Post a photo of the last thing you made

[Fergie 307]

Yesterday, I made a couple of screwdriver blades (if that's the right word).

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A lot of the old Stanley planes have slotted (yuck) screws (e.g. the fence and depth stop screws as well as the "nicker" screw on the #45 shown in the photo). I currently tend to get a screwdriver bit holder handle and then rummage around for a bit that's the right size. I've got some bigger Wiha heavy-duty screwdrivers that would do the job too, but I wanted something fairly short and dedicated to dealing with old-fashioned woodworking tools. These two are sized to suit the screws on the #45 but they seem to fit quite a few others as well).

Starting with a couple of bits of silver steel, I ground these to shape on the bench grinder, filed a flat on the shank (to help some epoxy bind them into their handles) and then hardened to cherry red and tempered to purpley-blue (as per the recommendations for screwdrivers in the little book I use for reference). I then gave them a good clean up with wet and dry paper.

Today I turned a couple of handles for them:

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Very nice.
Making your own always worth considering making the very tip parallel, reduces the chances of it camming out.

 

[Dr Al]

Very nice.

Thanks

Making your own always worth considering making the very tip parallel, reduces the chances of it camming out.

Yes, I did that: the tips are hollow ground which (assuming it's ground with the bit near the tip on a tangent to the grinding wheel, which I was careful to do) has the effect of making the tip parallel.

 

[Steliz]

I made one of these a few months ago using some wet Birch (1st pic) which warped a little into a more organic shape when it dried.
I enjoyed making it and I decide to have another go but using some dry Walnut to see how it turned out. I'm happy with the result but at around 40 hours each I think that's enough.

 

[Jamesc]

Absolutly stunning

 

[MorrisWoodman12]

I agree: stunning. I can't begin to imagine how you start something like that let alone how you get to finish it without breaking. What technique do you use? Is it carved from solid?

 

[Stigmorgan]

I made one of these a few months ago using some wet Birch (1st pic) which warped a little into a more organic shape when it dried.
I enjoyed making it and I decide to have another go but using some dry Walnut to see how it turned out. I'm happy with the result but at around 40 hours each I think that's enough.

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Did I see these in a woodturning magazine? Someone at my local clubs open day had also made one, not as nice as yours though