Thread: Wosti Weekender

Evening gentlemen. Just having a 'pot still' whiskey and a smoke after puttering in the shop some today.
Working on another weekend kit for a pair of George Wostenholm IXL's in one piece sapelle scales that I put together last year when I was just starting to experiment making one piece scales.

I chose Mahogany as the stock for this one as it matched the sapelle grain and colour quite closely and will also go well with the leather I selected.

Rough milled my razor cradles, and decided to make the entire assembly out of mahogany, and tweak my design a little bit from the first one. I turned the ends as one piece and then cut that down the middle for a nicer radius for the leather at either end on the finished strop. I also turned a more traditional handle shape for the tensioner.

I have the cradles completed now, depth wise and the ends all ready for threading and assembly. Then still need to build the balsa cover and apply the finish, and the finishing touches.
Building this one, and another for a fellow member simultaneously out of the same stock. Awaiting some scans of the razors destined for the other one before I get to far on it, so I figured I'd work out some more kinks to the design on this set. I'm liking the wood grain of this mahogany, even though it's a bit fluffy to work with. Almost killed my saw blade it packed up so quick, and the turning was a bitey experience that had me resharpening my gouges to get the job done properly.
Not complaining, just appreciating the different 'flesh' each wood provides. Once sanded, the wood really showed it's almost luminous face grain.
Cheers gents, need another couple fingers of hooch.

That's looking really good. Would a cut our for a finger to fish out the blade at the spine be useful or is it unnecessary?

Wow, looking good Mike. Can't wait to see the finished product. Nothing like a fresh edge for cutting any wood!

Originally Posted by Hart

That's looking really good. Would a cut our for a finger to fish out the blade at the spine be useful or is it unnecessary?

The Bison, which was the inspiration for the design, uses a cut out, but I opted to remove more material under the wedge end, creating a 'step'. I just push down on the wedge end and the tail end pops up for removal. Less wood surface area removal, and easier for me to wing it to get it just right.
I then clad the bottom of the cradles in felt and it's smooth and soft.
Turned out well on the Palmer set I made last week so I'm staying with that design modification.
Works like this;

Just keeps the box lines cleaner, to me.
I'm also going to fill in the engravings again for contrast on this one. Maybe try silver leaf as opposed to gold leaf on this set.
Purchased some gorgeous, but quite thick 9 oz latigo leather for the strop on this one, and that extra thickness of leather is why I decided to turn a 1 1/2" dia rod to cut for the ends. Smooth radius for some smooth leather.
Depending on 'honey do's' from the missez today I may get it finished up, or at least the finish applied today.
Appreciate the suggestions gents.
Cheers, and happy Sunday.

I've been astonished at how much you are able to get done. Seems as though you have new projects turning out all the time!
Been working on my 7 day, and though there are some details that are very time consuming, and though my tools are minimal, and wife is forever needing help.. I can't help but to think that I need to learn to be more efficient, just keeping the workspace clean is a chore! Lol
Right on man! Looking good. And I'll be watching closely to perhaps learn some of your tricks... gonna need to send in a spy and smuggle the pics back on micro-film..
"Your mission, should you so choose to accept, is to find out all you can about MikeB52 trade secrets..."

Thanks Mike, appreciate the appearance of productivity.
I like to keep busy, idle hands are the devil's workshop my Grandad used to say.
And keeping the shop clean is a never ending task!!
I settle for clean enough to be safe, dirty enough to be comfortable in there.
I've been involved in production maintenance for the last few decades, and I guess being able to stack up jobs and utilize wait times on various steps has become part of my internal wiring.
Regarding your 7 day build, looking forward to seeing some pics.
Only having done the 1 I found that once the scale thickness was established, keeping the 7 sets of scales stacked as one as long as possible in the build really helped keep the symmetry of the set tight.
Even with traditional 2 pc scales the same approach would have worked I believe.
Thanks again, set the threaded inserts last night so this set is moving along and will hopefully be ready for use and posting this weekend.
Cheers.

Originally Posted by MikeB52

Thanks Mike, appreciate the appearance of productivity.
I like to keep busy, idle hands are the devil's workshop my Grandad used to say.

I like that expression...'the devil's workshop.' Perhaps there could be a sub-thread under The Workshop.
The Devil's Workshop
All of the things you could be working on...
I'd have a lot of posts there

It looks superb. Mike!
Being a hammer and screwdriver guy, I am astonished how some can do such nice woodworking.
It shall turn up a treat! Looking forward to seeing the end result.

Thanks guys.
Tom, I have no doubt you would take to the wood like the mighty beaver!
I get it, everything in Texas has thorns right? Only roses and cacti down there, hehe.

Got the threads set and ends installed tonight. Need to work the leather and balsa still.
But moving the ball, as it were..
Cheers.

Got a bit more done on the weekend. Love how the red just comes alive once the finish is applied. Will match the sapelle as well as I hoped I think. And the silver leaf worked out ok. Think I prefer the gold to work with, but the silver is an option I can use, depending on the project.

Final coats of varathane and assembly before Wednesday I hope.
Off to the cottage for a week next week so want this done so I have a clean bench while away.
Maybe get a travel brush turned before Friday, have an idea what I want to make now.
Cheers gents.