It's a beautiful bike to ride, as smooth and comfortable as a lounge chair - but still temperamentally Italian where technology is concerned.

I finally got my bike racks up, hopefully in a place where the bikes will be subject to less dust, sawdust, and miscellaneous nasty stuff from the railway on the one side of the workshop, and the lead smelters on the other. (The lead smelters have just got MAJOR cease-and-desist notices from the council, operating as they were without any permits or any health or safety precautions. No wonder I've gone a little mad as a hatter.) I think I maybe posted this one before. It was a relatively quick Friday afternoon experiment on making something from a offcut block of beech. The main joint there is an open bridle joint. The wall mount, of saligna, goes through the bridle joint with a mortise-and tenon. This Le Turbo was bought for R1000 from an old guy in Steenberg. I took it up to Joburg for the 97.4 (or is it 94.7?), where it got transported around in the back of a VW beetle. A tight fit. Then it sat in my Mom's garage at the old age home for a few years until I brought Mother, beetle and bike back to Cape Town. Nils converted it to a single speed for me.

Hand planes ... Here's a secret resource if you're in Cape Town. I really shouldn't tell, but here you go On Voortrekker Road, kinda Maitland area, there's a Pawnbrokers on the left-hand side heading out of town. Next to a McDonalds, if I remember correctly. It looks like an old police station, or maybe a post office. Usually some (crap) bikes parked outside. He has a fantastic range, and most of the planes are in excellent condition for pretty reasonable prices. The owner collects the better planes himself, but the Stanley and Record users are about the best bet you're gonna get for the money.

Small table saws - these guys have a nice little model, I think it's Taiwanese but it seemed well made. Even has small sliding tables with good positive movement. It was in the region of R10 000 to R12 000, but don't quote me on that. COMPANY NAMEHUSTLER A MACHINE TOOL CO.ADDRESSGOODWOODPHONE(021)591-8121FAX(021)591-0896

Thanks carrera4s! I'll give it a bash! Thanks for bringing it to my attention - but you've got my vote anyway!

In the "Post your woodwork here" forum, I once mentioned that I used animal glue. Next thing, a message pops up from Johann. He had an antique glue pot that had been in the house when he bought it. On a trip to Cape Town, he remembered to bring it with, then arranged to meet me on the N1 and passed it over with all good wishes. So I only met him and his son briefly, but just that one simple action gave me incredible respect for him. (But I also have to say, in the sane breath, that Bikehub always amazes me in the quality of good, good people I've met or interacted with. Thank you all!) RIP Johann! And my thoughts to your family.

Benzine is a good solvent for sticky stuff. Chuck some in a shallow pan and soak the bottles for a few minutes.

I'd go directly to Metabo themselves. They're pretty good on service, at least in Cape Town.

I had an enquiry about fitting all the bathroom fittings - towel rails, toilet roll holders, shelving etc in 20 bathrooms, all with porcelain tiles. I've never run so fast in all my life.

I love it when stuff gets repurposed. Waste not, want not. Nicely done.

I hope it gives you years of good fishing. Maybe your sons, and their sons too!