Crafts / Craftsmen / craftswomen (craftspeople, I suppose)

bit more making, testing out if its possible to make a lampshade for a pair of floorstanding lights that im working on

laser cut pattern and frame, inner lining to diffuse the light. few issues but learnt a lot

4 Attachments

I always wanted a pillar drill but do not have the space. I have recently picked up a few Katsu branded tools that I get on well with and noticed they have a hobby/bench pillar drill for <£50 so thought I'd give it a go.

Initial impression is pretty good. Rated up to 6mm but managed to get a 7mm bit in the chuck with no problems and it drove that through some pretty tough wood no problem. Very short stroke so anything deeper than 1" or so would need more than one go but thankfully the height adjustment of the head is pretty trivial.

Only comes with a 100W motor but it is a fairly standard sewing machine motor and an initial eBay search shows a few 180W options that should fit if it runs out of poke for what I want to do.

1 Attachment

Threw together a couple of finger clamps using some 8mm coach bolts I got from the B&Q clearance bin. The square section catches nicely on the base slots to allow you to tighten down the nuts. Will tidy up the shape of the fingers using the Katsu belt grinder once the glue has fully cured.
Also slapped a magnet on the side to hold the chuck key.

1 Attachment

Speed is variable through the on/off knob and through three different pulley combinations under the top cover. I have set the pulleys to slowest/highest torque and have just been setting the knob to full power. Seems to be fine for hardwood.

Have been doing some sign painting recently.

Here is one I did today for Push Cycles in Newington Green.

Steel is Real y'all!

Hand painted using acrylic and enamels, as well as some Screen Printing ink that i have repurposed to make the mirror of the "Steel"

That looks amazing. Well done!

Great work for a great independent bike shop!

Great work... any more examples of your work? Instagram maybe?

Cheers

@wildwest got some more at

https://instagram.com/manson_7am?utm_source=ig_profile_share&igshid=1liheyicvgz74

And

https://instagram.com/mansonspress?utm_source=ig_profile_share&igshid=hj2j95tb1q4t

did some more making. laser cut MDF, sand the gaps on the dining table, assemble on the kitchen floor, paint in the garden at night = shelving unit.

5 Attachments

Wowzers! Must have taken quite some time!

I'd paint the batons to match the wall, but probably repainting the wall sometime soonish. Couple more pics.

2 Attachments

lasering took maybe 20 mins. painting was the worst. 3 coats outside under tarpaulin mainly at night :)

still, i'm pleased enough with it

I really like that. Are you making these to sell? How strong are those joins/ what glue do you use?
Edit: is it 12mm board and could it be made in plywood?

Following on from my post on previous page: The dinghy is getting there now. Starting to get some base coats of paint on the interior. Glass sheathed, hollow, wooden mast and tapered carbon fibre boom and yard have been made. My sailmaker friend is busy making a 120 sq ft balanced lug sail, of my design, at the momebt. Made a laminated tiller and rudder stock too, which I just received a set of fancy bronze pintles and gudgeons for, so that can be finished now too.
Hoping to have the hull completed by the end of the week; painted and woodwork finished, ready to varnish. It looks kind of weird at the moment, in two tone grey, without all the iroko trims fitted. Was planning on finishing her by the end of the month, but i never have beem very good with time constraints. Will post finished pics soon.

In related news: I've been speaking to a factory that make fibreglass lorry fairings. The quality if their work is excellent, and they are going to laminate the first batch of hulls from my mold quite soon. Available initially as bare hulls, if anyone might be interested. Future plan is to make some patterns, to make the tooling, so the buoyancy chambers can be molded into the hulls directly (this is a prototype, with plywood tanks).

4 Attachments

There's no glue, they just slot together nice and tightly. I taped over the joints of the larger pieces but that was to try and hide the seams.

It's 6mm mdf, but yes could be done in 12mm ply for sure.

I've thought about selling them but my marketing consists of posting on here.

I think you have a winner there though.....really nice.

Selling an unpainted flat pack maybe. It's the painting that's the killer.

@moocher What kind of laser wattage do you need to cut wood?

Such nice work. Love your updates, keep em coming.

Made a mini library trolley for the impending mini_com

I agree that painting is the killer

1 Attachment

68w is the limit set on ours. Depending on type/thickness of wood you can cut more or less.

Thanks, might be too much of a leap from the little laser engraving kits I've been eyeing.

Have you thought about using valchromat? Nice colours and finish and no painting required!

I hadn't heard of that, but looks good. I wonder how much raw material would cost per unit.