24-12-2013, 08:58 AM
Hi,
Many thanks Gary. I can understand your concern regarding blasting items like window frames but had our frames been hardwood blasting with soda would have been easy enough. Soda cleans glass and does not etch glass in any way so even if the old glazed units were to be retained they would not sustain any damage from the blasting however our units are leaded so the leading would end up looking brand new. Glass ovenware can be brought to back as new by soda blasting and once I become familiar with the process no doubt I'll find other applications for it. Initially though I've only bought the hard blasting medium and this would destroy even hardwood and render glass useless unless of course etching was intended. I've not yet tried this equipment out Gary but what I've seen in the videos I think it is quite controllable so if concerned about about surrounding brickwork then a simple mask of hardboard should work? I don't have the answers yet?
I would indeed enjoy making oak window frames Gary; I have the equipment and a big dust extractor so could do the work with the garage doors closed but by the time I've done all the research; drawings; estimates; obtaining the oak; taking delivery of oak together with all the susequent machining I would by prevented from doing other projects which I'm interested in such as doing some woodturning. Each time I start an interesting project I'm interrupted; look at what happened when I only stated whatever happens I'm going to turn a new main-shaft for this bandsaw; yes I spent a morning successfully making the shaft then spent the next nine days in hard graft clearing the storm damaged conifer. This morning I want to get into the garage but can I do so in comfort? It's 7:55 and still dark; I've just returned from Morrison's being buffeted around by gusty wind which is forecast to become even worse.
I want to enjoy my projects not feel them to be some kind of punishment; I've seen days when simply taking a mug of tea from the kitchen into the garage to be one almighty challenge; I've had to put my hand over the mug in order to either prevent the wind emptying the mug or to have it overflowing with rainwater? This might sound funny but I live with this; I also hate seeing millions of stars because my glasses get wet and all before setting foot in the garage. I have expensive paint spraying kit which for most of the year is a waste of time owning. If I open the garage doors the wind tries its best to remove the doors; I've done woodturning using the Record DML lathe just inside the garage with a heavy waterfall cascading down the outside of the garage doors; when I painted the Graduate I had to place wooden battens at the base of the garage doors to prevent the wind kicking up dust and of course to stop the icy blast. I had to brush paint the Graduate when in fact it was screaming out for a top class spray job which I could have done given a better working environment.
I've just installed decent lighting into the garage because I was fed up of working in a constant black hole. Do I wait until summer arrives to make oak window frames? some years I blink and miss summer completely. When I do exterior painting I can guarantee that immediately after the last brush load of gloss is applied either a gust of wind drops debris all over the paint or there is a cloudburst; no I'm not kidding because its happened so many times. Many years ago I watched the weather forecaster Bob Rust state that the day was going to be beautiful without wind or rain. Great I set everything up and undercoated the big wooden up and over garage door in the morning; the paint went on superbly. After dinner it being such a beautiful day the undercoat had dried so I enjoyed applying the top coat; immediately the last brush load was applied there was one almighty cloudburst with lots of thunder and lightning; no warning at all it just happened; the result was one messed up paint job and ever since that day I've not trusted weather forecasts.
Daylight is finally breaking so I might find my way into the garage today. This isn't intended as a moan but to demonstrate what I'm up against when I try to do decent work; I've done lots of French polishing on the kitchen work surface because the workshop windows have been covered in ice on the inside. All I've ever wanted was a warm well lit workshop with reasonable working space; materials to hand and to be able to go into the workshop without being blown around or getting a soaking; then of course there are always the nuisance callers who appear at the most inconvenient time such as when full concentration is needed whilst taking a final cut on the engineering lathe.
I could go on and on about the problems and yes it would be moaning but how many looking at my previous restorations really know how difficult these have been to complete.
We've considered moving but then we start all over again and few people move from a perfect home?
I want to do a very simple job today; I have brand new equipment to do the job with; I have the determination to see the job done; I have the skills required; I have the time so am not placed under any pressure. I need to do the job outside because the job is blasting paint from this bandsaw; simple enough job considering everything is in place and I'm keen to get on with it so what is the problem? Dire weather; I can't even open the garage doors without the wind trying to remove them.
Perhaps Gary; stainless steel window frames might be better for us?
If colouring is right through Gary on the coloured plastic window frames then this would be superior to simple coating but what would such frames look like in say ten years after the ravages of extreme weather here on the valley? When the sun does come out it can be extremely fierce and it has no problem bleaching the colour from plastic guttering and rainwater sections; gloss paint fades and I paint about every four years. Our friends visited us a couple of days ago and new window frames were discussed; these friends had an expensive large conservatory installed about five years ago and I was advised never to go for white plastic because it loses its newness and starts to look shabby? Most things look excellent when new but expose them to to the climate for a few years. Neighbours directly across from us had new double glazed patio doors installed and the seals failed within two years; their next door neighbour had a new hardwood kitchen window installed with double glazed units; these failed in three years; we are so exposed here on the valley; work carried out to the exterior of the fronts of our homes is severely tested.
Oak does indeed get harder Gary as it ages; I've always said if you hit a piece of 100 year old oak with an hammer it would ring?
