Stuff and Things

Just a few unrelated things that have been bouncing around in my photo file:

 A while back, the good folks at Tin Cup Whiskey sent me nice cup, as a thank-you for giving them a shout-out on the blog post I did about riding bicycles to the top of Webster's Pass.

It's a nice, double-wall stainless steel camp cup, with a carabiner handle. Apparently, you can't buy these from Tin Cup, they are a promotional item, only. I am happy and proud to have it!

Wednesday, I rode the Scrambler to work. At about 10:00 AM, I happened to walk past the door to the parking lot, and noticed that it was snowing to beat the band. I snapped this picture from the landing, outside the door, of the top of the Scrambler. I posted it up on Facebook, with the caption, "Perhaps I should have ridden the bicycle to work, today..."

By the time I rode home, the sun was out, the roads were dry, and the temps were in the mid-40s. Springtime in Denver.

I pulled into the driveway, and looked down at my odometer, as I parked in front of the shop building. I thought that seeing 123456 was pretty cool, even though that's not the actual mileage on the bike. I had somewhere around 2475 miles on the bike, when I broke the stock speedometer.

Steve and I had a good practice, this afternoon, and we wrote a song while we were at it. The first verse popped fully-formed into my head, and we just started playing it, like it was a song we had been practicing for weeks.  I love it when that happens.

It's called "Playin' In a Rock and Roll Band". I look forward to playing it live, but that probably won't be until May. We already have our set list mapped out for the show at The Pit Stop Tavern, in April.

We are also working on Summertime Blues, incorporating elements from the original Eddie Cochran version, the Who's cover and Blue Cheer's live version, all mixed up with how we hear it. It's pretty fun, and the Bigsby gets a workout!

Blue Cheer was a 1960s proto-punk/psychedelic rock band, along the same lines as The MC5. Check out the video for some groovalicious hairstyles!

Until next time!

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Custom Svord Mini Peasant

On the 13th, I posted some pictures of an Opinel #8 which I am modifying, slightly. In that post, I mentioned that I had some Svord Mini Peasant knives coming, which I also planned to modify. Brad contacted me, and asked where I had gotten the Svords, as he had tried to order one, and it was out of stock. (The link takes you to a review of the knife, which tells you all about the factory construction, etc.)

I told him where I got them, but I also had to spill the beans on the fact that I had ordered more than one, since I planned to modify one for him, as his birthday gift for this year. Brad's birthday is in August, so I guess this is a bit early.

On Friday, I decided to try and get a start on making the custom handle for Brad's knife. I had ordered in some of the plastic-handled versions, since I wanted to make my own wooden scales. I have one of the wooden handled models, as well, but they charge twice as much for them, and the handles need a lot of work, when they arrive.

At about 10:30, in the morning, I figured that I would get started on the handle, then go get some lunch, around noon. Of course, once I got started, I worked on through, until dinner time; seven hours, in all.

First, I traced the stock handle scales onto the wood, as a rough template to locate the screw holes. I sawed these out with my vintage Black and Decker jigsaw. I had to do three, because I split one, drilling one of the holes.

 Once I had the rough blanks cut out, I got to work with the knives, files, rasps and sandpaper. Other than the jigsaw and the drill press, I used no power tools on this project. It would probably be a lot quicker, and more efficient, to use a belt sander to do a lot of the work, but I kind of like the hand sanding...

Eventually, I bolted the blade in, so that I could keep the sides symmetrical, and figure out the final shape I wanted. I wanted the tang of the blade to be flush with the back of the handle, and I also wanted to add a notch for the lanyard. Having the blade in allowed me to work the wood down to the shape of the tang, with no guesswork.

 I thought that Brad might appreciate a little bit of personalization, so I added the ACW (Association of Caffeinated Wheelmen) monogram, by drilling the handle and inserting brass brazing rod to form the letters.

I also added a wood spacer at the butt end of the knife. It just gives the knife a much more solid feel, in the hand.

 I finally went to "lunch" at about 5:30 and, on the way home, stopped by Ace Hardware for some supplies. Once home, I finished the wood with a Danish Oil cherry finish, and hand rubbed it. I did three coats on the outside, two on the inside.

I then did the final assembly with a different blade, which has a nicer grind and a better edge. The blade I was using in the build process got swapped into the stock wooden Svord handles. I will do some work on that blade, later, and make it a little nicer.

Here is a comparison of the stock wooden handle, and the one I made. You can't see it in the picture, but the scales of the stock handle are asymmetrical, and the finish is quite rough. Plus, I don't care much for the pointy end, and the amount of curve on the spine.

So, there it is, a "rustic", inexpensive edc knife to go into the bike bag or pocket. 

