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252385 JAMES THOMPSON <oldmillrat@m...> 2014‑12‑18 Birdcage awls-and then there were four
Shortly after I made my copy of Scott Grandstaff’s perfect handle birdcage awl,
I found 3 more junk perfect handle screwdrivers for almost nothing, and bought
them for the purpose of making more awls.

I learned something while doing this. It is quite difficult to do the grinding
on a bench grinder. I used a cheapie Horror Fright disc grinder on the shaping
part while the screwdrivers were held fast in my vise. This makes the main part
of the grinding go a lot faster. Then I went to the bench grinder for the final
grinding. By the way, the flats on the blade are the reference surfaces to grind
the other 2 sides square. Adjust the tool rest to get a square grind while you
hold the flat on the tool rest.

Of course, the grinding process ruins the temper of the tool, so I had to re-
harden and temper each one.

Making the scales: I learned that a piece of white paper held on the handle and
rubbed with a dirty finger gives me a good pattern. I cut out the papers and
glued them to the wood for the scales. When dry, I cut the scales out on the
bandsaw. Then used my stationary disc sander to grind them to fit. They are
still flat at this point. Now I epoxy one in place, then drill the holes. Now I
epoxy the other one and drill the remaining holes in the other scale. It’s easy
to lose the hole location if you put both scales on at once.

Now to the vise to hold the tool while I rasp off what isn’t needed, then sand
and polish. The last thing I do is put in the cutlery rivets. See the picture:

https://picasaweb.google.com/102358420595488787966/December182014?authu
ser=0&feat=directlink">https://picasaweb.google.com/102358420595488787966/Decemb
er182014?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Of course I do not need 4 of these tools. I plan to use 3 of them for gifts,
provided I can find some people I like well enough to give them to. :>)
252386 curt seeliger <seeligerc@g...> 2014‑12‑18 Re: Birdcage awls-and then there were four
I think the guess here Jim is that you didn't make enough awls for that.

On Thu, Dec 18, 2014 at 11:40 AM, JAMES THOMPSON  wrote:
> Shortly after I made my copy of Scott Grandstaff’s perfect handle birdcage
awl, I found 3 more junk perfect handle screwdrivers for almost nothing, and
bought them for the purpose of making more awls.
> ...
> https://picasaweb.google.com/102358420595488787966/December182014?aut
huser=0&feat=directlink">https://picasaweb.google.com/102358420595488787966/Dece
mber182014?authuser=0&feat=directlink
>
> Of course I do not need 4 of these tools. I plan to use 3 of them for gifts,
provided I can find some people I like well enough to give them to. :>)
252387 Frank Sronce <dilloworks@s...> 2014‑12‑18 Re: Birdcage awls-and then there were four
Jim,

Beautiful job.  Why don't you hang on to one until the next galootaclaus
exchange.  Who
knows, you might draw my name.  :-)

Frank Sronce (Fort Worth Armadillo Works)

--------------------------------------------
On Thu, 12/18/14, JAMES THOMPSON  wrote:

 Subject: [OldTools] Birdcage awls-and then there were four
 To: "oldtools List" 
 Date: Thursday, December 18, 2014, 1:40 PM
 
 Shortly after I made my copy of Scott
 Grandstaff’s perfect handle birdcage awl, I found 3 more
 junk perfect handle screwdrivers for almost nothing, and
 bought them for the purpose of making more awls.
252390 Michael Blair <branson2@s...> 2014‑12‑19 Re: Birdcage awls-and then there were four
Them's some purty birdcage awls!

Last weekend I discovered I have two NOS Japanese birdcage awls.
They found their way to me in a group of sundry tools a couple
of years ago, and I hadn't thought much about them until I
needed one and gave them a second glance.

The handles are square at the steel bit, but quickly go to round.
Maybe 90% of the handle is 1/2 inch round, and long enough to make
you think of a lathe tool.

Why?  I wondered, and then remembered -- the handles are held between
your two hands and spun back and forth to drill the hole.

Mike in Sacto
252395 John Holladay <docholladay0820@g...> 2014‑12‑19 Re: Birdcage awls-and then there were four
Ooh!  Ooh!  Pick me!  Pick me!

Just kidding (not really),  but they do look totally awesome.

