The HI forum saves some power tools

Howard Wallace

Howard Wallace

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Feb 23, 1999
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This weekend Red Flower and I went by a yard sale, just a couple of houses down from where we live. We stopped and I saw they had a band saw, a table saw, and a drill press for sale. They were not high end, but they were all almost new. The lady running the sale said that her husband bought them a couple of years ago, but had only used them once or twice so she was making him sell them. The husband didn’t look particularly happy about it. We dickered a little and I walked away with all three power tools for $120.

The first thing Red Flower asked after we got home was “How often do you think you’ll use those.” I could see a bad omen in those words.

Thinking quickly, I cast my mind back over the old HI threads. Yes! I remembered that one that got me looking at Ragnar’s site, and ended up with my purchase of a Brusletto ulu blade. I mentioned to Red Flower that we had just the tools we needed to put together an ulu. We got out the blade, and found some pretty burl scales I had from some years ago. Then we got to work.

We traced the shape we needed on the scales, drilled holes for the pins with the drill press, and cut the scales to shape with the band saw. We found an old piece of a walnut chair, and cut it to the proper length for a stand with the table saw. Then we used the table saw to cut a slanted groove in the stand to hold the blade.

We glued the handle and pinned it with brass brazing rod, sanded it, and finally gave everything a coat of linseed oil.

This is the result.

CIMG2345a.JPG


CIMG2343a.JPG
http://aolisi.net/knives/Ulu/CIMG2343a.JPG

Red Flower likes it, and I can rest easy knowing the power tools are safe … for now.



Edit - OOPS! I put this in the wrong part of the forum by mistake. Nasty, please move it to the cantina when you get a chance.
 
Cutting pizza, fileting fish, chopping nuts in a wooden bowl, general kitchen duty.

Leatherworkers use a somewhat similar design for cutting leather. Have one?
 
Howard, what a nice job and beautiful piece of wood! From an old chair you say? Oh, read again, that was for the stand.

I'm sorry, but if I got an easy $1000-$1500 worth of tools for $120, I would just ignore my wife if she asked me how much I would use them! That's a loaded question if I ever heard one. Or maybe I would just say "never" and "so what?!" :D That is just a great deal; too good to pass up.

I have a good cast iron extension table saw and 15" drill press, but the band saw I want, a Delta 14", is on hold until I get work.

Thanks for sharing.

Norm
 
The ULU is one of my favorite edged tools. Simple, yet so very effective once one uses it enough.

Lovely work. I love Dan Koster's too.

Nice buy on the tools, as well.


Build something for her now--a shadow box or something.
 
In an interesting converging evolutionary path the ulu is very simular to the Chaveta (cigar roller's knife of Cuba)
chavetta.jpg
. :thumbup:
 
Svashtar said:
I'm sorry, but if I got an easy $1000-$1500 worth of tools for $120, I would just ignore my wife if she asked me how much I would use them!
Click to expand...

I looked on the web for a guestimate of how much the tools ran new. I'm thinking probably $4-500 for the lot. They're smaller home-type models.

Besides, I would never ignore Red Flower. (She's watching as I type this) ;)
 
Howard Wallace said:
Cutting pizza, fileting fish, chopping nuts in a wooden bowl, general kitchen duty.

Leatherworkers use a somewhat similar design for cutting leather. Have one?
Click to expand...

Howard,
Yea I figured that was what it was for...Nah I use a el cheapo utility knife to cut leather...Edge gets dull I just break it off and go again...yea I am a cheapskate..lol

Shadow box?? I was thinking snake cage!!:D
 
A good story all around. Im thinking maybe Ill get some of these knives from Dan for the ladies in my life for Christmas.
I did have a tool I just got that has really helped out. The roper whitney hand punch. cuts a perfect hole in most metals instantly!
Why I ever used a drill, I dont know..
 
Three words men love to hear, "power tool sale!"

Nice save on the tools and great handle on the knife!

Now make something for Red Flower and your tools are safe for a long time!
 
Howard you could get Red Flower some fresh hides for scraping with that Ulu .
A perfect example of a couple in sync with each other . L:O:L
 
Kevin the grey said:
Howard you could get Red Flower some fresh hides for scraping with that Ulu .
A perfect example of a couple in sync with each other . L:O:L
Click to expand...
I was just pondering the response if I gave my delightful spouse a gift of some fresh hides for scraping...

... well, MY hide might end up with a scrape or two ...:D
 
Red Flower and I worked together on the ulu, and we had a fun time doing it. I was teasing her a bit when she was looking over my shoulder as I posted. The threat to the tools is not really as great as I made it appear. She is actually remarkably patient with my various attacks of enthusiasm. (Don't tell her though. She has gone off to work now and can't see me typing this.)

Red Flower's parents just got a visa to come over and visit us. They will probably be in the US for several months. This was no minor thing, as her father is retired military and the Chinese government's travel restrictions on him were even more restrictive than they were on regular Chinese citizens. But times are a'changing, and many of the restrictions seem to be loosening up. Getting the US visa for them was much easier than getting one for Red Flower when her US visa expired after we were married and she was forced out of the US. It's obvious her parents will be going back to China, where they have a couple of condos and lots of family connections. It's much more difficult to get someone in who is going to be a resident, as was the situation with Red Flower.

Anyway, we've been thinking of some appropriate gifts for them when they come over. These days, when almost everything in our stores is made in China, it can be a challenge. I'm thinking that the ulu that Red Flower and I made together might be a good gift for them.
 
HW,

I thin you are a lucky man.

My wife tolerates my addictions, like yours, but I still think you are a lucky man.
 
What are power tools? Just kidding, I use 'em myself when I have to. How I would love to have a water wheel driven grinder, that would be the ultimate for me. Nice snag Howard, those three will help you make all sorts of stuff.
That ulu knife is squared away, just plain beautiful, and I agree it'll make a nice gift. Something so attractive and so useful, stands a good chance of not being packed away in the attic and forgotten.

Sarge
 
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