OK, so I've been very very quiet recently, but that doesn't mean I haven't been beaving away. I've been working on a very special project, but it has to be a secret. Here are some teaser photos which I hope don't give too much away.
It's really pushed my techniques and skills, there have been angles aplenty going here there and everywhere, which can be a right pain to get right. There has been lots of routing, spoke shaving and sanding, which I'm pretty accustomed to by now. However, wood carving is a whole new experience.
It has been pretty exciting being a little freer, with my mallet in hand, smacking little chips away, one at a time, bit by bit. The results have come out far better than I imagined, so I'm pretty chuffed. Unfortunately I can't show anymore pictures until it's finished and the secret is officially revealed. Watch this space...
To prove I haven't been completely dossing, here's what all my hardwork over November and December has afforded me. Christmas certainly came late this year when the DHL man handing over a parcel with my new hand plane.
It's a Lie-Nielson No.6 Fore plane. That's like the mercedes of the hand tool. It's shiny, beautifully made and rides like a dream. In tool geekdom, it's a definite must have!!
Huw is the tool historian, he can name, date and describe in detail the use and any quirky story associated to any tool, tractor or rusty metal. He makes hand planes, like this one but far more beautiful, by hand in his shed - as a hobby. Any given weekend he is hunting out rusty heaps of tractor metal to make new again. It's a amazing what he does and how well he executes it. A very good person to know, therefore he was on hand to supervise the first honing and sharpening, just to be sure. It glides over the wood so smoothly, and it is guaranteed square and flat every time, which was a mission with my old beloved No.7. Hopefully it will serve me well for the rest of my furniture making career. Nerdy tool chat over, I'll leave you with a portrait of my tool collection...
