sutton083

As you read this, it has started around the world, but let me whishes you all a new year fill with health and happiness. At this time of the year it is also a good idea to look back at what we accomplished and start making plans (some call them resolutions :-),  for the upcoming year. So lets see how I made out with my last years plans Fix that small drone for my son. Nail it! Bought a new one :-) Finishing my Boring till. Finally done! Only took two years... Also made a boring bit till to go with it Install a 6X6 beam in my shop for installing my post drill. Post has been up temporarily (still need to be fastened) Waiting for it to finish its stupid wood tricks (acclimatized to my shop) Rehab Post drill . Not much progress on that one... De-gunking it will be very messy, I need the right weather to do it outside. Works with my son on his projects. We managed to fit three in his busy schedule and have a few more in the planning stages Survey my son's tool kit inventory and start b...

I know my keyboard's dribbles are read around the world and I also know that not everyone celebrate Christmas, some even find it offensive and want us to say happy holidays instead. This is not about religious beliefs, this is simply a yearning to find peace and solace for at least one day and reflect on this crazy humanity that we are. I am an old warrior, no one yearn peace more than a soldier because we only do fight so others may live in peace. So tonight, if you can, surrounded by family and friend, whomever you are, wherever you are in this crazy world of ours, take time to reflect on a possible peace miracle... If you believe... Sadly after all these years of co-existence on this planet, we have yet to figured out that we are all, not so different than each others and cynically, more wars amongst ourselves has been fought under some religious pretense. A true God under any name does not condone war under any pretexts. End of polite Canadian international rant, we now return...

I would had normally include its history here, but it was a tad convoluted, and I ended with a post on the saw makers gang instead... So here is the little saw that started that last post, while researching it The vendor had identified it as a St Catharine saw from 1887, based on the medallion. I paid Cdn $20 for it and was quite happy :-) It is not from 1887, that patent date is for the Glover saw nut, used by many makers We know that RH Smith started in 1870 by buying J Flint saw works in St Catharines On. They were bought by Shurley Dietrich in 1893 then operated under that name until 1914 when it was changed to TF Shurly Co. The patent date is telling us that this saw would had probably been made between 1887-1914. Patents last about 17 years back then, so that script about the patent would had been gone no later than (1887+17= 1904) Early 1900s would be my best educated guess, judging from the beaver on the medallion Tenon backsaw from Shurly-Dietrich 1902 catalog,  who was op...

Joseph Flint left England for America to start a saw making works in New-England. Just like we saw in the history of plane making in Canada , other trained tool makers, both American and British, emigrated to Canada and established themselves, and would be Canadian tool makers went to both America and/or England to learn their trades. Accordingly, and not surprisingly, one of the first recorded established saw maker in Upper Canada (today's Ontario) was that same Joseph Flint, now of Rochester New York.  He operated a saw making business in Rochester from 1844 to 1888. J. FLINT CAST STEEL                        WARRANTED ROCHESTER The "label" is not chemically etched, but stamped, as earlier saws plate were Pic from Backsaw.net Advert from 1879 153 State street, Rochester NY J. FLINT ROCHESTER N.Y. medallion Pic from Canadian Woodworking online Forum J. FLINT SUPERIOR medallion on a handsaw Pic from Canadian Woodworki...

The last couple days been helping a friend with his Christmas project for his wife. Can't tell you what it is, it's a surprise :-) Yesterday, end up at the wood shop from 10AM until 4PM, a long day, so I brought along a few tools rehab projects. First up was my BBM crank handles refinishing Long overdue, but very low on my priority list.  But its a quick job and it is taking room in the shop. So out it came with me Long overdue, it really makes a big difference using a walnut stain, blending in the blemish and repairs The next day, I gave it a coat of  feed N wax I really like the final look An old Smith of St-Catherine On. back saw got a quick clean up A light scraping, sanding of the plate, followed by a wipe of WD40 The handle got a scraping, need a light sanding before being re-finished. There is a very faint etch I want to preserve The hardware as removed, before its bath at home Last time I used it, I noticed a bit of rust was forming on both faces  of my world famo...