The Creation of a Turret Clock

"Nobody makes me bleed my own blood...  Nobody!!!" - White Goodman

Ah, the joys of woodworking.  One of the little "perks" I had forgot about is how torn up your hands can get from woodworking.  Now, you might be thinking that blacksmithing is rough on the hands and it is.  But its not nearly as hard for bleeding as woodworking.  This little story might help to explain why...

  About five years ago, I attended my first woodworking convention.  At a demonstration of tool sharpening techniques, the instructor passed around a chisel with the warning, "Be careful, this is surgically sharp."  Not razor sharp, surgically sharp.  While feeling the blade, I did not cut myself enough to bleed, it was very capable of slicing off thin layers of skin.  I taught myself how to sharpen properly and now my chisels are often that sharp.  Put 3 or 4 chisels, a draw knife and other tools on a table and watch me grabbing for them...  Explains the blood.

  As a comparison, you very rarely want sharp tools in blacksmithing.  The thin edge of the blade would simple be destroyed the moment it came in contact with hot metal.  Most blacksmithing chisels could only cut skin if they were struck with a 2 pound hammer.  Then again, a butter knife could cut skin if hit hard enough.

  Well, last night I managed to finish the woodworking on the chest other than the glue up.  The last part for the lock is a spring mechanism.  I could not get the tool steel I have to become very springy despite using a technique described by a smith from Williamsburg.  I'm sure I'm doing it wrong.  So, will give it another try this evening.  I just have to say, that part of the process involves molten lead.  No, nothing bad can happen when playing with molten lead.