Making and turning. The process of making a Windsor chair in the course I was in was literally from greenwood: we split or reeved timber lengths from Tasmanian Blackwood logs. These were the first and primary pieces that we worked, and they would form the legs and stretchers of the Read more…
Craft, Making, and Depression. (Some rather disconnected initial thoughts.)
I have wanted to make a chair for some time. And, when I say sometime, I suspect it’s been lurking as a potential project since I was very young. The reason I say this is that when I was young, I used to go to exhibitions and a few other things with my father…
On treenails, drawknives, and the first experiment with a new tool.
Green woodworking part two. As we have cleared around the section, we have taken out some awkward branches, and in one case, a tree; a ribbon wood (I will edit this later with the species). I’ve been using the ribbon wood branches and logs as trials as I learn to Read more…
A couple of weeks ago I heard the sound of chainsaws coming from up the back of the property. Now, this isn’t necessarily the best of sounds, given that Auckland is losing some of its heritage trees. But on the positive side, trees up the back of the property are Read more…
Day six was the final day, and it was mostly about attaching the sole to the shoe. In this case this was to be a glueing job, with the odd nail thrown in for good measure. Glue is one of those technologies that has improved over the years to the Read more…
Today was all about lasting. With some new grips to come to grips with, and some weird interactions with objects, tools, and limbs. And skin.
Day four was a morning of sewing. It took a bit of getting used to, and I wasn’t always as competent or comfortable using this machine as I was using some of the tools.
Day three was a continuation of preparing the pieces and components of the shoe, and coming to grips with tools, and for the first time, some machines. Sewing machines mainly. Plus brogueing. To fit together, the pieces of leather need to be cut with allowance for sewing; small extra edges Read more…