Good Morning Worlds!
I am awake and up early. Why? I have no idea. I could still be in bed, warm and snuggly, but no, I am up and about!
I will go and meet Sue at work in a while, and clean up the church after contractors have been in.
Later I might go and put Bugsy through the car was as he is covered in bird poop from being parked under a tree.
Then we might look at getting more scrap metal out, and into the trailer, or I might fit a new handle to a spade. I'll see what takes my fancy.
Mum reminded me that Dad died this time last year.
I reminded her that he died this time two years ago.
Time flies....
We're back from cleaning the church. The contractors had dropped loads of cable tie trimmings, screws and wall plugs, and drilling dust, on the pews, cushions, and aisles.
We shouldn't have been in due it being Good Friday, but Sue felt it was wise to do a clean anyway on TOIL, and I think it will be appreciated during services and events this weekend.
I have repaired the spade from Levenshulme Repair Cafe. The replacement ash handle arrived yesterday so I shaped and fitted the taper to the spade and put in a new rivet to hold it.
It took me about an hour and 15 to do it. I did have to remove the heat branding that was on the handle as it would make the spade look like it was all that brand. I then oiled the ash.
@MPaola
To get the stump out.
I remove the rivet by drilling the end and then punching it out.
Then I drill out most of the wood around half the stump to weaken its grip.
I wind in a large screw into the remaining wood for something to pull on.
Now if the metal socket has a split in it, I drive a large flat screwdriver along the split to open up the socket.
Then the stump of wood can be pulled out using a claw hammer on the screw.
If the socket is a welded one, with no split, I drill more and more small holes around the edge of the stump where it is tight on the socket, and then pull it out.
The new handle needs shaping to fit.
I use a drawknife, spokeshave, rasp, file whatever is to hand, to do the shaping.
As the fit gets near, I test in the socket, and then remove wood where the rub marks, or rust marks are evident.
Use witness marks for the finish length, and the orientation, to keep the head and handle aligned.
@MPaola
A level of woodworking skill is needed to shape and finesse the fit so that it is strong and long lasting.
But the strength is really in a good bench vice and either a good claw hammer or a crowbar to pull the stump.
It shouldn't be very tight once enough wood is drilled out, or the socket can be opened a tiny bit to break the rust bond.
If you don't have strong hands and grip it might just mean working for longer and slower.
My first re-handle took me ages as I had to figure out which tools, what methods, how to shape and fit the handle to the socket, etc.
It is the same with hammer and axe handles. They are hard work to do well, but done well they are very satisfying (except for my axe that ended not in line with the handle).
Alfred Chow - Maker of Things
Pollinators
M.Paola