The Weather and The Weatherman

The weatherman said it was going to be 98 degrees today

and

I am afraid his forecast is correct this time.

A time to reinvent this blog

UNDER CONSTRUCTION:

I have decided to breath some new life into this old blog.

See you soon with some refreshing refinements and all posts are in some state of being reworked.

Until this is complete please visit my other blogs:

https://nobleignitus.squarespace.com

and

http://nobleignitussky.blogspot.com

Highlighted Chronodex and a Quick Note on the Photograph

A Chronodex session consists of a number of beneficial steps. From defining my open time to what I can reasonable accomplish in those free blocks of time to just letting the blood pressure drop and having a moment to properly think, I personally engage in each step because of its thought provoking value.

The Chronodex session usually has 3 basic steps:
Step 1: The making of the Chronodex 
Step 2: The design the Chronodex will be interacting with (or against)
Step 3: The photograph to finalize that particular Chronodex experience

The third step is really the last "creative" part for the Chronodex making session. 

The act of taking a photograph is my formal way to finalize the organization process. In a way it can be likened to punctuating a sentence. I find great resolution in this step. To keep this process fresh and creative I often play with filters, point of view, lighting and knolling layouts (of the tools I used in that particular session).

Carrom Striker Tune-up: Making the Striker Faster

There are two surfaces that really get a work out in Carrom: the board's playing surface and the side of the Striker that is gliding across the board's playing surface.

After awhile the bottom of the Striker starts to get roughed up from the constant friction. The rougher the sliding surface the more surface area made and therefore the slower the striker will go.

There is a quick tune-up technique that will get your prized pusher back up to fighting speed. The way I am about to show is designed to be a "fast fix" to a slowing striker. This is also what i do to brand new strikers I get. I have found that although they are ready to go right out of the storage case a quick tune-up will take of any minute milling marks and really makes a nice small difference.

Below is a new cue ball striker that is going out as a gift to a friend. I will use this as my example.

Carrom Striker tune-up: make your striker go faster

There are two areas of interest when tuning-up the striker: first you will want to make sure that the bottom remains perfectly flat while smoothing and second is to slightly take away the sharp edge that transitions the bottom to the sides of the striker.

Equipment:

your striker

wet/dry sandpaper in 400#, 800#, 1000# and 1200+ grit (if you desire)

a perfectly flat surface (like a piece of plate glass)

silicon spray

Let's start this tune up!

Below I have the 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper sitting on a small sheet of 1/4" plate glass. This will     keep my abrasive perfectly flat so as I sand the bottom of the striker will remain as flat as possible.

 Water or no water? when sanding use a bit of water or spit to create a nice cutting slurry. 

Wet is always better than dry here.

Linear or circular movement?  When sanding use a figure 8 movement or a circular movement. 

This will vary the contact points and greatly reduce the chance of tracks developing in your sanding surface.

After removing any grooves at this grit, lightly rotate the striker along its edges to softly round that sharp edge between the sides and the bottom. This will help the striker from digging into any heavier powder spots on the board or sticky spots (or for older boards that are starting to warp so the have slight inclines).

Carrom Striker tune-up: make your striker go faster.
wet/dry sandpaper and figure 8 circular motions.

After the 400# move your way up into more finer grits. 

Another trick is to start with more pressure and slowly decrease the pressure applied to the striker as you sand.

Continue using water/spit and continue in a figure 8 or circular motion.

Continue to lightly soften that hard corner edge.

Carrom Striker tune-up: make your striker go faster
wet/dry sandpaper and figure 8 circular motions.

After sanding, wipe off any left over slurry and then apply some silicon spray.

Below is an image of the bottom of the striker after the silicon spray application.

Carrom Striker tune-up: make your striker go faster

Once again this is a fast and furious way to get your striker back into the game.

However,

if you wanted a more involved project you could add a high gloss ultra hard epoxy finish to the bottom. Then apply some silicon spray to it. The epoxy would last longer however it will still wear and you will need to refinish. Epoxy finished are two parts and take more time to prepare, clean up and cure. 

Pen Flush 1.9.2016

Lengthen the time i can relax. I have been working on lengthing my videos for my own personal entertainment.

link:

january 9th fountain pen flush

still:

immediate viewing pleasure:

Genuine Plumb Carpenter's hatchet and shipping crate

The carpenter's hatchet continues to be my favorite "all season" sort of a tool

and

this Genuine Plumb is an excellent example of a striker that will serve the new owner amazingly.

Genuine Plumb carpenter's hatchet ready for the new owner

Just as a reminder, not all hatchets are made to hit with the poll. The carpenter's hatchet on the other hand is just begging to dish out some beatings (from the cutting edge and the hammering poll). This striker can play any role: from a diverse camping tool - to a truck tool - to a fine woodworking bench companion.

Genuine Plumb carpenter's hatchet and leather sheath ready for the new owner

To protect both the owner and the tool, I included a hand stitched my typical axe/hatchet sheath. I recommend keeping the sheath on when just using the hammer pole of the hatchet. After all, the swinger will be raising a blade toward themselves in every swing of the hammer side. If i had my own way I would put a sheath on everyone's bladed tool. 

Framed for viewing, the Genuine Plumb stamp.

Genuine Plumb logo

Getting readjusted with a new endeavor (adult coloring postcards) and an additional website

Sorry for the delay in posting 

but

I have been working on my newest endeavor of amalgamating meaningful correspondence and design work.

I am currently working on a Squarespace site. I have been desperately needing to have a place to better showcase a few of my ETSY ventures and add a couple more of my favorite subjects for some flair. There is no denying the refinement that comes with this upgrade. Currently, I am planning to focus on Advanced Card Making (my newest venture), Tool Restoration and then eventually more of my Extreme Croquet Mallets.

For some flair I am adding my Chronodex endeavors, themes around my personal desk and my appreciations for the sky.

I invite all to join me in this site: nobleignitus.squarespace.com

As of now, I do plan to keep this blog running on my original purpose for my sons to see what nonsense I am up to.

My adult coloring 4"x6" postcards with a built in message/photo pocket will be another post but since I have just posted them to my ETSY shop I would like to give a quick visual share: