DIY Week 4/8 - 4/14

So here we go! Another Theme Week!!

Show off what you've something you’ve made, modified, fixed, mixed, or restored. Give us a little detail into why you did what you did what went into it. Inspire the rest of us would-be scientists or engineers. Make sure you show off with some pics!

 

Since grooming the 'stache is part of the shave (if you consider shaving the 'stache off grooming ), here's my DIY for this week.​

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From an old post, but I had to go back and find it because I finally made some 'stache wax of my own.​

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Picked up a small bar of beeswax for a buck at a local farmer's market. Figured I give it a go.​

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I had some empty mustache wax tins, so I cleaned 'em out, chopped up half a bar of the wax, melted it down, added a teaspoon of Vaseline, stirred it up and let it cool. A bit harder than other waxes I've used, but after heating it up with a hair dryer and scraping a small bit onto my fingernail, rubbed in, and combed through, it's holding the 'bars pretty darn good.​

Attached Files:

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  Wax 002.jpg
  
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  Wax 003.jpg
  
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  Wax 004.jpg

 

Ok Steve, here goes but be gentle:

My first ever hand-carved brush. Made with just an old axe, a folding saw and a very sharp knife plus my cheap, hobbyist pillar drill for the knot hole. It's not finished with sandpaper, just that sharp blade but other than the thousands of tiny little facets that show every finishing cut, its completely smooth and had a natural shine to it even before oiling. It is made from Scottish Ash which our local council limbed from a large tree which still grows. The large bough was removed to help make way for last year's Olympic procession which passed to the rear of our house. The knot is a large Omega boar that I obtained from TGN some time ago then removed the black plastic ring before epoxying into the hole. It is finished with six coats of Liberon Finishing oil and 3 coats of Colron Finishing Wax. I call it 'New Century' as its based on an old American, Century brand brush that I saw on ebay but missed out on.

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I used it for the first time today and I must say that the whole experience gave me great satisfaction! Hope you don't think to badly of my work and basic, rustic methods.

 

Sweeeet! Way to go after what you want. It's hard to believe that's your first brush. The shape & finish are lovely.

DIYers ROCK

 

Now THAT is what DIY is all about! Beautiful!

 

Thanks chaps! Love handlebar 'taches - just wish I could grow a proper one.

 

I can't believe you made a handle that nice without a lathe! Way to go!!

 

Looking wonderful! Enjoy!

 

Today I used my GEM OCMM, which, when I got it, had one tooth of the comb bent inside. Since it was in my pre-TSD days, I didn't take a pic of that, but I managed to straighten out the tooth. I can't remember which tool I used. Perhaps some pliers or a screwdriver.


Furthermore I used my home-made brush stand (just some bent iron wire for use in the garden, simple yet effective):

 

I like the brush stand & the ducks!

 

Mike, you do realise that they're Spy-Ducks, don't you? Unbeknownst to you, they've been recording your every move and tackle shake, the little avian sneaks!

 

I most particularly enjoy your rustic methods. GREAT JOB!

... uh-oh ... I am now fantasizing about whittling shave brush handles. It's been awhile and I'm certainly no artist, but wouldn't you love to see some brush handles in the netsuke tradition?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netsuke

 

Gee whizz, now they're beautiful! I could no more make one of those than fly to the moon by flapping my arms.....

Artist I ain't either and I've carved my hand a good few times but the satisfaction in using something you've whittled yourself is unbeatable!

Thanks.

 

You betcha! AND... I might be able to pull off something sorta along these lines:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/carverdale/5325222321/

(But I won't promise mine are that good! Kinda rusty, here...)

oooooo... creative juices flowing

 

Gee whizz again, rusty or not. I's flappin' those arms but I's gittin' nowhere!

My main experience is in making treen such as spoons and cups like these:





I've been thinking about making a shaving mug and soap bowl too plus I wonder if I could get the handle off a user grade Schick injector, send the head for replating then fit a carved wooden handle upon it's return?

 

Here's something else I've been working on but it's still very much at the drawing board stage:



Always been a sucker for rose scents - violet too.

 

Great. Just GREAT!
NOW look at what I've gone and started!!

 

Shhh! No problem: the Minions have disturbed their signals. Shhh!

 

Happy Hump Day, ya'll!

A bit of unskilled Coconut Carpentry--

Last weekend I decided to make a lather bowl after seeing some gorgeous coconuts at the market. I chose the largest, most symmetric coconuts. They were gutted, de-furred, dried & subjected to awful singing. Shrinkage was significant & asymmetric due to variation in shell thickness.


After light sanding, I lathered easily with a 22mm VDH boar & Mystic Waters Rosalimone, but the shell felt too delicate for use without a hard finish (on at least the exterior). Crafters often use melamine for nutty projects, but I need to research the options. This was a fun project, but the cocobowl is not without issues.

"Lather in a half-shell...Turtle Power!"
(lather dehydrated outside in the heat)

 

Well, as I say to (not) all the ladies, "What a lovely pair of coconuts!"

Apologies, ohpaos, I couldn't resist. This is a brilliant use of spent natural resources and I wonder that I haven't seen this before. Hmm, shrinkage is a big problem in the treen carving that I do as it is best done when the wood is green. Makes for much easier cutting and a quicker result. To avoid cracking or splits, you could try drying the shell slowly by putting it in a plastic ziplock type bag, leave the top 1/3 or so open and place in the fridge. That is how I manage to avoid such complications with wood. What about treating the shell's exterior with a wood oil? It may stop it becoming overly brittle, would remain flexible up to a point and look more natural than something too thick and shiny. Just a thought.....