Pants Boy

I'll check my spares bin, I think I've got a couple.

What size are you looking for, Gandalf?

Mini Mallets should be done by Friday. FINALLY had a new appy start yesterday, it's been months without one.

When I was still insane (ie doing kitchens) I used a combination of things. I'm partial to using Sketchup for my designs overall, I used that for some kitchens as well. I've also used http://www.compusoftgroup.com/Old/content/products/DesignAtWeb/App/DesignAtWeb_EN_ZA.htm this web app, which is fairly nifty and features nice lighting etc. Nowadays I stay as far away as possible from building kitchens, I've just grown averse to that type of customer ... they tend to be a strange breed (in my experience)

Have I told you lately how much I love this ******* country?

Shot guys - my email address is chief@treeware.co.za - please send shipping details etc there.

I like this form of price haggling Much more entertaining than the usual Flea-Market crowds. Dimensions that worked really really well turned out to be 70mmX70mm head, with an 80mm long handle, the bulbous end is around 38mm thick. If you want it thicker or thinner just ask, but this grip is just sublime - it gives you the option to either full-hand it or pinch it as it starts slipping, for a more 'delicate' stroke .... lol that sounds dirty all of a sudden. I'll make them for R175 a piece, and R99 shipping via Aramex (or mahala pick-up in Pretoria). Reckon I'll be able to chuck 5 of them in a bag before Aramex complains.

Flip that's nice. I'd be super tempted to cut that so that the two long sides have a rough outside - not the top, as that needs to curve to form a shallow angle with the striking faces. Hmmm ...

Unlike ... lol.

And if you were sharp, yes, that's Ed's suggestion. Works a charm. Perfect weight and PERFECT swing for small work such as this. Price suggestions?

I was contemplating making some form of jig to mortise hinges with a router and had all kinds of interesting ideas - a spot for putting waste blocks to prevent tear-out, adjustable depth stops, self-centering, clamping pads etc etc etc. And then I remembered that I have a beard. Took me less time to cut out 8 hinge mortises than I spent wondering about the mechanics of a self-centering jig.

Nope - up to my eyeballs in pinedust, making some display cases. Scheduled some lathe time for tomorrow though

Think I got it from Adendorfs - made a couple of mods to it, nothing too hectic. Like I said, you just need to make sure of your setup, so to that extent I made a few more mounting and adjusting holes, I sand the top with fine sandpaper every once in a while, and at the same time go over every little bolt and screw, undo them, clean them and re-assemble. PITA, but worth it for making quick boxes.

Lots and lots of practice. Sharp bits, smooth bearings, great setup etc etc etc. I'll see if I have photos of my hand-cut dovetails somewhere ... these are just so much more practical in a busy workshop. Making these with hammer and chisel would have taken the best part of a day, and looked and functioned the same, and that in something that is supposed to be low-cost and quick. That's the big trade-off when doing something for money - you sometimes have to take the quicker route to make something profitable.

I cheat Router and dovetail plate/jig. If you are patient and meticulous with your setup, cutting them is a breeze. Made these boxes, on all four corners, in 12 minutes flat. 1 minute to position wood, 2 minutes to cut dovetails along 450mm. With a jig you cut the pin and slot at the same time, saving a lot of time. Pine is very soft, thus it goes a lot quicker than hardwoods. You need to watch the pieces the whole time, if they start moving you have to cut power and re-affix. The set-up and testing take about 30 minutes

Thanks V12, I've actually got some yellowwood on my shelf Should be enough for this small job ... I just love making a nice joint, even if it is in pine. Here's two of 14 I made this morning Still need to sand the flats before final assembly.

I'm busy restoring a Yellowwood and Imbuia chair and need to replace one of the parts. Thankfully, Geelhout, not Imbuia. After explaining to the client the costs involved, I get the dreaded "Maar kan jy nie net 'n plankie insit nie?" Sigh. Yes. A Yellowwood plankie , at R100. It's not going to break the bank, and it's pretty much my cost, without labor. Maybe I should go find a pallet plank to put in there?

Thank ****. Personally, I hate pallets, with a passion, purely for the number of times I've had to hear "But why don't you make it out of pallet wood? That would make it cheaper?" These are normally on the 10-hour custom designs, specified to be made from hardwoods (quite often some exotic that they saw in a shop, like Mango or Burmese Teak or some such. Have I mentioned that I ******* hate ******* pallets?

It's been known to happen, right here on this thread But not something I 'advertise', for obvious reasons.

But keep sending me new product ideas

No-no, those are Giant Jenga blocks in the making. I've only got the one that I want to make something else out of. 220mmX70mmX50mm.

Let me knock out a prototype small carver then I'll price it.

I'm busy making 'a few' giant Jenga sets, this came from one of the parts. It's not going into the pile of parts I'd like some more suggestions for it ... don't really have place for a lamp.

How about a 70mm head and 80mm handle? I can make a single-piece one out of Rhodesian Teak for you.