I didn't modify the blade on Brad's knife, but I will be modifying the one I put together for myself. Stay tuned.

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Today's Project

Awhile back, I removed the passenger-side step rail from the Dodge, because it was rusted almost in two.  When I bought the truck, it had only the one step rail. I guess the driver's-side rail had rusted through, beforehand.

After I removed the one rail, I started looking on craigslist, hoping to find some inexpensive, used rails for the truck. I found a set in Parker, for $300.00. There was a set in Commerce City, for $400.00, which needed to be painted.  And, every other set I found was priced similarly.

So, I looked on Amazon, just to see what the rails cost, new.  I was shocked to see that, brand new, I could buy stainless steel rails, powder-coated black, for $139.00, with free shipping. So, I ordered a set, and they arrived a few weeks ago. There was snow on the ground, when they got here,  and the temps were quite low. So, I decided to wait until the weather was better, and then install the steps.

Today, it was close to 80 degrees F, in Denver, and the sun was shining. After running some errands, I decided to install the step-rails on the Dodge.

It took a couple of hours, all told, to get the rails attached, and braced up. It was worth the effort, though. The Dodge sits up pretty high, above the ground, and the steps sure make it easier to get into the seat. I really wish I had been able to use a step to get into the driver's seat, back when I was dealing with a broken rib, back in January!

The old truck is a bit long in the tooth, but I like it. And, now, I like it a little more.

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Frankenstein's Lab

 The 2005 Flying V went back on the slab, today.

I had gathered up a Bigsby B5 tremelo unit, and all of the pieces I needed to mount it on the guitar. So, I figured that today was as good as any time to install it.

 First, the original stop tail piece and Tune-a-matic bridge came off.

 In the original bridge's place, I installed a roller bridge from Stewart/McDonald. The rollers help keep the strings in tune, as they are slackened and stretched by the tremelo.

 This adapter installs with screws replacing the original tail piece studs. It allows the Bigsby to be mounted to a guitar without drilling any holes. This not only prevents damage to the guitar, but it also ensures that the tremelo is installed in the correct place.

 The bigsby mounts to the adapter with 4 screws.

 Stringing a Bigsby is kind of challenging. The little barrels on the ends of the strings fit over the pins on the roller. Getting them to hold, as you bend the string around the roller is almost impossible.

 Bending the string, at the ferrule, helps hold it in place, as you hook the other end up to the tuner.

All strung up and ready to go. I probably need to throw a little graphite in the nut slots, particularly on the low E string. That string wants to go sharp, if I really work the trem. Other than that, it stays in tune really well (better than I anticipated, to tell the truth).

It's funny, to me, that this guitar has become the workhorse of my collection. I pretty much just bought it because the price was too good to pass up. I wasn't shopping for another V, when I got it, and I was actually a little afraid I might have spent my money unwisely.

And, maybe I did, because it has idled all of my other guitars. With the new pickup I installed in the neck position, in conjunction with the stock humbucker at the bridge, this Flying V pretty much covers all bases for my playing, from country-tinged tones to flat-out gut-wrenching distorted blues.

It's really a lot more versatile than most people, including myself, in the past, give it credit for.

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Opinel Number Eight Knife Mods

Lately, I have become somewhat fascinated with friction folder knives, and the modifications that people do to them. I bought a couple of Svard Peasant knives, which arrived today, with plans to modify them.

But, before starting on them, I thought I would do a little work on an old Opinel #8, which I use in the kitchen, upon occasion.  Of course, I forgot to take a "before" picture, but here are a few shots of what I've done, so far:

I've never really liked the round profile and kicked up tail of the Opinel handle. So, I flattened the sides, and re-profiled the aft  end. I will refinish it, later, when I decide on what I want it to look like.

I also changed the shape of the knife point, to more of a spear point.

And, I did a little bit of very basic filework to the spine of the blade. I'm actually quite pleased with it, considering that it was my first effort at that. I will do a couple more practice blades before I attack the Svard, which I plan to carry as one of my daily carries.

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All I'm Posting Lately...

...are pictures of my sketchbook.

Yesterday, I didn't forget my phone, when I went to the coffee shop. I just left it in my pocket and ignored it. I sat with my buddy Ted, who is a comic artist, and talked art, music and movies.

As we talked, I people-watched and sketched and made up stories about my fellow patrons. In other words, I hung out at the coffee shop.

Ted suggested that I get back to doing mini comics. I think I will. I sort of gave it up, unintentionally, when we started the band. But, I think I can find some time.

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Another Phone-free Trip To The Coffee Shop

Doodling/sketching at the table, again, today, because I left the cell phone at home, so I couldn't read on the Kindle App. Seems like that's becoming a semi-regular thing...


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