Jerry Marcantel
11-10-2011, 11:37 AM
Last year I was out in the desert and found an old TV that someone had illegally dumped. Before I found it, someone else did, and being the sort of people who have this affinity for breaking any glass they can find, they/he/she threw a large rock into the picture tube. When I found it, I was eccstatic, as there were several peices about 3/4" thick x 6" wide x 20" long... I took them home and then gave my best effort into knapping them. To my surprise, I managed to get one blade 2 1/4" wide x 16 1/4" long, one 12" long, and several around 9"..... Those are my largest blades I've ever made and will probably be the last. The knapping gods were favoring me the next 3 days.
I wanted to make a case for the largest blade so it would not get broken. First I thought I'd just make a typical rectangular display case, but then I remembered a comment Steve Schlumpf made on welcoming me to SMC. I had mentioned that my passion is flint knapping, and he said he would be looking forward to seeing both my knapping and turnings combined, or something to that effect.
Any way, I got a piece of mesquite about 6" od x 22" long and proceeded to turn it to the same shape as the blade.212581.
After I was somewhat happy with the shape, I removed it from the lathe, attached square blocks to each end and made the necessary cuts on my table saw.212582212583 I know the pics look like it's dangerous, but it was pretty secure with the blocks on each end. Anyway, I made 3 cuts to get what I needed, then I set up the dado set to cut out the feet. Sorry, no pics for that. I then made a pattern of the blade, taped it to the piece that is the lid, and used my pin router to hog out the opening. I then taped the lid onto the body and proceeded to hog that out also with a top bearing router bit. That way both the lid and body had the same size cavity. I then got a rabbet router bit and routed the lid for glass, then sat down with a file and sanding block to final shape the feet.212584 After that I made the mortises for the hinges and finished with Watco Medium walnut and laquer...... My biggest problem was finding a clasp that wouldn't cost me 3 gallons of gas and 2 hours drive to get it. I went to a "Michaels" store and bought a wooden box for $1.98 to get it, and I still have the cheap Chinese box to boot..... Pretty long winded story, huh????
Anyway, here is the finished piece.212586212587212588Thanks for looking and C welcomed...... Jerry (in Tucson)
I wanted to make a case for the largest blade so it would not get broken. First I thought I'd just make a typical rectangular display case, but then I remembered a comment Steve Schlumpf made on welcoming me to SMC. I had mentioned that my passion is flint knapping, and he said he would be looking forward to seeing both my knapping and turnings combined, or something to that effect.
Any way, I got a piece of mesquite about 6" od x 22" long and proceeded to turn it to the same shape as the blade.212581.
After I was somewhat happy with the shape, I removed it from the lathe, attached square blocks to each end and made the necessary cuts on my table saw.212582212583 I know the pics look like it's dangerous, but it was pretty secure with the blocks on each end. Anyway, I made 3 cuts to get what I needed, then I set up the dado set to cut out the feet. Sorry, no pics for that. I then made a pattern of the blade, taped it to the piece that is the lid, and used my pin router to hog out the opening. I then taped the lid onto the body and proceeded to hog that out also with a top bearing router bit. That way both the lid and body had the same size cavity. I then got a rabbet router bit and routed the lid for glass, then sat down with a file and sanding block to final shape the feet.212584 After that I made the mortises for the hinges and finished with Watco Medium walnut and laquer...... My biggest problem was finding a clasp that wouldn't cost me 3 gallons of gas and 2 hours drive to get it. I went to a "Michaels" store and bought a wooden box for $1.98 to get it, and I still have the cheap Chinese box to boot..... Pretty long winded story, huh????
Anyway, here is the finished piece.212586212587212588Thanks for looking and C welcomed...... Jerry (in Tucson)