Old carpentry tools have been a passion of mine for years. This is a full set of hand moulding planes that I am planning to put on display in a touchy feely artwork at the farm.
I always wanted a wall of books in one room, like a library room. So down to the workshop to knock them up. Veneered board with hardwood trim. A two tone bookshelf. I like them. [scotty_sign] [display-posts id='1751,1733' title= ... [read more]
I always wanted a wall of books in one room, like a library room. So down to the workshop to knock them up. Veneered board with hardwood trim. A two tone bookshelf. I like them.
A few years ago I bought a Lucas Mill. It’s a portable saw mill which you build over the log. We head up the top of the mountain where there’s plenty of fallen or dead trees; stringy bark, red box, etc. I drag the barrel of the tree out in the open with the tractor onto level ground, then build the mill over the top. It takes about ½ hour to set up, then you’re away, 4 x 2’s, 6 x 2’s, you can even slab up table tops. It’s been a great purchase. The dining table at home came from the mill. I love it.
One of the greatest tools I have is a Lucas Mill (Google it). It’s a portable mill which you build over the fallen log. We had a nice tree unfortunately come down on the property, a white stringy bark gum. It’s timber is not used that much ... [read more]
Creating Christmas decorations for the tree can be simple and fun. All you need is timber, a drill, paint and a rope.
Watch this how-to video and check out the pictures below on how to create this little Christmas house. Using this simple idea you can design and create a variety of decorations at this festive time.
Begin with length of timber (7cm x 4cm) Plus timber scraps to use as stamps; pencil; ruler; circular saw; drill; paintbrush; red paint; black paint; rope
Step 1: Mark the centre point
Place the timber on the table longways vertically. On the top edge, mark the centre point.
Step 2: The roof
To create the roof line, rule a diagonal line about 45° from the centre point to the right, towards the outside edge. Repeat on left side. The lines don’t have to be perfectly even – it’s better if your house is a bit rough looking.
Step 3: Circular saw
Use a circular saw to cut along the lines, creating the house shape. Now work out how big your house needs to be and mark the bottom line – about 7cm down from the roof line. Cut along that line with the saw.
Step 4: Drill a hole
You need to be able to hang your decoration, so drill a hole right through, near the roof peak.
Step 5: Paint
Paint the roof red.
Step 6: Windows and door
Use timber scraps to stamp the window and door. My window is a 1cm square and my door is about 1cm x 2cm. Dip the end of the small stamp into black paint then press onto the house in the window positions. Repeat with the other stamp to make the door shape.
Step 7: Rope
Thread rope through the hole. Tie a knot then trim excess length.
Final result: DIY Xmas Decoration
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8rgQEJNKzw Do you want your kitchen window sill to look greener? Then watch this how-to video to make the perfect shelf for your pots. This simple timber plant stand, for inside or outside, is just the thing for ... [read more]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG8xV2PAkLw This is a chance to use your creative skills and have fun with designing your own deer head with antlers. It can have a modern or classical look or even a Christmas feel. Check out the DIY instruction ... [read more]
I visited Japan a few years ago and dropped into a master carpenter’s workshop. What an incredible experience it was! The timber, the tools, the craftsmanship, it was all amazing.
The handsaw in the photo was used to cut a 60mm slab from a large piece of timber, about 4mtrs long 500 x 500, all cut by hand. A chalk line was flicked on both sides of the timber and my old mate used this saw to hand cut the slab, always keeping to the lines on both sides and square and true. Amazing!
This saw is a pull saw so the cutting is done on the pull stroke not the push. In the third photos you can see some of the many chisels that my Japanese carpentry mate has. Incredibly sharp and beautifully maintained, they treat their tools like gold.
Let me know what some of your prized tools are on my Scotty Cam Facebook Page.
This was an outdoor area at home but it was never used so I decided to put in bifold doors, a side window and fixed glass surrounding this space. We gained an extra room and created a new space away from the existing lounge with great views of ... [read more]
These days recycled water is the way to go. Why we got rid of rainwater tanks years ago is beyond me. I’m glad to see them coming back. We know that rainwater is a valuable source. Using rainwater not only helps to reduce your bills therefore s ... [read more]
KITCHEN AND LAUNDRY FRAME
Here is another update on my project – Follow the Build Part 7.
You would have read in Follow the Build Part 6 about using Bluescope Steel. Working away on the kitchen and laundry frame, it was a little different to the bedrooms as they had to be handmade on site. Sometimes what the plans say and what’s happening on site don’t always match up. Not saying that the plans were wrong, it sometimes happens when you’ve got a complicated build in joining up three areas in the bedroom, the kitchen/laundry and lounge/dining areas.
The roof lines and falls all had to tie in together to make it work. So it was timber frame on site and I think improvisation on site is the best style of carpentry and certainly when it works – it works.
Well that’s it for the moment folks. Keep following the build and let me know your thoughts via my Scotty Cam Facebook Page.
Won’t be long till the next update so stay tuned for part 8 coming very soon…
RECYCLED OREGAN PITCHED ROOF FOR LOUNGE/DINING Here is another update on my project – Follow the Build Part 8. You would have read in my last post Follow the Build Part 7 where I was working on the kitchen and laundry frame. I’ve a ... [read more]
BLUESCOPE STEEL FRAMES FOR THE BEDROOMS Here is another update on my project Follow the Build Part 6. You would have read in Follow the Build Part 5 which was all about iron bark posts and beams. Now I’ve always been a timber man when ... [read more]
IRONBARK POSTS AND BEAMS
Here is another update on my project Follow the Build Part 5.
You would have read Follow the Build Part 4 where I was working on the floor frame. Well I’ve got to say, this is the ultimate in carpentry for me. The big ironbark timber (which you can see), have got that real pioneer building feel to it. It’s just what I love with 23 magnificent sticks of 300 x 300 ironbark. The cross member beams are at 6m long, perimeter beams at 4.5m and posts at 4m. The 6m beams weigh in about 2 tonnes so machinery is required to cut them. It’s too big for a circular saw so it’s a chain saw all the way.
First thing to do is to cut and stand the posts onto a concrete pier with a handmade stirrup prepared below the deck. The pier has a screw pier in the middle of it going down about 3m. So affectively the hardwood posts is secured 3m below the surface. These need to be secure as they are the structural basis of the entire lounge, dining and kitchen area.
The perimeter beams and cross member need to be cut precisely to slot into each other. This timber is expensive so measure 5 times and cut once and don’t stuff it up! Because the timber is so big and I’m using a chain saw I can have a tolerance of about 5 mls but of course trying to get it as good as possible is key. All the cross members and perimeter beams are all in contact with the top of the posts so all the load is not on just the brackets.
Last thing to do is bolt the whole thing off and the finished product looks spectacular.
Well that’s it for the moment folks. Keep following the build and let me know your thoughts via my Scotty Cam Facebook Page.
Won’t be long till the next update so stay tuned for part 6 coming very soon…
BLUESCOPE STEEL FRAMES FOR THE BEDROOMS Here is another update on my project Follow the Build Part 6. You would have read in Follow the Build Part 5 which was all about iron bark posts and beams. Now I’ve always been a timber man when ... [read more]
FLOOR FRAME I'm back with another instalment of Mudgee - Follow the Build Part 4. You would have read in Follow the Build Part 3 piers setout. Whilst we're building the new house here at Mudgee, you would have seen the progress of my new b ... [read more]
