2018-Jul-Aug The Shed

INSTALLING CLOCKMAKER’S MASTER
A FLAT-PACK PRECISION & BIRDHOUSE

KITCHEN ARTISTRY BUILDER
JULY–AUGUST 2018
ISSUE 79
MAKE A
DAMASCUS STEEL
PUUKKO
KNIFE
NZ $14.95
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AUCKLAND - WHANGAREI - HAMILTON - TAURANGA - HASTINGS - PALMERSTON NORTH - NELSON - CHRISTCHURCH - DUNEDIN
Editorial
ISSN: 1177-0457
EDITOR
Greg Vincent, editor@theshedmag.co.nz
SUBEDITOR
Sarah Beresford
TECHNICAL EDITOR
Jude Woodside
PROOFREADER
Odelia Schaare
The penny has DESIGN

Mark Tate
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
just dropped
Adam Croy
ADVERTISING COORDINATOR
Renae Fisher
ADVERTISING PRODUCTION
Danielle Williams
I
have only been the editor of this in my hand at the workshop of Brent Sandow, CONTRIBUTORS
Mark Beckett, Ray Cleaver, Jon Addison,
magazine since last June so, to be the penny dropped. I got it.
Raf Nathan, Jim Hopkins, Jude Woodside,
honest, I still have an awful lot to learn. These handmade knives are works of art. Rob Tucker, Adam Croy, Helen Frances,
I take advice and direction on what articles The look and the feel of the steel. The shape Geoff Merryweather, David Blackwell,
should be published in The Shed from our of the blade. The way the handle sits and feels Tracey Grant, Sarah Beresford, Lachie Jones,
Ritchie Wilson, Enrico Miglano
UHDGHUVÀUVWRIFRXUVHWKHQRXUJUHDWWHDP in your palm. The exquisite bone or wooden
RI ZULWHUV DQG P\ IULHQGV DQG FROOHDJXHV handles looking just like precious jewels.
SUBSCRIBE
I’m not sure that anyone can be an expert on The balance of it as it sits in your hand. The ONLINE: magstore.nz
everything shed-like but frankly, almost all of maker’s skills in creating this instrument are PHONE: 0800 PARKSIDE (727 574)
our crew of writers are pretty well clued-up apparent for anyone to see once you get up POST: Freepost Parkside Media Subs
on a wide range of subjects. close and personal. The phenomenal range PO Box 46020, Herne Bay, Auckland 1147
EMAIL: subs@parkside.co.nz
The ex-publisher of this magazine, of tooling and equipment that is required to
Jude Woodside, seems to be totally clued-up make knives such as these made my jaw drop.
CONTACT US
on everything shed-related because anytime I have always wondered what folks would
I have a query on almost anything, he has the want with a knife the likes of which we have PHONE: 09 360 1480
answer. Impressive. We are very grateful for featured being made over the years. Are FAX: 09 360 1470
his continued involvement in The Shed as a there really that many hunters out there? But POST: PO Box 46020, Herne Bay, Auckland 1147
writer and our technical editor, as I’m sure now I get it. EMAIL: info@parkside.co.nz
many of you are too. Appreciating these knives for the creative
PUBLISHER
So, I am learning what content you, gems that they are is already enough for
Greg Vincent, gvincent@parkside.co.nz
our readers, like to read, and we strive to me. I see why so many of our readers seek
%*3&$503, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
achieve provide that in each issue, but I must information on how they are made, and even
Michael White, mwhite@parkside.co.nz
admit, I was a bit perplexed by the constant the skills to make one themselves. To be
GENERAL MANAGER
fascination by so many of our readers and honest, I am sure there may be some who just
Simon Holloway, sholloway@parkside.co.nz
writers with knives and knife making. I just collect knives or even put them on display in
PRINTING
couldn’t see what all the fuss was about — glass frames — that would not surprise me in PMP Maxum
that is, until I met a knife maker recently. the slightest.
DISTRIBUTION
As one of our major articles this issue is Different shapes, beautiful steel, different Gordon & Gotch
on that subject, and because there is a knife XVHVGLIIHUHQWKDQGOHÀQLVKHV:RUNVRIDUW PHONE: 09 928 4200
makers’ show coming up in Auckland later I’m in, now I want one, or two. Penny
NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS
WKLV\HDU,ÀJXUHGWKDW,KDGWRNQRZPRUH delivered. Parkside Media uses due care and diligence in the
about this passionately followed craft that I Greg Vincent preparation of this magazine but is not responsible
or liable for any mistakes, misprints, omissions,
understood so little about. Publishing Editor or typographical errors. Parkside Media prints
advertisements provided to the publisher but gives
Well, as soon as I held one of these knives editor@shedmag.co.nz no warranty and makes no representation to the
WUXWKDFFXUDF\RUVXIÀFLHQF\RIDQ\GHVFULSWLRQ
photograph, or statement. Parkside Media accepts
no liability for any loss which may be suffered
www.theshedmag.co.nz | theshedmag | Subscribe by any person who relies either wholly or in part
upon any description, photograph, or statement
contained herein. Parkside Media reserves the
DISCLAIMER right to refuse any advertisement for any reason.
No responsibility is accepted by Parkside Media for the accuracy of the instructions or information in The Shed The views expressed in this magazine are not
magazine. The information or instructions are provided as a general guideline only. No warranty expressed necessarily those of Parkside Media, the publisher,
or implied is given regarding the results or effects of applying the information or instructions and any person or the editor. All material published, gathered,
relying upon them does so entirely at their own risk. The articles are provided in good faith and based, where or created for The Shed magazine is copyright
of Parkside Media Limited. All rights reserved
appropriate, on the best technical knowledge available at the time. Guards and safety protections are sometimes in all media. No part of this magazine may be
shown removed for clarity of illustration when a photograph is taken. Using tools or products improperly is reproduced in any form without the express
dangerous, so always follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions. written permission of the publisher.
The Shed 79 July/August 2018 1

Contents
ON THE COVER
We visit Wellington workshop of knifemaker
Glassmaking
14 Shea Stackhouse and follow him making of a
Damascus Steel puukka knife 38 Meet Carmen Simmonds, Whanganui’s
extraordinarily talented glassmaker and artist
4 32 94
Master birdhouse builder Make a smartphone speaker Lathe bench build — part two
Steven Price turns an accident into Easy-to-create speakers out of Creating the drawers proves not a
an opportunity native timber simple task
BBC Micro Bit Laver Marine

26 Introducing an alternative Arduino-type board 74 Landlocked Piopio has a unique boatbuilder
in town
2 The Shed 79 July/August 2018

Keeping sharp
114 The need for a sharpening stone sends this writer off
on an interesting quest
64 102 80
Skeleton-clock maker 'SULQWLQJ³SDUWÀYH It is good to be square
Clocks, steam engines, tools — Exploring the features of Tinkercad — 'DYLG%ODFNZHOOVKRZVXVWKDWDOO
'DYLG&XUU\KDVPRUHVNLOOV perfect for newbies squares are not equal
than most
Every issue Flat-pack kitchen install USB chargers

We explain all the pitfalls, Are these safe? Mark Beckett
1 Editorial
tips, and tricks shows us what to look out for
10 News
12 Letters
36 Subscribe to The Shed
123 Shed books for sale
124 Shed back-issues order form
126 Nationwide Menzshed listings
128 Back o’ The Shed
-LPLQWURGXFHVXVWRDÁ\LQJ
friend who had no fear when
LWFRPHVWRÁ\LQJXQGHU
mainland bridges
48 88
Using a bandsaw to make
finials, window tops, and
other fine work
Sanding a totara batten
A BUILDER TURNS ADVERSITY INTO AN

OPPORTUNITY TO UNLEASH HIS CREATIVE
TALENTS
By Helen Frances
Photographs: Tracey Grant
W
hen builder Steven Price suffered programme is another source of
a severe neck injury at work inspiration.
he turned the accident into an He has designed and built
opportunity. The Whanganui sheddie birdhouses inspired by
no longer mounts scaffolding; instead windmills, medieval castles,
he designs and constructs much smaller and log cabins. Some also
buildings. His timber birdhouses tickle VXJJHVWDQ$VLDQLQÁXHQFH
WKHLPDJLQDWLRQEXWWKH\ZRQ·WÁ\DZD\ but Steven says that the
or fall apart because he draws on his designs all come out of
many years of experience in the building his head. To keep costs
and construction industry to make them down Steven recycles
solid and durable. totara fence posts, and
As a stimulus for his design ideas even a bit of kauri, donated
Steven browses books in the library by local farmer friends.
then takes his pencil to the drawing Recycled pine decking boards Feeder turret
board. The Treehouse Masters television are useful for interior structures. f

Considerate neighbour bigger pieces can be lifted off for ease of
His shed is a movable feast. He stores transport. It also allows easy access for
wood in his gardener’s shed and uses a cleaning. The parts are all marked and
friend’s bandsaw to rip totara fence posts RQO\ ÀW WRJHWKHU RQH ZD\ FKHFNHG LQ
into workable lengths, then, weather around the rafters, so that the wind won’t
SHUPLWWLQJKHÀQLVKHVWKHPRIIDWKRPH blow them off. The weight also helps to
in the yard with his smaller power and keep them stable.
hand tools — a small bandsaw and a
“little old sawbench” with which he rips Design rules
the smaller pieces of wood. “It’s quieter Steven says that the size of the timber
for the neighbours,” he says. by the time he has cleaned it up dictates
The kitchen table becomes a the height of the main body of the
workbench on which he prepares all the windmills, and during construction he
component parts then screws and glues has learned instinctively to apply the
the birdhouses together. A large one can rule of thirds.
take him up to 40 hours to make. ´, JR ZLWK WKH ÁRZ :KHQ , VWDUWHG
At Expressions Gallery in Whanganui doing the roof I realized [that] it looked
his largest ‘windmill’ birdhouses are the too high so I cut that one down. With a
ÀUVW WKLQJV \RX QRWLFH ZKHQ \RX ZDON bit of playing around I’m getting to know
in. The windmills are made from totara that if that one is 600mm then the next
board and kauri battens, and the vanes one should be 300mm, or 900mm — you
are kauri. He has designed them, and all go in multiples of three.”
his other large constructions, so that the The roof of the windmill is a Dutch

Left and below: Installing
corner battens on a tower
structure. Once fitted, they
are taped and/or stapled
until the glue dries
Measuring and levelling … building know-

how creates a stable structure
Below: A lot of wood whittling with a Below: Three years outside and this
Stanley knife to create a rustic look miniature log cabin has weathered well
gable. He achieves the uneven, rustic

URRÀQJHIIHFWZLWKD6WDQOH\NQLIH
He has designed and built birdhouses
´,I\RXVTXDUHHYHU\WKLQJXSLWPDNHV inspired by windmills, medieval castles,
LWORRNWRRVWUDLJKW,XVHD6WDQOH\NQLIH and log cabins
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ZKLOHWRPDNHDOOWKHFXUYHVEXWLWORRNV
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Naming the birdhouses

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Log cabin with whittled shingle roof
$ORJFDELQRQHRIKLVHDUOLHUPRGHOV

Under
construction
On the kitchen table a hexagonal tower
with an annex is taking shape. Steven
has designed it with reversed battens,
windows with pointed arches, and
balconies with little braces. He made
the six panels up flat on the table and
got his girlfriend to hold them in place
while he screwed the panels onto the
plywood floor structure inside.
The valleyed truss roof of the annex is
quite intricate.
“If I wasn’t a builder by trade I
don’t think I’d be able to do them.
I put it together as a truss roof. If I
hadn’t, I imagine it would’ve gone
all higgledy-piggledy and dodgy as.
So I found a way to make trusses
and worked from there, making the
ridges and valleys. Once I’ve formed
the roof I get a piece of paper and
cut it to the size I want for the size of
the roof panels. Then using the paper
as a pattern I cut them out of the
totara battens,” he explains.
For this birdhouse the roof panels
are vertical. Five vertical panels
will be butted tightly together, not
overlapped, as he usually does. If
they were horizontal he says that
the pieces would get too small and
split. Fascia boards will “tidy it up”
and, as it is a work in progress,
Three-storey hexagonal tower — every entry point has different detailing. further down the track he will put in
To make a hexagonal shape Steven makes 30-degree cuts some little windows, finials, and an
exterior staircase.
“The more wood I put on them the
stronger they become. By the time
has a shingle roof, each individually I’m finished with this turret with all
whittled. But the shingles took too long A large one can take the pieces on it, it will probably just
to make so these days he uses long him up to 40 hours bounce if I drop it.”
whittled planks to make the roofs. Steven also makes picture frames for
After sketching a design, Steven
to make his pencil drawings. He does a lot of
calculates and prepares all the materials art, mainly depicting Whanganui’s
heritage buildings. The city boasts
he’ll need. He rips totara battens down
11 per cent of New Zealand’s
to 5–7mm thick, and they become the A wishing well pot plant holder suitable
heritage buildings, so there is no
for ferns
base for the walls and roof. On the roof shortage of subject matter. He draws
they overlap by 10–15mm. He glues and from photographs, preferring to do
staples them together (or uses masking that rather than be distracted by
tape to hold smaller pieces) until he gets rubberneckers and chatty bystanders.
the right-sized roof he wants. When he’s “After being injured and at home a
lot I just picked up the pencil to keep
ÀQLVKHGKHSXOOVWKHVWDSOHVRXWÀOOVWKH
me occupied,” he says of his drawing.
holes with glue, sands, and coats the
With a neck full of titanium and
wood with linseed oil. He uses strong
other “scaffolding” Steven is doing
exterior PVA glue. what teachers told him he should
“I’ve had one birdhouse gathering do when he was at school — pursue
moss outside for three years and it’s still his creative talents. And prompted
holding together as well as the day I by people telling him his timber
creations look like doll’s houses,
built it,” he says.
that could be next on his shed
You can contact Steven about his assembly line.
birdhouses on 027 863 3934.

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News
Saturday saw conference members visit

Carbatec for some tool demos
Shed power and management, and insurance.

There was plenty of time for questions
and answers, swapping experiences, and
MENZSHED CONFERENCE – 27-29 APRIL learning about different initiatives run by
enthusiastic groups of sheddies, including
T
here’s something to be said for the positively and well,” Diane Turner, a tools-for-schools project and a predator-
power of numbers. It seems that GLUHFWRU RI WKH 2IÀFH IRU 6HQLRUV VDLG traps programme.
sheddies will be an even more vital part in her opening address at the Menzshed 7KH NH\QRWH DGGUHVV E\ 'U 3KLO :RRG
of their communities in the future if sheer New Zealand 2018 conference, held at chief advisor to the Ministry of Health, on
numbers are anything to go by. By 2020 6DLQW .HQWLJHUQ &ROOHJH $XFNODQG RYHU the health and well-being of senior men
there will be more New Zealanders over the ²$SULO was particularly pertinent for a conference
age of 65 than under the age of 15. By 2036 0RUH WKDQ 0HQ·V 6KHGV ZHUH WKDWKDGWKHWKHPHRI6KHGVDQG6KHGGLHV
this group will constitute 22 per cent of the represented at the conference, including 0DNLQJD'LIIHUHQFH
population, as against 15 per cent today. RQH IURP $XVWUDOLD DQG WKH\ FRYHUHG D Diane Turner addressed the need for
Menzshed members throughout diversity of operations, activities, and communities to be aware and cater for
New Zealand attending a recent conference membership. the needs of a growing senior population.
heard how the growth in the senior $SURJUDPPHDLPHGDWRIIHULQJGLIIHUHQW 6KH VDLG WKDW 1HZ =HDODQG KDV MRLQHG
population and extended life expectancy perspectives on what members needed to the World Health Organization (WHO)
DUHUHGHÀQLQJZKDWLWPHDQVWREHROG be aware of when setting up and running JOREDO QHWZRUN IRU FUHDWLQJ DJHIULHQGO\
“We are all ageing. It matters to successful sheds in communities included communities, which was a very positive
all of us that New Zealand is a place topics such as health and safety, the health step in considering the needs of seniors and
where we have the opportunity to age and well-being of senior men, governance encouraging social participation.

The Shed online
W
hat’s happening online at
theshedmag.co.nz?
Every week we upload new
content on The Shed website joining the
100s of articles and videos already on the
site for readers to discover and enjoy. The
past two months’ new uploads include:
Right:
The Australian
Men’s Shed
attended too
Adopted in 2015, the WHO model has

scope across eight domains: outdoor • an article by John Stichbury
spaces and buildings, transportation, on making model engines and
housing, social participation, social spark plugs
respect and inclusion, civic participation
and employment, communication and
information, and community and health
services. Consultation and workshops
are being held throughout New Zealand
aimed at drafting new strategy, which
will be launched mid 2019. Robin and Batman cruise in
But the highlight of the conference
was the opportunity to network with • a short video of Oamaru stone
like-minded people, swap tips, and carver Sean Briggs at work in his
share anecdotes. mobile shed
It was all capped off with visits to three
Men’s Sheds — at Auckland East, in
Manurewa, and on the North Shore.
Men’s Sheds aim to keep men connected
and involved through community-driven
initiatives, and the conference was
testament to how successful they have
been in achieving this. The 2 ½ day conference was well attended
• the launch of our Build a Useless

Machine competition
• four introductory articles on

understanding Arduino.
These are just some of the new
uploads to our website these past two
months. Visit theshedmag.co.nz to enjoy
even more.
The Carbatec visit was a popular choice

Letters
being captured, the downpipes link up lower down the side of the tank and
to one 100mm diameter pipe which will use a much bigger one so all the water
either surround the house underground that sits in the pipes around the house
or perhaps run through the crawl space. FDQEHÁXVKHGRXWIURPWLPHWRWLPH
This pipe feeds up the side of the tank As for the calmed inlet and
and into the inlet. The simplest way to ÁRDWLQJ RXWOHW VKRZQ LQ \RXU
HQVXUH WKH ÀUVW ÁXVK illustration, these seem
is diverted is to simply XQQHFHVVDU\ LI WKH ÀUVW ÁXVK
install a diversion valve
Letter is diverted, plus if you need
in the pipe as seen in the
of the to get into the tank to attach
H
MONT
picture of our tank. All I them they would be very
do is leave the valve open GLIÀFXOWWRLQVWDOO
so if there’s just a small Finally, I wouldn’t install
shower the water doesn’t the tank siphon the way
go into the tank — during it is shown — it looks very likely to
summer that’s most of the time. I keep drain the whole tank.
an eye on the weather forecast and Carey Hablous
after a bit of rain I go out and shut the Via email
valve. It sounds like a hassle but I don’t Thanks for your email, Carey.
ÀQG LW LV ,W·V MXVW SDUW RI EHLQJ DZDUH Most of the products mentioned can
of the weather. The same idea could be easily made by any DIYer — you
be used if it’s only one downpipe being don’t have to purchase the kits. The
tapped into. siphon will not empty your tank — it
Another tip is to make sure the waste has a hole to break the siphon once the
SLSHIURPWKHYDOYHLVDORRVHÀWVRLWFDQ water level gets to a normal level. The
Rainwater suggestions easily be removed and the cap of the real advantage of the siphon is simply
Having depended on rainwater for GLYHUVLRQÀWWLQJFDQEHXQVFUHZHG,GR to take advantage of the fact that you
many years I think there are better ways this from time to time to clean larger will have to spill water anyway, so why
to improve the quality of water captured bits of crap that block the outlet. This not use it to make sure that the waste
from a roof without buying a range of would not be necessary if a rain head or water comes from the base of the tank,
off-the-shelf products that cost quite a some sort of gutter guard is used, which where most of the sludge will be, not
bit of money (The Shed, Issue No. 77). is what I would have next time. from the fresh input? — Jude Woodside,
Normally, if it’s all of the roof water I would also put the diversion valve Technical Editor
Letter of the month

prize
Our winner this issue will receive a

state-of-the-art 8M Milwaukee tape
measure. These tape measures are
sturdy, built to last, and will give
many years of reliable service to
every busy sheddie.
Letters should be emailed to
editor@theshedmag.co.nz, or posted
to Editor, The Shed magazine,
PO Box 46020, Herne Bay,
Auckland 1147.

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Make a Damascus knife
S H A P I N G
Shea Stackhouse in his

workshop

S T E E L
A CUTLER DEMONSTRATES THE PROCESS OF
MAKING A DAMASCUS KNIFE
By Jude Woodside
Photographs: Jude Woodside

The heated billet ready to be worked
The billet of Damascus steel that The power hammer saves time when
Shea forged drawing out the hot steel
S
hea Stackhouse looks too young — a small one for knife making, and require much metal to make. The one
to be a cutler at only 25, yet he a larger one for Damascus steel and VKRZQÀQLVKHGKHUHSDJHZDVPDGH
has been making knives since he blacksmith work. He also made many of from a small billet sawn from a larger
was 16. Having been taught jewellery his own tools, including hammers. The piece of home-made Damascus.
and blacksmithing earlier in his advantage of owning a power hammer is
varied career, both of these skills have the ability to make tools easily. Let’s make a puukko knife
contributed to his current practice. Shea makes a variety of knife styles, When the billet is hot enough, turning a
He works from a small but relatively especially chef knives, but his favourite bright orange-red, Shea begins to work
spacious workshop in Wainuiomata, NQLIH SURÀOH LV D VPDOO XWLOLW\ NQLIH D it on the power hammer. The power
where he not only produces some traditional Finnish design known as a hammer isn’t strictly necessary for this
exemplary knives made with his own puukko. Of all the many elaborate knives sort of knife but it does make short work
Damascus steel but also runs weekend WKDWJHWPDGHLQKLVZRUNVKRSKHÀQGV of stretching the steel out. After several
day courses in his workshop teaching the most appreciated are cooking, utility, heatings and poundings from the power
knife making, Damascus steel making, and small hunting knives. hammer he turns to the anvil to shape
and even blacksmithing. Hunters don’t usually carry large and fashion the knife blade outline.
Rambo-type knives in New Zealand — On this occasion he is able to use a
The beauty of a small you are unlikely to encounter a bear in newly minted hammer that he has only
knife the woods, but a knife to skin a beast is MXVW ÀQLVKHG PDNLQJ IRU KLPVHOI 6KHD
Shea owns a very nice power hammer of value. OLNHV WR ÀOP KLV ZRUN DQG WKHUH LV D
that dominates the workshop; it is more The beauty of a small knife like this, video of him making this hammer on his
than 100 years old. He made his forges apart from its utility, is that it doesn’t YouTube channel, Stackhouse Knives.

