Okay, here is a quick update in (mostly) picture form.
First, I hacksaw off a 9" piece of 1" x 1/4" O-1 Steel.
[OP]
Member
Okay, here is a quick update in (mostly) picture form.
First, I hacksaw off a 9" piece of 1" x 1/4" O-1 Steel.
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James Krenov says that "the craftsman lives in a
condition where the size of his public is almost in
inverse proportion to the quality of his work."
(James Krenov, A Cabinetmaker's Notebook, 1976.)
I guess my public must be pretty huge then.
[OP]
Member
Next, I squared up the end and used my fancy bench grinder (39.95 at Harbor Freight) to rough out the tang.
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James Krenov says that "the craftsman lives in a
condition where the size of his public is almost in
inverse proportion to the quality of his work."
(James Krenov, A Cabinetmaker's Notebook, 1976.)
I guess my public must be pretty huge then.
[OP]
Member
This is where I get really high tech and introduce to the world the "Tom-Mek" grinding and sharpening system.
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James Krenov says that "the craftsman lives in a
condition where the size of his public is almost in
inverse proportion to the quality of his work."
(James Krenov, A Cabinetmaker's Notebook, 1976.)
I guess my public must be pretty huge then.
[OP]
Member
More shots of the amazing Tom-Mek.
Note that it pivots on its high tech hinge, plus the bed extends to bring the work closer to the high tech work surface. In addition, the entire dealy-bobber moves laterally via some high tech aluminum extrusions (and a little which lithium grease).
Note also the incredibly high tech angle jigamathingie.
Last edited by Tom LaRussa; 12-02-2004 at 10:12 PM. Reason: Done forgot sumpin
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James Krenov says that "the craftsman lives in a
condition where the size of his public is almost in
inverse proportion to the quality of his work."
(James Krenov, A Cabinetmaker's Notebook, 1976.)
I guess my public must be pretty huge then.
[OP]
Member
Any sharpening and grinding system -- even one as sophisticated as the Tom-Mek -- needs some means to hang onto the work.
That's where the super high-tech Tom-Mek jointer blade & chisel blank holder comes in.
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James Krenov says that "the craftsman lives in a
condition where the size of his public is almost in
inverse proportion to the quality of his work."
(James Krenov, A Cabinetmaker's Notebook, 1976.)
I guess my public must be pretty huge then.
Member
That's a nice Jig!!!
Are you going to put those in the oven to temper the steel........I"ve heard of people doing that.....?????
Thanks for the photos.....it tells a great story!
[OP]
Member
Here are the results thus far:
The widest blade (1") is awaiting only a bit of detail work prior to heat treating.
The narrowest blade (1/2") is about half way through the rough-in process.
The mid-sized blade (3/4") is an experiment in which I attempted to do much more of the rough-in with the bench grinder rather than the incredibly high-tech Tom-Mek system. The results thus far are not particularly promising, so I'll be sticking with the stupendiforous Tom-Mek from now on, even though each chisel burns up an entire 4" x 36" zirconium-aluminum belt.
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James Krenov says that "the craftsman lives in a
condition where the size of his public is almost in
inverse proportion to the quality of his work."
(James Krenov, A Cabinetmaker's Notebook, 1976.)
I guess my public must be pretty huge then.
[OP]
Member
Yep. Harden in oil from ~1500 and then temper for an hour at about 300. Should give a Rockwell (C scale) hardness right around 62, maybe a tad more.Originally Posted by Roy Wall
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James Krenov says that "the craftsman lives in a
condition where the size of his public is almost in
inverse proportion to the quality of his work."
(James Krenov, A Cabinetmaker's Notebook, 1976.)
I guess my public must be pretty huge then.
Moderator
Thanks, Tom...excellent pictorial. I now understand a lot more about what you are doing. Great job!
--
The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...
Member
Very Nice, Tom! And very resourceful. too. I'll have to try that someday...
There's another reason I need to get myself a belt sander like the one you use in the "amazing Tom-Mek" machine.
Can't wait to see the finished product!
Member
Tom,
Since you're hardening the chisels after the grinding, am I right in assuming that the risk of overheating the steel during shaping/grinding/tom-meking (I invented a word!) is lower? There's not a risk of "Losing the temper" when you're going to temper it later?
Contributor
Way cool Tom! Keep us posted!
TJH
Live Like You Mean It.
http://www.northhouse.org/
Moderator
I'm impressed with your inventiveness and ability to adapt the belt sander to do the blade shaping. I do something similar to rough shape the marking knife blades after the basic machining is done. I look forward to your continuing posts of your progress.
Dave Anderson
Chester, NH
Member
Geez...and I'm still trying to find time to work on my bench!
Nice job so far Tom. You're really getting into this big time...I see a book in your future..."YOU'RE THROWING WHAT OUT?!?"...subtitle..."There's a jig in there somewhere".!!!
Keep us posted and inspired...and let me know when you need my mailing address for Christmas presents!!
Last edited by Louis Bois; 12-03-2004 at 10:05 PM.
Louis Bois
"and so it goes..." Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
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