Doc
On Dec 18, 2014 1:40 PM, "JAMES THOMPSON"  wrote:

> Shortly after I made my copy of Scott Grandstaff’s perfect handle birdcage
> awl, I found 3 more junk perfect handle screwdrivers for almost nothing,
> and bought them for the purpose of making more awls.
>
> I learned something while doing this. It is quite difficult to do the
> grinding on a bench grinder. I used a cheapie Horror Fright disc grinder on
> the shaping part while the screwdrivers were held fast in my vise. This
> makes the main part of the grinding go a lot faster. Then I went to the
> bench grinder for the final grinding. By the way, the flats on the blade
> are the reference surfaces to grind the other 2 sides square. Adjust the
> tool rest to get a square grind while you hold the flat on the tool rest.
>
> Of course, the grinding process ruins the temper of the tool, so I had to
> re-harden and temper each one.
>
> Making the scales: I learned that a piece of white paper held on the
> handle and rubbed with a dirty finger gives me a good pattern. I cut out
> the papers and glued them to the wood for the scales. When dry, I cut the
> scales out on the bandsaw. Then used my stationary disc sander to grind
> them to fit. They are still flat at this point. Now I epoxy one in place,
> then drill the holes. Now I epoxy the other one and drill the remaining
> holes in the other scale. It’s easy to lose the hole location if you put
> both scales on at once.
>
> Now to the vise to hold the tool while I rasp off what isn’t needed, then
> sand and polish. The last thing I do is put in the cutlery rivets. See the
> picture:
>
>
> https://picasaweb.google.com/102358420595488787966/December182014?aut
huser=0&feat=directlink">https://picasaweb.google.com/102358420595488787966/Dece
mber182014?authuser=0&feat=directlink
>
> Of course I do not need 4 of these tools. I plan to use 3 of them for
> gifts, provided I can find some people I like well enough to give them to.
> :>)
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> OldTools is a mailing list catering to the interests of hand tool
> aficionados, both collectors and users, to discuss the history, usage,
> value, location, availability, collectibility, and restoration of
> traditional handtools, especially woodworking tools.
>
> To change your subscription options:
> http://rucku
s.law.cornell.edu/mailman/listinfo/oldtools
>
> To read the FAQ:
> http://swingleydev.com/archi
ve/faq.html
>
> OldTools archive: http://swingleydev.com/archive/">http://swingleydev.com/archive/
>
> OldTools@r...
> http://rucku
s.law.cornell.edu/mailman/listinfo/oldtools
>
252396 Ron Harper <kokomorontoo@g...> 2014‑12‑19 Re: Birdcage awls-and then there were four
I am the very proud owner of a Thompson Bird cage awl.    It is indeed
something to covet. A wonderful tool.  It has a T handle and fits my big
mitts. Thanks again James. May the grain be with you.

On Thursday, December 18, 2014, JAMES THOMPSON  wrote:

> Shortly after I made my copy of Scott Grandstaff’s perfect handle birdcage
> awl, I found 3 more junk perfect handle screwdrivers for almost nothing,
> and bought them for the purpose of making more awls.
>
> I learned something while doing this. It is quite difficult to do the
> grinding on a bench grinder. I used a cheapie Horror Fright disc grinder on
> the shaping part while the screwdrivers were held fast in my vise. This
> makes the main part of the grinding go a lot faster. Then I went to the
> bench grinder for the final grinding. By the way, the flats on the blade
> are the reference surfaces to grind the other 2 sides square. Adjust the
> tool rest to get a square grind while you hold the flat on the tool rest.
>
> Of course, the grinding process ruins the temper of the tool, so I had to
> re-harden and temper each one.
>
> Making the scales: I learned that a piece of white paper held on the
> handle and rubbed with a dirty finger gives me a good pattern. I cut out
> the papers and glued them to the wood for the scales. When dry, I cut the
> scales out on the bandsaw. Then used my stationary disc sander to grind
> them to fit. They are still flat at this point. Now I epoxy one in place,
> then drill the holes. Now I epoxy the other one and drill the remaining
> holes in the other scale. It’s easy to lose the hole location if you put
> both scales on at once.
>
> Now to the vise to hold the tool while I rasp off what isn’t needed, then
> sand and polish. The last thing I do is put in the cutlery rivets. See the
> picture:
>
> December182014 | 102358420595488787966
> <https://picasaweb.google.com/102358420595488787966/December182014?au
thuser=0&feat=directlink">https://picasaweb.google.com/102358420595488787966/Dec
ember182014?authuser=0&feat=directlink>
>
> Of course I do not need 4 of these tools. I plan to use 3 of them for
> gifts, provided I can find some people I like well enough to give them to.
> :>)
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> OldTools is a mailing list catering to the interests of hand tool
> aficionados, both collectors and users, to discuss the history, usage,
> value, location, availability, collectibility, and restoration of
> traditional handtools, especially woodworking tools.
>
> To change your subscription options:
> http://rucku
s.law.cornell.edu/mailman/listinfo/oldtools
>
> To read the FAQ:
> http://swingleydev.com/archi
ve/faq.html
>
> OldTools archive: http://swingleydev.com/archive/">http://swingleydev.com/archive/
>
> OldTools@r... 
> http://rucku
s.law.cornell.edu/mailman/listinfo/oldtools
>
252399 scott grandstaff <scottg@s...> 2014‑12‑19 Re: Birdcage awls-and then there were four
Way to go Jim!  They are very beautiful. Expert.
  I like the paper template idea very much too.
   See, tol ya it was fun. heh :)