The anvil and hammer are still necessary to
get the shape right
He also made many of

his own tools, including
hammers
Drawing out the tang
Above: Reheating the knife blank

Below: The knife taking shape from the hammer
With the hammer on the anvil he is material too much close to the shoulders.
able to form the shape of the blade. He “I like to keep a bit of meat around the
focuses on developing the tip — though shoulder,” he says. This is potentially
not making it too sharp, as that would the weakest part of the blade, where it is
cause the tip to overheat — and generally attached at the handle, and leaving more
forms the outline of the knife. As the steel here contributes to the strength of the
steel is hammered it tends to bend in one blade. It’s important to regularly clean the
direction and the knifemaker can use this scale from the knife as you progress — the
tendency to ‘draw out’ the steel into the last thing you want is to hammer the scale
SURÀOHKHZDQWV LQWRWKHNQLIHPHWDO,WLVYHU\GLIÀFXOWWR
With the blade nearly formed he turns remove later. It requires regular brushing
again to the power hammer to draw out with a wire brush.
the tang. This type of knife traditionally Once the knife is shaped to the right
has a long, tapered rat-tail tang, usually proportions it can be put back into the
attached to the pommel by tapping the now-cooling furnace to allow it to ‘soak’
end of the tang and screwing a through and relieve any stresses that the persistent
bolt to it, or peening it in the pommel. beating may have induced — in other
words, allowing the metal to relax or, in
Descaling as you go technical jargon, ‘normalize’. Normalizing
He works on the tang on the anvil too, WKH VWHHO UHVXOWV LQ D PRUH ÀQHJUDLQHG
EHLQJ FDUHIXO QRW WR ÁDWWHQ WKH EODGH homogeneous structure that is easier to

The knife blank with the bevels and
shoulders marked out
Grinding the shoulders to shape
Rough grinding the blade and shaping the

profile and the bevel
This is potentially the

weakest part of the blade,
where it is attached at
the handle
work and less likely to crack or warp. It forge. When the metal reaches its critical used engine oils because of the impurities
is allowed to cool in air so that it remains temperature — a bright orange-red — it DQGWKHLUWHQGHQF\WRFDWFKÀUH
annealed and soft for the initial grind can be quenched. Shea prefers to use soya
process. oil for quenching, but almost any oil will Austenitic steel
The shape of the bevels and the do. However he cautions against using Steel has a crystalline structure and
shoulders is drawn on the piece directly undergoes several changes when it is
ZLWK PDUNHU SHQ DQG WKH ÀUVW JULQG LV heated and cooled. Carbon steels have an
VWDUWHG6KHDOLNHVWRGHÀQHWKHVKRXOGHUV ‘austenitic’ temperature, the point at which
and rough out the bevel areas, beginning they are no longer magnetic. Stainless
to grind the blade to shape. He does steel is austenitic at room temperature
most of the preliminary work on a large so it is non-magnetic, but other steels
linisher using a new 60-grit ceramic belt. — including tool steels — require being
With the scale largely removed he marks heated to their critical temperature, which
out the shoulders with a straight edge is usually between 1050°C and 1090°C.
DQGVFULEHUDQGÀOHVWKHPWRWKHOLQH When austenitic steel is quenched the
structure changes to ‘martensite’, a very
Hardening the blade rigid crystalline structure that is also
At this point, with the outline of the knife very hard. However, being very hard it is
formed, it can be hardened. It is only the Cleaning up the shoulders for a sharp also brittle, so the steel must be tempered
blade itself that needs to be hardened so edge. This pays off later when the to allow the martensite to alter slightly so
bolster is fitted
the tang does not need to be placed in the that it becomes less brittle. It’s important

The rough-ground blade
Heating the blade for hardening
Quenching in oil Tempering the blade

Clockwise from top left: Grinding
the first of a succession of grinds;
the blade after successive grinds
up to 240 grit; the etched blade
showing the Damascus pattern
Far left: Etching in acid

Left: Cutting out the slot to fit
the tang
Below: Marking the position of the
tang for the first bolster
that the steel be allowed to cool to room EULJKW OLJKW VR LW·V EHVW WR GR WKLV LQ D RQWKHVKDUSHQGRIWKHEODGHDQGDOLJKW
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6KHD GULHV RII WKH RLO DQG EHJLQV EHWZHHQ & DQG & GHSHQGLQJ
WHPSHULQJDOPRVWLPPHGLDWHO\ RQWKHXVDJHRIWKHNQLIH Final grinds and polish
)RUH[DPSOHDNQLIHXVHGIRUFDPSLQJ 1RZFRPHVWKHPRUHIRFXVHGJULQGLQJ
Tempering for the knife’s WKDWZLOOQHHGWRZLWKVWDQGDJRRGGHDO UXQQLQJWKURXJKDUDQJHRIJULWVRQWKH
use RI URXJK KDQGOLQJ ZLWKRXW EUHDNLQJ VPDOOHU EHOW OLQLVKHU 6KHD VWDUWV ZLWK
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Marking the tang on the handle Peening the tang
cooled to ensure that overheating pattern is clear on the blade. The acid
doesn’t damage the temper. must then be neutralized in a baking-
7KH ÀQDO SDUW RI WKH SUHSDUDWLRQ LV VRGDVROXWLRQLPPHGLDWHO\DQGWKHNQLIH
hand-sanding the blade to achieve a the steel be allowed washed and dried.
high polish with 320 and 400 grits. He to cool to room
FODPSVWKHEODGHWRDSLHFHRIKDUGZRRG
WHPSHUDWXUH¿UVW The handle
and, using water as a lubricant, works The bolster is 6mm brass; the blade
down the blade at right angles to the is laid out on the brass material and
belt grinding marks to remove the last WKH ZLGWK RI WKH WDQJ DW WKH VKRXOGHUV
WUDFHVRIWKHEHOW to etch the steel to bring out the PDUNHG RII GLUHFWO\ RQ WKH EUDVV 7KH
Damascus pattern. Normally Shea opening is scribed onto the brass piece
Etching out the Damascus SUHIHUV D OLJKWHU DFLG OLNH FLWULF EXW LQ and it is centre-punched at either end
pattern WKHLQWHUHVWVRIWLPHKHUHKHUHVRUWVWR IRU PP KROHV WR EH ERUHG ZLWKLQ
With the blade polished it only remains K\GURFKORULF$IWHURQO\PLQXWHVWKH the opening. f
Rough-shaping the handle Shea likes to finish off by filing by hand

Charring the handle
This stage can involve a lot of drilling

DQG WHGLRXV ZRUN ZLWK ÀOHV WR JHW
the opening right. But Shea leans on
his jewellery experience and uses a
jeweller’s saw to cut the opening so that
it requires only a modicum of clean up
ZLWKÀOHV7KHÀQHMHZHOOHU·VVDZFDQEH
threaded through the holes and cuts the
VRIWEUDVVZLWKHDVH
Brushing off the loose char
7KH EROVWHU LV ÀWWHG DIWHU VRPH WULDO
DQG HUURU ,W LV LPSRUWDQW WKDW WKH ÀW LV
tight around the shoulders for aesthetic
reasons and to prevent dirt and water Final finishing

entering here. Further decoration is When the epoxy has set he peens the
SURYLGHG RQ WKH KDQGOH E\ D SLHFH RI end of the tang to hold the pommel in
coloured plastic shim; this too has to place and secure the handle. Now it
EH FXW DQG ÀWWHG 7KH KDQGOH LV MDUUDK only remains to shape the handle and
This knife, as mentioned previously, is polish the lot. Again the linisher is
inserted in a hole through the handle called into service to shape the handle
and held in place with epoxy, and the DQG WKH EUDVV EROVWHUV $ FHUDPLF EHOW
end is either tapped and screwed or makes short work of the shaping. When
peened in place over the pommel. KH LV VDWLVÀHG ZLWK WKH VKDSH RI WKH
7KH SRPPHO LV DOVR D SLHFH RI EUDVV KDQGOHKHÀQLVKHVWKHVKDSLQJE\KDQG
EXWLWUHTXLUHVRQO\DKROHERUHGWRWDNH ZLWKDÀOH
the tail of the tang and not a slot. Shea Shea likes the look of a charred
drills a slight countersink at the hole to KDQGOH +H XVHV KLV EORZWRUFK IRU
accommodate the spread steel of the the process. The charring can help to
peened tang. First he squares the ends KDUGHQ WKH KDQGOH EXW KH LV PDLQO\
of the handle with a large rasp, again doing it for effect, plus the light
WKLVLVDFULWLFDOVWHSWRHQVXUHDWLJKWÀW FKDUULQJ FRQWULEXWHV WR D EHWWHU JULS
DJDLQVWWKHEROVWHUV ,W·VLPSRUWDQWWRNHHSWKHÁDPHPRYLQJ
He marks the location of the tang on DQG QRW OHW WKH WRUFK EXUQ WRR GHHSO\
the side of the handle stock, and also into the handle stock. A polish of the
marks the opening and the end of the handle with some oil and the knife
WKURXJK ERUH 7KH ODUJHU HQG LV GULOOHG is done.
RXWÀUVWDQGWKHRWKHUHQGERUHGRXWZLWK
a smaller diameter drill. Once the hole is
FXWDQGWKHWDQJÀWV6KHDWDSHVRYHURQH
HQGDQGÀOOVWKHKROHZLWKTXLFNVHWWLQJ Shea Stackhouse has a website —
epoxy. He has found an epoxy that is stackhouseknives.co.nz — where he
ERWKUHOLDEOHDQGXQDIIHFWHGE\KHDWRU displays a gallery of his work and that
movement, having tested a few. With of his wife, Lena, who makes jewellery.
He also has a Facebook page and a
WKH EODGH LQ D YLFH WKH KDQGOH LV ÀWWHG
YouTube channel, Stackhouse Knives,
over the tang and the pommel and its
Finished knife with several videos of him at work.
associated plastic shim is attached.

Knife-making class
TEACHERS TAKE A BUSMAN’S HOLIDAY
FORGING AHEAD
K
nife making is undergoing a subjects in Auckland and Hawke’s Bay, them through the art of using a hammer
resurgence at present. It may be the respectively, but both are keen to come WR PRXOG KRW VWHHO 7KH\ ÀUVW IRUJH D
fact that it requires only a modicum to grips with the art of beating steel into
point on the knife blank, then, using the
RIHTXLSPHQW<RXRQO\UHDOO\QHHGDÀOH something useful. horn on the anvil, they create a curve
and gas torch. in the blade, all the while heating and
Of course the more elaborate the knives Easing into it reheating the steel.
you make, the more gear you will need, 6KHDJLYHVKLVVWXGHQWVDVDIHW\EULHÀQJ It looks easier than it is, and it takes
but this is one of those hobbies that can and then starts with the basics, guiding both participants some time to get
grow with you. Naturally, having a forge, comfortable with handling the red-hot
some sort of anvil — even if it is only steel with tongs and using a hammer
a lump of hard steel or a bit of railway DW WKH VDPH WLPH 7KH SRLQW RI WKH ÀUVW
line — a grinder, and a hammer will exercises is to get familiar with the tools.
extend your options and none of these Ben has had some previous experience
is particularly expensive. There are a with another knife maker and has tried a
number of knife-making classes springing few things at home without much success
up all over the country to cater to this — due mainly to not being able to get the
interest. Shea Stackhouse runs classes in steel hot enough. But as he heats and
basic knife making, making Damascus forges the steel, he is beginning to get a
steel, and blacksmithing through his feel for how it should be done. Meanwhile
website (stackhouseknives.co.nz). Sam forges on (pun intended). The men
The week after The Shed visited him draw out the point and create the drop
for our article on knife making, he held head on the drop-point hunter knives
a class for two enthusiastic teachers they are making. This is a full-tang knife,
taking advantage of the term break. Ben Reay mastering the hammer so it requires some work on the tang to
technique
Sam Dockery and Ben Reay teach science shape it into a useful form. f

Grinding the blade through the grits
Left: Ben Reay and Sam Dockery come to
grips with the art of forging knives
Above: Sam Dockery making a rough grind Graduation — the students show their work
This is one of those

hobbies that can
grow with you
Grinding and the handle

Once the basic shape is established it’s
time to start the rough grind. Then the
knives are heat-treated and tempered.
Tempering is a delicate operation and
Shea does this so they can get the idea
and see the subtle colour changes.
Once the knife blade is tempered the
students get the opportunity to practise
their grinding skills through successive
grits, learning to create bevels and keep
the grinds even.
With the knives ground it’s time to
tackle the handles. Holes are bored
though the handle to accommodate brass
pins. The handles are made from pieces
of Eucalyptus saligna (blue gum). The
handles are roughly cut to shape on a
bandsaw. Full-tang knives require scales VKDSHGRQWKHJULQGHUDJDLQDQGÀQLVKHG RIWKHLUÀUVWGD\PDNLQJNQLYHV
so the blanks must be split also on the by hand. The last stage is sharpening Shea’s classes take a full day but the
bandsaw. The scales are epoxied and the knives on a stone and honing on a price is inclusive of materials and the
pinned through the tang. After the glue steel and a leather strop, and then the participants leave with a knife of their
has had time to set, the scales can be participants have a long-lasting memento own making and a newfound passion.

NEED A
STRONG BOND
ON A TRICKY
SURFACE?
• Can be applied on
any surface
wet or dry*
• Suitable for
interior & exterior
• Strong bond on
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• Excellent weather
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*Not for PE, PP, PTFE, or permanent water immersion.
www.selleys.co.nz
Electronics
THE BBC MICRO BIT IS A

POWERFUL MICROCONTROLLER
PERFECT FOR HOME USE.
HERE WE LOOK AT MAKING A
SOIL HUMIDITY SENSOR
ALL IN ONE
B I T By Enrico Miglino
Photographs: Enrico Miglino
Above and
T
below: The two
he Micro Bit board is an incredible sides of the BBC
and powerful microcontroller device Micro Bit board
that is the perfect budget solution

to create home experiments for newbies
and hobbyists, as well as for developing
DGYDQFHG KRPH SURMHFWV ,Q RXU ÀUVW
project, we will look at how to make a soil
humidity sensor. To make the construction
easy, I have used some 3D-printed
components, however these are easily
replaced with common materials.
What is it?
The BBC Micro Bit is a board designed
for education, as well as the graphical • 16KB of RAM
programming language Blocks — • Bluetooth Low Energy (LE)
To make a comparison
something similar to the Scratch • a radio link to communicate with
ODQJXDJH³VSHFLÀFDOO\GHVLJQHGWRWHDFK radio-controlled toys and other with the popular
programming, microcontrollers, and Micro Bit boards Arduino Uno, imagine
robotics to children; for teaching STEM; • 25 individually programmable LEDs
it as a sort of all-
and for making robotics experiments. • two programmable buttons
Based on the ARM Cortex M0 • a triple-axis accelerometer and inclusive electronic
processor, the Micro Bit board includes inclinometer, motion sensor device replacing the
everything you need to start. To make • a digital compass Arduino and a bunch of
a comparison with the popular Arduino • a temperature sensor
Uno, imagine it as a sort of all-inclusive • a light sensor
Arduino Shields
electronic device replacing the Arduino • a USB connection
and a bunch of Arduino Shields. The • 25 easy-to-access I/O pins (analogue,
Micro Bit board consists of: digital, and pulse-width modulation online from the distributor Kitronik —
• a 32-bit microcontroller CPU running [PWM]). kitronik.co.uk/microbit.html — which
at 16MHz The BBC Micro Bit is available ships to New Zealand. f

The volunteer
plant used to see
the Micro Bit and
sensor in action in
the real world

The steps to building the soil humidity sensor.
First, the probes are 3D printed before
being covered with adhesive copper tape.
They are then inserted into the circuit box
and hot-glued to fix them in place and keep
them water-resistant. After soldering the
two resistors to the sensor cables, the box
is closed and hot-glued to prevent any dirt
and humidity from damaging the circuit. The
last step is crimping the crocodile clips to the
sensor cables
Taking care of plants

The humidity level is basic information
for any kind of plant watering system.
Depending on the kind of plants we are
growing, the terrain humidity is a good
indicator of the health status of the plant
and a helpful way to know when it is
time to water the soil. It would not be
GLIÀFXOWIRUWKLVVLPSOHSURMHFWWRHYROYH
into something more complex, including
checking the environment temperature
and the daylight intensity for the best
time to water the plant. By adding the
control of a water pump (the board can
support it) we can reach the next level
— an automated plant watering system.
,Q WKLV SURMHFW , KDYH XVHG WKUHH
GLIIHUHQW FRQWDLQHUV ÀOOHG ZLWK VRLO ³
respectively, wet, humid and dry — to set
up the sensor readings in all the possible
conditions. (When testing and calibrating
I used sand instead of soil as it is easier to
set as dry, humid, or wet.)

Components The build If we power the circuit, attaching
The only part requiring assembly is 7KH ÀUVW VWHS LV WKH FUHDWLRQ RI WKH the power (red) cable crocodile clip to
the sensor itself. Below is a list of humidity soil sensor. This build requires the 3V ring of the Micro Bit, the circuit
components to be used to assemble it, as some soldering and gluing. The board works. Keeping the sensor always
shown in the step-by-step images: will power the sensor, then the soil powered will drain a lot of battery
• the 3D-printed soil sensor case — resistance is read, comparing the value and we don’t really need a continuous
alternatively you can use a plastic box with the internal resistance of the reading to monitor the soil humidity
and a couple of wooden kebab skewers circuit. This circuit works in a similar OHYHO :KDW ZRXOG EH VXIÀFLHQW IRU
• some electric cable way to a potentiometer, where the example, would be a reading every
• copper adhesive tape — this can be variable resistance is read from the soil. ÀYHVHFRQGV
replaced by aluminium cooking foil After assembling the sensor, connect For this reason, we will connect the
• PΈUHVLVWRU it to the Micro Bit. Plug the GND (black) circuit power to ring two of the board.
• NΈUHVLVWRU cable crocodile clip to the GND ring of the Software will set up this pin as ‘digital
• three crocodile clips Micro Bit. Then plug the data (yellow) output’, powering the circuit only when
• a potted plant that will survive after cable crocodile clip to ring one of the it is needed, setting the pin value to 1.
the experiment. Micro Bit. Software will set up this pin This simple change drastically reduces
as an analogue input for signal reading. the power consumption. f
Below: Before setting the final programme

a test version is created to see the numeric
readings of the sensor in the three
experimental conditions — dry, humid,
and wet. The analogue values are read in
these three conditions, then used to set up
the final programme. Based on the numeric
values retrieved by the test programme, I
define a range of readings to identify the
three humidity soil conditions to monitor.
Depending on the humidity level of the soil
the Micro Bit displays an up arrow, indicating
too much water, or a down arrow, meaning it
is too dry
Dry
Humid Wet

Above: The Micro Bit web programming
environment. Some details on the
programme blocks:
(A) Block running once when the programme
starts. It creates an array of messages shown
in the various conditions of the programme
and sets the reading value ranges
corresponding to the humidity levels
(B) Event generated when button B is
pressed: shows a graph on the LED matrix
corresponding to the numeric soil humidity
reading. Converts the analogue value to
a graph
(C) Event generated when button A is
pressed: a short text message scrolls past
depending on the soil humidity reading
(D) Background activity: periodically reads
the sensor value and displays an arrow
showing instantly if the humidity level is
high or low
The software
Now it is time to programme the
board. One of the most interesting
characteristics of the Micro Bit is
how easily it is to programme. Here
you could consider using Blocks, the
graphical language, but the Micro Bit Simple schematic of
also supports JavaScript and Python. the circuit and wiring
design of the soil
Blocks programming hides behind the humidity sensor
corresponding JavaScript source code.
It is possible to switch between the two
versions of the same source — Blocks and To start writing down the code blocks, what happens step by step.
JavaScript — with a one-click command. you should go to the https://makecode. The corresponding JavaScript
This is a good way to learn the logic of a microbit.org site. The web programming source of this experiment and more
more complex programming language. interface includes the main area where detailed information on the software
Programming is easy — you don’t need you put the blocks, a left-side column logic can be found at the GitHub
to install any development environment; with all the available standard blocks repository: https://alicemirror.github.io/
you only need the browser. The board organized by features, and a simulator — SoilMoistureSensor_microbit/, and you
can be programmed with a PC, tablet, a small graphical Micro Bit design that FDQÀQGPRUHRQWKH0LFUR%LWERDUGDW
iPad, etc. instantly runs the code you write to see WKHRIÀFLDOVLWHKWWSPLFURELWRUJ

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Woodworking
Smart sound
solution

1
1. A drill press fitted with
a 40mm diameter, carbide-
toothed, Forstner-style bit was
perfect for the job. This gave
a smooth and clean hole that
required minimal clean-up
2. Three pieces of wood
prepared and ready to glue up
TURN UP THE VOLUME

