Leather knife sheath for lauri shop knife

Having a little fun with the design while making functional gear is a good way to keep the process more exciting. all for the sake of entertainment, i never expect my final object to be unique but damn if i don't have a fun time making it. 

for this shop knife, i had the challenge with the meatier shape of the handle pushing too close to the sheath. these bigger handles with more extreme gestures are easier on the hand and allow for more hand positions to be used, but are not very sheath friendly.

not wanting the sheath to be 8 layers thick i decided to try something different 

and

from the front the sheathed knife looks pretty straight forward

lauri shop knife sheath

but 

from the side it can be seen that i had decided to use an oak wedge to distant the knife handle away from the back of the sheath a bit.

was also able to keep the belt look in line with the curvature of the handle.

i did treat the wedge with tung oil to make it more prepared for outside use.

having a little fun with a design for a lauri shop knife leather sheath

the sheath pivots at the bottom (riveted and sewn) and can come apart if i want to change out the wooden wedge.

i also made the wedge a bit narrow, so from 3/4 view it is still very hidden and will also show off the sewing of the sheath's base layer.

lauri shop knife leather sheath

now ready for use this sheath may not be anything amazing but i must say that i had a very entertaining time working through the challenge and coming up with this more unorthodox solution.

Making bullet pencil erasers

Bullet pencils are one of the best easy to carry writing tools out there: compact, pocket friendly, easy to adapt to your favorite pencil and a very smart design.

after time though a bit of maintenance will be needed and fortunately this is very easy to do.

in this particular post i am just going to describe one way to replace the eraser.

before i start though, i would like to say that bullet pencils are made to make notes on the spot and not the best design for prolonged writing sessions. with that said, i rarely use the eraser. for such "quick" note taking i usually just cross out the mistake and keep going 

but

every now and then the erasers will need to be replaced.

i use a simple extrusion method that involves a brass tube and an eraser block of your choosing.

1.  the brass tube can be purchased at any hardware store for just a few dollars. with a hand file just taper one end to a sharp edged circle.

2. just push the brass tube through the eraser block.

making a bullet pencil eraser: using the extrusion method

3. when the eraser plug is extruded it will come out as a slight hourglass shape. this shape will need to be controlled before inserting into the bullet pencils ferrule. first i cut a little bit off the end to decrease the severity of the hourglass shape, then use a rubbery tape to compress the end. electricians tape is great for this purpose because it can be pulled very tightly around the eraser plug. 

4.  at this time the eraser plug with the electrical tape compressed end will still be wider than the inner diameter of the bullet pencil's ferrule. this will allow for a very snug fit. this is important so it doesn't move around when actually using the eraser. the tape not only compresses the end but will also strengthen the eraser so it doesn't break when cramming it into the pencil. also, if you do decide to add a pin through the ferrule into the eraser the tape will help keep the integrity of the eraser. 

making a bullet pencil eraser: controlling the hourglass shape of the extruded eraser

erasers aren't just erasers anymore, there are options (and smart ones at that).

my 3 main erasers that i use it the Black Factis, the hi-polymer pentels, and the Pink Pearl. i will say though that the Black Factis is my favorite. the black color doesn't look as crappy after being used and fits better aesthetically to a bullet pencil. darker colors fit better with dirty jobs. bullet pencils are designed to be out in the field getting dirty, writing on dirty paper. 

making a bullet pencil eraser: black factis is my favorite, but the hi-polymer and pink pearls are excellent options too

5. my final step in the eraser is to slightly taper in the eraser into a truncated cone. this shape holds up to erasing the a straight cylinder. also goes in and out of the pocket easier. 

making a bullet pencil: a quick sanding so the eraser tapers into a truncated cone

while ignoring everything i have just said,

i do have a couple bullet pencils that i use pencil end erasers with. these are my shop or truck pencils. ones that i may need to use an eraser a bit more and i don't want to carry around a click eraser 

(actually a big fan of click erasers).

pencil end erasers also come in options, the two i have here are the easiest to get. the one on the left is the small variety that can be found at any general store. these tend to do an ok job erasing (just ok), but they do have a sleek profile. the one on the right can be purchased at an art store (we have a dick blick in town so that is where i got these). these are the pink pearls of pencil end erasers. they do a superior job of erasing and have thick walls (heavy duty, takes a beating).

making a bullet pencil eraser: using pencil end erasers

making the post for this only takes a few minutes. below is a well beat up one that i made some years ago. i start with a stock hardwood dowel and sand down until it very tightly fits the i.d. of the bullet pencil's ferrule. i make quick work of this by sanding with a 1" belt sander. the key to this is to frequently check the fit during sanding. when this fit is nice and tight no pins or epoxies will be needed.

one this fit is complete, cut off the dowel long enough to hold the pencil end eraser. from here it is back to the sander to decrease the diameter of the post so it can hold the eraser securely. the post can not be to thick here because it will stretch out the eraser and it will break more easily when being used.

making a bullet pencil eraser: showing off the wood plug that will accommodate the pencil end eraser 

at the end here, i would like to add that i am sure that there are many good ways to make a bullet pencil eraser.  i have found that these two ways work VERY WELL for me.

i hope they do for you too.

