Toolemera Blog

The Peachey Sharpening System

Jeff Peachey doesn't know it yet, but I'm about to advertise his bookbinders sharpening system to woodworkers. You think woodworkers demand a sharp edge? Take a look at what Jeff makes for bookbinders in the way of cutting tools and a sharpening system. We're talking sharp here.

Imagine you're about to cut into an x-years old, mucho expensive and irreplaceable book. You want a cutting tool that will not leave a knick, a gouge, even a hint of it's passing. You want it to cut where you direct, to the depth you direct and only what you intend to cut. That means sharp. 

Hence, the Peachey Sharpening System. Not one to limit himself to bookbinding, Jeff invents bookbinding tools and equipment, teaches classes in bookbinding, is an historian of bookbinding and I guess lives and breathes bookbinding.

Living with the Lion

A recent article in a local newspaper discussed the current status of that mini-Microsoft, Google. In particular, the where-abouts of Google Books and the Google Books Partner Program. At the same time, there is more soap opera going on between the courts and Google. As the sawdust settles and the radiation fall-out from The Google Books Settlement slowly half-lives to a level capable of sustaining life-as-we-know-it, there appear distinct advantages to bedding down with the lion. Something will happen in the end between Google, Publishers and Authors. My finely honed instincts tell me Google will prevail.

When Google first announced the Partners program, the verbiage was so cloaked in legalistic gobble-de-gook that no one could figure out how, why or when to do something. Lately, Google has taken the sensible step of making it relatively easy for publishers and authors to take advantage of the Partners Program. This is particularly good news for small publishers and independent authors. Although the web based sign up process is annoying, it can be done provided you have the information at your fingertips.

Historical Hand Tools - First Images

Thanks to Kevin Bluey, we have the first set of images for the Historical Hand Tools section of the Hand Tool Makers website. Kevin sent in a set of photos of some of the old tools he owns. I've created an initial categorical listing format that, I hope, will lend itself to growth without confusion.

The initial images are of:

Saw, tenon

Saw, dovetail

Saw, sawsets

Saw, vice

Plane, metallic, fore

Plane, metallic, beader

Anvil

Chisel, mortise

There is also word of some British tool images soon. Which is to say that this site is not limited to the USA or it's territories. I plan on displaying a variety of Dutch planes and am looking forward to tools of all sorts from all countries.

As you can see, I'm not listing by maker. That would become so complicated I'ld be inclined to ditch the whole thing and move to Tahiti. When possible, the caption for a tool will contain maker information, or whatever information the lister chooses to add. Other than some minor editing, I intend to leave the captions alone.

So hop over and enjoy what I hope will be an ever expanding gallery of galleries at Hand Tool Makers.

Till next, Gary

Historical Hand Tools - Amended Directions/Suggestions

Not one to rest on my laurels (which sounds distinctly uncomfortable, not to mention that we have no laurels here... elm, mulberry, maple, dogwood but no laurel) I'm amending the rules, directions, suggestions or whatever you choose to call them for the Historical Hand Tools section of Hand Tool Makers.

To wit: Anything goes so long as it is an old hand tool. Or an old hand or foot operated piece of machinery. I'll add categories and subcategories as stuff is sent. As each gallery can hold up to 250 images, that's a lot of potential space.

Some minor directions of sorts:

I'm not organizing anything by makers name. All categories are by type and sub-type. The question arose of patented versus non-patented. I'm still out to lunch on that one (no funny comments on my mental state please) but I am considering the implications for the overall organization.

In brief, I'ld like to see the historical section function as a browsing gallery. For instance, if I attempted to sort out patented saws from non-patented, I'ld be at it forever, not to mention facing emails from people pointing out the errors of my ways. But... I'm still thinking on this one.

Feel free to send whatever old tools images you would like to send. I'll sort them as they arrive. In general, I won't rename files unless there is a pressing reason to, such as to force one file to load next to another.

Zip & Sit: Not a dermatological term, but file compression formats. For Windows, here are the official Microsoft directions. For those enlightened individuals who use Macintosh computers, simply right click on the file or folder and select Compress. Or, from the Menu, select File > Compress to do the same thing.

Till next, Gary

Give me your Rabbet Planes, yearning to be free!

Over at the Hand Tool Makers website, I've started up the Historical Hand Tools section. Briefly, this will be a selection of images of all sorts of hand tools of an historical bent. In other words, Old Tools. My hope is to develop a nice overview of hand tools in all their variations.

I'll be adding types as time goes on. To start things off, I've created two categories under Planes: Wooden and Planes: Metallic for rabbet planes of all sorts. There are a few initial types but I am sure I missed some and will add the types as people submit stuff.

For example:

Under Planes, Wooden : Rabbet; there are sub-sections for Skewed, Square, Ship, Fillester, etc. There are few if any limits to what sort of images are good. All different types can be submitted, such as by wood, maker, boxing style, country or whatever.

Please name the image before hand with whatever caption you'ld like. An example would be skew_rabbet_denison.jpeg which will be displayed under the image exactly as you created. Unfortunately I have no control (yet) over the file type suffix.

And of course, if you have tools of your own make you'ld like to see in the Shop Made section, or know of a commercial tool maker who should be listed in the Commercial section, please drop me a line.

Till next, Gary

PS: For Windows, here are the directions to zip a file or folder

PPS: A question arose on what kinds of tools? Anything hand tool that is not a new product.