WITH THESE SIMPLE TO
MAKE LOW-TECH PHONE
SPEAKERS
By Raf Nathan
Photographs: Raf Nathan 2
S
martphone speakers are a great according to the phone model you
small project for woodworkers. have. At the bottom of the cradle is
In theory this
Basically a simple sound box a slot to carry the sound into a larger
DPSOLÀHV \RXU SKRQH DQG EHFRPHV should have given hole which is the speaker.
a desktop speaker, without batteries an improved sound 7KH ÀUVW WZR GHVLJQV WKDW , PDGH
or wires. You can expect a surprising quality but actually, were glued-up boxes that, interestingly,
boost to volume and sound quality. were not as good at amplifying as the
There are a number of designs
to my ears, it made third design, which uses a drilled-out
that pop up on the internet, as it is OLWWOHGL̆HUHQFH solid square section of wood.
not a new concept by any means. Designs one and two use three
I made four design variations for pieces of wood — the backing board,
this project. or cradle, to drop into that is about a centre board with a cradle to house
The phone needs a relieved section, 20mm deep. You will have to measure the phone, and a front soundboard. f

3 4
Clarity of sound
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VRPHGHWDLOV
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3. The three pieces all

glued up
4. Design three has the
same 40mm diameter main
speaker hole. A 9.5mm
Forstner bit was used for
the cradle drilling. Using
the same settings on
the drill press, a smaller
6mm drill bit created the
sound slot
5. Design three, almost
finished
6. A bevel was added using
5 6 a laminate trimmer and a
45-degree cutter

7. After finalising the
design, I made a small
batch of speakers
from she-oak and
leatherwood. For
efficiency and safety
I left the wood long
when machining and
cut the individual boxes
to final size last. A
five-degree angle was
sawn into the front and
the main speaker holes
were then drilled, also
at five degrees to the
face. The phone cradle
was routed out with a
plunge trimmer. With all
machining completed,
the speakers were then
sawn off
7
The resulting batch of phone

speakers in the variations
described

WORTH $2239
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Glassmaking
Caught — a brass and glass sculpture
A WHANGANUI GLASS ARTIST SHARES HER

PASSION FOR A VERSATILE MEDIUM THROUGH
WORKSHOPS AND EXHIBITIONS
By Helen Frances
Photographs: Tracey Grant
P
arts of Carmen Simmonds’ cast- DQG WRROV KRXUV RI PRGHOOLQJ ÀULQJ
glass studio glow with the ethereal, grinding, sanding, and cutting.
often surreal, treasures that emerge But this studio is also a home. Carmen and
from their creator’s imagination and her husband Glen live at her work studio —
the searing heat of her kiln. Radiantly a 100m2 shed on their 8.5-hectare lifestyle
coloured dolls’ heads, glass lace and block in Brunswick, Whanganui. The shed
crochet, headless dancing dresses, ballet was originally intended as Carmen’s full-
VKRHVOLOLHVLQPLONERWWOHVÁRZHUVDQG time studio but when they sold their house
other organic forms are at once beautiful in town they had nowhere else to live, so
and disturbing. they moved into the shed “to camp for a
Then there is the other side — the while” and have stayed, still temporarily,
Lace teapot
chemistry and chemicals, machinery, for eight years. f

Carmen holding
The Decision — the head
opens to reveal words
inscribed with a Dremel

Sanding ...
and machinery rather than buying more

expensive glassmaking equipment.
Tools, machines, and

materials
Carmen sources worn dental instruments
from her dentist and has adapted machines
VXFK DV D ZHWEHOW ÀQLVKHU IURP D JODVV
Please Do Not Throw Me
Out — entered into the factory; a wallpaper steamer to melt the
2018 Sarjeant Gallery wax out from the plaster mould; Dremel;
Te Whare O Rehua VDQGEODVWHUOLQLVKHUFRPSUHVVRUÁDWEHG
Whanganui Arts Review
diamond grinder — an air-driven cut-
RII WRRO PRGLÀHG ZLWK D GLDPRQG EODGH
drills; and crockpot to melt wax, or frypan
for small amounts. The tools all have
diamond drills and blades.
It’s a medium people like. Glass is very alluring and “Being a Kiwi you do tend to do the
number-eight wire thing,” Carmen says.
you can do anything with it. “I realized that when I went to overseas
conferences; they have all the machinery
and tools, whereas we have adapted
Another, architect-designed shed house glass and photography while studying things and made them work for us. So it is
is in the planning stages and will be built for a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the totally doable. For example, I have an auto
on their property further down the road. Universal College of Learning (UCOL) parts washer and I recycle water through
“It’s actually really comfortable living and went on to do a Master of Art and it when I use the Dremel if I have to cut or
here,” Carmen says. “I can get up in Design at the Auckland University of drill the glass, because you always need
the morning — because we have the Technology (AUT). ZDWHU,WDFWVDVDFRQVWDQWO\ÁRZLQJWDS
bedroom, lounge, and kitchen all in one She has been very successful in her I also have a cut-off tool I got from Super
room — take three steps in my dressing career; her glass work is exhibited within Cheap Auto and instead of having a steel
gown and slippers into my studio, and New Zealand and internationally and has blade on it to cut off metal I have adapted
start working. Quite often I have to been bought by collectors in New Zealand, it for a diamond blade so I can cut off
get up in the night to check my kiln, Australia, the UK, and the US. chunks or things I don’t like on the piece.”
so everything is handy. It’s going to be “It’s a medium people like. Glass is Two three-phase electric kilns
so inconvenient to have to walk up the very alluring and you can do anything represent considerable investments,
paddock to here.” with it,” she says. and she can cast anything from very
Core cast glass, where a shell of small objects up to 20-plus-kilogram
Love of glass glass is created, is her preferred way of sculptures. There is a separate kiln room
Carmen has a science background working, and she also makes open cast because of the toxic fumes, and a cold
and worked as a lab technician doing or solid glass objects. An experimenter working area. Her studio space occupies
quality control. She discovered a love of from way back, she likes to adapt tools one-third of the building at present.

... and sandblasting
Above: Nick, Carmen, and another workshop participant refining wax

moulds using worn dental instruments
Working with colour “People use Steinlager bottles and they

When she started out, Carmen used work reasonably well but you have to
salvaged glass, which is an option for heat it quite hot to make it run into the
beginners: “I couldn’t afford to buy glass, moulds. You work with whatever colour
so I smashed up car windscreens, house the glass is.”
window glass — anything that wasn’t She uses materials from Gaffer Glass,
laminated that you could smash up into a company that was originally formed in
small bits. But unfortunately when you New Zealand and provides glass in many
cast some of that glass it can come out colours.
a bit cloudy. “In my workshops I get students to
The CoLab inaugural glass artists’

conference, 15–17 February 2019
Nick sanding the bottom of a shot glass
to make it level
Carmen is President of the several days,” she says.
Below: Checking the shot glasses are level New Zealand Society of Artists in On Thursday, 14 February, the day
before the next process, making the plaster
mould around the wax Glass (NZSAG). The CoLab, the first before the conference begins, several
joint international conference, when Whanganui-based glass artists
the New Zealand Society of Artists in will open their studios to visitors,
Glass will combine with its Australian which Carmen says will be “great
counterpart, Ausglass, will be held in opportunities to meet hosts in their
February 2019 in Whanganui. natural environment and see their
“There will be glass artists from lots studios and artistry first hand.”
of different cultures around the world Visit colabconference.com/ for more
and lots of activities. We want to show information.
people what you can do with glass,”
Carmen says.
During the three-day event, exhibitions
will be open to the public and a wood-
fired beach furnace, a centuries-old
glassmaking tradition, is planned on
Castlecliff Beach.
“It’s a traditional way of making a
furnace using driftwood under a dome
in the sand and will be heated up over

“When I came
to Whanganui I
discovered it was the
centre of glassmaking
in New Zealand”
All dressed up
Carmen took the wearable art dress
she made in 2016, Wedding in Paradise,
to Corning, New York, with funding
support from Creative New Zealand. It
was part of the Glass Art Society Glass
Fashion Show, with more than 100
other international artists. The dress,
which is made from cast-glass ferns,
flax flowers, weta, huhu bugs, and
pohutukawa seeds sewn on fibre-optic
fabric, and vintage materials, copper
wire and aluminium, weighs 10kg.
She has also collaborated with other
artists in multimedia projects.
In 2010, for a Sarjeant Gallery Arts
Review, Carmen and Whanganui
weaver Leonie Sharp created a full-sized
cast-glass and feather sculptural dress
Using a peeling knife to gently remove the plaster mould from around the glass entitled Those Who Should Venture.
after kiln firing “A woman had to be bolted in
and model it walking around the
work out the colours as though they are DQG DQRWKHU SHUVRQ FDVW D IXOOVL]HG Sarjeant Gallery,” Carmen says.
painting a watercolour so they can create UHSOLFDRIKLVIDWKHU·VKHDGµ&DUPHQVD\V The work stands in the Whanganui
DÁRZµVKHVD\V´<RXFDQ·WUHDOO\SUHGLFW 7KH ZRUNVKRSV SURYLGH DOO PDWHULDOV i-Site and represents the pioneering
KRZ LW·V JRLQJ WR WXUQ RXW EXW \RX FDQ LQFOXGLQJJODVVDQGXVHRIWKHWRROVDQG women of the Whanganui region
JLYH LW D JRRG VKRW E\ SODFLQJ FRORXUHG PDFKLQHU\DQGIRUDVPDOOFKDUJHWKHUH and the title is based on an 1860s
JODVV LQ FHUWDLQ SDUWV RI WKH PRXOG DQG DUH WZR EHGURRPV IRU KLUH LQ DQRWKHU advertisement in a British newspaper
PDNLQJVXUHLWÁRZVLQWKHULJKWZD\µ VKHG DQQH[H 6KH UXQV D FRXUVH HYHU\ asking for women to come to
PRQWK New Zealand.
Glass workshops Workshop participants are mainly Carmen made the glass bodice,
Carmen has taught workshops for many ZRPHQEXWVKHVD\VWKDWPHQDUHVWDUWLQJ decorated with lace kowhai flowers
\HDUVERWKIRUEHJLQQHUVDQGWKRVHZLWK WR JHW LQWHUHVWHG QRZ WRR 7KH JHQGHU and fern fronds. The bodice is symbolic
VRPH H[SHULHQFH 6KH WHDFKHV PDLQO\ GLIIHUHQFHVDUHFRPSOHPHQWDU\ of the settler women’s fragility and
KROORZIRUPFRUHFDVWLQJ ´0HQ DVN WKH WHFKQLFDO TXHVWLRQV strength; the woven skirt represents
´,Q WZR GD\V SHRSOH OHDUQ ZKDW WKH\ ¶$QQHDOLQJ· LV WKH FRROLQJ SDUW RI WKH the flora of the region — grasses and
FRXOGWDNHVL[PRQWKVWROHDUQDQGWKH\ process so men will ask what the machines seeds — and the natural environment
RIWHQUHWXUQWRFRQVROLGDWH*ODVVFDVWLQJ DUHXVHGIRUDQGKRZ\RXÀQLVKWKHSLHFHV from mountain to sea.
FDQEHDSSOLHGWRPDQ\DUHDV$EUHZHU RII7KHZRPHQWHQGWREH¶2KP\*RG Carmen also worked on a project for
ZDQWHG JODVV KDQGOHV IRU KLV EHHU WDSV ORRNDWWKHSUHWW\FRORXUV·7KHJX\VDUH the Whanganui Memorial Centre with
DQG RWKHU SHRSOH KDYH RUGHUHG JODVV IDU PRUH SURFHVV RULHQWHG DQG SUDFWLFDO artists Jim Dennison and Dean Flavell
ÀJXULQHV IRU WKH IURQW RI WKHLU FDUV $ ,W·VQLFHWRJHWDJX\DQGDJDOEHFDXVH\RX and created a cast-glass column
EURQ]H FDVWHU PDGH VFXOSWXUDO ÀJXULQHV JHWWZRGLIIHUHQWZD\VRIWKLQNLQJµf commemorating the Anzacs.

Those Who Should Wedding in Paradise
Venture
Close-up of fern detail with

the fibre-optic fabric

How to make a basic cast-glass object
Silicone is spread onto an object to create a mould, then wax is poured over the mould to
create an impression. This is then attached to a larger object using a warm implement to
refine the wax
soapy water if needed. It is now ready to
be used, many times. The next process
will use wax.
Making wax moulds for

lost-wax casting: Nick’s shot
glasses
Use microcrystalline modelling waxes
to make the form. These waxes are easy
to work and burn out cleanly at a low
temperature without catching fire.
Nick made three shot glasses. Here is the
process he followed:
1. Melt wax in a crockpot (you won’t
be cooking stew in it again) to a
temperature of around 80°C.
2. Fill two small balloons with water —
Silicone rubber moulds: Using silicone rubber water-bomb style — to the size you
decorative, textural objects Apply silicone rubber (e.g., Ados RTV want your form to be. One will be the
Ahead of time prepare embellishments Acetic Cure silicone from Mitre 10) to base and the other the top.
with which to decorate the main form. your object’s surface with a caulking gun. 3. Dip around two-thirds of the balloon
Decorations can be anything that “I do it on magazine glossies like in wax. Remove and allow the wax
appeals. Organic materials work well — New Zealand Woman’s Weekly, because to harden and cool down — you can
leaves, flowers, bark, seeds, or materials it peels off easily,” Carmen says. Pipe the
such as lace, buttons, jewellery, etc. silicone on in overlapping runs to avoid
air bubbles. You can also squirt it into
Resists soapy water (which stops it sticking),
To avoid sticking, and depending on take it out with your fingers, and apply.
the material, apply either spray-on Alternatively, you can wet your fingers
polyurethane, which protects porous with detergent and water, then spread
objects and stiffens soft, delicate the silicone gently and evenly over the
materials such as lace, or Vaseline, textured surface. Take care not to trap
applied with a paintbrush or your air under the surface. Make the silicone
fingers. This stops the silicone sticking to rubber mould 1cm thick.
metals, plastic, and glass. Leave 12–24 hours to cure.
Detergent solution can be used to keep Once cured the silicone can be peeled Dipping a water-filled balloon into wax to
create a form
fabric or paper materials moist. off the form. Clean the interior with

also dip it in water. Repeat the process all the textures, so it needs to be sound.
about seven times to create a ‘slip’, These are the ‘core moulds’ and they
or ‘shell’. have an internal and external surface.
4. Pop the balloon with a Stanley knife or The base, or ‘sprue’, which is the other cup
pull it out. form, is solid. That is where the glass will
5. Join the two balloon shapes at the go in through a feed. The glass pieces sit
apex of the curve to make top and in the top and melt down into the sprue
bottom, and anchor with wooden then in and around the bottom cup form. Steaming the wax out of the moulds to
create the cavity for the glass to flow into
skewers or toothpicks, which will burn Allow the refractory to cure for 24 hours
away in the kiln. Then add more wax to reach maximum strength.
(a thin sausage) around the middle Losing the wax, or ‘cire
and smooth it out using small metal perdue’
instruments, such as a spoon or knife, Make sure the steamer heats up the
ground to a shape that suits you, and mould from bottom to top, so that it is
heat over an alcohol burner flame. too hot to touch. Steam out the wax.
6. Add on any premade decorations. “You don’t want any wax left in it as
(Nick used berry moulds on one and, it makes marks on the glass,” Carmen
on another, a latticework of flax on cautions. “We want a clean surface. The
the outside with a flower shape in the wallpaper steamer is gentle.”
bottom of the glass.) The process begins with a positive, goes
The goblet forms can be sculptural pieces to a negative, then back to a positive.
or functional. “Ideally once the mould has been
steamed out, leave it long enough to dry
Refractory mould Applying the first coat of plaster using a (a week or more) before putting it in the
paintbrush to ensure all the detailing is kiln,” she says. “Moisture from the mould
When the wax mould is finished, make, picked up. A mask guards against toxic
or ‘invest it with’ the refractory mould. fumes can rust the kiln. But I don’t have time
Make the refractory mix with a 1:1:1 ratio when running the weekend workshops.”
Building plaster around the object, making
of water (to mix), plaster (to hold the sure it is evenly coated
form), and silica (to stop it breaking up in
the kiln).
Use clean water and allow the plaster
to ‘slake’ for two–three minutes before
mixing. Gently stir without making air
bubbles. The mix is like whipped cream.
Next, with your hands, mould the plaster
around the piece. Do lots of layers — in
the kiln, if one layer goes, the next will
hold it. The internal layer around the wax
is the important one because it catches
Many colours of glass are available from

suppliers
Glass
Work out how much glass you will need.
Carmen uses the water-displacement
method: First mark the water level on
a jug. Pour water into the mould up to
the level you want the glass. Next, tip
the water out of the mould and see the
difference between the mark on the jug
and the water level, then put glass into
The balloon is popped and the jug to make it up to that level.
extracted before adding details
Continued ...

How to make a basic cast-glass object (cont.)
certain way,” Carmen says. “There are

Removing the blocks from lots of things you can do when glass is
the hot kiln molten as long as the refractory mould
is good with no cracks. It’s quite fun but
you can’t be scared of heat.”
Removing the mould

Take the mould off carefully. Be gentle;
pick away with a blunt peeling knife,
always mindful of where the glass sits.
“Pretend you are an archaeologist, and
don’t chuck it in water because the
plaster can expand and crack glass,”
she says.
Use a toothpick and toothbrush to clean
away the plaster.
Finishing
Carmen uses various machines to refine
the glass object and “sort out any
problems”. The wet-belt linisher does
soft edges and the diamond flatbed
levels the flat base of the shot glasses.
Nick smoothed off rough bits around the
rim using the Dremel and then air-dried
time of the glass manufacturer, which
Kiln firing his shot glasses before avsandblasting.
lets the mould and the glass cool at The sandblaster creates tiny, even pits in
The firing process is very technical and
the same time. Then cool through the surface of the glass with a mixture
has to be followed step by step according
several stress points until it reaches of air and garnet. Once that is done the
to a schedule. If you don’t have a kiln,
room temperature. It can take days or glass can be put into acid, which eats
Carmen reckons sheddies could do
weeks. You need to work it out logically into the fine holes.
90 per cent of the glass-casting process
according to how thick the glass is.” “Sometimes I use sugar acid, which
themselves and take the object to a kiln
The workshop students’ objects are gives a durable satin finish,” says
for firing — you can take your objects to
usually ready after four days. Carmen. “Otherwise I squirt the piece
a facility that hires out kilns, or you could
“I try out lots of different things. I put with silicone once it is sandblasted. This
ask a glass artist to do it for you.
on my firefighter’s outfit and I’m in there protects and gives a nice sheen. You
Carmen heats up the kiln slowly to
with my gloves at 800°C putting glass have to wear long gloves and a mask
let the mould dry out, then holds it at
in and taking pots out with different when working with sugar acid, and be
800°C to let the glass run in and the air
reservoirs if I’m trying to mix glass in a fully covered as it is quite toxic.”
come out. During the firing process, the
glass melts down through the hole in
the base of flower-pot reservoir — which
is placed on top of blocks sitting on top
of the plaster mould — into the mould,
filling the empty cavity left by the wax.
“Hold for a few hours then crash the
kiln, cooling it fast to stop the glass
flowing. Then crash it down again
to the annealing temperature during
which all the particles of glass slow
down and lock into position so you
don’t get any cracks,” she says. “If
you don’t anneal properly, you’ll get Small pieces of plaster are removed
cracks in the glass. Hold at annealing from the glass in the sandblasting
Wet-belt linisher machine
temperature for the recommended

Running water and a Dremel
remove imperfections around
the rim
Nick Price’s shot-glass forms ready

for finishing
Blokes making dresses had brought animal-making balloons to

A while back, several men attended a create different shapes, then decided to
“I put on my course and she gave them one of her go with the oval shot-glass forms.
¿UH¿JKWHU¶VRXW¿WDQG dresses as a project to render in glass. “The most challenging part is coming
“They had to rearrange the dress into up with artistic ideas, designs, and
,¶PLQWKHUHZLWKP\ SDWWHUQVµKHVD\V
something of their own creation — like
JORYHVDW&´ D ÀJXULQHµ &DUPHQ H[SODLQV ´,W ZDV D &DUPHQKDVDZHEVLWHDWZKLFK\RXFDQ
challenge but they were thinking about ÀQGRXWPRUHFDUPHQVLPPRQGVFRP
how their partners would like it. Some have
gone on to making glass a big part of their
Carmen opens the kiln lid OLIHQRZ,JRWWKHPWRFKRSXSWKHLUZD[
to check the glass firing
impressions of the dress and put it back
together again in glass in a way [that] they
thought was interesting, using different
colours. As part of the process they made
WKHLURZQVPDOOVLOLFRQHPRXOGVµ
Nick Price, a British ophthalmologist on
a short-term contract in Whanganui, was
GRLQJKLVVHFRQGZRUNVKRSZLWK&DUPHQ
´:KHQ , FDPH WR :KDQJDQXL ,
discovered it was the centre of glassmaking
LQ 1HZ =HDODQGµ 1LFN VD\V ´, ORYH WKH
JODVVPDNLQJ SURFHVV DQG ,·P SODQQLQJ
to set up a little glassmaking studio back
KRPH,·OOJHWP\RZQNLOQDQGNLWµ
Nick uses the air compressor to remove
Nick made four shot glasses, which particles of plaster from his work
he decorated with organic forms. He

Home renovation
Installing
a kitchen
FROM PLANNING TO FINISH,
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
FLAT-PACK KITCHENS
By Lachlan Jones
3KRWRJUDSKV$GDP&UR\DQG*DU\+DW¿HOG
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itchens are the heart of a house, What is a flat-pack
the control room around which kitchen?
everything revolves and a room Flat-pack kitchens are mass-produced
that gets a lot of use, more so than any PRGXODU NLWFKHQV WKDW FDQ ÀW D
other. It’s also a workplace where meals number of different-sized homes and
are prepared and often consumed. It’s a kitchens within a range of budgets
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Kitchen styles are constantly changing from the fact that the kitchens are
and traditionally there has been a trade- generally manufactured in bulk, then
off between functionality and design the required pieces are sent to be
within a set budget. assembled and installed on-site by a
How do you integrate oven, hob, fridge, builder; kitchen installer; or, in some
sink, pantry, and all the implements FRQÀGHQW FDVHV WKH KRPHRZQHU
WKDWJURZWRÀOOWKHVSDFHDYDLODEOHDQG sheddie.
still have the stylish environment you 7KHÁDWSDFNNLWFKHQPHDQVDORWOHVV
want? Flat-pack kitchens are a viable mucking about on-site and is a uniform
option in terms of cost and quality, as product that can be put together in no
ZHOODVFRQÀJXUDWLRQIRUHYHU\NLWFKHQ time (by someone with the patience
size and type. and know-how). f