Oil lamp at 15 seconds

i had an idea

Chronodex week 41 42 43 and 44

A work day just isn't complete without a chronodex.

even a fast one.

doane paper notebook
esterbrook 1555 nib ground to a stub
wine crate clipboard

doane paper notebook
esterbrook 1555 nib ground to a stub
ultraoptix ruler
rhodia pencil
maica hi-tec c .4 red pen
esterbrook cord clip

doane paper pocket notebook
tackco compass
esterbrook 1555 nib ground to a stub
eagle turquoise 10 drafting pencil
esterbrook no 20 clip

doane paper pocket notebook
esterbrook 1555 nib ground to a stub
rhodia pencil
eberhard faber mongol 868
handi-lens ultraoptics ruler

doane paper pocket notebook
pilot prera with calligraphy nib
rhodia pencil
kodak clip
hl human pelican clip attached to my leather pen holder

doane paper pocket notebook
pilot prera with calligraphy nib
koh-i-noor 5611 drafting pencil with mitsubishi red lead
derwent graphic 6b pencil
tombow mono zero eraser

doane paper pocket notebook
pinky eraser
pilot prera with calligraphy nib
derwent graphic 6b pencil
maica red
esterbrook no 20 clip

doane paper pocket notebook
esterbrook 1555 nib ground to a stub
stablio point 88 blue .4
rhodia pencil
esterbrook no 20 clip

doane paper pocket notebook
oxydol bullet pencil with generals pencil
twsbi mini with 1.1 nib
esterbrook no 20 clip
french curve

tackco compass
doane paper pocket notebook
kaweco skyline mint
tombow mono graph pencil
esterbrook cord clip

doane paper pocket notebook
kaweco skyline mint
fenix 01 flashlight on a hl human pelican clip
wine crate clipboard

2014 deer season

Had a GREAT time out in western nebraska with this year's hunt.

because of my work schedule i am only able to take off friday through monday

but 

that was enough to completely recharge myself.

friday starts with food, drink and a ton of carrom!

that combination right there will drop the blood pressure of the most stressed out person.

2014 deer season starting off with carrom

saturday had two very different weather patterns. we knew there was a front that would be coming in mid morning and was hoping for some good snow to put some contrast in the terrain. with some more white in the background it would be much easier to pick out the deer. we were seeing quite a bit of movement and were VERY hopeful for the afternoon. 

then the front came in. unfortunately, this had the opposite effect we were looking for. with the snow came bitter cold and wind gusts up to 30 mph. this pretty much forced the deer to bed down.

that afternoon there was basically no activity in the fields. 

snow to help pick out the deer in the field

sunday was the same as saturday afternoon, but even colder. started the morning in the negative degrees and the wind was gusting in the upper 20s. it took 3 hours to see our first deer (and even he was bedded down). with the weather as it was and because i only had one more day of hunting, i felt like i needed to take the shot. this little 3x3 mule was now going to be heading home with me. definitely no trophy but younger meat will taste better. there was also a good amount of fat on the deer.   

i was able to spend the afternoon and monday hunt relaxing and helping the guys i was with go after their deer. 

what this picture doesn't show is the less than comical scene that happened moments before. after field dressing we were flipping over the deer to drain when my boots (that didn't really have any tread) lost their traction and slipped right under the deer cavity as it dumped blood. boots still have that old blood smell to them.  needless to say the others thought that was pretty damn funny.

Restored ball peen hammer with rubberized handle coating

I am never short of hammers waiting to be restored in my house

so

when i decided to add a dedicated ball peen hammer to my leather making toolbox i merely had to extend my arm to grab one. 

i picked out a perfect size and went on to polishing the peen, cheeks and head. i did leave the necks unpolished. cleaned of debris and rust but natural. 

 i do really like a little bit of color on the strikers to help it stand out on a cluttered work bench. orange has always been my color of choice for this. 

grip is important so for my non-octagonal hammer handles, i do like to add some sort of a grip coating. 

in this case, i thought i would try something new. i used a easy to get undercoating rubberized spray. the same material used to deaden traveling vehicle sounds and to apply to wheel wells.

i was really quite surprised how well this felt in the hand. the surface is smooth yet there is a sort of tack to the feel. i do sand in a notch toward the bottom of the handle that my pinky finger fits into, but even with out that i think i would still have the same confident grip. 

another nice element to this coating is that it is flexible. this means when the material hits something else it doesn't just chip away. it moves with the dents. of coarse it does come off with wear and enough pressure will remove it but is more durable than straight paint.

sometimes my experiments don't pan out but i am pleased to say that this one did.

rivets beware. 

Bizen beer cup moment

A time to think,

a time to rest the body.

i have found that the more purposeful the break the more rejuvenated i am when i get back to work. 

i also am able to get to work faster. a sort of "power nap" when done right.

in this case, i brought out one of my favorite beer cups. 

an EXCELLENT Bizen beer cup (i purchased in Bizen in the fall of 1997). I have found a strong relevance with this Japanese regional pottery to my Great Plains aesthetic. Richly textured with warm colors and tactile variations, my mind gets lost in the cups qualities and my body just r-e-l-a-x-e-s. 

Bizen yaki valued in Nebraska

i was eagerly ready to get back to work before I was halfway finished with the beer .

for the record, stout and Bizen beer cups are a damn fine compliment.