Re: What have I done in the workshop today?

by Chilli-head 10th March 2021, 4:35 pm

Very crisp painting FB. Sorry about your dog

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by Ploshkin 10th March 2021, 5:33 pm

That's lovely Freebird and I think probably better for being painted with those soft colours.

by Dandelion 10th March 2021, 9:56 pm

I love the fact that you've brought the Welsh slate back to Wales, and finished it there. Beautiful words; a poignant memory.

by FloBear 11th March 2021, 7:17 pm

What a beautiful personal memorial, freebird.

by Chilli-head 26th September 2021, 8:38 pm

Well, not today or in the workshop, but last weekend I went to my first green woodworking event since the first lockdown, at Burwash manor. It was a woodwork festival of sorts. I'd hoped to finish off making parts for a chair, but there wasn't any suitable pieces of ash,, so made some small things just to demo - egg cup, lemon squeezer etc, and helped out some of the children visitors making nameplates for their doors using sweet chestnut.

Nice to be back out there doing again. While we can ...

by Chilli-head 22nd January 2022, 11:13 pm

Back at Burwash today. Making tools this time; a screwdriver handle to replace a nasty plastic one that broke, and a stock to hold auger bits. But mostly a lot of chatting and sharing food !

by Dandelion 26th January 2022, 1:26 pm

That sounds like the best kind of event!

by Chilli-head 1st September 2022, 3:30 pm

I'm currently cleaning up this:

What have I done in the workshop today? - Page 8 20220110

Did I mention it before ? It was Mrs C-H's grandmothers. 1922, so 100 years old. It has a few bits needing minor repair and a lot needing lube / cleaning. Mrs C-H says my workshop now looks like an episode from "The Repair Shop" !

by Ploshkin 1st September 2022, 4:19 pm

Ooh, nice, Chilli Head. What model is it? It looks as if it has been well cared for. Does it have the cover?
If you need any parts Helen Howes is your woman for vintage machines. Google Helen Howes sewing machines - I've forgotten how to do a link.

by Chilli-head 1st September 2022, 4:52 pm

It's a 99k, and it does have its bentwood lid. The repairs needed were the crank handle being a bit chewed and loose, a broken knob on the little storage compartment, and a missing thread guide hoop on the faceplate over the business end of the machine. Oh, and the lid lock is missing, I presume the key was lost and it's been forced, the latch plate was bent and I've flattened that back to rights.

I've fixed the turning handle, and I'm working on the other knob. I need to replace the thread guide thingy, I think I can make the missing bit from photos off the web, possibly from a bit of silver steel rod. Or maybe stainless. The lock can wait until I know it works ! I could possibly make something from sheet brass, or buy one from a scrapped machine.

by Chilli-head 28th November 2022, 10:40 pm

A strange conversation with a friend in the pub led to discussing vintage sewing machine repairs. What is happening to us, we used to talk about our intrepid adventures etc, now sewing machines ! We've been domesticated I fear.

Anyway, his Afrana treddle machine lacks the wooden spindle connecting the treddle to the crank. Or rather, there were only bits of it left. So, a couple of hours at the pole lathe and here's the needed part:

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It fitted like it belonged there. Pretty pleased with that.

by Dandelion 2nd December 2022, 1:12 pm

Wow, well done!

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