On becoming Old Sneelock

Carving My Niche

A few years ago I was playing around with a small jack hammer I had repaired and carved our street number in a rock. I was surprised at how easily it went and being pleased with the outcome, I showed my lovely wife Lydia.

She placed it at the end of the walk up to the house. The 911 commission immediately changed our street number from 658 to 663. We flipped the rock over and went on to other things.

                                

I had forgotten about the whole thing, when she asked if I could carve another rock for her. She and her friend Kathy had arranged for a Christmas gift exchange. The rules were that the gifts had to be hand made, without spending any money.

I had 2 weeks or so to come up with something.  I cast around for ideas and came up with a fairly nice rock to work with. (Christmas! SNOW everywhere. What was she thinking?) Using my Dremel rotary tool and a dozen or so abrasive wheels, I had engraved the rock with “Kathy’s Garden”.  I finished it with a small daisy and a few curlicues around the border to frame it, just in time for Christmas.

It was a big hit with Kathy and I thought that was the end of it.

--Sorry no picture--

My next commission was a rock for Lydia’s garden. Are we seeing a pattern here?

Lydia’s rock was to say “Follow Your Bliss”. She had picked out a rock of just the right type and kind. Following her careful direction, I laid out the letters on the rock and began carving. The rock is a type that locally is called Pudding Stone. It’s a sedimentary rock made of limestone with smaller rocks embedded in it like raisins in a pudding. Just under the “F” was a piece of Calcite. I didn’t know it until I started trying to cut the stone but Calcite is HARD. 20 diamond points, and a day later, I had finished Lydia’s rock.

Now I was hooked. I had a process, the tools, and the talent. All I needed was an inspiration.

My sister Peggy asked me for a marker for her dogs resting place. I completed it and she was very happy with it.

I have a collection of old farm equipment, mostly tractor related, but quite a varied group. My favorite one is my old Ford tractor so I engraved a rock to commemorate it.

I went on to engrave rocks with other trade names, the International IH logo and name, a couple of John Deere’s running deer, and an Oliver shield and name. By now I had engraved rocks scattered all over the yard, and several in surrounding counties. Just to see what would happen,I put all of them up for sale at my sister’s and her husband’s greenhouse, except the Ford Rock, and sold them all too unsuspecting customers.

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I dabbled in base relief with a robin and a squirrel, but didn’t like the outcome

Lydia liked them and put them at the entrance to the sidewalk.

Lydia again called on my talents for gifts for her seminary class members. They had all signed a mouse pad for each of the class members so for Christmas I engraved a small rock for each of them with a copy of their signature. The rocks were small so we could mail them rather than shipping them freight. J

My biggest engraving project to date was putting the name of our farm on a 4 foot tall rock that sits in front of the barn.

I’m waiting for my inspiration to overcome my laziness before I tackle the “Next Project” What ever that may be?

Two plows from my collection the one on the right is a Brinly and the one on the left is a Gardenaid

A note from a friend.

A friend of mine sent me this. It doesn't replace the original 10 but they are good ideas.

NEW COMMANDMANTS                                                                                                                                                      

Someone has written these beautiful words one must read to understand the deep meanings in them.                                                                      

They are like the Ten Commandments to follow in life all the time.                                                                                                    

1.   Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble;                                                                                              

      it is a "steering wheel" that directs us in the right path throughout life.                                                                                   

2.  Do you know why a car's WINDSHIELD is so large & the rear view mirror is so small?                                                                              

     Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. So, look ahead and move on.                                                                                

3.   Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write.                                                                          

4.  All things in life are temporary. If going well enjoy it, they will not last forever.                                                                           

      If going wrong don't worry, they can't last long either.                                                                                                      

5.   Old friends are like Gold! New friends are Diamonds! If you get a Diamond, don't forget the Gold!                                                              

       Because to hold a Diamond, you always need a base of Gold!                                                                                                   

6.   Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from above and says,                                                                             

       "Relax, sweetheart, it's just a bend, not the end!                                                                                                           

7.   When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities;                                                                                                

       when GOD doesn't solve your problems HE has faith in your abilities.                                                                                         

8.   A blind person asked St. Anthony: "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?"                                                                         

       He replied: "Yes, losing your vision."                                                                                                                       

9.   When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them; and sometimes,                                                                                  

       when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you.                                                                                       

10.   WORRYING does not take away tomorrow's TROUBLES; it takes away today's PEACE.                                                                                  

 If you really enjoy this, PLEASE pass to others. It may brighten someone's day...                                                                                  

 Praying for love and peace to fill the coming NEW Year.                                                                                                            

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, and leave the rest to God. 

Sharpening a Barn Auger

In response to a question of why an auger would only cut 1/4" deep before strippng out the pilot thread. I've taken an auger that was in extremely rough shape and brought it back to usable. Make boring an 1 1/4" hole quick and simple. No cord, no batteries, faster than setting up with power tools, and can work underwater. Well okay you might not want to but it will work!

Rust Hunt

I had to work today so I treated myself to a trip to Mason, Michigan. I didn’t go further than down Peddlers Row but I managed to pick up a rather interesting chisel, stamped I. Sorby Sheffield, a looong 1” dia Irwin style barn auger bit, and some candidates for the chisel repair pile.

The bottom chisel is the I. Sorby.

I'm not sure what the makers mark is. On the butt of the handle it's stamped "Indestructible".

If you have an idea what the makers mark is I'd appreciate it if you would let me know.

The socket chisel is a Craftsman. It's pretty well beat up but maybe the socket can be reforged.

The chisel just above the auger is a Millers Tool Steel. The tang has been hit a few times but not too bad.

Last and least, the top gouge has the tip broken off and the name is corroded down to just a "C".

Four chisels, three with names, not bad for $2.00.

The auger is an Irwin style bit. No name on the shank. The handle on it was "adapted" in other words driven onto the shank of the bit. Augers are my favorites so I'll sharpen it up and try to rebuild the handle. The handle is an adjustable type. It should have an eye bolt through the slot that the shank was driven through, with a wing nut on the end to tighten the shank into the handle.

In the back of one of the stalls I found a Stanley No. 358 miter box. What I thought was a rare item. A quick check on the net shows it's not that rare and the price was too high for a miter box without a blade.

The Work-Mate that it's sitting on is pretty good but I already have three. 

A great way to spend an afternoon.

Saved

Barn Auger II Why do augers have different pitch threads on the pilot screw.

In this and the next video we'll test the effect of pilot thread pitch on how a wood cutting auger works.

Champion Blower

In my travels I picked up a Champion Blower. Looks to have come from a rivet forge. Missing the handle but it's in good shape with only 1 farmer fix. It has a socket head cap screw in the blade. Pretty sure those weren't around when this was made.

Not sure if I'll use it or sell it but at the price I couldn't leave it.