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we had mice in our workshop last month, and one of the lads brought in his Jack Russell. The dog had great fun trying to get at the place where the mice must have been holed up, but she never got one, but since then the mice have gone. It would seem that the very presence of the dog and its...

I have occaisionally looked at the photos of the pens made by forum members, but I can't remember seeing an example of a fountain pen. Are they made as well? Gareth

They were for supporting heating pipe in places like churches, and other public buildings. Also probably used in large Victorian heated greenhouses.

This is how it was used

Even as we debate this certain African countries are being groomed by China, so production can be shipped there, when production costs become prohibitive at home. By the time Africa outprices itself Europe may well have suffered a catastrophic economic collapse (or a suitable one engineered)...

Hi all My local salvage-yard has a quantity of mahogany strips 5/8"x4"x4', varnished on one side. They have been sitting in the rain for the last few weeks, but apart from that look in good condition. I can hold my own in pricing building timber, but I don't have a clue when it comes to...

Sue for the shock and trauma you suffered when the lid came off their badly designed and manufactered can, the gross insult you suffered from being asked to accept second-hand paint (apparently it was once on flooring), and damage to clothing. (homer) G

My daughters young man is twenty and can't find work, and is doing almost continuos collage. I have had him in for work experience and he is as good as any apprentice I have started, listens to what he is told, and has a developing instinct on what is needed. If I could spend the next two...

Perhaps we should have a shoot-out, somebody put a vernier on a load of old 'quality' British chisels just for fun! I was going to check my 22mm Erik Anto Berg, but I can't find my vernier! So if yours fail Jacobs standards please throw them in my direction, I'd love a full set of EAB's no...

You may well be right Alan, the powder was applied directly to the timber not mixed into the finish. The colour achieved was always much richer then non-treated pieces though. G

Chaps playing games in toilets..........I think not. Gareth

When I was a lad in the boat-yard, the painters who specialized in varnish work would often enhance the colour of mahogany ply by powdering and rubbing in red ochre powder before they started the layers of varnish. The powder was applied through a rag, as I remember, although it might have been...

Having gone digital about eighteen months ago (will never go for sky as it run by sc**), I am amazed how determined the whole industry is in ensuring I eventually turn it off for good. The same 50 films go around every three months. I ain't interested in watching reality shows about those who...

Yeh I would agree the rear portion of the building folded outwards not inwards like the front section. Bit of an Oooops moment. gareth

I am also thinking of dropping the use of hard point saws and reverting back to a sharpenable saw. I have loads of dead saws that are only good for scrap. This cannot be good for the environment ! They do make excellent hoe blades, I have a couple of blacksmith made prongs, that take an old...

When I was an apprentice Yankee screwdrivers were one of the status tools you were "unofficially" not allowed to use until you were out of your time. Odd, but I suspect it had something to do with not slipping across some nicely varnished piece of yacht. G

The Greeks fired upon British troops sent to liberate them, I am unsure of the true number of deaths, but a mate who was one of the lucky ones thought it could be as high as 200. G

Nope, should the Europeans have a dust up over the collapse of the Euro, I see absolutely no reason to get involved unless it to supply equipment. They won't because the whole object of Euroland was to trade on German post war guilt, and milk it, and now the Germans are too timid to follow...

I hope the Euro will collapse taking with it the whole rotten undemocratic 'Union', and that the Nation states will re-emerge with border controls, armed guards and all. The thing has only lasted this long because those countries with shores lapped by the Med' have been milking the north for a...

I inherited several blacksmith made garden hoes that took cut up old saw blades as the blade. Hardened point saws would work very well in them! Gareth