Tool Modification

[Mjolnir]

I'm personalizing my tools. Trying new ideas. I've found one photo of a stacked leather handle for an awl on here. Still learning to search I guess. I figured out what stacked leather was two days ago, so cut me some slack. I'm interested in all ideas, resin uses, products used, wood carving, molds made, you name it.

I was bored yesterday and after seeing a pic of stacked leather, I had to try it. This is a cheepo tandy swivel knife, scrap leather that was tooled. I used barges cement and burnished with beeswax. I probably saw this shape somewhere because It's more comfy than my pricey knife.

 

[Rockoboy]

That looks great. I am gonna do that with some of my tools, maybe a BBQ fork and any other thing I can think of that needs it!

[Sanch]

8 hours ago, Mjolnir said:

I'm personalizing my tools. Trying new ideas. I've found one photo of a stacked leather handle for an awl on here. Still learning to search I guess. I figured out what stacked leather was two days ago, so cut me some slack. I'm interested in all ideas, resin uses, products used, wood carving, molds made, you name it.

I was bored yesterday and after seeing a pic of stacked leather, I had to try it. This is a cheepo tandy swivel knife, scrap leather that was tooled. I used barges cement and burnished with beeswax. I probably saw this shape somewhere because It's more comfy than my pricey knife.

 

 That's a great idea boss Ima borrow it I have a couple of old cheap Tandy knives that need new life... dang now I gotta make a round punch the size i need thanks for the extra work 

[Mjolnir]

8 hours ago, Sanch said:

 That's a great idea boss Ima borrow it I have a couple of old cheap Tandy knives that need new life... dang now I gotta make a round punch the size i need thanks for the extra work 

I put my leather on a board and used a drill to make holes then cut out the doughnuts with scissors. I may be a little outside of the box.

[Sanch]

40 minutes ago, Mjolnir said:

I put my leather on a board and used a drill to make holes then cut out the doughnuts with scissors. I may be a little outside of the box.

I have a bunch of 4 to 5 4 to 5 oz scrap left over from wallets and motorcycle seats that I plan to use, I also have a Fisker cars Circle cutter that I plan to use it's kind of like a compass with the sharp razor edge

[Mjolnir]

8 minutes ago, Sanch said:

I have a bunch of 4 to 5 4 to 5 oz scrap left over from wallets and motorcycle seats that I plan to use, I also have a Fisker cars Circle cutter that I plan to use it's kind of like a compass with the sharp razor edge

Can't wait to see it!

[TLP]

the next stacked leather handle you do you might want to use a clear epoxy,  it will soak into the leather and help to stabalize the handle ( seals and keeps out moisture )  is what I have used for knife handles,  was recommended by the company that manfactured the blade in their finishing directions

 

[Mjolnir]

well I had to work on the hammer. Tooled leather wrap to come. I tried out some wood burning. The runes spell out mjulnir. also drilled a hole and stretched copper tube in it for an as yet undecided accoutrement.

[Sanch]

5 hours ago, Mjolnir said:

well I had to work on the hammer. Tooled leather wrap to come. I tried out some wood burning. The runes spell out mjulnir. also drilled a hole and stretched copper tube in it for an as yet undecided accoutrement.

 Very nice,  that's one thing that I've only tried once wood burning never appealed to me although I did some lettering a long long time ago great job the Mallet it looks nice.

[JMcC]

I have to hand it to you, you are very inventive. Good job! I would never have dreamed of doing either of those things

[Mjolnir]

'roll eyes'  A face displaying eyes glancing upward, indicating an eye-roll. This is used to show disdain, contempt or boredom about a person or topic. Confusingly, this is shown as a happy side-glance on Samsung devices.

I guess I shouldn't share anymore. There are a lot of people that send negative vibes.

Peace!

[mikesc]

A little "tool mod" for your wood burner ..if you get a champagne cork, and make hole in it through the centre , lengthways, you can ( if you match the hole diameter to the diameter of the metal shaft of your wood burner..actually make it a"tad" smaller and push it onto the tool shaft  ) slide it over the shaft and then you can get your fingers much closer to the tip, lets you guide the tip easier for precision work..