  OK Who's next?   Bring it guys.
A good birdcage awl is a magic little piece of business you will never 
want to be without, once you have one.
     yours Scott


-- 
*******************************
    Scott Grandstaff
    Box 409 Happy Camp, Ca  96039
    scottg@s...
    http://www.snowcrest.n
et/kitty/sgrandstaff/
    http://www.snowcr
est.net/kitty/hpages/index.html



-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2015.0.5577 / Virus Database: 4253/8768 - Release Date: 12/19/14
252401 Brent Kinsey <brentpmed@c...> 2014‑12‑19 Re: Birdcage awls-and then there were four
If this was already addressed, my apologies.  For both the birdcage awl and the
brad awl, what are the historical dimensions regarding the size of the bit?
Both diameter and length?  My gut tells me 3-4" for length and probably not more
than 1/8" diameter, but I have never had an original to use as a model.

What are your thoughts and experiences?  The couple of birdcage awls I have made
recently I ended up putting a steeper secondary bevel at the tip because I found
my original long taper to be too weak to use without bending.  How do y'all get
around this problem?

Brent K.

Sent from my iPad

On Dec 19, 2014, at 11:32 AM, scott grandstaff  wrote:

> Way to go Jim!  They are very beautiful. Expert.
> I like the paper template idea very much too.
>  See, tol ya it was fun. heh :)
> 
> OK Who's next?   Bring it guys.
> A good birdcage awl is a magic little piece of business you will never want to
be without, once you have one.
>    yours Scott
> 
> 
> -- 
> *******************************
>   Scott Grandstaff
>   Box 409 Happy Camp, Ca  96039
>   scottg@s...
>   http://www.snowcrest.n
et/kitty/sgrandstaff/
>   http://www.snowcr
est.net/kitty/hpages/index.html
> 
> 
> 
> -----
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 2015.0.5577 / Virus Database: 4253/8768 - Release Date: 12/19/14
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> OldTools is a mailing list catering to the interests of hand tool
> aficionados, both collectors and users, to discuss the history, usage,
> value, location, availability, collectibility, and restoration of
> traditional handtools, especially woodworking tools.
> 
> To change your subscription options:
> http://rucku
s.law.cornell.edu/mailman/listinfo/oldtools
> 
> To read the FAQ:
> http://swingleydev.com/archi
ve/faq.html
> 
> OldTools archive: http://swingleydev.com/archive/">http://swingleydev.com/archive/
> 
> OldTools@r...
> http://rucku
s.law.cornell.edu/mailman/listinfo/oldtools
252404 Yorkshireman <yorkshireman@y...> 2014‑12‑20 Re: Birdcage awls-and then there were four
Brent asks about awls...

On 19 Dec 2014, at 21:18, Brent Kinsey wrote:

> If this was already addressed, my apologies.  For both the birdcage awl and
the brad awl, what are the historical dimensions regarding the size of the bit?
Both diameter and length?  My gut tells me 3-4" for length and probably not more
than 1/8" diameter, but I have never had an original to use as a model.
> 
> What are your thoughts and experiences?  The couple of birdcage awls I have
made recently I ended up putting a steeper secondary bevel at the tip because I
found my original long taper to be too weak to use without bending.  How do
y'all get around this problem?

but the answers are in your questoin!  'Couple of.. I made recently'  and 'I
found my... too weak..'

So there you have everything you need. 

Skill, and a growing fund of experience of the tools in your particular service
conditions.


I'm a big fan of the fancy in toolmaking, One day I'm going to start chasing
designs on the sides of No 4's (basic smoothers, Jeff) just because I have time
and inclination.
But until then, If I need an awl to do some work, then it will get 'made' and
'remade' until it does the job - my job - whether that mean a long shank, a
round handle, an oval handle, a ' feels good in the hand handle' or whataver.
Finally, maybe, I'd make up another as a 'Reet good job'  I could be proud to
say 'I made that' and know that it works the way I need it to as well.


SO - short story - make 'em as you think best after a glance in the tool
catalogues.  An Awl doesn't take too long, so make plenty.


Enjoy the ride!

Richard Wilson
Yorkshireman Galoot
anxious to get paint on an elf-made christmas present for the daughter.

Recent Bios FAQ