Our completed, installed flat-pack
kitchen, just waiting for the bench top to
finish the job off

The old existing
kitchen was dated
and darkened by the
ceiling-hung units
Below left: Work begins on

stripping the old kitchen. It
pays to completely redecorate
before the installation of the
new kitchen

Above and below: The cabinetry for
this install was assembled on-site, but
sometimes off-site is a good option
7KHÀDWSDFNNLWFKHQPHDQVDORWOHVVPXFNLQJ
DERXWRQVLWH
Flat-pack kitchens have made their jigsaw-puzzle piece available to complete

mark on the Kiwi construction and any space.
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favourite, having bypassed their previous The project — the old
cheap-and-cheerful reputation. They now kitchen
offer better quality, plenty of options, and The old kitchen was dark and rather worn
more palatable pricing than ever before. out. As the main route into the house, there
The kitchen used in this project is was a feeling of being disjointed from the
from New Zealand kitchen manufacturer rest of the house. There was a lack of
Peter Hay Kitchens (peterhay.co.nz). DQ\ ÁRZ LQWR WKH OLYLQJ URRP DV D KLJK
Once our homeowners had chosen the unit above the bench blocked the kitchen
components off the shelf, so to speak, from the living room. The decor was a bit
WKH ÁDW SDFNV ZHUH GHOLYHUHG RQVLWH dated, too. The owners had embarked on a
WR EH LQVWDOOHG E\ *DU\ +DWÀHOG IURP project to renovate the entire home, from
+RPH 6NLOOV 7KH ÁDWSDFN NLWFKHQ the bathroom to the bedrooms, including
components have all that a purchaser QHZ OLJKWLQJ QHZ ÁRRUV QHZ FDUSHWLQJ
could want in terms of size and shape throughout, as well as the updated
³ HYHQ FRPSRQHQWV IRU ÀOOLQJ LQ WKDW kitchen. This included all new appliances,
awkward small leftover gap that you which meant that the home owners were
have no idea what to do with. There is a able to start from scratch. f

Demolition
While the cabinetry was being assembled
for our project kitchen, the demolition of
the old kitchen was getting underway.
'UDZHUVDQGGRRUVZHUHUHPRYHGÀUVWWR
allow the plumber to disconnect the taps
to the sink and dishwasher. The electrician
arrived shortly after to disconnect
and make safe the connections for the
oven, hob, and various power points.
Then the appliances were removed and
the benches and the rest of the kitchen
cleared to make way for the plasterer,
who needed to repair the hole where the
oven tower had stood and the ceiling
ZKHUHWKHÁRRUWRFHLOLQJFXSERDUGKDG
once been. The old linoleum was lifted.
Design
Kitchen installer Gary visited the
owners of the home and spent some
time with them, measuring up the space
and discussing their requirements.
At this early stage it’s very useful to
know what appliances will be needed
and it’s important to have the actual
dimensions. There are regulations and
PDQXIDFWXUHUV· VSHFLÀFDWLRQV DURXQG
the placement of refrigerators. Failure to
accommodate them can lead to failure
of the appliance and a voided warranty.
Fridges need space to circulate air or
they will overheat. There are rules about space around
Ovens too require some thought over concept drawings and pricing, a deposit electrical appliances. Failure to comply
can void warranties
placement. When ovens are in a tall unit is paid and the manufacturing begins.
with the oven at bench level, there is a
regulation about how far the oven has to Computer-aided
be off the ground. Most kitchen manufacturing is done
2QFHWKHSODQLVÀQDOL]HGWKHNLWFKHQ in large factories by computer-aided
GHVLJQHUFDELQHWPDNHUZLOOGUDZDÁRRU manufacturing. Computer-controlled
plan and elevation, which will show machines cut, shape, and pre-drill the There are regulations
where all the cupboards, appliances, parts for later assembly. This makes the
and manufacturers’
and bench top will go. This is then turnaround faster and the production far
WUDQVODWHG LQWR D FRPSXWHUL]HG GUDZLQJ cheaper overall. VSHFL¿FDWLRQVDURXQG
that generates a 3D illustration so that If the kitchen is well planned and the placement of
WKHFOLHQWVFDQYLVXDOL]HZKDWWKH\KDYH coordinated with the other trades, the refrigerators
SODQQHG $W WKLV VWDJH ÀQDO GHWDLOV FDQ standard time for completion is around
EH GHFLGHG RQ DQG PRGLÀFDWLRQV PDGH a week. Once the kitchen cabinetry is
)URPWKLVSODQDÀ[HGSULFHLVQHJRWLDWHG LQVWDOOHG WKHQ ÁRRULQJ DQG VSODVKEDFN
Once the homeowners are happy with the templating can occur. f

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Schematics

allow the installer the chance to scribe
If the kitchen is WKHEHQFKWRÀWWKHYDULDWLRQVLQWKHZDOO
Often the wall can undulate very slightly
well planned and but just enough to be obvious when you
coordinated with put a large straight edge like a bench
the other trades, the against it. It’s those unsightly gaps that
the scribing corrects.
standard time for
completion is around Materials
CAD drawings are done during the a week Most kitchens are constructed from MDF
planning stage. From these drawings, with a veneer covering, frequently a
the correct modular parts can be
ordered. The value of good plans and pressure-laminated one like melamine,
planning cannot be overstated which goes by a number of different
Once the kitchen is cut and edged it brand names. During the 1980s and
must be assembled into its component 1990s, it was common to see kitchens
units. This can be done on-site but it is constructed from particle board. You can
often better for the joiner or cabinet still get kitchens manufactured in this
maker to do so off-site and then deliver material at the low end of the market. It
the units ready-built. It’s also a chance to has a number of drawbacks, principally
check that the parts are correct and will that the material lacks density, meaning
join together as they should. that it has less holding power for screws
At the same time as the sides, doors, and other components.
and drawers are being made, the chosen You can often see older kitchens in
bench top is being created in another which the doors, hinges, and all have
factory. parted from the cabinets. This is usually
As we all know, particularly in older due to the particle-board cores. MDF is
properties, very few walls are square. denser and now comes in a moisture-
Over time walls can move and shift resistant version especially useful for
out of plumb. So bench tops are always NLWFKHQV ,W QHHGV WR EH VSHFLÀHG ZKHQ
ordered larger than required. This is to ordering the kitchen. f
Maximizing storage space is key

when renovating a kitchen

Flat-pack kitchens these days use robust
hinges and MDF board for increased
strength. Cabinet legs can be adjusted up to
10cm in height
Cabinets bespoke cabinets for corners, small areas,

Cabinet joinery, especially what you don’t and skinny recesses.
see, is important. A cupboard or cabinet Benches and cabinets can be sprayed
made from a light material might need to with lacquer. Generally for kitchen use,
have a batten across the back for support. paints will have to be two-pot lacquers or
When there is a solid back, you can HSR[\EDVHGDQGWKLVLVVSUD\HGGLUHFWO\
screw it wherever you like. The installer over a moisture-resistant MDF substrate.
putting the kitchen in need not stress out
DERXW ZKHUH WKH QRJV DUH 7KH\ FDQ À[ Drawers
the cabinet anywhere and into anything Drawers ain’t drawers anymore.
because they are not restricted by a thin Nowadays they are ‘systems’ that
3–6mm MDF back. If you screw through integrate with other hardware such as
a thin back, it bows and your cabinet can hinges and slides. Most modern drawers
pull away from the wall, so you need to are made with manufactured sides of
SXWH[WUDVXSSRUWLQRUH[WUDQRJV powder-coated steel that are screwed
The likes of Peter Hay Kitchens offer to the base and have the drawer front

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Soft-close drawers are now a common feature in modern kitchens.
Ensuring straight lines when installing will keep the soft-close
drawers on track. It pays to choose quality drawer runners
clipped on. Be aware that some drawer

systems may be made of plastic.
It pays to invest in The powder-coated steel sides
high-quality drawer incorporate part of the slide mechanism.
The systems allow for some adjustment
hardware — it will
WR DFKLHYH WKDW SHUIHFW ÀW 7KHUH DUH
keep paying for itself many styles and an equally wide variety
for decades of prices for drawers, which may be full
extension, self-closing, or soft closing.
These are the parts that get the most
ZHDU DQG DUH RIWHQ WKH ÀUVW WR IDLO ,W
pays to invest in high-quality drawer
hardware — it will keep paying for
LWVHOI IRU GHFDGHV 3RRUTXDOLW\ ÀWWLQJV
will inevitably result in problems and
UHJUHWV ,W SD\V WR JHW LW ULJKW EHFDXVH
UHWURÀWWLQJ KDUGZDUH VXFK DV GUDZHU install it. The installation can be tricky,
UXQQHUVLVGLIÀFXOWDQG¶GLIÀFXOW·XVXDOO\ so ensure that you or your installer reads
means expensive. and re-reads the instructions.
Talk to your cabinetmaker and listen
to their recommendations. They have to Stone tops
stake their reputation on your furniture Stone tops such as granite, marble, and
DQGWKH\GRQ·WZDQWLWWRIDLO'UDZHUVLQ even polished concrete are very popular
kitchens especially often have to carry DQG WKH\ SUHVHQW DQRWKHU GLIÀFXOW\ ,W
very heavy loads and that means they LVQ·W SUDFWLFDO WR VFULEH D JUDQLWH WRS WR
need slides that can bear that load. size, so these tops are usually measured
A kitchen designer recommending by the stone suppliers and templates are
some hardware might never have had FUHDWHGIURPSO\ZRRGRUWKLQ0')IURP
to deal with opening up the packet ZKLFKWKHÀQDOVKDSHLVFXW
and reading the instructions on how to Stone benches represent planning

How many drawers, what type are
required, and where they should go are all
easily solved with options aplenty
Kitchen install tips and tricks
We have collected some basic tips 8. Levels: All soft-close drawers and
for people wanting to renovate their cupboards will not close properly if the
kitchen or build a new one. levels aren’t correct. Ensure your levels are
true before installing your units.
1. Plan, plan, and then plan some
more: Consider what appliances you 9. High units: Get rid of high units when
want and their size. Do you want a wall possible. Instead, do full wall units from
oven or a free-standing one, a double floor to ceiling or have nothing at all
fridge or a single, a single- or two-bowl when possible.
sink? What about bench top material?
What type of hob do you want/need 10. Touch to open: These units are the
and how it will be powered? trend currently. Be aware that they are
very sensitive and most light brushes will
2. Budget: Be realistic. If you have a open them.
modest budget, stick to that. Know
what is affordable for what you have. 11. Colour scheme: You’ll seldom go
wrong with white on white in the kitchen.
3. Space: Work out your plans with a
sketch. Does it include a dining area? 12. Engineered stone: This will be cheaper
For flow and storage, is it a walk- than granite. Colouring is also often
through kitchen? What views do you more uniform, with more colour options
want from your workspace? What available.
storage do you need?
13. Production line: Kitchens from
4. Choices: Things you need to decide Peter Hay Kitchens are built on a
on include flooring, wall coverings, production line in Auckland. Most
colours, cooktop, splashback, tiles, kitchens (90 per cent) will be able to
window dressings, sink style, cabinets, work around these standard units, only
handles, lighting, and bench finish. sometimes requiring some packing out to
ensure a good fit into the space available.
5. Management: Work out how to
manage during the building phase. 14. Breakfast bar: When building a
Expect at least a week without a breakfast bar, avoid an overhang of any
kitchen. less than 280mm, otherwise you’ll likely
find little room for your legs and feet
6. Tolerances: Allow tolerances for the under the bar.
problems of another kind too. The weight standard units. There may be a need
of a granite top must be considered in the for filler panels between some of the 15. Windows: Don’t forget to factor in
design of the cabinets that will support it units. These will not look out of place, where your windows are and optimize
and they will frequently need reinforcing but you’re better off allowing a bit placement of units for sun and light. Over
to prevent them from sagging or bowing more room than having it too tight. the sink is best and other light sources are
under the weight. worth considering for cooking, access,
7. Surfaces: Make sure all of your and general use of the space.
Paint surfaces are in the right place for what
While the kitchen is clear and after all they’ll be used for. Think about meal 16. Vacuum warning: Do not let the
the holes are patched it can be a good prep, dry spaces, wet use, ‘hang out’ builder use your vacuum cleaner. Building
idea to paint the walls and ceiling at areas. Ensure there is power where dust and debris can ruin a domestic
WKLV WLPH ,W ZLOO EH PRUH GLIÀFXOW WR you’ll need it for toasters, coffee vacuum cleaner. A builder’s industrial-
do so after everything is installed. makers, slow cookers, and the like. strength machine is needed to clean up.
It’s worth considering one or other of

The flat-pack manufacturer will offer a wide array
of handles and cabinetry finishing to suit each
customer’s personal preference
Left: You can never have too much easily

accessible storage in a kitchen
7KHGUDZHUVDUHDVVHPEOHGDQGÀWWHG
to the cabinets and the kitchen begins
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with adjustable feet that can be adjusted
up or down by up to 10mm and keep the
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to be levelled, taking up any variations in
ÁRRUOHYHO
On-site
There is constant checking of
measurements against the plan and
levelling the cabinets and assembly. If the
measurements or level and square are
not correct at the beginning then nothing
else that follows will ever be level or sit/
ÀWSURSHUO\
7KH ÁRRU ZLOO EH ODLG XS WR WKH OHJV
and then kickboards put in front of the
the specialist kitchen paints too. Resene cabinets to hide the legs. The ready-
has a paint that contains silver ions, assembled cabinets are easy to work
which have natural antibiotic properties with compared with the days when
and keep surfaces free of mould and cabinetmakers had to build the plinths
odour-causing bacteria, particularly in DQG FDELQHWV FXW WKHP WR ÀW DQG WKHQ
[P]eople can get the damp or humid areas. ended up with panels that had to be
look they want cut to scribed all around. Now of course, people
WKHLUVSHFL¿FDWLRQV Assembly can get the look they want cut to their
The cabinets are screwed and glued VSHFLÀFDWLRQV ZLWK SDQHOV KDQGOHV
ZLWKSDQHOVKDQGOHV together. The design allows for the various and cabinet fronts that can be varied in
DQGFDELQHWIURQWV components to slot together with mortises colour and style.
and tenons cut into the edges to add The cabinets are clamped to hold them
rigidity to the pieces. Cabinets that are butt LQ SODFH ZKLOH ÀWWLQJ WKHP WLJKWO\ ZLWK
joined (simply attached end to side) can screws where they are less likely to be
have more play, especially as the pieces seen. A temporary brace holds two of the
move over time and shift out of alignment. cabinets steady where the sink goes until

that
While standard sizes are allowed for, you’ll want to make sure that your appliances
will fit into the spaces allowed for by the kitchen manufacturer and that they’ll have
adequate ventilation. If purchasing new appliances, check the specifications and
dimensions against your kitchen plans
the installer has screwed the backs into WKHEHQFKLVÀQDOO\LQSODFH

studs in the wall. Once the bench is installed, the
The basic height of a working kitchen electrician installs the hob, oven, and
bench is 890–900mm. Measurements the extractor. The plumber reconnects
that need to be allowed for when judging the sink and dishwasher. If people install
the height include 10mm for tiles and their dishwasher themselves rather than a
5mm for an underlay. plumber, one of the aspects to remember
With a cabinet near a power point or is the heat shield on the underside of
a cupboard door opening towards the the bench above the dishwasher. Steam
wall, there will need to be some packing coming up from the opened door can
to allow for the door opening. affect the material in the bench.
The bench tops themselves are joined One of the last elements to go into a
with special toggles and have the holes new kitchen is the splashback, with the
cut out of the supporting substrate to colour adding a highlight to the kitchen New kitchen usually means all new
appliances too. Never a better excuse
accommodate these. scheme.
It’s important not to forget to notify the
Good planning makes insurance company for an existing house Thanks
perfect kitchens insurance that work is being done on the
Early planning ensures that the house so that contract insurance can cover Thanks to Gary Hatfield of Home Skills
homeowners decide on a single, one-and- any damage during the renovations. Also (homeskills.co.nz) and Peter Hay Kitchens
a-half, or two-bowl sink, and for the hob. ensure that any tradesmen coming and (peterhay.co.nz), as well as the
3URYLVLRQIRUWKHSOXPELQJLQWKHÀUVWFDVH going in the house use proper coverings homeowners for letting us into their
and wiring in the other is built in before and protection. home to follow this installation.

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Clockmaking
IN PURSUIT OF
PERFECTION
PRECISION AND ARTISTRY COMBINE
IN THE CREATION OF A PERPETUAL CALENDAR
SKELETON CLOCK
By Jon Addison
Photographs: Adam Croy

David Curry in his workshop.
His next project, a dauntingly
complicated perpetual calendar
skeleton clock.

Clockwise from top left: Skeleton-clock parts;
the German digital display that David added
to his lathe; a home-made cutting tool; a lamp
that David made to project magnified images
of gears; a disc and the cutter that will turn it
into a gear wheel; the jig that David made to
ensure perfect gear meshing
“The engineering has

to be right so that the
parts work properly,
but they also have to
look right”
I
f David Curry were to be summed up in that was built in 1855. PDJQLÀHG LPDJHV RI WKH WHHWK WR FKHFN
a single word it would almost certainly “The engineering has to be right so that their shape is right. Although at a
be ‘precision’. But that wouldn’t be that the parts work properly, but they glance the teeth on a small clock gear may
enough; it would be absolutely vital to also have to look right,” he says. appear to be triangular, in fact the form
add ‘artistry’. Putting them together The clock tells the time; has a second results from two arcs drawn from the gear
amounts to a search for perfection, so hand; notes the day, date, and month; centre, so the sides are gently curved.
perhaps that’s the word to use. and knows whether the month has 30 Needless to say, the tooling to achieve
Here’s an example: David is at present or 31 days. David is adding a second this isn’t exactly simple. And while
building a dauntingly complicated chiming system so that the half hour, it’s possible to buy gear cutters for the
perpetual calendar skeleton clock, which three-quarter hour, and quarter hour larger gears, they are expensive, so
has 38 gears, one with 165 teeth, all of chimes have different tones from the David makes all his own from scratch.
which have to be individually machined. full-hour strike. “I probably spend as much time
Clearly precision is paramount. But the making the tools as I do making
levers and some parts of the frame look Making tools the clocks,” he reckons. “And making the
a little utilitarian, so he’s redesigning Clock gear teeth can be pretty small so tools is the most challenging part of the
WKHPZLWKDIHZDUWLVWLFÁRXULVKHV)RU David knocked up a little projector from whole project.”
inspiration he looks to a skeleton clock a torch and a lens to enable him to project The four-tooth gear cutters are machined

A gear wheel set up for the tooth cutter, with
the dividing head at left
Left: A completed skeleton clock

Right: The home-made tooth cutter at work
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Steam engines
David’s collection of model steam engines

A close look at the long bolts that shows the precision and workmanship in the
clamp the heads onto the cylinders huge variety of parts required
of David’s model steam engines will
reveal that they are machined with a
slight taper towards the top: “They just
look better that way,” he says.
He started building steam engines in
2014 when he inherited a partly built
kitset from his father. After completing
it he decided that he could do better,
so made another four.
able to improve on it,
“The last one I made is an oscillating so I haven’t made any
steam engine, something only a more”
clockmaker could build,” David says. “I
thought I wouldn’t be able to improve
on it, so I haven’t made any more.”
Most of the little steam engines are
models of real ones built for display at in the lathe so requires a careful and
shows and can be run on compressed experienced touch.
air, chuffing away just like the For the painted parts David uses
real thing. automotive spray cans, which can be
David buys kits to get the major cast found in practically any colour.
components but machines all the other He also made a compound steam
parts himself. All, that is, apart from engine, in which steam is first
the wooden bases, which are made expanded in one cylinder then
for him by a friend. “I’m no good at exhausted in to a second cylinder
woodwork,” he says. to increase the energy that can be
The work is surprisingly demanding. extracted, and thus the efficiency, of
For example, delicate 2mm diameter the engine.
operating rods are machined from “Before I started it I didn’t even know
¼ inch (6.35mm) square bar so there how a compound engine worked,
are no joins at the square ends where so there was a bit of learning to do,”
they pivot. Such a fine piece is flexible he says.

