Nick

When I got my hand crank blower I had to use two hands to turn the crank. When I opened up the gear box, I found that a previous owner had packed a very thick, heavy grease in there. I had to completely dissassemble the thing and bathe it in kerosene. After cleaning, putting in a new gasket, and oiling, it works great. Cheers, Nick

I usually use beeswax or sometimes paint as a finish on my work, but I've thought of trying linseed oil. What would be the best way to apply it, and what are its charactaristics compared with beeswax? Thanks, Nick

Spent all yesterday working on my shop, which is a change from working in it. The day yeilded the beginnings of electricity, in the form of lights and outlets. The cable is baisically an above ground extension cord for now, but will be buried eventually. That'll be a project, since the shop is about 40 yards from the garage, where I'm getting power from. I also now have two hoods. One is over my main, permanent, forge and the other is over my portable forge, which is also used in the shop by my wife and brother. My shop is in an old barn, so before now my smoke removal system has been opening the doors and letting the smoke out through them and the spaces between the wall boards. I haven't tried them out yet, taking a day off today, but I'll be out Monday. Cheers, Nick

For future reference, I guess, but there are ink solvents out there that calligraphers use to clean their pen nibs. I don't know if it would work as well with a pen like yours, but it may be worth a shot.

Thanks, Ed, I'll send him an e-mail.

Does anyone have any information on the mechanism of Renaissance locks? Specifically, I want to know how the locks pictured below work. I know how warded locks work, but this thing looks like it's got a lot of extra parts. Of course, the complcated looking trunk lid locks from the medieval and Renaissance period are nothing more than some bars on pivots, so maybe it just looks complicated.

My regular is a #375 Hay Budden.

Looks like some kind of hole punch, maybe?

Yeah, that's a nifty little device. I was having difficulties with the vid, and didn't see that part at first. I'll have to see about rigging up something. I don't know about the lever, I'll have to watch it again.

I haven't shaved with anything but a straight razor in a year. I've considered making one, but I'm not ready yet to attempt a hollow grind that precise. I'd still like to make my own though. Thanks for the vid.