Full Value

Over the weekend, I started a ring job on the shop bus.  Unfortunately I found that I need to replace the connecting rod bearings.

I did get full value on the bearings though!  In fact, there aren't any bearings left.

Where there is copper here, there should be babbitt, the actual bearing surface has worn away.  

No need to replace parts until they are fully worn out!  

This was pretty close to a catastrophic failure though.  

I guess my truck isn't the One Horse Shay

http://www.eldritchpress.org/owh/shay.html

The shop bus, is a 1949 GMC Panel Truck in case you're wondering.  It was converted into a Suburban, during the 50s, with steel, and lead.  My how there is lead around the windows.  Excellent.  For the mean time, I'm on the bike.

On the level

Last week or so, I was over on Saltspring Island, installing a vanity in an older post and beam house.  The house isn't plumb, level, or square.  But it is right on the ocean, hard to beat that.  It's also great to ride on the ferry on the way to the job site.

 A trifle un-fashionable these days, this is the way I like to build my casework.  Dados and grooves.  I also refuse to build casework from particle board.  I just can't see going to all this trouble to end up with something that won't stand up in the long run.  I also find it easier to mount slides, and drawers this way too, not to mention the strength!  For fancy work, it also allows an easy install for a dust shield.

 With the extra framework, and the ply, it's no trouble to cut out the corners, and still handle the "boxes" without damage.  Here, the entire back corner had to be removed for the post.  The box is still able to be handled without fear of breaking or racking.

Die Walz

Now, I didn't invent "Village Carpenter".  It's the title of a book by Walter Rose, which is simply fantastic.

This Emmerich block plane, was the first all wooden plane added to my toolbox.  The body is hornbeam, and the sole, lignam vitae.  I bought this when I was working on a job outside during the winter, fitting boards on a boat deck.  My iron block plane was oh-so cold to hold.  This is the first job I used the plane on.

Now of course, I enjoyed using the E.C.E block plane so much that it's no longer alone.  In fact, I've switched entirely to German planes, and the Stanley's just collect dust.

It seems that some German carpentry apprentices, still are real journeymen.  They actually take a journey.  Here in Canada, to get a journeyman's ticket, you either apprentice for four years and write an exam, or work the required number of hours, and then write the exam.  German apprentices though, seem to have the option of making the actual journey still.  Travelling from town to town, working, and getting a stamp in each place.  This journey can take three years and one day, all the while staying at least 50 km from home.  During these years, the apprentices aren't allowed to pay for food or lodging, start with only 5 euros, and are expected to finish with 5 euros.  Traveling is done by foot, hitch hiking, or by work trade.    One wouldn't think that you'd get to far afield, and yet by trading work for ship passage, or working on the ship, traveling the world isn't too much of a problem.  To make the journey easier (at least in europe) the apprentices are required to wear the traditional costume.  Wait a minute, you may as well read about this on wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journeyman_years