Above: A selection of tools that David has
made to machine clock parts
Right: A gear-tooth cutting tool ready
for work
Below: Details of skeleton clocks give an
idea of the patience required to build one
“I probably spend as
much time making the
tools as I do making
the clocks”
teeth. But David feels this is not elegant

engineering, so he machines tiny
pinions from steel bar, using cutters that
he makes on his lathe.
Although precision is required in
making the clock levers and frames, this
is achieved by painstakingly hand sawing
WKHPIURPEUDVVVKHHWDQGÀQLVKLQJHDFK
part by hand. A fretsaw with a wire-type
blade is used for the cutting. The only
parts of the clock that he doesn’t make
from scratch are the main springs.
Restoring clocks
David estimates it will take about
12 months to complete the perpetual
calendar clock, but says, “Once I’ve
made all the tooling it actually comes
together quite quickly.”
It will be the second clock that he’s
built from scratch, but he’s also worked
on or restored parts of old family-
heirloom clocks, including a pair of
English grandfather clocks, one from
1680 and the other made in 1720. He
says the 1680 clock probably came from
a stately home, as when it was made

David Curry in his home workshop
PRVWKRXVHVVWLOOKDGGLUWÁRRUVVRWKH
FORFNFDELQHWIHHWZRXOGURWEXWWKHIHHW The inner working of a skeleton clock that
on this clock are as original. “School bored me David has made from scratch
'DYLG KDG ZRUNHG RQ YLQWDJH FDUV because I tended to
UDFLQJFDUVDQGEXLOWPRGHOVWHDPHQJLQHV
believe what I could
and was scratching around looking for a
new project when he spotted an article in see with my own eyes”
The Shed about building a skeleton clock.
His background in clockmaking goes back
PXFKIXUWKHUWKRXJK WKH\ NQHZ ´7KH\ JDYH PH WKH VWDUWXS
“School bored me because I tended to VNLOOVZKLFK,KDYHFRQWLQXHGµ
EHOLHYHZKDW,FRXOGVHHZLWKP\RZQH\HV He then got a job at the Department of
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WKH FORFN ZRUNVKRSµ KH H[SODLQV ´7KH\ made test equipment from the ground up
KDGZLQGXSFORFNVLQHYHU\SRVWRIÀFHLQ IRUVFLHQWLVWVDQGLQGXVWU\ZKLFKUHTXLUHG
those days. mechanical and electronic skills.
´+RZHYHU DIWHU D IHZ PRQWKV D It was a career that equipped him
watchmaker from Rahotu joined the SHUIHFWO\ IRU KLV H[DFWLQJ KREELHV ODWHU
workshop. It was suggested that wind- LQ OLIH ³ DQG DW \HDUV ROG KH·V VWLOO
up clocks were becoming a thing of the learning. f
past and I was transferred to the electrical
LQVWUXPHQWVHFWLRQµ
'DYLGVD\VPDQ\RIWKHSRVWRIÀFHVWDII Head to The Shed website —
had come through the Depression when theshedmag.co.nz — to see a
video of David Curry talking about
they had to make do with whatever they
his clockmaking process and his
FRXOG OD\ WKHLU KDQGV RQ DQG ZHUH YHU\ passion for all things mechanical.
skilled and willing to pass on everything

Vintage cars
Classic cars — the red

Aston Martin and two Brabham
BT18s that David restored,
along with the ignition-system
pickups and amplifier circuit
board he made to fit 1970s V12
Jaguars and V8 Aston Martins
Plenty of sheddies work on or restore the distributor, and to develop parts he recalls. “On their skinny tyres they
vintage and classic cars, but David went such as an angled grommet to protect could go sideways everywhere.”
a step further, designing and building a the output wiring so as to fit within the He graduated to a more advanced
car part that he sold around the world. original mechanical componentry. Alvis Speed 25, one of just three that
The part was an electronic ignition Soon afterwards the internet “changed came to New Zealand, and then to an
system for V12 Jaguar and V8 my life” by providing a channel to Aston Martin DB4. He paid $5K for it and
Aston Martin engines from 1971 to 1981. market the ignition systems to Jaguar kept it so original that it still had maps
“In those days most engines used V12 owners all over the world. It used by the first owner in the glovebox.
mechanical contact breaker points, became a successful small business until Three E-Types followed, the first a very
but they couldn’t keep up with the David tired of sitting at his workbench early model that David didn’t like at all,
600 sparks a second needed for the making the parts, assembling the units, then one of the last six-cylinder versions.
V12 at 6000rpm,” David explains. “So and packaging them for dispatch. Finally he bought a V12 coupé, which he
Jaguar used an electronic ignition His interest in cars has been lifelong liked so much that he kept it for 30 years.
system, originally designed for the — his father owned vintage cars and He also flirted briefly with motor racing,
Cosworth Formula 1 engine, that wasn’t even had Bugatti parts in his garage. restoring two Brabham BT18 single-
very reliable.” Along with the skills David learned seaters, one ex–Graeme Lawrence and
So he developed a more modern at the post office, he completed a the other ex–Roly Levis. David raced in
system using the ‘Hall effect’ pickup panel beating course to prepare for classic events before selling the cars.
— essentially a magnetic pickup. These restoration work. “I consider myself a very lucky
days such a system is commonplace, but David’s first car was a 1930s Riley 9 individual,” he says. “My father took
David had to learn how to make and use Kestrel. “I had to rebuild the wooden me to motor racing meetings, which
nylon moulds to cast high-temperature body. I owned a few 1930s Rileys, which aroused my interest, and I ended up
epoxy fittings to locate the pickup in were well balanced and nice to drive,” owning cars [that] I loved.”

Silver face
The Curry family Grove grandfather clock

with the original unrestored face above
and the restored face left
Polish that high-quality antique clock been completely cleaned. In David’s

face too much and it will soon be clock the wax was as original.
ruined, as the silvery finish is a very thin The first step is to remove the damaged
coating over brass plate. silvering, taking the face back to the
Many old clocks have faces printed on brass using fine sandpaper. Great care
paper, but better ones have silvered has to be taken to remove as little
brass faces, with the numerals, material as possible because some of
markings, and decorations hand-etched the fine engraving will be quite shallow.
and filled with engraver’s wax. Once the brass is exposed it has to be
The 1720 grandfather clock in David’s kept perfectly clean — a single finger
living room originally had a silvered mark can spoil the silvering.
face, but it had been polished off. Some The coating is achieved by first cleaning
owners feel that that’s a nice patina, he and then graining the dial, then rubbing
says, but there comes a point at which the silvering powder, followed by a
patina turns into damage — and this finishing powder, into the surface of the
clock was near that. brass, washing away any excess.
So David resorted to the silvering These days many restorers will finish
process used when the clock was first with a coat of clear lacquer to protect
made and restored its face to its original the silvering, which, over time, will bear
state. The engraver’s wax, which is the marks of fingers touching it during
mixed with shellac, is quite durable, but spring winding or other handling.
if it is beyond salvage it is still possible With or without the lacquer, the face
to buy the wax, which can be melted needs just an occasional wipe — never
into the engravings after they have a polish.

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Boatbuilding
Max Laver and a custom-built flat-bottomed

dory made from macrocarpa

Mac N Sea
A LANDLOCKED BOAT BUILDER HAS A
THRIVING BUSINESS MAKING CRAFT
FROM MACROCARPA
By Ray Cleaver
Photographs: Rob Tucker
P
iopio, in the heart of the King Country — a +H VSHQW WZR \HDUV LQ /RZHVWRIW LQ (QJODQG
landlocked area with a village population of learning City and Guilds–level wooden boat
about 400 — is the last place you’d expect to EXLOGLQJ DQG ÀQLVKHG KLV WLPH GRLQJ WZR PRUH
ÀQGDERDWEXLOGHU%XWERDWEXLOGHU0D[/DYHULV \HDUVRIOHDUQLQJLQ1HZ%UXQVZLFN&DQDGD
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EXVLQHVV ZKHUH KH ZRUNV ZLWK ÀEUHJODVV DQG excel at school as a kid, but I loved to build,” he
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´:HIRFXVRQKRZZHOOZHFDQPDNHDGLQJK\ PHDQWEXLOGLQJVRPHWKLQJ,WDOOPDGHVHQVHWKHQµ
QRWKRZFKHDSO\µKHVD\V 1RZDJHG0D[·VEXVLQHVVLVKXPPLQJDORQJ
0D[ LV D PDULQH VXUYH\RU DV ZHOO DV D ERDW DQGKLVELJZRUNVKRSRQWKHPDLQVWUHHWRI3LRSLR
EXLOGHU KDV PDQ\ SURMHFWV XQGHUZD\ QRW WR PHQWLRQ D

Another extension of the fibreglass side of boat building is this 4.2m trimaran that Max is
developing as a fishing motorboat. It is made from two pieces — a hull and a deck. variety of things going on in a number of
He says it will compete in the aluminium boat market sheds out the back.
Yacht tenders, duck-hunting boats,
rowboats of all sizes, sail boats, and even
No waste FXVWRPPDGH ERDWV IRU ÁRXQGHU ÀVKLQJ
all come out of Max’s workshop.
Michael Piner making toys from scrap wood The road to Piopio
Originally from the UK and Ireland,
Max was raised in Canada and after
years travelling and working around the
world, he is now ensconced in Piopio.
Why Piopio we ask? There’s always a
woman involved, is the reply.
Max met his wife Rachael in 2007, and
in 2013 the couple moved to Rachael’s
hometown, Piopio, where they set up
Laver Marine. Rachael works for the
company doing the admin work.
Max enjoys variety. He recently
recreated an authentic copy of
1HZ =HDODQG·V ÀUVW VFKRRO EXV ³ D
Scrap wood doesn’t get thrown away at He works three mornings a week VHDW 0RGHO 7 ³ ZKLFK ZDV RQH RI
Laver Marine. Working at his own bench making trucks and tractors which three custom-made buses that carted
in the Laver workshop is 83-year-old he gives away as presents or sells kids to a consolidated school in Piopio
Michael Piner, happily making children’s and donates the proceeds to the ZKLFKZDVDOVRDÀUVWFHQWUDOL]LQJDORW
toys from leftover wood. Starship children’s hospital. of small country schools into one). The
Michael also has seafaring connections. “I’ve always loved working with wood story of that bus build is coming up in a
He went to sea aged 14 and worked with and it keeps me fit and out of trouble. later issue of The Shed.
waterfront companies after coming to It’s a good way to coordinate the brain
New Zealand in 1960. and hands,” he says. The boats
Inside the front door of Laver Marine

From little boats Canadian canoe
to fibreglass
truck bins
Jason MacKenzie working on a big

fibreglass bin
Working with fibreglass on boats
has led to some diversification and
experimentation for Max.
In a back shed is the construction
of a giant fibreglass mould for the
manufacture of bulk transport bins.
Max has been experimenting
with special resins that can stand
180°C–200°C.
The outer stem of the canoe
Twelve layers of fibreglass cloth are put
on under a vacuum that sucks in the
resin. “Using fibreglass on the boats has A special project dear to Max’s heart is the The strips are joined with PVA and
led to some expansion. It’s a big jump construction of a Canadian canoe. This is covered with an epoxy cloth.
but pretty interesting,” says Max. his own canoe and it’s 6m long. Despite There are no ribs and the teak seats
its length the canoe is very light and and gunnel contribute to the structural
designed to be carried by one person. strength of the hull.
It is made from rot-resistant western red “It’s a very labour-intensive job, involving
cedar that Max imported from Canada a hell of a lot of sanding,” says Max. “I’ve
and made by a strip-planking method, been working on it for a few years, on
“I didn’t excel at school consisting of many thin strips of wood. and off, and I’ve put maybe 600 hours
as a kid, but I loved to Each strip is 6mm thick and 12mm wide into it and there’s still a lot of work
build” and bent around a frame. to go.
There is an inner and an outer stem and “It’s a project [that] I’m doing for myself
the strips are glued to these using a and couldn’t put a price on it. I’ll get it in
jig and wedges. the water eventually.”
LV D EHDXWLIXOO\ ÀQLVKHG FXVWRPPDGH
ÁDWERWWRPHG ZRRGHQ GRU\ PDGH WR
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Macrocarpa
0D[ XVHV D UDQJH RI ZRRG WR PDNH KLV Max and his six-metre Canadian canoe
GLQJKLHV EXW RQH RI KLV IDYRXULWHV LV
PDFURFDUSDf

Max and Rachael at Laver Marine
“It’s easy on the tools

and the more I use it
the more I like it”
The dory ready to go flounder fishing on the Kāwhia Harbour “Mac. is a really underrated timber,”
he says. “It’s really user-friendly and is
great for outside projects, provided it is
oiled properly.
Macrocarpa — good for boats “We use it a lot for boat building and
outside furniture. I have found [that]
Large, spreading macrocarpas it can sustain exterior exposure in its
Max and his shed full of locally sourced
(Cupressus macrocarpa) are a common natural state for some time. We have
macrocarpa
sight in rural New Zealand, usually untreated mac. furniture in our yard
growing alongside homesteads and that is over three years old and shows no
farm buildings. Macrocarpa (also known rot or deterioration.
as ‘Monterey cypress’) was brought to “It’s easy on the tools and the more I
New Zealand in the 1860s and planted use it the more I like it.”
for shelter. He seals the macrocarpa with his
It is a species of cypress native to the own brew of Danish oil. He mixes one-
central coast of California. third boiled linseed oil with one-third
Macrocarpa is a low-to-medium-density turps and one-third of a varnish called
softwood that looks and works like kauri. ‘Bondall Monocel’.
Both the heartwood and sapwood of 7KHUH DUH ÀYH PRGHOV LQ WKH /DYHU
macrocarpa are naturally borer resistant, Marine range. The Teddington was the
which makes them ideal for interior original rowboat, followed by the larger
housing purposes. Macrocarpa is relatively easy to mill, dry, motor boat, the Putney. The Romney
The New Zealand Farm Forestry Association work, and finish, and is suitable for interior ÀVKLQJRUGXFNERDWLVDQRWKHURSWLRQIRU
says that macrocarpa is now a well-known and exterior uses. URZLQJRUPRWRULQJ7KH1HOVRQ/XJJHU
decorative softwood timber that is very It is used extensively in the joinery, a sailing dinghy, has recently been
popular in New Zealand. The appearance is furniture, and boatbuilding trades, and DGGHG WR WKH ÁHHW 7KH 6KHSSHUWRQ LV D
similar to kauri, and quarter-sawn material has a low shrinkage factor from green cathedral-hull design that is extremely
has a speckled appearance. The heartwood sawn to dry. stable with plenty of inboard space,
is golden brown in colour, sometimes Max sources all his macrocarpa locally LGHDO IRU ÀVKLQJ VKLSWRVKRUH RU
with a pinkish tinge. When freshly cut, and has a shed full of timber waiting for pleasure boating.
macrocarpa has a fragrant, spicy smell. various projects. Max’s range of small boats can be seen
at dinghy.co.nz.

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Tools
IT’S GOOD TO BE
SQUARE
My most-used squares

I still keep them in the
original cardboard
boxes even though I
purchased them more
than 50 years ago
Right: Checking the squareness of

a child’s chair rail using a Moore
and Wright five-inch square (Model
402). See the October–November
2010 issue of The Shed for details on
making this children’s furniture
W
ALL WOODWORKERS e need a range of squares to use for Tools for life
the many different situations that The most important point is that we must
NEED SEVERAL we encounter in the workshop. know that whichever square we use is
For instance, we need a square to set
SQUARES BUT NOT up our machines — it is vital that your
VXIÀFLHQWO\DFFXUDWHIRUWKHSXUSRVHZH
intend to use it for. Generally speaking
ALL SQUARES ARE sawbench cuts square when you want the type of squares available at the big
it to. The blade obviously needs to be at box stores are made for the carpentry
CREATED EQUAL right angles to the table and the sliding profession and the DIY market. These
table or sledge needs to be square. The VTXDUHV REYLRXVO\ ÀW WKH SXUSRVH DV
By David Blackwell same for your planer. in most cases, reasonably accurate is
Photographs: David Blackwell The fence should be set square good enough.
and you should regularly check In my workshop I have several
that it remains square. Imagine the precision engineer’s quality squares of
consequences of spending considerable varying sizes, and a number of other
time cutting mortise and tenon joints squares. My engineer’s squares are
IRUÀQHIXUQLWXUHRQO\WRÀQGWKDWWKH\ Moore and Wright and I still keep them
ÀW SRRUO\ GXH WR WKH PDFKLQHG WLPEHU in the original cardboard boxes even
not being square. Errors also tend to though I purchased them more than
compound over a project. 50 years ago. Sadly Moore and Wright,

Squares kept in their original boxes and combinations in a drawer
an English toolmaking company, no Beauty can be skin deep

longer exists. Recently, an acquaintance, who is an
I have two sets of combination squares, excellent model-making engineer,
a Mitutoyo brand one, which is still very gave me a square that had belonged to
accurate and in excellent condition, his father. It has a wooden butt with Top: The 12-inch Moore and Wright sitting
even though I purchased it in the late on parallel blocks, ideal when an extra bit of
brass and is in beautiful condition height is required
1960s, and a Chesterman brand one, but is not really square for my type of Above: Checking the fence on the planer
which I inherited from my father. This woodworking. Even the blade tapers by
I estimate is 60–70 years old, probably several thou and the wooden butt will
purchased in the early to mid 1950s. It move with the changes in humidity. Squaring aids
is still accurate enough for most things I will not use this square but it sits in I also have two precision angle plates
I do, probably accurate to less than pride of place in my display cabinet. that I made about 50 years ago out of
0.001 of an inch over 8–10 inches. As From time to time each square needs large angle iron. I used these on my old
a generalization, most combination to be checked against something that milling machine. These were surface-
squares available in hardware stores you know is accurate. I tend to use my JURXQG DQG , ÀQG WKHP H[FHOOHQW
are, again, made for the carpentry trade. 12-inch Moore and Wright square, as reference points when I want to check if
I have numerous other squares that I it is the square that is still in brilliant one of my squares is still square.
have acquired from relatives’ estates condition and I know I can trust that it is I also have a couple of pairs of spacer
over the years, but I would never use square. I do not have a surface plate but blocks, originally made for use on my
them except for when I was welding up I use my sawbench top, as it is a ground milling machine. These were case-
a trailer or something similar. VXUIDFHÀQLVKWKDW,NQRZLVÁDW hardened and ground together so I know

A small square I made probably 50 years ago using 1⁄8 -inch gauge plate.
It was marked out and then cut with a hacksaw before being carefully
filed square. It is very accurate and a square that I use almost daily in my
workshop. This one is small but larger squares could easily be made. A great
way to improve your metal-filing skills
Checking the squareness of

the saw blade
that they are exactly the same height. Storage and

They are handy when I need to lift a maintenance
,Q¿QHZRRGZRUNLQJ square a little for a particular job. Precision tools hate moisture and so it
I use squares a great deal when I am is important for both the longevity of
WKHODVWWKLQJ\RX making something in my workshop, the tool and its continued accuracy that
ZDQWRQWKHSLHFH\RX and it is common for me to have several they are stored and maintained. My
DUHPDNLQJLVDQ\ squares out on my workbench at any workshop is reasonably well insulated,
one time. They are certainly one tool I excluding the roof, and while I keep it
VRUWRIRLOUHVLGXH could not do without. as dry as possible, unfortunately from
time to time moisture does create some
problems. I keep one of my historic
sports cars in the workshop and while
An old woodworker’s tool. No longer accurate
enough to use but a beautifully made tool and I try never to put it away wet, sadly at
now a collector’s item times I have no other option.
One way to help stop moisture is to
lightly oil the tool (I use WD-40) and
WKLVFDQEHVXIÀFLHQWIRUVROYLQJDVKRUW
WHUPSUREOHPEXWLQÀQHZRRGZRUNLQJ
the last thing you want on the piece you
are making is any sort of oil residue. I
tend to keep my tools totally oil-free
and, as I use my tools very regularly,
I very quickly notice if any moisture
issues arise.
Over the years I have made drawers
for my tools and each time I’ve made the
drawer sizes to take my precision tools,
often in their original boxes.
Squares are a very special precision tool.
I suggest you always buy the best quality
you can afford, and if you look after them
they will last for generations.

Engineering
on the
moveMAKE A SET OF LOAD SKATES
%\*HR̆0HUU\ZHDWKHU
3KRWRJUDSKV*HR̆0HUU\ZHDWKHU
M
oving machinery and heavy items you will generally need a set of four. This SDUDOOHO ÁDQJH FKDQQHO 3)& WKHQ
around the workshop is a common load skate is made from 100x50mm steel you should not need to do this. An
job for most sheddies, especially channel, with rollers made from 40mm alternative is to make some spacers with
those with an addiction to Victorian-era pipe with ball bearings. The bearings are one side cut to match the taper.
cast iron. cheap 6004RS-model bearings, which Mark up and drill 20mm holes for the
While using bars or pipes for rollers DUHDVQXJÀWLQWRPPSLSHDQGFRVW axles. If you have enough travel in the
works, as shown by the builders of the $2–$3 each from online suppliers. GULOOSUHVVTXLOOWKHQGULOOWKHÀQDOVL]H
Egyptian pyramids, they won’t work if As this project was built out of hole all the way through from one side
you have feet or obstructions, and are materials to hand, I only had tapered to make sure that the holes are in line.
GLIÀFXOWLI\RXDUHZRUNLQJE\\RXUVHOI ÁDQJHFKDQQHOVR,XVHGP\KRUL]RQWDO The axle and wheel assembly is made
‘Load skates’ are small, heavy-duty milling machine with a side and face from 20mm shafting, 40mm pipe, 20mm
UROOHUVNDWHVWKDWÀWXQGHUWKHORDGDQG cutter to remove the taper. If you use washers as spacers, and the 6004RS

Above and below: Milling
the sides of the channel
Right: Drilling the axle holes

Left: Welded frame
Below: 6004RS bearings
Bottom: Axle assembly
bearings. Depending on the wall Weld in a 40x40mm box section

WKLFNQHVVWKHEHDULQJVZLOOEHDVQXJÀW piece and 25x25mm angle on the ends
Depending on the wall in the pipe if the weld seam is removed. as reinforcing. Drill a hole in the end
I bored the ends on the lathe to 12mm angles to allow for a rope or handle to be
thickness, the bearings
deep, but if you don’t have a lathe used to position the skate under the load
ZLOOEHDVQXJ¿WLQ because you need some load skates to without putting your hands underneath.
the pipe PRYHLWWKHQXVHDQDLUJULQGHURUÀOH Stake the axle ends with a centre
to remove the weld seam inside. Press punch or a tack of weld. If your channel
in the bearings and use some locking is wider than mine, you can drill and
compound to retain them. tap for a set screw.

