So what's going on, huh?

A goodly question, you might ask.  I haven't produced an entry for a while as I've found I need to be in the right frame of mind (some would argue that I don't posses one😂) to get the fingers twitching  but for what it's worth, here's a few oddments of stuff that's been happening in the 'shop.

Shortly after Christmas last, I obtained a pristine 'green' Clifton No.6 from those rascals at Classic Hand Tools and it's now been joined by a baby brother. If you ever get a chance to buy a decent version of these British classics, don't walk by and pass it up; you won't be disappointed.

In the summer, I also started a major project, which was an interpretation of a Jim Krenov 'Silver Chest', first made in 1961.  In one of his excellent tomes, JK mentions that he needed to be in the right frame of mind (just like me) to make one of these things as they were 'difficult'...

He wasn't wrong.

  

This interpretation (not a copy in any way, sort of) was made in Paduk and Swiss Pear, finished with Odie's Oil. The stand and carcase were relatively straight forward (but did entail a bit of head scratching) though the really, bloody difficult part were the drawers, both to make and then to fit.  Suffice to say, they took a lot of research and modelling before I'd worked out how the cunning old bu%ger made them.

Kit wise in the 'shop, the biggest event was the purchase of an 'Ultimate Edge' linnisher/grinder/sharpening machine from Axminster Tools.

  Although I still have my original Tormek T7 with it's coarse diamond wheel, this machine simply can't shape steel quickly although it's excellent for sharpening. Using the T7 to grind a primary bevel on 5mm thick Veritas blades was purgatory as it could take hour after interminable hour....

The UE with a 60g or 120grit belt will do the same job in ten minutes.

Aslo worth a mention are the strops also bought from Axminster but alas no longer available:

There are three different grades of leather, finishing with an English Bridal type. I use them dry, with just a smear from a green Veritas stick on the first one.  It's true that if used aggressively, the edge can be somewhat 'drubbed' over but the trick is to lightly move the bevel across the leather no more than half a dozen times on each.

The difference it makes is astounding and anyone who makes the mistake of shaving hairs with an edge from these strops had better know the fastest route to their local Accident & Emergency centre!

As the man once said....'I'll be back'

  

HNY and a New Toy

Wherever you are on this spinning lump of rock we call home, I sincerely hope you had a Happy New Year and if you believe in Father Christmas (as I do) a great one of those as well! 

My festive season got off to a cracking start when I spotted a Clifton No.6 plane on the Classic Hand Tools  page shortly before Christmas. It appeared to be in pretty good condition and to my amazement it was still there in the New Year.  I lusted after this lump of 'old skool'  British cast iron all over Christmas so I girded my lions😅 and decided to take the plunge; it arrived yesterday. To say it was in good condition is a slight understatement; this plane was probably twenty years old and was in pristine condition:

On closer inspection, the sole had absolutely no wear or scratch marks:

...and the cutter had never, ever been sharped, except when I honed it yesterday evening.  The original grinding marks are still evident on the back of the cutter and the ground bevel is straight from the Clifton factory in Sheffield:

You can draw you own conclusions but mine are that this plane has sat in a lovely warm workshop for the last couple of decades and has never, ever been used.  There are a couple of insignificant 'dings' but essentially it's a brand new No.6 in perfect, mint condition.

It's now been racked out under the bench with all it's other playmates!