Sticks stacked

We try to keep the useful organized.  this is one of our answers to all the little sticks from around the yard. 

the ones on this ladder shelf holds sticks waiting to be burned at the grill or the rocket stove.

the deer head is there just drying and sun bleaching and will not be burned.

burning bone is an unpleasant smell that does NOT complement hamburgers.

Goldfaber 1221 pencil looks fast

Pencil performance is of absolute importance

and

the finish is one of those qualities that are taken into consideration.

i gave the sv goldfaber #1221a one week run at work, at home and in the shop. I was pleased with this pencil as a consistent smooth marking tool.

what is particularly notable is the nice quality of deep blue finish with gold racing stripes.

can see the gold stripe laid on top of the blue.

i think starting my next pencil review, for the boys, i will establish a test layout that will better separate the different tests i do. i will also include how the pencil works on different workshop materials.

it seems that many people review pencils on different qualities of paper but not necessarily wood or metal (the workshop materials).

the "SV" bonded is faber's break resistant code and did a very good job on cross grain fibrous soft wood. The fine grounding of the graphite creates a consistency that very trackable guide line.

faber-castell's goldfaber 1221 with gold racing stipes.
the design is first laid out with a drafting pencil and then layered with the goldfaber

 as with most of my designs in my back pocket notebook, i establish the foundation with a drafting pencil and then ad layers. below the letters, numbers and all thick lines are made with the goldfaber 1221.

not to be misleading, the U.S. star is from the boys plastic WWII army men set. It fell off of one of their vehicles, probably an airplane.

this goldfaber 1221 is definitely not American and since it does not say Germany then not their either.

Hops training

Thinning out the hop vines and starting the training up the leads.

These cascade hops are on the south side of the house. i use those auger style dog leash stakes at the base and run the line in a V up to the roof line. this creates shade on our south windows and a small archway to get to part of the back yard (and a place for spiders to attack when not paying attention).

i will run 4 vines per lead.

as soon as each vine gets about 3 foot i will trim the leaves off the bottom foot. this will help prevent any mold or havens for unwanted insects at the base. when each vine gets about 5 or 6 feet then i will cut the leaves off another foot up.

hops get wild growing fast so trimming is absolutely necessary.

one perk of this prolific growth is that there are always so many rhizomes that can be harvested for other brewers.

Graduation season

Congratulations ERIN!!

school's colors carnation given to wifey from her niece on h.s. graduation.

526 total miles (to get there and back) and one incredible niece graduating high school later.

Master builder carpenter's hatchet off to the west

Established the final hone on a master builder carpenter's hatchet headed west.

The last steps involved an arkansas stone, fine &extra fine grades of a diamond file and then finally a strop loaded with aluminum oxide.

the eye to hammer poll was exceptionally streamline with this hatchet.

Rhodia pencil

I have a very established way i take notes.

i have always mixed visual design blocks with the linear use of words. together i can work out best with what is on my mind. 

I do not plan to change my note taking systems, but i do feel the need to try some new/different versions of the analog writing tools i use.

I will start with wood pencils.

the final step in note taking on a page is the final marks on the designs made with a wooden pencil. the ebony is my standard, but i have a number of new ones i will be trying.

Rhodia pencil during an a long meeting

today was a Rhodia pencil. this was my first triangularly shaped pencil and was damn comfortable to use. i thought it would pinch up my grip too much but the enhanced control made feel more agile.

sitting on the workbench it had less roll then a round or more faceted pencil.

the lead gave me the line variance i need when making my final marks on designs to giving the letters some character. a medium to very faint growth and decay line was exceptionally easy to make.

i liked the color. the wood, eraser ferrule, and eraser all black. the shaft paint hunter orange (it looks a bit redder in this photo). never get lost on a crowded desk or work bench.

12 of 19 hammers

Progress so sloooooow,

trying to squeeze in hammers every minute between work, spring house work (on the house and in the gardens) and the activities of the boys' last 2 weeks of school.

i am either going to get some work done or spontaneously combust.

it is a 50/50 at this moment.

hammers lined up for the next step in restoring

i keep the hammers lined up in order as i work on them. this keeps the process organized when i must constantly step away to handle other responsibilities. i can come back at any time and know where i left off.