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Electronics

High price to pay for
CHEAP USB
CHARGERS
BE AWARE OF THE ULTIMATE COST OF PAYING FOR
CHEAP CHARGERS THAT DON’T CONFORM
TO REGULATIONS
By Mark Beckett
Photographs: Mark Beckett
I
was in one of those $2-type shops in so I imagine they were produced for For those who may have missed the
our local mall looking for some 12V-to- the Chinese market, and someone has Electrical Safety feature (February/
USB adaptors, when I spotted some imported them for sale here. Besides March 2017), as this is marked as double
cheap mains USB chargers. Presumably, the plug issue, I was interested to see if insulated, you test it by applying 500V
they were being sold here in New Zealand the internal construction complied with DC between each of the mains pins
as they have the pins angled. I bought WKH 1HZ =HDODQG UHJXODWLRQV 0\ ÀUVW and any metalwork that a user might
one to examine more closely. impression of the charger was that it had make contact with. In this case, the
Unfortunately, the regulations in some markings. only metalwork is the metal surround
New Zealand require the live and neutral Before doing anything, I decided to of the USB outlet, and it passed with
pins to be insulated and these were not, see if it passed an electrical safety test. no issues. f
The point of this is to

make Shed readers
think about the cheap
electrical equipment
they may buy
First impression was it had some markings

Foam as insulation
a one- or two-year-old child who knows

how to do that.”
Internals
There is no requirement to check the
internals unless the device is being
FHUWLÀHG IRU XVH +RZHYHU WKLV VKRZV
why I cannot recommend buying one of
these — regardless of the price. I’ve seen
the internals of other models and this was
no better. There is nothing but a piece
of foam stopping the mains pin from
making contact with the components,
and it is already showing signs of contact.
The pins are embedded into the end
plate, but it is very thin and I doubt it
would take much force to push through,
Internal construction or become detached and stay in the
wall outlet.
What’s the problem? I suspect the internals are the same for
There are several parts to an electrical each market, and that they simply change
safety test and, apart from the insulation- the end plate and pins to suit.
It seems the end
resistance test, they are visual checks
ZLWKRXWGLVPDQWOLQJWKHGHYLFH7KHÀUVW
simply clips into place, Is there a better way?
is a check to ensure that the markings and there is very The electrical test does not require items
are present and readable. This includes little force required to to be dismantled, so if the end had been
manufacturer, voltage, and current/ glued on, it would then have passed the
expose the mains pins retention test.
ZDWWDJH DORQJ ZLWK DQ\ FHUWLÀFDWLRQV RU
conditions (indoor only, etc.). This does not mean the device is safe;
You also need to check for damage to VDIHW\ LV GHWHUPLQHG E\ D FHUWLÀFDWLRQ
the mains cord to ensure that there is no authority, which will test the device. The
compromise to the double insulation or required to expose the mains pins. testing includes abnormal conditions
exposed conductors. If you twisted or applied sideways WKDW PD\ UHVXOW LQ H[SORVLRQ ÀUH RU
Damaged plugs and sockets are pressure while it was plugged in, it would excess heat.
checked and, since March 2006, both the easily came apart. I would have expected a piece of plastic
live and neutral pins have needed to have material behind both pins to separate the
a section insulated. Does this pass? mains from the internals. Any force on
This post on Trade Me’s Trust and ,Q P\ FDSDFLW\ DV D TXDOLÀHG HOHFWULFDO the pin would have required punching it
Safety blog shows why this rule is in place: service technician (EST), the charger through this plastic, which while possible,
trademe.co.nz/trust-safety/2013/7/26/ that I bought fails on two counts. goes well above the standards.
plugs-must-have-insulation-on-pins/. The uninsulated pins, and the retention As the photo shows, there are components
It is also important to check for damage of the end cover, fails the physical behind the pin that could be damaged,
to the case to ensure that the user is not UHWHQWLRQ WHVW XVHG WR WHVW À[HG FRUGV which may cause failure, overheating, or a
exposed. When doing this check on the which could expose the user to harm. ÁDVKRYHUZKHQSOXJJHGLQ
charger, I observed the issue of end- Some people may respond with: “You I didn’t study the internals to see if
cover/-plate retention. just switch it off at the wall and then they meet best practice for isolation,
It seems that the end simply clips remove it …” or protection from excess voltage. The
into place, and there is very little force I would counter that with: “Show me component selection is done based on

cheap manufacturing, so it’s unlikely to HOHFWULFDO ZRUN LQYROYLQJ D ÀWWLQJ RU
last particularly long. appliance to which manufacturer’s Turn off
instructions apply is entitled (if your chargers
Name brands and poor acting in good faith) to rely on
manufacturing the manufacturer’s instructions as Modern chargers use electronics to
At work we have some commercial complying with subclause (2). change the 230V AC into 5V for our
version monitors and one of the models 4. A manufacturer or importer who devices.
used a name-brand external power pack. VXSSOLHV D ÀWWLQJ RU DSSOLDQFH WR Leaving them plugged in and turned
Over time this suffered from excess which manufacturer’s instructions on while not in use simply wears out
heating and the cases became brittle, apply commits an offence and is liable the components, which can have a
allowing the two halves to separate on conviction to a level 2 penalty if 1000- or 2000-hour rating.
and exposing the user to high voltages the manufacturer’s instructions do They are also a leading cause of fire in
(400V DC). not comply with subclause (2). New Zealand, so do yourself a favour
So despite being a reputable brand, it In my opinion, the charger fails under and switch them off when not in use.
wasn’t a shining example. clause 22(b) and clause 23(c): It won’t save much electricity but it
22 Electrically unsafe low voltage may save wearing the charger out or
Conclusion ÀWWLQJV prevent a fire.
The charger I bought is a cheap Asian- $ ORZ YROWDJH ÀWWLQJ LV GHHPHG WR EH
sourced supply that is illegal for sale in electrically unsafe if —
New Zealand and I have no intention of a. the unearthed conductive parts
using it. RIWKHÀWWLQJDUHVHSDUDWHGIURP
Australia seems to have tightened up live parts by no more than basic This shows why I
its rules after the death of a woman using insulation; or
cannot recommend
a cheap USB charger (see smh.com.au/ E WKH ÀWWLQJ LV LQWHQGHG WR KDYH
nsw/faulty-usb-phone-charger-blamed- or is supplied as having, a safety buying one of these —
for-sheryl-aldeguers-death-20140627- function, but does not in fact regardless of the price
zsoc8.html and rt.com/news/168772- serve that safety function.
faulty-usb-electrocutes-woman/). 23 Electrically unsafe appliances
1. An appliance is deemed to be
Should I report it? electrically unsafe if —
This is an electrical device, but the a. the voltage at which it operates f
regulations regarding the sale of such
items is not governed by the same
department that makes the regulations.
The Electrical Safety Regulation makes
it as clear as mud (legislation.govt.nz/
regulation/public/2010/0036/latest/
whole.html#DLM2763501):
14A Manufacturer’s instructions
1. This regulation applies if a
manufacturer or importer supplies
D ÀWWLQJ RU DSSOLDQFH ZLWK
manufacturer’s instructions that —
a. expressly apply in New Zealand;
or
b. are silent as to where they apply.
2. The manufacturer’s instructions
PXVW EH VXFK WKDW LI WKH ÀWWLQJ RU
appliance to which they apply is
installed, tested, maintained, or Q. Which unit is safer
connected in accordance with those for switching mains
voltages?
LQVWUXFWLRQV WKH UHVXOWLQJ ÀWWLQJ RU
appliance will — A. The red unit has
the isolation gap in its
a. comply with these regulations; printed circuit board
(PCB), which means it
and has greater separation
b. be electrically safe. from the low voltage
side and is therefore
3. A person who does any prescribed much safer

Australia seems to
have tightened up its
Maintaining compliance standards
rules after the death New Zealand and Australia have the continual reference to these standards
of a woman using a same standards and, unfortunately, for compliance.
cheap USB charger there are lots. Some of the regulations fall under
Worst of all, these are not free, yet standard AS/NZS 3100:2009 and below
people need to comply or ensure that are extracts from that.
they are aware of the issues and there is
safely is not appropriately and
adequately marked on the
appliance; or
b. it is not constructed so as to be
safe under both normal and
abnormal conditions; or
c. the accessible unearthed
The aim of this is to ensure that the device or appliance remains safe.
conductive parts of the
appliance are separated from
live parts by no more than basic
insulation …
In my opinion, it would appear that
if this charger went to test, it would fail.
I’m not sure why our electrical industry
PDNHVLWVRGLIÀFXOWWRÀQGWKHQHFHVVDU\
information and, worse, makes you pay Appliances using a cord are subject to a test to ensure it stays connected.
to get the actual standard they want you
to comply with!
The good news is that Trade Me has a
very tight policy on the sale of electrical
goods, and will remove any listings with
illegal plugs.
It also provides some very good advice
at the following webpages:
• trademe.co.nz/trust-safety/2013/7/
26/plugs-must-have-insulation-on-
pins/
• trademe.co.nz/trust-safety/2013/1/
15/unsafe-electrical-adaptors/
• trademe.co.nz/trust-safety/2012/
11/30/foreign-plugs-cannot-be-
listed-on-trade-me/.
You can report any listing and
Trade Me will send you an email advising
you of the outcome. I have reported a
couple and the listings were removed.
The point of this is to make Shed
readers think about the cheap electrical
equipment they may buy. I’m not
suggesting that consumers pay excess
money for the same product made in
the same factory with a different sticker
attached, but do think about it.
It could be your child or grandchild
who it affects.

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WWW.STOCKWHIPS.CO.NZ / 16 SOLWAY CRESCENT, MASTERTON 5810
kbscoatingsNZ
Welding
T OP DR AW ER
A
while ago I ordered a pan add drawers if the space you are adding and thus the width of the drawers.
brake from a well-known local them to is not square or the sides are The drawer slides are rated at 45kg. I
Australian engineering retailer not parallel. couldn’t be sure what weight I would be
with a view to making a set of drawers OLNHO\ WR ORDG EXW WKLV VKRXOG VXIÀFH ,
out of steel sheet. I assumed that it elected to run with eight drawers and
would fairly straightforward — simply I quickly ran into the make the second opening in the frame
bend the drawers into shape using the a cabinet to house larger components
ÀQJHUVRQWKHSDQEUDNH$EUDNHZRXOG
¿UVWOLPLWDWLRQ²WKH like the four-jaw chuck. After some
make everything accurate. What could pan brake could only ÀGGOLQJ,VHWWOHGRQWZRGUDZHUVHDFKRI
possibly go wrong? KDQGOHGUDZHUVXS 75mm, 70mm, 60mm, and 50mm deep,
I had made the stand for my lathe separated by 10mm.
(part one of this article; Issue No. 78)
WRPP I bought three sheets of cold rolled
with the idea of adding drawers and steel, 1mm thick. This is within the
a cupboard to the base to store all my limits of the pan brake and I had hoped
lathe and mill tools, and ostensibly Ordering materials the material would be stiff enough given
for the tools I envisaged acquiring. I I ordered some drawer slides of the that the drawer had to span over 500mm
therefore made sure that the openings appropriate length (350mm) and width. I broke the material down into
were quite accurately sized. You can’t worked out the width of the slides half sheets to make it easier to handle.

Cutting the drawer material Putting the crease in the drawer base
IN PART TWO
OF OUR LATHE-
STAND BUILD A
FEW LESSONS ARE
LEARNT MAKING
THE DRAWERS
By Jude Woodside
Photographs: Jude Woodside The diagonal creases in the drawer
I originally intended to fold up the of paper. If you hold a page up by its ends
GUDZHUV XVLQJ WKH ÀQJHUV RQ WKH SDQ it will bend in the middle but put two
brake and I did in fact make a couple folds in it and it gets a bit more rigid. Now
of drawers this way, but I quickly ran add another bend to the edges and see
LQWR WKH ÀUVW OLPLWDWLRQ ³ WKH SDQ how much stiffer the paper becomes.
brake could only handle drawers up to I could only apply a stiffening bend to
60mm. The other problem was the fact one face of the drawer, at the rear. The
that although the drawers looked good centre was still a bit loose, so I decided to
I couldn’t be sure that the sides would try adding very slight bends diagonally
be rigid enough. I did try to add a 10mm DFURVVWKHÁRRURIWKHGUDZHU7KLVGLG
margin that I folded on each side but I tend to make it a bit stiffer but they also
KDGWRKDPPHUWKHPÁDWDQGWKDWFDXVHG tended to create a dip in the centre.
some distortion to the sides. It’s very hard to bend drawers or
anything else to an exact size. Metal
Bending rigidity has a tendency to stretch and this must
Whenever you add a bend to a sheet of be accounted for. There are formulae
any material, you introduce some rigidity. for the process and I did employ them The Smootharc Elite TIG 230 AC/DC welder
<RXFDQVHHWKLV\RXUVHOIZLWKDÁDWSLHFH but I lacked absolute measurements of

Setting up to weld the sides
All-folded version. Note the seam around the edges. This

proved to be rather time-consuming to make, as it had to
be hammered into shape
The best way to use my plasma for high-tensile steel

LVÀDWRXWDWFORVHWRLWVPD[LPXPDPSHUDJH
Welding the ends
things like the radius of the bend. I was realized that it would be considerably wall. Then each drawer was cut out and
using 1mm steel, so I assumed it to be simpler if I bent the majority of the WKHZDOOVPDUNHG,ÀUVWEHQWWKHPP
somewhere between 1mm and 1.9mm. drawer and simply welded some steel VWLIIHQLQJ ÁDS IRU WKH EDFN DQG WKHQ
In the end after a couple of attempts I sides on. I could then ensure that the proceeded to bend the back and front
lateral measure of the drawers would be piece. It helped to over-bend the front
precise. The opening was 531mm and and back slightly so that the springiness
the drawer’s slides are 12.7mm each in could help to hold the sides while I
width, so that left me a drawer width of clamped them in position.
505.6mm rounded down to 505mm. I had some 3mm Cor-Ten steel left over
I elected to use plywood to attach from the outdoor heater project from
the slides to the cabinet. I felt that The Shed Issue No. 76, so I cut the drawer
the additional 0.6mm or so could be sides out of this with the plasma cutter. I
adjusted for and I could use spacers have found that the best way to use my
if necessary. SODVPD IRU KLJKWHQVLOH VWHHO LV ÁDW RXW
at close to its maximum amperage and
Plasma cutter with an air pressure of around 90psi.
All the drawers were one width so I 7KH SODVPD ZRUNHG ÁDZOHVVO\ ZLWK WKH
started by cutting sheets to the 505mm 1mm cold rolled steel on 35A at 60psi,
dimension and then marking out the but I was getting some missed areas
wall height of each drawer, plus a 10mm with the lower amperage and pressure
Cutting out the drawer sides
overhang to build stiffness into the rear on the thicker material. f

Tacking the sides of the drawer
Drilling the template
The finished weld. Perhaps not as professional as I would

have liked but effective
Riveting a slide in place
Laying out the drawer slides Setting the drawer slides onto their plywood base

Drawer folds
Rear
Stuck into the new TIG
I recently acquired a new AC/DC TIG
Creases welder (Smootharc Elite TIG 230
Stiffening tab
AC/DC) from BOC and I was itching to
have a go. My TIG experience has been a
bit limited up until now but this machine
will enable me to tackle stainless steel
and aluminium. The machine has a
number of useful features, including
Front high-frequency start and pulse, and
spot-welding modes. However, I wasn’t
going to call on it to get too fancy
DW ÀUVW , SODQQHG WR VLPSO\ ZHOG WKH
GUDZHU WR WKH VLGHV ZLWKRXW DQ\ ÀOOHU
URG XVLQJ WKH GUDZHU PDWHULDO DV ÀOOHU
I had initially had a go at welding up
the sides of all the folded drawers using
30A. I eventually got the hang of that
but I had to abandon the idea when I
elected to use the 3mm material as the
sides instead.
Oops, take two

7KH ÀUVW DWWHPSW RQ WKH KHDYLHU JDXJH
sides resulted in some ugliness as I
merrily melted great holes in the drawer
material. I was using around 125A and
Test fitting the drawers to set the plywood sides in place that was clearly far too high. I settled,
after some experimentation, on 80A and
that seemed to work reasonably well as
I got used to moving at the right pace
and just allowing the weld pool to form
7KH¿UVWDWWHPSW on the edge of the sides and gradually
UHVXOWHGLQVRPH incorporate the drawer material. It
XJOLQHVVDV,PHUULO\ is important here to make sure that
the two metals are in tight contact. I
PHOWHGJUHDWKROHVLQ employed three clamps and on reaching
WKHGUDZHUPDWHULDO the ends used my trusty hammer to
eliminate any gaps.
I found it useful to clamp the ends
Attaching the brackets to the sides
too before I washed the arc down the
edges. The trick is to focus the heat on
WKH KHDYLHU PHWDO ÀUVW , PDGH D IHZ
tacks along the length and then went
back to run a bead between the tacks,
alternating either end to try to prevent
too much distortion.
When I got it right it worked beautifully
and there was a smooth, almost seamless
transition between the two metals.
Where I strayed into the drawer material
too far, or lingered too long, or where the
contact between the two surfaces wasn’t
Welding the brackets SHUIHFW,KDGWRUHÀOOWKHUHVXOWDQWKROHV
which I managed to do successfully.

Cutting the drawer fronts Bending the edges of the top cover Test fitting the drawers
7KLVZDVDYHU\XVHIXOSUDFWLFHZLWK7,* WR ERWK SLHFHV DFFXUDWHO\ UHPHPEHULQJ With slides in place on a few of the
DQGE\WKHHQGP\FRQWURORIWKHZHOGZDV WR ÁLS LW IRU WKH ULJKWKDQG SLHFH :LWK GUDZHUV , WHVW ÀWWHG WKHP WR KROG WKH
JHWWLQJTXLWHJRRG the holes drilled in each wooden side I ply sides in place until I could get the
SULPHGDQGSDLQWHGWKHP angle-iron brackets that I had cut and
Cutting the timber sides 7R JHW WKH SRVLWLRQV RI WKH VLGHV ULJKW SUHGULOOHG WR EH VFUHZHG DQG À[HG ,
With the drawers welded up I cut the , QHHGHG WR WHVWÀW WKH GUDZHUV DQG WKDW had cut the sides to be a relatively tight
WLPEHU IRU WKH VLGHV DQG SULPHG WKHP , PHDQWDWWDFKLQJWKHGUDZHUVOLGHVWRWKH ÀWLQWKHODWKHVWDQGIUDPHVRÀWWLQJWKH
then began to lay out the position of the GUDZHUV , GLG FRQWHPSODWH ZHOGLQJ WKH EUDFNHWVZDVUHODWLYHO\VLPSOH2QFHWKH
GUDZHUVOLGHV,FXWDSLHFHRIPPSO\WR VOLGHVWRWKHGUDZHUVEXWVLQFH,ÀJXUHG³ brackets were in place I MIG welded
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holes for the slides so I could transfer this ,HOHFWHGWRULYHWWKHPLQVWHDG WKHP EXW LQ WKH LQWHUHVWV RI VSHHG ,
HOHFWHGWRXVHWKH0,*
Fitting the fronts

2QFH WKH GUDZHU VLGH VXSSRUWV ZHUH LQ
SODFHLWUHPDLQHGWRDGGWKHIURQWVWRWKH
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However, I think I can use all the weight
,FDQDSSO\WRWKLVVWUXFWXUHIRUVWDELOLW\
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to get the holes for the handles accurate
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than others — I suspect this is because
I wasn’t as scrupulous as I should have
been with the width when I was welding,
coupled with the tendency of the
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Riveting the covers
VKXIÁLQJDQGVRPHMXGLFLRXVJULQGLQJRI

Setting out the door
Welded end on the door Adjusting the fingers on the brake
I did have some fun

and games getting
all the drawers in.
Some were tighter
than others
EXWHOHFWHGLQWKHHQGWRPDNHMXVWRQH
big one. It too was cut and folded from
1mm steel. I riveted the hinges to the
drawer and screwed the other side to
the frame. The door is held closed by a
Painting the unit magnet catch.
%HIRUH DWWDFKLQJ WKH GRRU , VSUD\
painted the structure with etch primer
and a top coat to match the lathe itself.
the sides I eventually ended up with eight EUDNH VLQFH WKH GUDZHUV RQO\ QHHGHG WR , WRRN WKH SDQ IURP WKH ODWKH WR WKH
functioning drawers. bend on one plane. Remember to account Autopaint shop here and got them to
for the extra depth of the end pieces when match the colour; that way the whole
Does the job you measure up the top. I wanted the top WKLQJORRNVDVLILWLVRQHXQLW7KHKROHV
7KHFXSERDUGUHTXLUHGDÁRRUWKDW,ZDV to cover the two side pieces. I remembered to locate the lathe were drilled and the
able to cut from a scrap piece of 3mm cold that but forgot about the extra 1mm for lathe remounted, but this time I added
rolled steel. I then cut a piece of plywood WKH EDFN VR WKDW HQGHG XS EHLQJ ULYHWHG plenty of silicone sealant around the
WRÀWLQWKHJDSEHKLQGWKHPLGGOHGUDZHU below the fold for the top. I put the two holes and around the base of the lathe
slide support. This piece needed to be cut side pieces in place and wedged the top itself. The idea is to prevent any coolant
DQGURXWHGWRÀWRYHUWKHEUDFNHWVKROGLQJ over them, then riveted the whole lot to RU RLO ÀQGLQJ LWV ZD\ LQWR WKH GUDZHUV
the side piece in place. It isn’t as pretty as I the frame. 7KHROGFDELQHWOHDNHGRLO
ZRXOGKDYHOLNHGEXWLWLVODUJHO\XQVHHQ $OOLQDOO,DPTXLWHVDWLVÀHGZLWKWKH
The top and sides were bent up from Like a bought one outcome. I have certainly learnt a lot in
1mm cold rolled steel too. This was the The last piece was the cupboard door. the process and it is much tidier outcome
ÀUVWWLPH,KDGWRGHSOR\WKHÀQJHUVRQWKH I considered doing this as two doors than what I had previously.

