So way before Lockdown here in New Zealand, (due to COVID19 virus), I had started carving 'Walking Staffs", as they intrigued me with the possibilities of weaving a story into a carving, yet having an item that was not too huge heavy or bulky to work with, and which was not going to take forever...(unlike some previous projects....naming no names....). I enjoyed doing them, but was anchoring them down into 'V' shaped carving brackets using a loading strap which went trough holes in the bench, and anchored to the workbench structure. It could be ratchetted up to clamp hard down onto these smallish diameter poles, but because they are relaticvely small - about 50 to 75mm diameter, I would need to be moving the staff around every few minutes sometimes.....and it drove me CRAZY !!!. In fact it put me off working for quite a while. So....I applied my mind, and Mr Googles to the problem, and found some ideas, and passed them to my wonderful 'problem solving, welding, fabricating and engineering' partner John, and he made me these two wonderful clamps to hold the poles down, and they take very little time to adjust, and I don't have to limbo under the workbench to do it. Then a month or so later, Lockdown happened, (we had already moved any kit we may need from workshop in town back to our home). I'm not sure if it was the background 'fight or flight" anxiety that was burbling away in my brain...but I've hardly been able to concentrate on carving a thing....the artichoke walking staff pictured is further on, but not finished....but the garden has had lots of attention, as that was my place of peace and meditation. Now I am getting back in the mood for carving, it is now too cold to do it outside as I was planning to do....Hey ho....We are fit and well so all is well. Go well y'all out there....be kind and care for each other...bye til next time! |
AuthorHi, I aim to blog weekly about what I'm up to, and of course deep philosophical thoughts that pop up as one chips away..... Archives
May 2020
Categories |