Bits n Bobs
Hi it’s been absolutely hectic since my last post. The end of term is always busy in school, but this year was especially so, with fitting in welding and turning courses, as well as the usual reports, trips etc.
The turning and welding coures I completed were excellent, I could do a little turning before attending the course, but still learnt a lot.
On the other hand, I was dreading the welding course, as my previous experiences with a welder had always proved very hit and miss, and extremely frustrating. Yes, there’s a “but” coming. But, by the end of the second day I was welding like a pro – swearing, telling dirty jokes etc. – and even did some vertical welding on the third day (stright runs and a christmas tree weave). By this time I had completed the required tasks for an NVQ2 qualification, but still attended the fourth and final day, so that I could get to grips with a TIG welder and do some Aluminum welding.
Welding Ali is very difficult, as by the time you get enough heat into the joint to weld, then wait another millisecond, and you have a puddle of Aluminium on the bench and a bloody big hole in your work. I was so impressed by the TIG welder though, that I’m pricing one up for the school workshop, yes they’re expensive, but it’ll definately add to the students experience, and when they get to the workplace, they’ll have another string to their bow.
Following the busy time at work, things have been virtually on hold on the hand plane front, but as it’s now the summer holidays, I (in theory) should have a little more time on my hands. I’ve managed to shape the tote on the large smoother today from enlish Walnut, and hope to get it ebonised either tomorrow or saturday. I’ll post pics of my ebonising experiments tomorrow, it really is astonishingly simple, just wipe on a solution of wire wool and vinegar, wait a few minutes, and hey presto, it turns a nice deep, rich brown colour. I’ll also post pics of the tote, pre-ebonising for you to have a look at.
Cheers
Aled
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