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Saturday: October 6th 2018 9.00am-6.00pm
Sunday: October 7th 2018 9.00am-4.00pm
Admission: $10.00 per person.
Children under 12 free knifebug44@gmail.com
3D printing
S H O R TC U T
TO LE A R N I N G
TH E M AG I C O F 3 D
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IN PART FIVE OF OUR 3D PRINTING SERIES,
WE EXPLORE THE FEATURES OF TINKERCAD
THAT MAKE IT PERFECT FOR NEWBIES
By Enrico Miglino
Photographs: Enrico Miglino and Cristina Manfredini
T
he growing popularity of 3D primarily use Rhino 3D for my designs).
printers over the past few years has The reason for my choosing them is to
contributed to a wide diffusion of provide comprehensive support at two
CAD applications. levels: a beginner’s 3D design approach
Today it is possible to choose from a and an advanced approach with free
large range of different applications. If and easy-to-use applications without
you have never experienced the use of special hardware requirements. This
3D CAD it is not easy choosing the right will cover the widest range of users
application, and considering all the — children, constructors, hobbyists,
options can be confusing. In fact, one engineers, designers, and others.
right choice does not really exist. Your
choice will mostly depend on the use Software icon
and kind of modelling you want to do, Starting in the early ’80s, Autodesk
but by reducing the range of options became popular with its AutoCAD
to a smaller number of applications software, 2D CAD drawing software for
the decision will be a lot easier. In this architectural and mechanical design.
and the next part of our 3D printing Created by Gary Yos in 1996 and
series, we will focus our attention on published by Autodesk, the advent of
two applications useful for those who 3D Studio Max represented a big jump
will be making their own designs in the world of the 3D solid modelling
for 3D printing, both developed and applications market. During the last
distributed by Autodesk — Tinkercad decade the Autodesk 3D modelling
and Fusion 360. platform has continued to evolve with
These are very popular applications continuous improvements. Today
and I am not sponsored by them (I there are many competitors, but this

Above: A simple 3D scene created by
placing some basic primitives on the
workspace. The solid primitives have then
been positioned and resized. You will note
that by selecting an object (the yellow
pyramid), it is immediately quoted. The
selected object can be easily rotated,
resized, and deformed using the control
points shown
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and reliable software to easily design
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Pressing the Bricks button, the 3D scene has been converted to a set of Lego blocks.
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when an STL model is sliced by the 3D printing software, this Tinkercad feature creates a VSHFLÀF ' PRGHOOLQJ VRIWZDUH WR
series of layers according to the dimensions of the model and the bricks’ thickness. The
images show some of the layers of the converted design. In practice, a Tinkercad 3D design is SURGXFHVWHUHROLWKRJUDSK\ÀOHV67/
converted to the assembly guide of the corresponding Lego model Over the last few years, Autodesk has
also moved into this market with the
two applications mentioned: Tinkercad
— easy to use, online, and totally free;
software remains an icon in the world This interest resulted in the creation of and Fusion 360 — a more professional
of 3D design. affordable 3D modelling software oriented 3D modelling application that is also
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a lot of effort in releasing CAD design RI WKH ÀUVW YHUVLRQ RI RSHQVRXUFH ' DQGQRQFRPPHUFLDOXVH
solutions for personal use, a signal modelling applications like Blender was
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3D CAD use was limited to mechanical CAD for 3D printing really needs fewer 3D design CAD for the masses.
design and a small range of professionals RSWLRQVDQGDXVHUIULHQGO\ZRUNÁRZ Able to run on any browser, the
in other disciplines. With its second programme is platform independent
update, 3D modelling applications Low-cost printers and no special hardware is required.
started to gain the interest of animators, ,Q WKH PHDQWLPH WKH ODUJH GLIIXVLRQ <RXMXVWUHJLVWHURQWKHVLWHDQGODXQFK
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Right: When using primitives made of
complex polygons, by selecting the object
you also have access to a set of modifiers.
For example, the rounded die in the image
when selected shows a pop-up with three
sliders: Sides, Bevel, and Segments
This software
remains an icon in the
world of 3D design
create to use Tinkercad gives access to

all the Autodesk applications.
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application proposes a tutorial series
of lessons to explore the main features.
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The programme features are designed
Above and below: This series of images shows what happens when importing an STL
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file created with Tinkercad into Rhino 3D, a commercial 3D-modelling programme. After
KREE\LVWV FKLOGUHQ DQG FDVXDO ' importing, the STL file is just a single object, a solid element that can only be repositioned,
printer users. scaled or rotated. In fact, the STL file format is the output representation of a solid object
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of options:
• Tinkercad for …
• Gallery
• Community
• Learn
• Teach
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it is perfect for classroom teaching. The
process is easy: the teacher creates a
classroom account and the authorized

Left: The previous example scene exported
to STL shown in the 3D printing software
Repetier
techniques and three others on how to

add simple electronics components to
the models.
The Learn section includes a lot
of video tutorials; fully documented
projects to improve your skills through
making toys, moving objects; and
more, presented in increasing levels of
GLIÀFXOW\ 7KH WXWRULDO SURMHFWV JXLGH
the user to build their own models and
students can access the same models for 3D printers, optimized for a step-by- provide useful suggestions and tips
and the group, including the teacher, step learning approach to 3D modelling along the way. It is a very interesting
can interact and share their progress. that is very enjoyable and pleasant. way of learning the programme’s
One of the Teach menu options is Parent. commands and features, as well as
With Tinkercad it is also possible to Teach yourself acquiring the correct 3D modelling
teach 3D modelling and 3D printing in Users without any previous knowledge methodology.
small groups or at home. wishing to self-learn can start at the The Gallery section is a great source
In fact, Tinkercad is an application /HDUQ PHQX ZKHUH WKH\ ZLOO ÀQG of inspiration: it provides access to
tailored for building models destined six easy lessons on 3D modelling hundreds of ready-to-print projects
shared by other users.
Obviously, you can also save your
Another composition designed to be transformed in Bricks. The images show some of the
layers to build the corresponding Lego model designs. When sharing your work you
decide if it will be available for further
editing and use by other users, or
only loaded in the STL (non-editable)
format for 3D printing, depending
on the kind of Creative Commons
(https://creativecommons.org/) license
— you decide.
The menu options

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offers some interesting surprises: there
are six different design categories:
• Pokémon
• Planters
• Minecraft
• Fidgets
• Bricks
• Circuits
Pokémon
This option invites the user to design
their own Pokémon characters, to
subscribe to a Pokémon community,
and gives access to an array of pre-built
Pokémon subjects.
Minecraft
One of the most popular computer

Two buildings created with the
Skeleton primitives. Together
with Dinosaur and Connectors,
these are design components
specifically provided by Tinkercad
with which to build toys, objects,
moving parts, etc., in the easiest
possible way
games for the current generation of Circuits

teenagers is Minecraft. A cool feature Circuits is a sort of customized
of Tinkercad is the option to transform Running on any version of the programme that
3D objects and characters into perfect browser the includes a wide range of electronics
Minecraft style. At any point of a primitives: breadboards; discrete
programme is components (resistors, capacitors, LEDs,
design, you can just press the Minecraft
button to see the same objects in a platform independent potentiometers, etc.); and the most
Minecraft scenario. You can orient them and no special used IC (integrated-circuit) components
in the space as you want and export (shift-register, half-bridge, power
hardware is required
LPDJHÀOHV regulator, etc.) next to the inevitable
Bricks presence of the most popular makers’
And what about the Bricks button? boards: Arduino, BBC Micro Bit, and
By pressing this button your 3D model the design is represented by layers that Raspberry Pi.
will be converted to a realistic Lego can be scrolled one by one — it is a sort Through this section you can build
model that you can build with the of building instruction for your own 3D-printable cases as well as animated
famous coloured blocks. In this mode, original Lego model. toys and more complex objects,

Step one: A Raspberry Pi and standard-size
breadboard are added to the design area
Step two: The Raspberry Pi is placed over a Step three: The four cylinders that pass through Step four: Another red block has been placed
rectangular block (red) with four cylinders the red base are selected and converted to in correspondence with the breadboard.
aligned to the four holes of the Raspberry Pi holes. When an object is set as a hole, its Both electronic primitives, the Raspberry Pi
volume is subtracted from any other object it is and the breadboard do not lie on the ground
included in, also partially base but are elevated to a proper height

The Gallery section
is a great source
of inspiration: it
provides access to
hundreds of ready-to-
An example of how electronic parts can
be embedded in designs to create — for
print projects shared
example — cases, circuit containers, or
animated objects, including electronics
by other users
including your favourite boards and subtract one object from another, split an
circuits, improving the design speed object into parts, create holes, and so on.
and quality with a minimal effort. Complex models have been made easy
Planters and Fidgets by Tinkercad thanks to the wide range of
These two sections are essentially available primitives, the full list of which
similar to the others. Planters (referring is accessible from the drop-down menu
to making strange and creative plant to the right of the design editor. The best
vases with a 3D printer), is just a page way to explore the potentialities is by
containing a series of links to other trying them one by one. With a minimum
users’ creations and a PDF guide. of practice and experimentation, you can
Fidgets the same. So these two sections save a lot of time and achieve some very
are just there to make the application good results.
more attractive and do not really add
any value to the application itself. Make your own primitives
Tinkercad offers another surprise
Graphic primitives dedicated to more experienced users.
Every CAD application has a series of If the 3D primitives and helpers
primitives used to design complex 3D available by the application do not cover
objects, applying 3D Boolean operations, all your needs, you can create your own
joining, engraving, etc. primitives with the Shape Generator (the
For example, you can place a cube on last available option in the Primitives
the ground plane, then put a sphere over drop-down menu).
it, then join the two objects, making a When generating a new shape, you
single one. DUHÀUVWDVNHGWRVHOHFWRQHRIWKHEDVLF
As well as joining components, you can ' JHRPHWULF ÀJXUHV IURP D OLVW RU
leave null to start with an empty editor).
Step five: The breadboard is also set as hole, Step six: Only the parts that should 3D printed After this step, the Shape Generator
so the breadboard volume will be subtracted are exported: the base and the holes, the four editor starts.
from the base. The two parts of the base are cylinders, and the breadboard. The image
grouped together, making a single object. shows the resulting STL file in the 3D printing For a complete description of the
The new green colour assigned to the base is programme Repetier Shape Generator, you can read the
arbitrary to show the change
extensive Tinkercad documentation
online, but it is worth mentioning one
particular feature — the editor area is
divided vertically into two parts. On the
right side, there is the 3D space, while on
the left there is a JavaScript editor.
Starting from the selected primitive
you can try changing some parameters
on the JavaScript side and, after saving
your changes, these are rendered
immediately on the right side. This
approach is useful to learn the maths
behind the 3D modelling design. f

Pros and cons Internet needed somewhere on an Autodesk server. If you
If you want to start the adventure Unlike other browser-based applications, have not got a good Internet connection
of learning the magic of 3D design, Tinkercad can only work with an active DW OHDVW 0% $'6/ LV UHFRPPHQGHG
Tinkercad is perfect for you. It is great Internet connection. you can experience some serious
way to create 3D printable objects and As a matter of fact, the CAD engine is performance issues.
has a lot of helpful features.
If you plan to start with an easy-to-
Above and below: A simple example of how
XVH &$' V\VWHP VSHFLÀFDOO\ WDLORUHG the Shape Generator works — two views
for 3D printing, but your plans are to of a design using the new primitive in its
eventually evolve to more complex original form (yellow) and after applying some
deformations (blue)
platforms (e.g., to design some stuff
for 3D-axis routers), this is not the best
choice for you. However, Tinkercad is
one of the best ways to learn the basics of
the 3D modelling, especially when you
consider the limits of the application.
File-format limitations
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are not editable, and is just a sort of
locked object that can only be resized.
This is probably the biggest downside of
this application.

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WOODWORKING TOOLS THAT WORK

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Choose from two four-piece sets, which come in a sturdy cases
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For pricing and contact details, contact Stratco on 0800
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WELDING SAFETY
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843 615 to discuss options and pricing or visit them at them every six months, and replace
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PAINT BEATS THE PRESSURE

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excellent adhesion and is tolerant of application over damp surfaces.
Available from Resene ColorShops, www.resene.co.nz/colorshops.
PRECISION DRILLING
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Brad Point tip ensures accurate positioning
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reduce splintering to ensure a smooth, clean
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overkill for your needs, perhaps you could consider the Karaka applications where an exact hole size is
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Available in small and large sizes — priced at $190 and Find your nearest stockist by visiting
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or call (09) 414 5678.
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Sharpening
ACQUIRING A NATURAL SHARPENING

STONE LEADS RITCHIE ON AN
INTERESTING QUEST
By Ritchie Wilson
Photographs: Ritchie Wilson
KE
I
wanted a natural sharpening stone and First Kiwi-made tools
didn’t want to pay for a Japanese water For the early Polynesians, arriving at a
stone, many varieties of which I have QHZSUHYLRXVO\XQLQKDELWHG3DFLÀFLVODQG
seen for sale in Japan. Some of these cost would have been like being given the keys
more than $100. Arkansas and Washita WR3DN·Q·6DYH/DUJHÁLJKWOHVVELUGVDQG
stones from America are similarly pricey. plentiful sea mammals, with no fear of
, FDPH DFURVV D UHIHUHQFH WR 0ʕRUL humans, would have provided easy eating
using stone from Lyttelton Harbour for for generations. Because of the typically
sharpening and I thought that I could YHU\ORQJYR\DJHVXQGHUWDNHQWRÀQGQHZ
collect a stone from their old quarry, land, replacing stone tools as they wore out
VKDSH DQG ÁDWWHQ LW DQG , ZRXOG EH LQ or broke was not so easy. They had to do
business — and my cash would stay it themselves using the materials at hand.
safely in my wallet. It was while I was ,Q WKH 6RXWK 3DFLÀF DQG +DZDLL WKH EHVW
trying to get more information about material was the volcanic rock, basalt, of
local sharpening stones that I was struck which the islands were composed. When
by the similarities between sharpening 0ʕRULDUULYHGLQ$RWHDURD\HDUVDJR
steel and stone tools. Both use abrasives they would have been evaluating the stone
WRZHDUDZD\WZRÁDWVXUIDFHVWKDWPHHW outcrops’ potential for toolmaking and tool
at the cutting edge. VKDUSHQLQJIURPWKHYHU\ÀUVWf
The hardness of abrasives

Hardness by Chemical
Abrasive Occurrence
Mohs scale composition
Diamond plates,
Diamond 10 C
sandpaper
Silicon carbide Oil stones, grinding
9–10 SiC
wheels, sandpaper
Aluminium India stones, grinding
9 Al2O3
oxide (alumina) wheels, sandpaper
Glass 7 Sandpaper
Silica Sand, sandstone, Japanese

7 SiO2
water stones
Rouge 5.5–6.5 Fe2O3
Jeweller’s rouge

EPING SHARP

A few of the adzes in Canterbury Museum’s collection. Some have been
smoothed over their entire surface; others roughly shaped, with only the
cutting edge ground smooth. The first Europeans in New Zealand describe
how Māori would fill any idle moments by polishing their stone tools. This
shows the high regard in which these objects were held
Obsidian — a perfect ZHUH XVHG IRU WKLV SXUSRVH 7KH ÀQH

Grit numbers knife JUDLQHG EDVDOW IURP WKH &RURPDQGHO
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The abrasiveness of sandpaper and RI 0ʕRUL VHWWOHPHQW /DWHU WKH KDUG
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oil stones is indicated by a number. JUH\ VDQGVWRQH JUH\ZDFNH RI ZKLFK
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The higher the number, the finer the WKH 6RXWKHUQ $OSV DUH PDGH ZDV PRVW
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abrasive, so 100 is coarse and 1000 is FRPPRQO\ XVHG DOWKRXJK WKH VXSUHPH
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very fine. Generally only two grades QHSKULWH ³ SRXQDPX ³ IURP WKH
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are used in sharpening tools. The $UDKXUD DQG 7DUDPDNDX 5LYHUV RQ WKH
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Norton aluminium oxide sharpening :HVW &RDVW RI WKH 6RXWK ,VODQG ZDV
JODVV REVLGLDQ FDOOHG ¶PDWʕ· E\ WKH
stone I bought recently had medium PRVWYDOXHG
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(120 grit) to remove metal quickly, and
IURP0D\RU,VODQGLQWKH%D\RI3OHQW\
fine (180 grit) to give a more polished
2EVLGLDQZDVYDOXHGEHFDXVHIUDJPHQWV The need for sharpening
finish. Similarly the Māori classified $G]HV WRNL DQG FKLVHOV ZKDR
QDWXUDOO\ KDYH YHU\ VKDUS HGJHV
their hōanga into two types: matanui, ZKDWHYHU WKH\ DUH PDGH IURP KDYH WR
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for rapidly removing material, and EHVKDUSWRFXWZRRG0ʕRULXVHGHLWKHU
/DUJHU EODGHV IRU WKH YHU\ LPSRUWDQW
matarehu, for a smoother finish. DPL[WXUHRIVKDUSVDQGDQGZDWHURQD
ZRRGZRUNLQJDG]HVZHUHKDUGWRPDNH
IURPREVLGLDQDQGPDQ\GLIIHUHQWVWRQHV KDUGÁDWVWRQHRUDÁDWSLHFHRIZHWWHG

A common sharpening sequence
1. If the edge is chipped it needs to

be ground straight on a grinding
wheel and the bevel reground
without overheating.
2. The bevel and the back of the blade
are flattened on a coarse oil stone,
which gives a rough surface but
removes metal quickly.
3. Repeat Step Two with a fine oil
stone, typically on the opposite
side of the stone from the coarse
abrasive, which leaves a smoother
finish. This will produce a thin, just
visible wire on the cutting edge.
4. Using a flat surface and an ultra-
fine lapping powder such as rouge,
lap the two sides meeting at the
edge to remove the wire.
5. Strop the edge on leather or a cloth
wheel to ensure the wire is gone.
6. If the tool is only slightly blunt only
Steps Three to Five are needed.
Above left: A carborundum stone

Far left: Thin oil is needed to
lubricate the oil stone
Left: Sharpening a plane cutter on
the India stone
Below: An adze blade being formed. sandstone, to sharpen and polish stone
(Reproduced with permission from tools. Evidence of the use of sandstone Whatever they are
Clive Fugill, Te Toki me te Whao: The Story outcrops for this purpose can still be
and Use of Māori Tools [Oratia Books, 2016])
made from, [they]
seen at some locations, usually very
near to water. Sand and sandstone
have to be sharp to
are both a result of the weathering of cut wood
quartz. The small, hard, sharp-edged
silica crystals, made by the break-up
of lumps of quartz, scratch the stone
being sharpened, abrading it away. The $G]HEODGHVZHUHPDGHÀUVWIURPEDUUHO
ÀQDO SROLVK ZDV DFKLHYHG E\ XVLQJ UHG hoops, then from cutters from carpenter’s
ochre (kokowai), which contains rouge, SODQHVDQGÀQDOO\ZHUHODUJHO\UHSODFHG
applied with, perhaps, animal skin. by European adzes and axes.
7UDFHVRIWKHUHGYHU\ÀQHDEUDVLYHFDQ The stone adzes were then used for
be seen on some toki. gardening; abandoned; or, if pounamu,
reshaped into hei tiki. Stone adze heads
Steel arrives are continually being discovered and
Contact with European sailors resulted handed into our local museums.
in major changes to the tools of the These new metal tools were sought after
0ʕRULORQJEHIRUHDQ\VLJQLÀFDQWLPSDFW E\ 0ʕRUL EHFDXVH PHWDO PDNHV D PRUH
was felt in other aspects of traditional durable cutting blade that holds an edge
0ʕRUL OLIH &DUYHUV PDGH LQFUHDVLQJ better and is probably sharper too, but
use of steel chisels made from nails. sharpened in the same way as stone blades.

A sandstone grindstone lubricated by
a water bath. In the background are
samples of the various timbers grown at
Orton Bradley Park in Lyttelton Harbour
Why are abrasives hard?
Diamond is made from carbon atoms

linked by unusually strong chemical
bonds in a rigid three-dimensional
lattice. This structure is very difficult
to deform so is ‘hard’. Diamond is, of
course, the hardest substance known.
Silicon carbide has a similar structure
to diamond except that every second
carbon atom in the lattice is replaced
with a silicon atom, silicon and carbon
being very similar chemically. Again
this forms a rigid three-dimensional
lattice, but the atoms are not as strongly Diamond structure Carborundum structure
C = carbon Si = silicon
bonded together as in diamond, so the
structure is less hard. first three because they are ‘ionic’. the substances are hard.
Silica, again, has a similar structure to ‘Ions’ are atoms that have an electrical Other metals which form ions with a
diamond. It has silicon atoms linked charge. Both aluminium oxide and rouge high charge, such as chromium, would
by oxygen atoms to also form a rigid contain metal ions with an unusually have oxides that are hard and would,
three-dimensional structure. This is, large charge. Rouge has iron III ions and perhaps, be suitable as abrasives.
however, less rigid than either diamond aluminium oxide has aluminium III ions Iron III and aluminium III ions do have
or silicon carbide, so silica, while hard, and both have oxide (oxygen) ions. In the advantage over many other metal
isn’t as hard as the other two. As there is both, the small metal ions surround the ions in that they are not toxic (as far as
an oxygen atom between all the silicons larger oxide ions, which in turn surround we know).
there are twice as many oxygens as there the metal ions. Due to the high charge All of the discussed form crystals with
are silicons. on the metal ions, the forces holding the straight edges and sharp points suitable
Aluminium oxide and rouge are similar ions together are very strong and so the for abrading metal or stone particles
to each other, but different from the ionic structure is rigid. Again this means from a surface to form a cutting edge.

