The tale, as all great mystery’s are, is shrouded in legend. I was given a table top, which was a surprise. 36 square feet of Tasmanian Blackwood. The underside recorded a history of the ‘carpenters’ who had worked on the timber, since 188 –(xxxx). It was; and still remains, a most lovely ‘lump’ of wood. Not easy to work – for ‘Blackwood’ has it’s secrets. No matter – and I digress. Bear with me, there is a point.
My ‘shooting board’ has been handed down for three generations. I decided to make from part of the Blackwood a ‘jewellery chest’ for the reigning monarch of home and hearth. Not a big problem, until I read the curse scribed by ‘Tom’ in 1892 underneath the great slab of gifted Blackwood. Won’t bore you with details, but it advised that whereas the wood would behave immaculately, ‘other‘ timber’ would not be tolerated close by during the work. So much for fancy.
But – my shooting board has done, since 1941 (Grandads) some serious work. Before starting on the Blackwood, I thought to make a new square wedge for the shooting board – a job long put off. So I did; a good journeyman’s fit, Pine and it fitted perfectly, with about a 3” tail.
Next day, the same wedge is a full inch shorter – fit perfect; but, shorter, you understand. Must have muffed it methinks I. Cut another – in Pine – immaculate fit. Later that day, that wedge was at least an inch short and no matter what I did – was always 3mm too long –at the business end.
That Pine was a store bought “DAR” for what that’s worth, the shooting board wedge, now twice accurately cut, shrinks in bizarre way every morning.
Why gentlemen? Why?
I’ve made a new wedge from an offcut of solid, reliable Oak. At 20:00 (o’clock)_ it fitted just fine; at 2100 it was ‘narrow’ and now at 2200 – it is short by 40 mm – again.
Anyone – any answer – please. Genuine request.
My ‘shooting board’ has been handed down for three generations. I decided to make from part of the Blackwood a ‘jewellery chest’ for the reigning monarch of home and hearth. Not a big problem, until I read the curse scribed by ‘Tom’ in 1892 underneath the great slab of gifted Blackwood. Won’t bore you with details, but it advised that whereas the wood would behave immaculately, ‘other‘ timber’ would not be tolerated close by during the work. So much for fancy.
But – my shooting board has done, since 1941 (Grandads) some serious work. Before starting on the Blackwood, I thought to make a new square wedge for the shooting board – a job long put off. So I did; a good journeyman’s fit, Pine and it fitted perfectly, with about a 3” tail.
Next day, the same wedge is a full inch shorter – fit perfect; but, shorter, you understand. Must have muffed it methinks I. Cut another – in Pine – immaculate fit. Later that day, that wedge was at least an inch short and no matter what I did – was always 3mm too long –at the business end.
That Pine was a store bought “DAR” for what that’s worth, the shooting board wedge, now twice accurately cut, shrinks in bizarre way every morning.
Why gentlemen? Why?
I’ve made a new wedge from an offcut of solid, reliable Oak. At 20:00 (o’clock)_ it fitted just fine; at 2100 it was ‘narrow’ and now at 2200 – it is short by 40 mm – again.
Anyone – any answer – please. Genuine request.
