outrigger hinge for a Richard Kell small turned wooden container

I made quite a few of these from the early 80's until 1988 when I ceased making any turned wood. I had done enough, pursuing it very intensely from when I obtained the ornamental turning lathe in March 1976. I started making a living solely from the workshop in Jan 1983 so as well as developing my range of marking and measuring hand tools I was deeply involved in exploring turning and design. These outrigger hinged containers of three different diameters (common height) are one of many designs I fine tuned over that period.

Making a press tool was worthwhile as I needed quite a few of the outrigger hinge legs to make an assembly of five up, with a close fitting nickel silver hinge pin. I always use nickel/ german silver for this type of fitting. All metal surfaces are filed, papered and buffed. The lower part of the turned wooden container is lined with a glued and turned maple insert. The external finish is a light buffing on a soft mop with (I hazily remember) 'Vonax' compound from Cannings. This finish is very durable, doesn't show fingermarks and really shows the subtle beauty of the African Blackwood. I shudder now, as nowadays I would never use tropical hardwoods, tho I have been told its a very common material in its homeland. Supplies were variable, sometimes I was sold utter rubbish, which with hindsight I should have sent back to Norwich. Select your own wood, never trust anyone, though in their defence I must say their reject blocks for musical instruments were a reasonable buy.

At a guess I would say it would take twenty five hours to make the punch and die working fast and add another seven to mount in a dieset, tho realise its usual procedure to use the dieset to actually make the press tool itself ie alignmant. Its really stupid to have 'loose' non-dieset punches and dies. Hardening is by gas blowlamp and firebricks and tempering is one hour to light straw. Learn the iron/carbon equilibrium diagram, without it you are in the dark.

This text is starting to be interesting so I think I will expand on it later at http://richardkell.livejournal.com .... which is my workshop blog; my 'official' site is www.richardkell.co.uk

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