Your runes are very well written , although, with that simple "Champagne cork" mod to your tool.. you can write cursive , just like you were writing a letter..and same size lettering as you'd use to write a normal letter.

Yes your fingers get hot ( but not unbearable )..the cork burns and chars a bit , and will eventually start sliding around..but you can make another from another cork..wine corks are not so "wide" ( smaller diametre ), which is why I say Champagne..( note..In our house , it is not me who drinks the Champagne, most of them give me a headache, but my wife likes Champagne, and we save the corks )..I'm "modding" ( making a woodburner ) that will use nichrome wire tips and allow much more precision control, waiting for a DC variater ( to save making the mosfet voltage control version ) to arrive from China..when /if it gets here, I'll test the idea..If it works ( no reason that I can think of why not ), I'll post a "how to"..Could save a  hundred dollars or so compared to the cost of a Razor ( or similar ) unit..it should allow much better and more precise control over the burning temps, and allow a more natural "pencil like" way to work..I already have a "rough version" working here..but it is a bit of a "wiring spaghetti" "work bench model" ATM..Based on some things I read in some old pyrography fora ..

 

Btw..I have tested the "Champagne cork mod" on a burner very similar to yours, bought one..took it apart, made the "Champagne cork mod"..you can't use a variater in the line from the mains to the burner really successfully ( although some soldering stations can be moded to give reasonable control to the burning tip ) because it is AC, variator or dimmer doesn't allow good enough control on AC..but if you power using low voltage DC ( such as is used in the Razor etc ) then a voltage controller ( or a mosfet in a circuit ) will allow fine temp control.

Edited January 9, 2018 by mikesc

[Mjolnir]

this is hard to start and easier than I thought. Goat skin. I might finish this beast! going to end the leather with copper tube tacked down with brass. Never know till you try

[billybopp]

19 minutes ago, Mjolnir said:

this is hard to start and easier than I thought. Goat skin. I might finish this beast! going to end the leather with copper tube tacked down with brass. Never know till you try

That's gonna look nice - Very worthy of Thor.   I bet it'll feel nice too!

- Bill

[Mjolnir]

never had a specific plan here for the hammer. One step led to another. Kind of wish i'd just wrapped the whole thing to begin with. next is a stain, then turks heads, some things to balance the handle. Maybe adding design to the head.

[bullmoosepaddles]

You gone and done it now. My wife wants her mallet handle sanded down and me to make strands and braid hers. She can do her own burning. 

Great job Sir. Beautiful and creative work. Thank you for sharing. 

I love having customized tools in my shop. Makes them a pleasure to use and shows pride in oneself.   

 

[bullmoosepaddles]

I do have a question if you will answer it please. How did you secure the copper in the handle?

[JKHelms]

That’s pretty cool. Have always been fascinated with braiding. 

I need to learn how.

[kiwican]

Wow I love that! great job man!

[bikermutt07]

That's cool.

[Mjolnir]

32 minutes ago, bullmoosepaddles said:

I do have a question if you will answer it please. How did you secure the copper in the handle?

I saw it on youtube. That guy used a press I don't have So I drilled a hole the same diameter as the copper tube. I used a 'nail set?' not sure of the name, it has a conical head. Hammered it. There are pinned instructions for the handle on the braiding forum. I used my braiding leather book. 

ps I was going to wrap the base of my leather with copper, then I found these wonderful copper tacks at lowes today. Improvise. adapt. never commit to a single idea.  

[bullmoosepaddles]

@Mjolinir Thank you. I promise to post a picture when we finish the wifes hammer.  

[Mjolnir]

I look forward to it!

[Sanch]

@Mjolnirlooking great friend

[Mjolnir]

I wish I could say, 'done', but I still have more to do. I used an oil based leather dye for the black, I used a small art brush. It wasn't quite dry and I went over it with a red oak wood stain. yeah a wood stain over leather. it started to blend. a fortunate accident ( I went back in with touch up on the black to create sunburst of a sort). now I hope this thing dries hard after a couple of days.