February 8, 2012

Posts Comments

You are here: Home / Archives for Tools / Czeck Edge

The Czeck Edge birdcage awl for pinpoint accuracy

April 23, 2010 By

A simple layout that requires boring is made accurately when using a bird cage awl. This is especially important when the layout is critical, such as properly aligning high-strength rare earth magnets. I use the Czeck Edge awl to ensure this pinpoint accuracy:

The bird cage awl: pinpoint accuracy in boring.

Although I did not show it in a recent article, I also used the bird cage awl to mark the location of the pivot point on the folding legs of a prayer kneeler (prie Dieu). These now are perfectly flush with the standing surface, as required to remove all stress on the pivot point during use:

Folding legs even with surface.

I invite you to visit the totally revamped Czeck Edge Hand Tool web site. In the interest of full disclosure, Czeck Edge is one of the sponsors on this blog.

— Al Navas

Filed Under: Blog, Czeck Edge, Design, Kneeler, Prie Dieu Tagged With: , , ,

A rule stop and a story stick

January 15, 2010 By

Sometimes I prefer to not use my tape measure, especially when I have already made a prototype piece. In this case I had already made a drawer sample, to show my client for his approval (click on all images to enlarge them):

After receiving the green light to make the remaining drawers, I completed the drawer boxes but not the slips and bottoms. During the machining of maple stock to make the solid wood bottoms, a new tool arrived in the mail: the brand-new Czeck Edge Rule Stop – Introductory Price is $27.95:

From the Czeck Edge web site:

…Besides a rule, the unique design permits the Czeck Edge ruler stop to clamp tightly to practically anything that can fit between the 1 1/4″ maximum jaw width. A shop made straight edge of any length, a story stick or a machine fence can all benefit from the repeatable accuracy the Czeck Edge ruler stop provides. The jaws can also grab round stock to just shy of 1/4″ diameter, making a handy depth gauge…

I took on the challenge, as I needed to duplicate the prototype drawer bottom dimensions, and also wanted to set the blade height for another little project. For the drawer bottoms I wanted to get close to final length:

I simply inserted a 3-foot rule into the jaws, allowing an extra inch for the length:

Using this technique I had the new boards marked in a few seconds – and I did not have to put difficult-to-read pencil marks on the rule!

For the drawer width, I wanted to use the little story stick I was using for the drawer slips. So I simply marked the distance from the edge of the tongue on the far edge, to the edge of the nearest tongue:

The last thing I did was to to set the blade height for a slot on another board:


BobZ, I love this new Rule Stop – thanks!

Disclosure: Czeck Edge (Robert Zajicek, Owner) is a sponsor of my blog. I received the first-run Rule Stop for evaluation in my shop and projects.
.

—  Al Navas

Filed Under: Blog, Czeck Edge, Layout Tagged With: , , ,

Looking back on 2009

December 30, 2009 By

With 2009 done, I look back at the most-read and popular articles of the year, and find an interesting mix: Building, machine setup and use, techniques, and how-to articles topped the list. Videos, too, were extremely popular; not quite viral in 2008, the 1-minute video about the Schwarz Dances continued to be extremely popular.

And now, the top articles:

The single most popular article was about Ron Brese, his new hand plane, and his design philosophy. From that article: “As owner of Brese Plane in Thomaston, Georgia, USA, makes wonderful infill hand planes. In recent communication via e-mail I asked Ron about his approach and philosophy to a brand-new hand plane he unveils right now; I also asked him if he would allow me publish the first photos on this blog, and he agreed (photos below). Folks, get ready for a non-infill hand plane from Brese Plane – a stainless steel hand plane, at that!”

.

From early in 2008, My setup for resawing on the band saw continues to be a very popular item, and is number two this year. It thrills me when I receive an e-mail message telling me that a woodworker has solved a vexing resawing problem with their machine, and that my article played a role. I continue to rely on the band saw to make drawer bottoms, for example, from thicker stock. Other articles about resawing can be found here.

.

The FMT Pro and the Super FMT articles were also extremely popular. I have had the FMT Pro in the shop for several years, and is my go-to machine for all projects requiring mortise and tenon joinery (I love it!). And, although it arrived late in the year, the Super FMT is attracting a lot of attention due to its lower price, while keeping all the features of the Pro version. Leigh Industries sent me the Super FMT to evaluate; I have been using it in the shop, and continue evaluation as time permits. In case you missed it, this article on workholding and consistency with the FMT (Pro) is quickly becoming a favorite with many readers, based on feedback I have received since its publication.

.

When Things Go Wrong, my story about tearout like I had never experienced, hit a nerve with my readers. Of course, it helped that Sharpening Guru Ron Hock also published my story on his new blog, The Sharpening Blog. I always recommend setting aside some shop time to do maintenance on the power tools – January is usually the month in which I do this in my shop, as it is a convenient time of the year. Last January, the blades on my DeWalt planer looked fine; but I should have known better, for I have had the machine close to 5 years, and had never rotated the blades to expose the  new edge (my model has dual edges)!

.

Although Sandy has not been able to spend much time in the shop much for the last two years, the article about her band saw box continues to be a very popular article. She had never made a box like this; but a local sawyer gave us an oak burl from his scrap pile, and Sandy knew immediately what she would make. Once made, she donated it to a local church, and was sold at a Silent Auction in October 2007. A few weeks later she demonstrated to our Woodworkers Guild how to make these boxes – and that was a very popular session, too!

.



.

My article about the new dovetail chisel from Czeck Edge was extremely popular. In the article I said “I felt lucky to get one of the new Czeck Edge Hand Tool dovetail chisels while I was in Cincinnati last week. The dovetail chisel is “…a design collaboration…” between Bob Zajicek and Jameel Abraham, of Benchcrafted. I promised Bob Zajicek, owner of Czeck Edge, I would use this little jewel as soon as I got back home…” Shown on the photo is the original version of the chisel; but Bob is already producing a second version, with a tapered and beveled rib, to allow getting into tight corners.

.

.

.

How about some videos? These are extremely popular! The top videos this year were:

  1. Mario Rodriguez, at Woodworking in America (WIA) at Valley Forge, PA: Making and Fitting Drawers
  2. Bob Lang, at Woodworking in America at St Charles, Ill.: Arts & Crafts Style: The Unadorned Truth
  3. Roy Underhill, also from the Valley Forge WIA conference: Dovetails, the details
  4. Bob Lang, in St Charles: What SketchUp can do for you
  5. Christopher Schwarz, at Woodworking in America, Berea, KY: This ain’t no Tango

.I thank you all for reading my blog, and for your support. I wish everyone a wonderful, safe, and Happy New Year!

.

—— Al Navas

Filed Under: Blog, Brese Plane, Conference, Czeck Edge, Jigs, Leigh jig, St Charles, Super FMT, Tools, Valley Forge, Woodworking in America Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Page optimized by WP Minify WordPress Plugin