divermike Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 OK, So I'm feeling a bit confident because I have now made 20 or so Christopher crosses, and decide it's time to shrink them a bit, and make some small neck hangers, or keychains. So I cut enough to make 2, as my buddy John Rausch always says, " if your makin 1, make 2." So of course the first one does not come out perfect, so I hang it on a nail and get going on number 2, so as I'm making a small adjustment with a hot cut chisel, bingo, it goes off in a direction as of yet, undiscovered. I looked and looked, and no go, it's gone. I know sometime I'll move something, and there it will be, but for now I had to go back and fool with number 1 to make it look semi decent. It's things like this that really push the learning curve though, a simple hold down, a little bit of extra time, and I would not feel quite so foolish. But that's the way this game goes, sometimes it's a 2X4 upside the head to get your attention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 All things concidered, that is a very nice piece of work, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Dean Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 Nice. Something I have found to help get the cross to line up straighter is a square punch I made. I insert the punch into the hole and I am able to move the extentions as needed so the line up with each other. You would have to have a very smal square punch!;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 Very artistic in an odd sort of way. At first I thought you had made a Thor's hammer but then I read what you had made. Oh well back to the anvil.:cool: Just kidding, don't throw the hammer at me! I make some out of 3/16" sq. copper wire and it sure was a chore to get them just right. I share your pain.:p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Browne Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 Great work. I reckon that making things in minature is a real test of your abilities in many cases (swords excepted). Much less room for errors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyGeorge Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 Mike, I had the same thing happen with a letter stamp, over a year ago. Still ain't found it!! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
divermike Posted July 17, 2009 Author Share Posted July 17, 2009 misery loves company, thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welder19 Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 I like the texture, it gives it a wood grain look, I might just have to try that on my next batch of cross's. welder19 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pault17 Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 Mike, sounds like a fisherman's tail(le?) - " you shoulda seen the one that got away!!" Looks cool. I like the woodgrain texture muchly paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 I like it Mike. Less than perfect IS perfect for a cross. I've lost so many small struck, dropped, vibrated off the bench, unsprung, etc. objects you'd think I should be walking in drifts of them. But . . . NOoooo. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beth Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 frosty is right - less than perfect often is perfect - its a sweetie - hope you find its friend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacques Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 Very artistic in an odd sort of way. Finally a good description of the things I (try to) make. May I borrow your expression? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welder19 Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 Shop gremlin's!! They just love to collect all the little things that fly, fall, shoot or just somehow propel just out of sight or reach even just for a split second or sometimes if it is something really enticeing they will just wait for you to set it down and turn your back for just a second and then they snatch it up, things like pencils, soap stone's, ruler's, tape measure's, screw's, nut's, washers and one of their favorites...cotter pins. welder19 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wedwards Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 Of all the things I've lost in my life I miss my mind the most. That and the battery charger for my weed whacker. If anyone runs across either please give me a call. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 Mike I double dare ya to try punching the little hanging hole at the top on the next one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bad Creek Blacksmith Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 I make small crosses out of 1/4" square, and cut them on a bandsaw, I clamp the peice in some vice grips to save fingers and the peice. Took a few to make it look good. The ones I messed up on just made smaller crosses that way people have a choice of what necklace they want. Another thing I've found out the smaller the work the harder to do. Good luck in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
divermike Posted July 18, 2009 Author Share Posted July 18, 2009 Mick, you're on, and when I come to visit ya, if I succeed, it's beers on you mate!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
divermike Posted July 18, 2009 Author Share Posted July 18, 2009 Bad Creek, I put a wooden ruler under the piece on the bandsaw, and let it support the piece as it gets cut, I also used 1/4" and it is definately harder, but that's kinda why I did it, and someday my lost little cross will reappear, until then..... I'll just make more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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