[TheForge] thoughts and ramblings on tools

[terry l. ridder]

hello;

several of the current threads have touched on this and it has been
something i have been thinking about and doing for the past several
years. making my own tools instead of purchasing them.

what i have been wrestling with is when to decide to purchase instead of
build. even before david gingery there were others that wrote about
building tools that were either too expensive for the average homeowner.
many of the older issues of popular science had articles about building
tools at home from off the shelf parts or easily made parts. several
sites on the internet have archives of these popular science articles
and other projects and plans. one such site is
http://www.vintageprojects.com. other resources that several have
mentioned in the past on theforge is of course lindsay books. (
http://www.lindsaybks.com).

not having the resources to purchase a tool i have learned how to either
do without or make the tool or a close working alternative for it. i
have also explored and endeavored to learn other areas of metalworking.
casting of parts used to make large tools. tinsmithing, is the next area
to explore and learn. each exploration brings new insights into the
metals and the art of working the metals. the need for tinsmithing
stakes may be what prompts me to explore casting cast iron/ductile gray
iron. at least for me part of the joy from metalworking is the journeys
that it takes me in learning. some days when suddenly things starting
clicking into place and ideas and processes become much clearer.

i do despair at times about the inability to purchase tools made in the
usa, but then i also look at the tools that i have made and i am pleased
that in a small way i have kept toolmaking and the independant spirit
alive.

this past summer stripping all the copper taught me many things and
forced me to explore yet more areas some outside of metalworking. one of
those areas is making crucibles for use in the crucible furnaces. this
is the area where ceramics, chemistry, and materials science all come
together. the key to making a good crucible is the recipe used to mix
the slip or clay for slip casting or moulding. the need for making
crucibles was not high on my list even though i had read and others had
told me that using steel crucibles would be far less than ideal. it was
not until an unrelated event did what i had read and others had told me
made suddenly meant something more to me. one day while working outside
building a electrolysis derusting tank i had a splinter in my hand.
i pulled the splinter out with pliers and rinsed my hand in the
derusting tank. watching the tiny drops of blood mix with the water and
tinge the water pink it suddenly became clear with was happening using
steel crucibles. small amounts of the steel were dissolving into the
aluminum/copper and while not immediately observable changing the
aluminum/copper for the worse.

the crucibles require a kiln to fire them and a new project. the merging
to a burnout oven and a kiln into a multi-use oven. this project is
still in design stages.

well any way those are my ramblings for now.


-- 
terry l. ridder ><>