It is Alan’s core belief that wood prefers to be cut, rather than scraped.

I wonder where he weighs in on the aspirin vs ibuprofen thing?.

To be able to do this the tools must be sharp.

Very sharp

Very scary sharp.

He took a brand new skew to the grinding station and (after he “finessed” our wheels) he shaped the business end taking his time to get it just right.

When he was satisfied with its shape and the edge ---

 --- he proceeded to hone it with a 600-grit diamond stone of his design.

He then power honed it on the lathe using an MDF honing block.

Notice that he’s standing on the back side of the lathe and running the lathe in reverse to prevent the honing compound from spraying the membership.

Alan also made a couple of hook tools for us.

He starts with store bought tool steel and a ready-made handle.

He uses a torch with MAPP gas, and another with propane gas, needle nose pliers and a container of peanut oil to quench when hardening and another with water to quench when tempering.

Using MAPP gas, he heated the blank until it was bright red

He made the hook by simply bending the hot steel with the pliers and then quenched it in the peanut oil.

When the blank has cooled down, sand it free of “crud” so you can observe the colors in the next step,

Heat with propane from the middle until the purple reaches the base of the hook and the business end is the color of dark straw.

 He then quenches it in water while reciting a secret chant. Then you grind it, hone it, add wood and enjoy.

Hey Club! Let’s do some of these at our next tool making session.

And only then did he turn a few items for us.

Here, Alan discusses one of the finer points of lidded box making.

That’s a chunk of white ash he using.

Hollowing out the underside of the top.

And now the bottom section gets some attention.

The top has been mated with the bottom and he’s now finessing the shape.

Mark ensures that Alan isn’t cheating.

Ta da!

Alan demonstrates the proper lip position for using a duck call.

Tell your better half that you really do need a 2436 to make these.

Okay, maybe a 2036.

But no smaller!

Here’s that

White Ash box

Mary and Alan Lacer

September 10, 2005

A pensive Jeff Frost; a studious Mac Ray quietly observes a master at work.

A long day. But no one wanted it to end.

Click here for the article about Alan’s demo in the chapter newsletter.

Special thanks to Jorge Castaneda for his write up on the tool making session

Photo credits on this page go to
Mark Irving, Mac Ray, Andy Hoyt, Chuck Hargenrader, and Jorge Castaneda

Page last updated on October 1, 2006