Differn't parts on the bike get attention from hour to hour... more of the landscape irrigation system on this farm to remodel... two novels on the laptop still "under construction", a journal in the making...annnnnnd... a couple more pieces of journal building equipment coming into the construction phase... to name most of the "projects."
From one minute to the next sometimes I don't know which a way I'm headed until I can look back to see which way I went!
The journal got a couple more bits done today... With the signature block built and the stitching on the cover done I started getting prepped to install the book block into the cover...
Took the cover over to the "shop"... My old edge burnishing machine is sitting over there. I'd left it with/gave it to Evin... though she's generally off doing so many other things it's gotten no use...
But, with some dyeing of the edge, some gum tragacanth and a special secret wax mix...
all warmed up and burnished in on the Leather Edge burnishing machine I built for my shop many years ago...
You can burnish up the edges of a piece in double quick time.
Then with that ready to go... I set to work shaping and putting the mull on the spine of the journal...
Got the Signature Block clamped into my Improvised aka Temporary Lying Press...
... shaped about like I want it...
Then... cut the Mull and checked that it would fit about right...
Then... worked the glue into the spine... worked the mull into the glue...
... and applied a bit more glue over the top and made sure it was all worked in well...
Then... it's sit and wait till the glue cures up.
So...there I stand with my arms crossed and foot tapping... wait wait wait wait wait... this isn't working...
Well... waiting sucks so I jumped in the old dodge... since the bike is still in parts and pieces... and ran into town.
Waiting means that damned thing 'tween my ears has time to conjure up new difficulties... It decided temporary is not good enough. I went to a couple places I used to frequent and located the bits and stuff I'll need for "My" version of a permanent Lying press...
If it works like I expect it to... I'll have done it for two $8.99 bar clamps and a couple pieces of Maple Hardwood to combine with the Poplar of the "temporary"... as opposed to Two $75 bench screws... and all that wood.
Well then... when I got back to the rig... It hit me... done enough today. THIS is the time to kick back... and soak in a lil' bit of quiet...
Soooooo! I got out my kick back tool to pry the top off a Tommy Knocker... to kick back... and just gaze out at some of the views on this old farm...
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| *SE from the Tommy Knocker Chair* |
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| *The "Sunrise tree" at a different time of day* |
Hadn't been sitting there ten minutes and this Bald Eagle comes soaring over on the breeze... just at tree top level... the low sun lit it up all gold... Too fast to get the camera on it... Just an Awesome sight.
Well... tomorrow it's take a deep breath and go to setting the signature block into the cover...
It's a bit of a choreographed thing. The tolerances are close where things have to go... and seeing it all can be a bit difficult... especially when your $6 walmart cheaters keep falling off your nose while both hands are holding a piece you just put glue all over and are trying to guide it to a precise location... that now you can't see!
You got the choice; do you put the piece down and get glue all over places you really DON'T want glue? so you can put the cheaters back on? ...or try to stick it in place by feel? cuz you can't SEE nothin' but fuzzy lines!!! arrrrrgggghhhhh!
Kinda the most stressful time of it for me... The time when you sorta make it or say; "Aw Currr-AP!"
I'm planning on taking it one lil' step at a time and avoiding the Aw currr-ap sentiment.
Brian
8 comments:
A piece of string will keep the glasses in place...
Mike, I was being all polite and not going to say a thing but since you brought it up. A piece of quarter inch elastic tied to the ears of them cheaters will hold'em tight to your head.
It will need to be a big piece of string or elastic... Just saying...
nah... duct tape. two pieces. One on each temple...
We need photos or it didn't happen...
The edges really make a project look nice. Never could get that right. Nice job. John
ha ha... There are SOME things you just leave to the imagination... NO PICS!!!
John; edges are easy bud. Once you know the secrets...
1. Run an edger of the appropriate size over 'em to round those edges, both sides.
2. Dye the edges the appropriate color. Brown or Black? or even another color... Here's one secret. Other's go and by fancy edge dying "Dye's" and paints... nope... PERMANENT Magic Markers! Of the right color... just color 'em till you have the penetration right.
3. Run a dauber down the entire edge with Gum Tragacanth (Tandy or Leather Factory)
4. Now here's another "Secret"... the wax... Paraffin is too hard and brittle. SOoooooo... go the canning section and get a lb or so of Paraffin... then find pure beeswax somewhere... a candle makers supply? Using a double boiler on the stove melt those into a 50/50 mix. then pour the mixed wax about a 1/2' to 3/4" deep in the paper cups in a muffin tray... wa la! Cakes of the PERFECT wax.
5. Now take a cake and rub it all up and down that edge until you have a good coat on it.
6. here there's two choices... first, take a small piece of canvas 10 0z or 12 0z and fold it over... rub the wax on it too... now put your leather so the edge JUST sticks over the table top... hold that canvas against that edge and press a bit...and rub like hell. ZIP! You have a burnished edge... the second way is to take an old grinder that has a speed control, or a 1750 rpm motor and mount hard felt drum on it... cut a groove to match the thickness of the leather... mine has two... thinner and thicker... and then two sides Brown and Black...
Apply the wax cake to that drum with the motor running and then pressing the leather against the waxed felt... run it up and down. Don't go too slow or you burn it... reapply wax to the drum frequently... WA LA! Long belt and such burnished Nice! and Burnished Quick! But with a motor you either have to use a slower motor or run the motor to an arbor with pulleys to slow it down... 3500 rpm is too fast, it burns the leather too easy...
Thank you very much Brian. I have always had trouble with the edges. I sure will try that.
John
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