Simple Simon met a Pieman

lessismore said:
I was going to do the Bocote one last but I thought I'd better get some practice in. An hour and thirty eight minutes to peen the key. I think I'll shorten the others up, this one was .0625" proud on each side before peening, I'm gonna take the rest down to .05", that should cut about 40,000 taps out!!

Tigger approves.
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You could just leave the key a little proud and tell everyone it is done that way for grip :D Gotta love Tigger :cool:

lessismore said:
Yeah, I curve out the inside corners of the scale so that only the surface is square, and the key corners are smoothed out. The corners of the key under the surface are radiused more so they don't push on the inside corners of the scale. If that makes sense:confused:. Kind of like the key under the surface is slightly hourglass shaped.

The center has some divots as well for the epoxy to grab into. As I peen, I try to move the pin back and forth, a couple of taps, check, a couple of taps, check. It doesn't get much outward pressure, when I get to the point where you can barely feel a tiny movement, I quit. The epoxy is a good tell as well, when it's very close to being done, it will ooze up around the edges, just a tiny bit.

I can try to take some pictures of the next one I do as I go along if you guys would like. Boring process, but might interest some. I need to get a tripod that I can set up for stuff like that.
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I would enjoy the heck out of seeing pictures, but I know that would eat up some working time, so if you don't I will understand...
I will be disappointed, but still understand :D
 
I was going to do your guys Blackwood first but I wanted to get some practice in beforehand to make sure my ducks were still in a row.

I tried to take some pictures, but without a tripod it's hard to get a shot of the actual work.

Buddy Holly reading glasses, my favorite hammer, and a Hay Budden Anvil.


So the epoxy is globbed in the keyway and on the key and the ooze wiped off. This picture is before any peening. I use a small ball pein hammer and sit on a milk crate so I can see close to eye level with the key on the anvil and keep the key flat on the surface. It does wonders for your back!:D


A giant block of time passed where I got to peening and forgot about the camera:o. As I start peening, I try to keep the key centered so it mushrooms evenly in each end. It gets flipped and rotated about every 20 taps at the start. I check to see how much movement it has, center that play, and tap another 20 or so times. Flip, tap, rotate, tap, repeat. The back and forth play will get less and less, when it gets close, I do less taps between checking the play. I keep a lamp next to the anvil so I can make sure everything is spreading evenly. Throughout the process I adjust the location and direction of taps to even everything out. If you just smack the center it will turn into a football.
This picture is where the play is almost totally gone, but you can still feel a tiny bit. You can see the epoxy starting to ooze up, that's when you really got to take it slow, three or four taps at a time. Three taps, check, flip, repeat.


Peeled off the electrical tape (which helps keep from banging the scale on the anvil) and cleaned off the epoxy. Peening a round pin is easy, a rectangle is a pain in the arse!


From here, I'll file down the pins and key and leave them a bit proud, lightly peen down the edges and sand it out.


Here's the ridiculous part of the story. I downloaded a shot timer app thingy on my phone and calibrated it to pick up the taps. Other than a few clang's, I'd say the count is pretty accurate. 5,700:eek:

Nerdy shop stuff and pretty basic, but that's how I do the key.

Now back to your regularly scheduled madness:D:thumbup:
 
Thank you for that. These are the things that nobody bothers to think about when buying custom made items. The patience required to painstakingly tap 5,700 times while uncomfortably making sure that each tap lands correctly and does what you want it to do without any misteaks. [sic]
By the way, that wood is freaking gorgeous.
 
Thanks for taking the time to take some progress pictures John. I enjoy seeing pictures like that more than you can
imagine, but I'm kind of a weirdo :D

protourist said:
Thank you for that. These are the things that nobody bothers to think about when buying custom made items. The patience required to painstakingly tap 5,700 times while uncomfortably making sure that each tap lands correctly and does what you want it to do without any misteaks. [sic]
By the way, that wood is freaking gorgeous.
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Indeed... And that's not even taking into consideration the thousands before he set up the counter. It's hard to stay really focused
for a long period of time. One tiny lapse and you just turned 20 hours of work into a nice paper weight...

Melvin-Purvis said:
Something no man should ever say to another...
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Truth and wisdom
 
Glad you guys found that at least interesting. You're right about the paperweight Mike, I constantly tell myself to stop and be patient, if I ever need a reminder of why, I look at the box of paperweights from when I started out!:D
 
Thanks for taking the time (more time) to take and post your process! And a shot of your anvil and your "bonney lass"! ;) :thumbup:
 
Trust me I know the feeling, they make good letter openers too.:D
 
mitch4ging said:
Thanks for taking the time (more time) to take and post your process! And a shot of your anvil and your "bonney lass"! ;) :thumbup:
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That little hammer was my great uncles, I'd never heard of Bonney, but it's of great quality.

Scott Hanson said:
Trust me I know the feeling, they make good letter openers too.:D
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Sometimes there's a point where ya gotta admit defeat and toss it, its hard to do!
 
lessismore said:
Glad you guys found that at least interesting. You're right about the paperweight Mike, I constantly tell myself to stop and be patient, if I ever need a reminder of why, I look at the box of paperweights from when I started out!:D
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Sometimes it is really hard to slow down and stay focused. Having reminders around of what happens when we lose focus or start
rushing is always a good thing.
 
One blackwood left to peen, first one went well. Here's the thumpling on the Chechen.
 
Looks great! I'm really liking these little guys! May have to call you in a few months. :) :thumbup:
 
The guy getting that thumpled beauty is going to be thrilled. That is simply incredible. I absolutely love the thumpling.
 
Let me know Dennis, we can always work something out.

Glad you like it Mack, they all come out a little different, this one has the perfect amount of bite to it I think.

I'm cleaning up the key on the Blackwood I did yesterday. I should have the last key in by tonight. Then it's on to sheaths and sharpening. That's an early lesson taught with blood, sharpen AFTER the sheath is done:eek:
 
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