Sharpening angles
Plane cutters and chisel blades, like

Māori adze blades, have cutting edges
formed where a bevelled front meets
a flat back. The smaller the angle
between the two surfaces, the sharper
the edge, but the more likely it is to
chip and the longer it takes to sharpen.
A compromise is needed, which usually
results in an angle of about 30 degrees
between the ground faces. In his book
on scything, “The Scythe Book”, “The
Scythe Must Dance “ (2001), Peter Vido
called it “the compromise between works best when the cutter is sharpened expensive, are still available today. These
penetration and durability”. to the indicated angle. Thin plane cutters sharpening jigs work by holding the cutter
The sharpening angle is important in are more easily sharpened than older, at a fixed angle to the surface of the
plane cutters that are held at a fixed thicker ones because less metal has to be sharpening material. Some hold the cutter
angle to the surface being worked, and removed. at an angle to the direction of movement
instructions as to the correct angles can Many devices have been invented to aid also, so that the cutting edge is also at an
sometimes be found engraved on the the sharpening of cutters to a particular angle to the length of the cutter, which
chip-breaker of the plane. The plane angle and examples, both cheap and may provide a better cutting action in use.
A Stanley 140 plane cutter in a Millers Sharpening jigs (from right): two Stanley; Millers Falls 240; Eclipse 36.
Falls 240 sharpening jig, which allows These hold a cutting tool so that its edge is sharpened at the correct angle
the edge to be sharpened at an angle
The cutting edge of a metal tool is also oxide (alumina), rouge (iron III oxide), brought into action. As the stones were
formed by the grinding of two surfaces and glass are all used as abrasives and used they were worn away and stopped
that meet at a line. Again, small, hard, all sharpen in the same way as the sand EHLQJ ÁDW DQG VR KDG WR EH ÁDWWHQHG
sharp crystals are used to scratch the VOXUULHVRISUH(XURSHDQ0ʕRUL XVLQJDÁDWKDUGURFNDQGDVDQGVOXUU\
PHWDO WR PDNH WKH ÁDW VXUIDFHV 7KH Before the last century water stones ³MXVWDVWKH0ʕRULGLG
harder the crystals, the harder the metal were the usual sharpening material.
that can be sharpened. The smaller the These were made of sandstone, which Water stones revered
FU\VWDOVWKHÀQHUWKHVFUDWFKHVDQGWKH is a sedimentary rock consisting of silica The best water stones were highly
sharper the edge. The larger the crystals, crystals that have been bonded together valued, as they continue to be today,
the faster the edge is sharpened. by heat and pressure deep beneath the and were traded widely around the
Earth’s surface. The hard silica crystals ZRUOG 7KH ÀUVW (XURSHDQV WR VHWWOH
Hard, crystalline on the face of a water stone removed in New Zealand would have brought
materials metal from the surface being sharpened a water stone in their swag as well as
When we look at a list of hard and plenty of water kept the metal cool the classic axe and a Bible. If they were
crystalline materials, we see many of the and washed away the mixture of lost English the stone would have probably
substances that we use for sharpening metal particles and detached, broken been a Charnwood Forest stone from
in the shed. Diamond, silicon carbide silica crystals called ‘swarf’. This allowed Leicestershire, but there would have
(carborundum), silica (sand), aluminium new sharp crystals to be uncovered and been a variety to choose from — some,

Sandpaper
The abrasive particles are glued to a sheet
of paper, cloth, etc. to form sandpaper.
My old woodwork teacher used to insist
that sandpaper was called ‘glasspaper’,
because the abrasive used back then was
glass powder. Today neither glass nor sand
(silica) are found on sandpaper. Instead,
the familiar substances silicon carbide,
aluminium oxide, and diamond are used.
As there is only one layer of abrasive the
sandpaper has a limited life — the abrasive
particles being broken or detached from
the backing relatively quickly. On the other
hand, sandpaper is cheap and flexible. An
effective and inexpensive (though short-
lived) whetstone can be made by taping
sandpaper to a flat base.
A Stanley 60½ plane cutter in an

Eclipse 36 sharpening jig
Above: A hōanga from Canterbury Museum’s collection. It has

been worn to a dish shape by generations of sharpening
Below: Different-shaped oil stones

such as Turkey stones, from as far away
DV/HEDQRQDQG6\ULD0ʕRULFDOOHGZDWHU
VWRQHV¶KˆDQJD·DQGDQH[DPSOHRIWKHVH
ZDV D VDQGVWRQH IURP WLQ\ .LQJ %LOO\
,VODQG LQ WKH 6RXWK ,VODQG·V /\WWHOWRQ
+DUERXU6RPHKˆDQJDZHUHVRUHYHUHG
that they were named and had stories
FRPSRVHG DERXW WKHLU KLVWRU\ 2QH
IDPRXVH[DPSOHQHDU5RWRUXDZDVVDLG
WRKDYHEHHQEURXJKWIURP3RO\QHVLDRQ
the Arawa waka.
Finer abrasive oil stones

8QWLO UHFHQWO\ RLO VWRQHV FRQVLVWLQJ
RI VLOLFRQ FDUELGH FU\VWDOV RI D XQLIRUP
VL]H HPEHGGHG LQ D ERQGLQJ DJHQW
ZHUH XQLYHUVDOO\ XVHG E\ ZRUNHUV LQ
:HVWHUQFRXQWULHVWRNHHSDVKDUSHGJH
RQWRROV%HLQJPDQXIDFWXUHGRLOVWRQHV
ZHUH UHODWLYHO\ FKHDS DQG FRQVLVWHQW
7KH ¶RLO· LQ WKH QDPH UHIHUV WR WKH OLJKW

mineral oil which was used on the stone Sharpening drill bits with the Eclipse 39
to lubricate and cool the abrasive and
to allow swarf to be moved away from Pictured is the drill-sharpening jig I I have seen seasoned metalworkers
the sharpening surface. Oil stones are use. It is the Eclipse 39, a British-made sharpen drills freehand on a bench
also commonly made from aluminium device whose inventor won British grinder in just a few seconds and
oxide (alumina), which has generally Invention of the Year competition produce quality results. That is
ÀQHUDEUDVLYHSDUWLFOHVDQGVRSURGXFHV in 1970. The abrasive material is obviously a better way, especially for
a sharper edge more slowly. These are sandpaper taped to a flat surface. I use large bits, but requires skill which I
called India stones. Some natural stones, the plate glass top from a damaged set suspect was hard won; there being
such as Arkansas stone from America, of bathroom scales. plenty which can go wrong.
are also used as oil stones but are much The drill bit is accurately positioned in
more expensive. the jig and pushed over the sheet of
abrasive. After a few passages across
Diamond days the surface the drill bit is repositioned
The serious woodworker of today would and the other facet of the drill’s cutting
almost certainly use diamond as a surface is sharpened. The process is
sharpening material. Diamond is so hard repeated until two good cutting edges
that it is worn away by sharpening much are produced.
more slowly than other abrasives, so It is rather a long and demanding
only one layer of diamond is used. This procedure, but has the advantage that
LV ERQGHG WR D KRSHIXOO\ ÁDW VXUIDFH a completely inexperienced amateur
that incorporates depressions to remove can transform a blunt drill bit into a
swarf so that the diamond crystals aren’t useful item. Sharpening a drill bit with the Eclipse 39 jig
clogged with metal particles. Using the
plate wet apparently makes it last longer.
The diamonds used are relatively
inexpensive because they are ÁDWWHQHG RU ¶WUXHG· WR PDLQWDLQ D edge’ of the scythe. The oil stone would
manufactured. They are sorted by ÁDW VKDUSHQLQJ VXUIDFH 'LDPRQG have been called a ‘whetstone’. He
size so that diamond plates of various plates would be suitable for this, or would have periodically oiled the stone’s
FRDUVHQHVV DOWKRXJK QRW YHU\ ÀQH VSHFLDOL]HGÁDWWHQLQJVXUIDFHVXVHGZLWK surface with an oil-soaked rag from the
can be produced. Diamond plates are silicon carbide powder could be used. pouch. I can’t remember him having
unrivalled in removing metal quickly and Japanese water stones were originally an oil can concealed about his person;
in sharpening very hard alloys like high- natural, being quarried at numerous perhaps it was in another belt pouch. Or
speed steel, but struggle to produce a locations in Japan, but are now mainly was it in his … Truck? Unlikely. Bicycle?
PLUURUÀQLVKRQWKHWRRODQGKHQFHDUHDOO\ manufactured, several companies Horse? It’s a long time ago. f
sharp edge. Diamonds are also excellent producing various brands. Like other
sharpening stones they come in a variety A Japanese water stone
conductors of heat, so the surface being
sharpened shouldn’t overheat and lose of abrasive particle sizes, some of which
temper. ‘Temper’ is the hardness caused DUHYHU\ÀQHSHUKDSVWKHÀQHVWDYDLODEOH
by the heat treatment of steel. Finer particles equal sharper edges but
slower sharpening. Overall Japanese
Japanese water stones water stones provide a sharper edge for
Japanese tools are increasingly being less sharpening effort, which means that
used by both professional and amateur they can be sold at a premium price.
woodworkers, as are Japanese water
stones. These have as abrasives the The old name for
familiar silica particles, but their sharpening
difference is that the particles are As a child I used to see a council worker
embedded in a clay matrix. This makes regularly cut the grass verge of our road
the stone softer than sandstones with the with a scythe. Every 10 minutes or so
advantage that new sharpening particles he would take a round oil stone out of
are continually being uncovered as a a leather pouch attached to his belt and
tool is moved over the stone, leading to wipe it a few times along the cutting
rapid sharpening. edge. This process was called ‘whetting’,
The disadvantage is that the stone the old name for sharpening, and he
wears quickly and has to be frequently would have been said to have ‘whet the

The King Billy Island expedition
Left: The piece of Orton Bradley Park

sandstone
Above: The cut stone
Below: The ‘as found’ op-shop chisel
Bottom: Sharpening the op shop’s Marples
chisel on the Orton Bradley Park sandstone
whetstone
I was aware that getting a sharpening the quite extensive, well-fenced quarry
stone from tiny King Billy Island in which was last worked more than
Lyttelton Harbour would be problematic 40 years ago. The manager thought it
because it is administered by the was unwise to approach the workings
Department of Conservation (DOC) as too closely, especially as water was
part of the conservation estate. running down the rock face and a rock
Without much hope of success I fall was not out of the question. There
contacted DOC, the local iwi, Te Hapū was plenty of sandstone rubble among
o Ngāti Wheke, and the Otamahua / the gorse bushes below the quarry face,
Quail Island Ecological Restoration Trust, and he very kindly gave me a plate-sized
who are all stakeholders in the island. piece. We discussed whether Mr Bradley,
The DOC’s position was that nothing the original owner, would have used sharpening area. The surface came up
should be taken from conservation the sandstone to make grinding wheels well, with a creamy colour with red-brown
land without permission, unless I had a such as the ones in the old sawmill on flecks. I used water as a lubricant, just like
prospecting licence. So that was that. the property. the Orton Bradley Park grindstone, as I
Interestingly King Billy Island is known The manager thought that the slowly sharpened a chisel that I found at
as ‘Aua’ to the Māori. Another meaning grindstones were probably English, an op shop to a near-mirror finish. Result!
of ‘aua’ is “I don’t know”. A situation but he pointed out that one of them, A big thank you goes out to Clive Fugill,
reminiscent of the Indigenous Australian powered by the overshot water wheel, Vicki Blyth, and Lisa McDonald from
word ‘kangaroo’, which has the had ‘1900’ carved into its side. Would Canterbury Museum, as well as the staff
same meaning. you do that to a purchased grindstone, at the beautiful Orton Bradley Park for
I rang the Geology Department at the or would the rough sides of the their help in the writing of this article.
University of Canterbury and talked to grindstone indicate that it had been
one of the professors. He told me that made on the property with stone from
there were are other sandstone outcrops their quarry?
in the ancient volcano caldera that The animal-welfare organization where
forms Lyttelton Harbour. These are the my younger daughter worked before she
remains of the seabed that the volcano went back to university has a bench-top
thrust through millions of years ago. manufacturing business behind it owned
One is at nearby Orton Bradley Park, by Shane Boyd. For a small fee Shane cut
which is owned by a charitable trust. the Orton Bradley Park stone into three
I applied to the park manager to get a pieces with the 450mm water-cooled
small block of the sandstone, to which diamond blade of his Italian computer
he was agreeable. On the day, we numerical control (CNC) bench-top
trudged through the rain and mist to machine. This produced a 200x100mm

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henleymenzshed@xtra.co.nz trevor.dennis@xtra.co.nz tepunaauaha@gmail.com
MENZSHED CARTERTON WESTPORT MENZ SHED ROLLESTON MEN’S SHED

Pete Doncliff 03 789 4219 or 027 237 8816 Stephen Rushton 021 106 0148
David Parr 06 379 7766 or 021 811 984
westshedchair@gmail.com rollestonshed@gmail.com
davidparr44@gmail.com
KAIKOURA COMMUNITY SHED MEN’S SHED OF LINCOLN SOCIETY
GREYTOWN MENZ SHED David Barrett 021 0288 1031 Myles Rea 03 3252 632
John Boon 06 304 7960 or 027 500 5072
barrett_dave2@hotmail.com secretary.lincolnmensshed@gmail.com
johnmboon@gmail.com
WESTLAND INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE PARK INC AKAROA COMMUNITY MEN’S SHED
FEATHERSTON MENZ SHED Rob Daniel 03 755 7193 or 022 173 5598 Howard Wilson 027 407 9559 or 03 304 7480
Garry Thomas 027 450 0660 rob.daniel@slingshot.co.nz h.wilson@xtra.co.nz
featherstonmenzshed@hotmail.com
AMBERLEY MENZ SHED INC ASHBURTON MEN’S SHED
UPPER HUTT MENZSHED John Black 03 314 9095 Stewart Dunlop 03 3083910 or
Phil Kidd 04 528 9897 or 027 239 4828 john.r.black@opus.co.nz 022 133 7817
prcmk@xtra.co.nz ash.menzshed@outlook.com
MCIVER’S OXFORD COMMUNITY MEN’S SHED
MENZSHED TAWA Trevor Scott 03 960 4919 TIMARU MENZ SHED
Gary Beecroft 04 2323993 or 022 5898581 oxfordcommunitymensshed@gmail.com Kevin Wildey 021 206 7291 or 03 6846087
gary.beecroft@xtra.co.nz kwkevlights061@gmail.com
MENZ SHED OF KAIAPOI
MEN’S SHED NAENAE Frank Overend 03 327 2737 or 027 683 8286 ARROWTOWN MENZSHED INC
Archie Kerr 04 569 7069 bdirect@xtra.co.nz Russel Heckler 03 442 0204
menzshednaenae@gmail.com hecklerdenise@hotmail.com
MENZSHED DARFIELD/MALVERN INC
MARTINBOROUGH MENS SHED Tony Zwart 03 318 7370 or 021 223 1648 OAMARU MENZ SHED
John Mansell zwarta@xtra.co.nz John Walker 027 445 5265
martinboroughshed@gmail.com jjms@actrix.co.nz
BISHOPDALE MENZ SHED
EASTBOURNE & BAYS MENZ SHED Richard Rendle 03 359 7275 ALEXANDRA MEN’S SHED
Mike Parker 04 562 8688 rendle@xtra.co.nz Neil McArthur 03 448 9377
mikeandcarolynparker@gmail.com alexmenshed@gmail.com
ST ALBANS MENS SHED
CITY MENZSHED WELLINGTON Barbara Roper 03 352 4860 or 027 693 1278 NORTH DUNEDIN SHED SOCIETY INC
John Shrapnell 04 473 7128 or 021 1725 430 rpb@papanui.school.nz Paul Nelson 03 474 0060 or 021 1445 8531
info@citymenzshed.org.nz madnel@vodafone.co.nz
NEW BRIGHTON MENZ SHED
MOTUEKA MENZ SHED Ray Hall 03 388 7277 or 027 895 2488 TAIERI BLOKE’S SHED
Tony Small 03 528 5221 secretary.nbmenzshed@gmail.com Nick Wilson 03 742 1206
tonysmall@xtra.co.nz jean.nickwilson@gmail.com
LINWOOD MEN’S SHED
MENZSHED - NELSON INC Shane Hollis 03 981 5594 or 022 062 0744 MATAURA MENZSHED
Denis Moriarty 027 474 6631 shane.linwoodresource@accd.org.nz Mike Whale 027 299 7218
nelson.menzshed@gmail.com orcas@xtra.co.nz
HALSWELL MEN’S SHED
HAVELOCK MENZ SHED Roger Spicer 027 229 1928 MENZSHED INVERCARGILL
roger.s@xtra.co.nz Peter Bailey
Ian Cameron 03 574 2558
ianc.cameron@xtra.co.nz peteolly@xtra.co.nz
Back o’ The Shed
Truth
and dare By Jim Hopkins
T
here are some young geezers, still wet roaming bush tracks, startling fat wood
behind the ears, who simply refuse pigeons, climbing tailing mounds, tossing
to believe it when you tell them that red-lichened rocks into dredging ponds.
there was a time when delinquent lads There was an abandoned mine in the hills
ZHUH ÁD\HG ZLWK SOLDQW EDPERR URGV DV EHKLQG%ODFNEDOOZKHUHDÀUHKDGVWDUWHG
punishment for their transgressions. and coal was still burning underground
These same callow whippersnappers, 90 years later. The scree slope above
cosseted in cotton wool, roll incredulous was treeless, just bare stones with little
eyes when you insist that entire cities wisps of smoke seeping through cracks in
used to warm themselves with coal, the earth.
pumping a volcano’s worth of sulphur into Best of all, the favourite summer spot, Which meant going to tournaments
a starless sky for weeks on end. Or that was a place that always offered some hither and yon. Unhappy driving for
long-distance travel once involved being different dare — the big weathered timber hours on end, Allan and a mate did the
hauled by great, black, steaming K-class Blackball Bridge, spanning the wide sensible thing and bought a plane. They
locos that used to stop for extended Grey River. It was an imposing thing, a ÁHZ WKHLU OLWWOH &HVVQD WR ZRUNLQJ
periods at remote sidings to refuel with rough-hewn pioneer structure built with men’s clubs all over the country. One day,
… water! purpose for a purpose — to get trains in Allan thinks it was in 1978, the match
Reared on tablets and twaddle and and take coal out. You could climb under was in Greymouth. So he took the plane.
schooled by mollycoddling post-Freudians it and over it and up its angled wooden As you do.
convinced one rebuke will cause lifelong ÁDQNV$QGZHGLGIRUZHKDGQRIHDU Match over, it was back to Reefton. And
trauma, our millennial YouBook and But one thing we didn’t do, indeed a since some of the team had travelled by
Facetube yooves cannot comprehend thing so rare and risky that it’s hard to car, that meant there had to be a race.
such unfathomable things. believe anyone’s done it, is something And Allan had to win. So he banked the
Yet I, like you, know them to be true. I only heard about, along with other 150, dropped it down to take a shortcut
For I, like you, was one of those delinquent wondrous tales, a few short days ago. MXVWDERYHWKH*UH\5LYHUDQGÁHZWKDW
lads bamboozled for badness. And I biked The man telling the stories was little aeroplane straight as an arrow, right
about on freezing nights when 30,000 Allan Ferrari; 76 years old and not a under the Blackball Bridge.
smoking chimneys fouled the air. And, for relative of Enzo’s — “The name’s as Straight under? You bet! First and only
four fab years in the fab four ’60s, on long common as Smith over there.” Born time it’s ever been done, Allan thinks.
weekends and school holidays I’d cross in London in 1942, Allan came to When he told that story, the older me
the alps to hang out with a pal, riding New Zealand in 1953. Builder, linesman, remembered the younger me, standing on
the rails to Greymouth, then taking the hunter, pilot, he’s as tough as goat’s knees the bridge. And I imagined me watching
bus to Blackball, where much of the coal and has been in and out of sheds all his a little plane zooming under the deck.
that went up those chimneys actually life. In 1964 he moved to Reefton and Or, better still, being in it. Because,
came from. started playing darts. Well, one thing now I know that it happened, I’ve never
Not that pollution — or any other led to another and soon he was the wished to be anywhere as much as I wish
kindred scourges — particularly bothered West Coast champion, then a national rep I’d been in the cockpit of that wee Cessna
us. We were too busy having fun, and selector. on that great day.

’
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INSTALLING CLOCKMAKER’S MASTER

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The Shed 79 July/August 2018 1

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Every issue Flat-pack kitchen install USB chargers

Sanding a totara batten

A BUILDER TURNS ADVERSITY INTO AN

The Shed 79 July/August 2018 5

6 The Shed 79 July/August 2018

Measuring and levelling … building know-

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Shed power and management, and insurance.

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Adopted in 2015, the WHO model has

• the launch of our Build a Useless

• four introductory articles on

The Shed 79 July/August 2018 11

Letter of the month

Our winner this issue will receive a

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BACK PANEL CAN

FULL RANGE OF ADD

Shea Stackhouse in his

14 The Shed 79 July/August 2018

The Shed 79 July/August 2018 15

16 The Shed 79 July/August 2018

He also made many of

Drawing out the tang

Above: Reheating the knife blank

The Shed 79 July/August 2018 17

Grinding the shoulders to shape

Rough grinding the blade and shaping the

This is potentially the

18 The Shed 79 July/August 2018

Heating the blade for hardening

Quenching in oil Tempering the blade

The Shed 79 July/August 2018 19

Far left: Etching in acid

20 The Shed 79 July/August 2018

Rough-shaping the handle Shea likes to ﬁnish off by ﬁling by hand

The Shed 79 July/August 2018 21

This stage can involve a lot of drilling

reasons and to prevent dirt and water Final ﬁnishing

22 The Shed 79 July/August 2018

TEACHERS TAKE A BUSMAN’S HOLIDAY

The Shed 79 July/August 2018 23

This is one of those

Grinding and the handle

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*Not for PE, PP, PTFE, or permanent water immersion.

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26 The Shed 79 July/August 2018