Recent content by nicfirth

Many thanks. And I'll be sure to have the place is well ventilated!

Hi, I'm going to be making a shaving brush handle from walnut and wondered what would be the best route for waterproofing. My thoughts are polyurethane vanish Cyanoacrylate Danish oil Since the handle will properly wet I was thinking that maybe the idea of proofing might be futile so...

Doh! I've been trying to work out SDP ~ something something punch...... or small diameter something......... etc.... As it hapens 4 out of the 5 chisels may have been hand made and some show signs that they have been hit with a very small pin hammer as there are edge indentations smaller...

Thanks for all the replies. One thing that a work colleage has mentioned is that Stanley items from the USA might be valuable and upon inspection I see that the pocket level bears the words Stanley, New Britain Conn, USA, 1916 on left side and Level spirit, M G, Mk 1 on the right. Any ideas...

My in-laws have just given me a box of tools that belonged to my wife's great uncle, who was a carpenter/cabinet maker. They comprise various rasps, folding rulers, squares, chisels, calipers and dividers, a vernier caliper, a Stanley level, a Marples sliding bevel, a marking gauge and various...

Hi, I tried my new thicknesser today :D I planed some pine boards down to 6mm and I'm really pleased with the result. It is so easy to use, and I can't see how the results could be improved upon. I suppose when I try planing hardwoods it will be more of a test, though. As a novice and...

Hi, Well the general consensus is that its a bad idea, so I'll stick to the electric fan heater and some warm clothes. Regards Nic

While clearing out my fathers house (he's moving) I acquired a propane heater, one with a cylinder and ceramic plates that are headed by burners flames. I was wondering if they are considered safe to use in a work shop, providing you are sensible with positioning etc. Regards Nic

Following my post on the general advice forum, I've spoken to a guy that believes that his mother still has his late father's lathe in the shed. It will not have been used for the last 3 years, for obvious reasons. But he knows that his dad would have bought good quality stuff. I'm waiting to...

Hi, I've never done any lathe work, but it looks fun. I would like to give it a go but before I shell out a load of money on a good lathe, chisels, chuck system etc. I want to know that its something that will both enjoy and be able to do reasonably well. I propose getting a cheap lathe...

Hi, My garage just isn't large enough to have large static tools, so I need to be able to store tools out of the way when they aren't being used. I'm tempted by a cheap bandsaw one of the 2 wheel ones that retail at about £90, from Screwfix, Charnwood etc. I was wondering if they are any...

Yes I know that you can get around it but with that as a design minimum it worried me, that a machine that seemed to good (cheap) to be good was. I've gone for the Axminster CT-344 which was twice the price but I believe that Axminster have a good reputation, so I thought I would give it a go...

I guess no one has used one:) I did, however, choose a different thicknesser as I emailed Nutool who advise me that the minimum stock it produces is 25mm (an inch!) and as I want to plane down to 6mm its no good. Regards Nic

Has anyone used this machine or seen it in operation? I've seen it available at about £140 which seems awfully cheap if its any good. Regards Nic