Finished my travisher today...

Re: Finished my travisher today...

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>Scott,

You work very quickly by my standards. I kind of lost track of how long it took to make the coffee table I made for LOML after the second Christmas where it was going to be her present had passed.

Very very nice looking tool. I've wondered about travishers - do you find the up-curved handles awkward? It seems like they'd put your hands in an unnatural position.

Re: Finished my travisher today...

Greg Betit Vergennes, VT.

>Hi Bill,

That is a nice looking tool, isn't it? Scott gave me a hunk of the same cherry and is now hounding me mercilessly to get my travisher made.

The handles are up there so that the tool can be used in a hollow. If the travisher had spoke shave handles they would limit access to the seat bottom.

Greg

Look real good &...

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>'bout time you finished it...;^)

Looks like you have all the tools to become a master chair builder.

Now it's time to get to work eh?

Again a fine look tool.

Inspiring work.

Steve Kubien

>Looks really good Scott. How much work did the iron need? Also, what are the dimensions of the iron (thickness and depth at the cutting edge)? I've got a hunk of O1 which will be a travisher blade someday.

It sure seems like there are a bunch of us looking to start making some chairs (and a number of experienced folks).

Steve Kubien

Ajax, Ontario

Hey 'Scott

George@Colonel's Workshop-Havertown PA

>Good Evening Scott,

A friend told me of a store up your way which sells clock parts. Its called "Merrit"--or something close. Are you familiar with it?

BTW, nice travisher, very well done. I bet it could even double as a back scratcher on the "noisey" side.

George

Re: Finished my travisher today...

Scott in Douglassville, PA

>Thanks, Bill. As Greg said, the handles allow clearance in a scooped surface. Also, you end up holding the travisher (well, I do, anyway) mainly at the center of the body, similar to a spokshave, with thumbs behind and little of your hand holding the curved arms. So it's not as akward as you'd think.

Scott

Re: Inspiring work.

Scott in Douglassville, PA

>Thanks, Steve. The iron was pretty sharp when it arrived, but needs a good honing, which I still haven't done. Need to add that to my list for the weekend. I'll measure the iron for you and email you the specs; I think the tangs are around 9/16" wide at the base.

Scott

Re: Hey 'Scott

Scott in Douglassville, PA

>Thanks, Colonel.

Merritt's Antiques also has a clock division. If you're in the area, it's inspiring to see the whole outfit. The place is about two miles from our house, so drop me a line before you come. Very knowledgable, friendly folks there. (610) 689-9541 extention 263.

FWIW, Mary Merritt's Doll Museum and Museum of Childhood is closing down at the end of the year. They're right by our house. The first auction of the contents had some items go in the ~$40000+ range. For toys. And I still haven't gotten there yet.

Scott

Re: Finished my travisher today...

Skip in Falls Church

>Hi Scott,

Really nice looking travisher! I really *do* need to get around to making one myself.

Skip

Re: Hey 'Scott

Jack Guzman from Maine

>Hi George,

I got a reproduction Seth Thomas wall clock movement from them awhile back.Nice looking stuff.I haven't got around to building the clock yet but I have the wood set aside.A friend of mine,a local clock restorer buys from them alot.---Jack

Re: Finished my travisher today...

paul womack

>Looks elegant, functional, and "minimal", and I mean that last word in its positive sense.

http://www.quotegarden.com/perfection.html

Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away. Antoine de Saint-Exup�ry

BugBear

Re: Finished my travisher today...

Ray Drueke

>Great looking! And talk about timing... My blade arrived yesterday along with his book.

Did you follow the plan in the book or wing it? I know your travisher body has a more traditional shape. The plan also suggests securing the tangs to the side with screws and washers. Did you do this or use the more traditional approach? If traditional, what size drill bit did you use? Would you also mention the overall size of the body. I have a hunk of wood I'd like to use and I think I get one try.

Again, great looking piece!!

Ray.

Re: Finished my travisher today...

Scott in Douglassville, PA

>Thanks, Ray. I got inspired reading what Langsner did, and what Eric Hedberg did in Popular Woodworking, but took the traditional approach. Overall, the body's 9-1/4" from tip to tip, and about 4" in height. I got the 3/8" sweep iron from Drew, and the body is 1-3/4" deep to accomodate it, with about a 1/4" rounded toe in front of it, and 1/2" of wood behind the mortises. I summarized what I did back in April; I wrote then that I'd used a 9/16" bit to initially drill the mortises, which is completely wrong. Think it was actually 3/16", but lay a bit aside the tang and see what'll work for you. I tapered the mortises with an old 1/8" chisel. Wasn't too hard.

If it goes horribly awry, just start over with another piece of wood. The shaping's the slow part. Was for me, anyway.

Good luck.

Scott