Crafts / Craftsmen / craftswomen (craftspeople, I suppose)

The plunge router looks good just looks a bit of over kill

I could buy a second hand router for £35

I have been given a rather beautiful piece of Macassar Ebony by a friend, on the proviso I made him a stick. I told him I couldn't make a stick out of the Ebony, I lied, I am making him a thumbstick. I have never made one before, so I came up with a rough design idea and just felt what the wood would let me do.

From plank, through rough shaping to after obsessive hand sanding. Now 'all' I have to do is de-bark, straighten and sand the Holly, fit the two together and apply multiple coats of finish.

If Sauron had a stick, it would look like this!

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If I reach a good age and need one I’ll treat myself various accouchement such as walking stick, pipe etc etc etc

I made a coffee table

Beech/sapele top, ash legs

Doesn't wobble or anything. Pretty happy

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Very nice

That's lovely. Love the clean lines

Solid, reminds me of a harvest table.

Beautifully Nordic, you should call it Sven or Bjork or something those flat-pack twats haven't already nicked.

Thanks all. It has a ring mark on it already :)

Finished the Ebony stick. I added a Bog Oak collar for no better reason than because I can and I thought it would look cool.

As to pipe and slippers, I have always carried a stick for long country walks, even when I was racing at a good standard. Unfortunately, since a recent spinal injury I need one for daily use.

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Very nice.

Great work there, how do you grip the handle?

Like this, hence it's called a thumbstick. It's ergognomic; ideal for battering gnomes.

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Ah, so, much taller than I was picturing.

Likewise. Mostly I use a router bit in a pillar drill with the feed locked - not entirely safe, but I'm more comfortable knowing the tool is fixed to the bench.

Most pillar drills have a Jacobs chuck in a morse taper, often without a drawbar, so the lateral forces and vibrations from an interrupted cut can unseat the chuck from the spindle.

You can get a router lift kit to mount a 1/4" trim router into your work surface. Attached example.

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Anyone know any metal fabricators that would do a small job?

I am looking for a cost to fabricate a 1435mm length of 40mm mild steel round bar with drilled and threaded holes on each end face for M12 bolts. Its to attach an "arm" to my print bench.

Proving harder than I thought to find someone that could do it.

I know a steel fabricator who can almost certainly do that, I am seeing him on Saturday and will ask. Any price will have to include P&P as I'm near Rye.

Thanks mate, have actually just found a solution of using a second hand part, a saw and re-tapping some threads.

Anybody know what this type of latch is called?

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Is that a steamer trunk? Could be a “toggle latch”.

https://www.mossman-trunks.co.uk/32-parts-trunk-fittings?srsltid=AfmBOorNYQRoEJigwEuhJHsfAVnFhX-aP4kl2Yf4SS-xQ-gNMGku5Gg-

It is an old carpenter's tool box, I thought the centre round bit released the sprung catch but it doesn't!

The hinged bit with a hole in it has an over-centre hinge, so it will 'snap' into position over the pimple. Your's may need a little oil in order to achieve this.

Problem is that one is missing and I'd like to get something similar to match (or replace both)

You could do worse than have a look at what Cheney have to offer. Chances are that they made the catch which you have. It's very much their house style.

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Great shout, thanks. Found something similar and sent to.my dad and he has bought a pair.
It is for my grandfather's old carpentry tool box.