Saturday, August 17, 2019

Slide of the Month Extra - Stormbreaker




August 2019

Time to forge 1 hour

Sanding and filing 1 hour

Time to carve: 1 hour

Finishing: .5 hour

Design: Brainfoo

Modified as a slide: Bill Macfarlane







Made from mystic Uru metal on the neutron star Nidavellir, homeworld of the Dwarves, the Strombreaker was wielded by Thor in the battle against Thanos. (At least that is my understanding of Infinity War in the Marvel universe as I'm more of a DC comics guy.)

I had a great time making the Bowie Knife slide and decided I try my hand at making another miniature sharp implement of destruction. Enter Brainfoo's YouTube video for making the Strombreaker and in short order, I was off to the hardware store to buy a large bolt.  I heated the bolt with a propane torch and began to shape it with a hammer on a small steel anvil. Once I a got the basic shape, it was off to the sander to finish roughing out the shape. Next, I used a file to make the edge of the ax, the back of the hammer, and round the edges. The line down the center was made using an abrasive disk on a rotary tool. Fine sanding with fine sandpaper and then I used polishing disks to give the ax head a great shine.

The Strombreaker's handle was next and I carved it from scrap maple. Once I got it to the shape I wanted with a slot for the ax head, I left it in rough unsanded shape for a realistic look.  I stained the ax handle with some wood stain and when it was dry, it was time to attach the ax head. Using some hemp twine, the ax head was lashed to the handle and hide the top neckerchief slide loop attachement. The lower loop attachment was also hidden by the middle knot of twine and the final knot at the bottom of the ax.

To finish off the slide, I used a couple of coats of CA glue (super glue) to seal the wood and secure the knots.

Saturday, August 3, 2019

#HonorOurPast

Why Google why?



While I don't normally get involved in different movements, I find the recent censorship by Google and YouTube of historical channels repulsive. Please share by using the hashtag #HonorOurPast

Thursday, August 1, 2019

Slide of the Month - Puzzler's Cube



August 2019

Time to carve: 1 hour

Finishing: .5 hour

Boy's Life -October 1981, page 51

Design: Tell and Don Gubler






When I first became an Assistant Scoutmaster in Central Bridge NY, the Rubiks cube was all the rage.  I always marveled on how many Scouts could solve the puzzle in a couple of minutes when it took me hours to do. Fun fact, you can frustrate one of these whiz kids by exchanging a couple colors labels before handing them a mixed up cube to solve.

Made from a square piece of maple with a 3/4 in hole drilled through the middle. The lines are v-cuts which have been sanded smooth. The sides and lines are painted using paint pens.