WIsconsin Machine Tool Show

Tomorrow I am leaving for the Wisconsin Machine Tool Show (WMTS) in Milwaukee for a few days. It is a large tradshow for the manufacturing industry and has exhibitors representing a number of different technologies. I can already sense the eyes glazing over here, so please hang on a moment. In going to this show, I am hoping to spec out a new CNC lathe and, budget allowing, a new CNC mill. These will be for the R&D prototyping shop at work (my playground).

A few years ago I attended a similar show in Los Angeles called Westec. I didn't have the same agenda for that show as I do for this one. At Westec, I was there to look into new tools and processes. Last year I was supposed to go to the mother of all machine tool shows, IMTS, in Chicago, but that didn't happen due to budget cuts at work. I can understand why I couldn't go, but that doesn't stop me from feeling bitter about it.

Anyway, at WMTS I am going to be on the lookout for tools and techniques that can be applied to carving and miniatures. Finding a new little clamp or saw that could be used for something other than machining is a fun way to look around at a show like this. It is also a fun place to look at machines for laser cutting/engraving and 3D printing. These are processes that you don't always get a chance to see in person. I recently had the chance to send off some files to have printed and am hoping to see the process in person.

Over the couple of days at the show I will try to post anything that I find of interest. I will also do my best to keep it interesting and not in the realm of machine coolants and waste management containers. I will also post any pictures I can take. I hope to find at least one thing that will be new and innovative.

Open Studio Tour on Whidbey Island

Tomorrow is the start of the Open Studio Tour here on Whidbey Island. This is my wife's third year doing it and it gets bigger and better every year. She was recently interviewed by Sue Frause of the Seattle PI online newspaper. You can read the article here:

http://blog.seattlepi.com/whidbey

Stephany Vogel, my wife, has been doing art all of her life. She has been involved with a number of different museums and galleries. I am really happy to see her starting to get the attention she deserves. She also has two blogs: http://www.makepeacearts.blogspot.com/ and http://www.fourleafcloverpress.blogspot.com/

Over the next two days she is going to be very busy talking about her work. I am very happy for her.

Railroad Rail Anvil

This is an anvil that I inherited from my Dad. It is one that my Grandfather had made from a railroad rail. I wish I knew more about it than that. I can only guess the places, functions, and circumstances that it has seen.

In the excellent book "The Complete Modern Blacksmith" by Alexander G. Weygers, a chapter is devoted to the making of an anvil just like this one. If you have any interest in the forging of tools, this book is the place to start. The writing is very clear and to the point. The pencil illustrations, also by the author, are fantastic and will inspire anyone to feel capable of blacksmithing. Really, a book like this doesn't just happen.

The anvil I have is a great tool to have around. It has stood the test of time and will last for centuries. What more could you ask of any tool? The top is about 9 1/2 inches long and it weighs about 8 pounds. It has some green paint on it and you can make out "...UMBER..." in one inch tall letters. I don't think it was hardened. A 5/16 inch hole on the back end of the top is a pritchel hole for anchoring a hold-down tool.

I have a few other blacksmithing tools which were also my Grandfathers. I'll write about them in another post. If anyone might have any information about the letters on the side of the rail and where it might have come from, I'd love to hear any ideas.

Scrimshaw Dice

I have a small collection of dice. Some I have found on the ground or in a thriftshop, and others I have made. Old dice are facinating to me. I really like the wear they show, either through play or just the patina of old age. Dice made out of bone, horn or, dare I say, ivory are the artifacts of another age. Dice have been used throughout time to decide to fates of many individuals and events. Their nature of random outcomes coupled with unique materials and designs instill an erie, compelling quality. I'm not into magic or fortune telling, but I enjoy the weight that a random event can place on the outcome of another event.
A while ago I stopped in a cabinet shop next to my work. They make Corian tops and have a number of samples in their showroom. I was hoping they would have a few scrap pieces that I could have. Every year they get new samples from the manufacturer and gave me a coulpe of 4"x4"x1/2" squares. I had used some Corian before to make a small flower press for my daughter and I liked the way it worked. It is mostly acrylic and smells something horrible when you cut it with a power saw, but it sanded and polished nicely. Well, I've had a couple of squares sitting on my desk serving mostly as coasters until I could decide what to make out of them. Recently I cut one of the squares up into 1/2" cubes with a power miter saw. Cutting slowly, you can avoid most chipping out on the edges and ,with care, an evenly proportioned cube. Use a file and some wet/dry sandpaper to smooth up the faces and round the edges and corners.
Once the surface is prepared you are ready to do the scrimshaw. Using a Sharpie pen or other perminent marker, fully color the surface of the Corian. Then you can draw on it with a soft pencil with a design. On the die I made, I did roman numerals of bones. I think I have seen that done before, so I don't claim it as my idea, but it is simple and interesting. I've seen drawing of dice found in the ruins of ancient civilization and that would be fun to recreate.
With a sharp scribe mark the design over the pencil lines. This will leave a white scratch over the black ink. When the design is fully scratched in, color over it again with the pen. This will fill in all of the lines with ink. Then sand and polish off the ink. Start slowly and evenly. If the lines weren't scratched in deep enough it can be easy to sand the design away. The idea is to just sand the ink on the surface away and leave the ink in the incised design.
That is basically it, at least the way I did it. Different colors can be used on the same design. You can also go back and add in new lines. You can't do a whole field of color, but if you make a series of fine lines close to another, it can appear as a solid field.
On the die I made, I want to go back and do some shading on the bones or a field of color behind the bones. I might use some brown in the background. You could experiment with various inks instead of using pen, but I like the quick and easy nature of the marker.

Turning

Well, I tried my hand at some small scale turning today on my lunch. I made a quick turning tool out of some 1/8" drillrod. The tip of the tool is a 1/16" radius. I chucked some 1/2" square maple in a little speed lathe with a square collet. Using some scrap steel as a toolrest, this is what I made.
I ground a narrow piece of steel for a cutoff tool and in using it I kinda messed up the base of the goblet, which is now narrower than it was. I would like to try some more of this and maybe make some chess pieces.

Another Carving Knife...

I really like the handle shape on these knives. They are the same as the walnut handle that I made for an earlier post. The blades are made from 1/8" drill rod; heated, shaped with a hammer, ground into shape, and tempered. For the tempering, I have found that a hot plate works great. The one I am using is set to about 400 degrees F. I set it on the plate and cover it with a small piece of aluminum plate to hold in the heat. After about 15 minutes the blade turns a nice, even dark straw color. I follow up with sharpening. I like to leave the color of the temper on the blade and not polish it away. Next I am going to make a hook (or bent) knife for carving small bowl or spoon shapes.

Detail Carving Knife, Finished

Here is the completed Detail Carving Knife, finally. Mike chose the purple heart handle. The tang of the blade fit into the handle nicely. I did a last bit of polishing with a small buffing wheel on a Dremel and the final honing on the edge with a black Arkansas stone.