Shortly after marrying and being broke Bron and I looked at ways of improving our lot and one thing we decided to try was making a new kitchen from reclaimed timber. At the time many local mills were being demolished and we owned a Citroen 2CV so transport wasn't a problem. We bought a load of thick hardwood flooring from one of the mills and at home removed all the nails. As I say we were broke and I only had hand tools. I had a woodworking vice attached to a rickety old kitchen table this being located in the spare upstairs bedroom. I had a good quality Stanley hand plane so went at this hardwood with a passion only to find the plane skidded over the surface producing dust but no shavings. This hardwood was "Rock Maple" which was then given to a neighbour as firewood and this neighbour had a hard time whilst trying to cut it with his hand saw. We saved up and bought ready planed softwood for frames and 8' foot lengths of white Contiplas for the doors; beautiful Formica was the work-surface over chipboard and once made and installed I was most proud of my efforts but what a struggle due to lack of money; now I struggle due to climate.
I've rambled on enough and its the season of goodwill to me; the weather won't beat me but it will slow me down; time to put my best clothes on and unpack the soda blaster; I'll post pictures and details later today; WOW its daylight?
Kind regards, Col.
Many thanks Gary. I can understand your concern regarding blasting items like window frames but had our frames been hardwood blasting with soda would have been easy enough. Soda cleans glass and does not etch glass in any way so even if the old glazed units were to be retained they would not sustain any damage from the blasting however our units are leaded so the leading would end up looking brand new. Glass ovenware can be brought to back as new by soda blasting and once I become familiar with the process no doubt I'll find other applications for it. Initially though I've only bought the hard blasting medium and this would destroy even hardwood and render glass useless unless of course etching was intended. I've not yet tried this equipment out Gary but what I've seen in the videos I think it is quite controllable so if concerned about about surrounding brickwork then a simple mask of hardboard should work? I don't have the answers yet?
I would indeed enjoy making oak window frames Gary; I have the equipment and a big dust extractor so could do the work with the garage doors closed but by the time I've done all the research; drawings; estimates; obtaining the oak; taking delivery of oak together with all the susequent machining I would by prevented from doing other projects which I'm interested in such as doing some woodturning. Each time I start an interesting project I'm interrupted; look at what happened when I only stated whatever happens I'm going to turn a new main-shaft for this bandsaw; yes I spent a morning successfully making the shaft then spent the next nine days in hard graft clearing the storm damaged conifer. This morning I want to get into the garage but can I do so in comfort? It's 7:55 and still dark; I've just returned from Morrison's being buffeted around by gusty wind which is forecast to become even worse.
I want to enjoy my projects not feel them to be some kind of punishment; I've seen days when simply taking a mug of tea from the kitchen into the garage to be one almighty challenge; I've had to put my hand over the mug in order to either prevent the wind emptying the mug or to have it overflowing with rainwater? This might sound funny but I live with this; I also hate seeing millions of stars because my glasses get wet and all before setting foot in the garage. I have expensive paint spraying kit which for most of the year is a waste of time owning. If I open the garage doors the wind tries its best to remove the doors; I've done woodturning using the Record DML lathe just inside the garage with a heavy waterfall cascading down the outside of the garage doors; when I painted the Graduate I had to place wooden battens at the base of the garage doors to prevent the wind kicking up dust and of course to stop the icy blast. I had to brush paint the Graduate when in fact it was screaming out for a top class spray job which I could have done given a better working environment.
I've just installed decent lighting into the garage because I was fed up of working in a constant black hole. Do I wait until summer arrives to make oak window frames? some years I blink and miss summer completely. When I do exterior painting I can guarantee that immediately after the last brush load of gloss is applied either a gust of wind drops debris all over the paint or there is a cloudburst; no I'm not kidding because its happened so many times. Many years ago I watched the weather forecaster Bob Rust state that the day was going to be beautiful without wind or rain. Great I set everything up and undercoated the big wooden up and over garage door in the morning; the paint went on superbly. After dinner it being such a beautiful day the undercoat had dried so I enjoyed applying the top coat; immediately the last brush load was applied there was one almighty cloudburst with lots of thunder and lightning; no warning at all it just happened; the result was one messed up paint job and ever since that day I've not trusted weather forecasts.
Daylight is finally breaking so I might find my way into the garage today. This isn't intended as a moan but to demonstrate what I'm up against when I try to do decent work; I've done lots of French polishing on the kitchen work surface because the workshop windows have been covered in ice on the inside. All I've ever wanted was a warm well lit workshop with reasonable working space; materials to hand and to be able to go into the workshop without being blown around or getting a soaking; then of course there are always the nuisance callers who appear at the most inconvenient time such as when full concentration is needed whilst taking a final cut on the engineering lathe.
I could go on and on about the problems and yes it would be moaning but how many looking at my previous restorations really know how difficult these have been to complete.
We've considered moving but then we start all over again and few people move from a perfect home?
I want to do a very simple job today; I have brand new equipment to do the job with; I have the determination to see the job done; I have the skills required; I have the time so am not placed under any pressure. I need to do the job outside because the job is blasting paint from this bandsaw; simple enough job considering everything is in place and I'm keen to get on with it so what is the problem? Dire weather; I can't even open the garage doors without the wind trying to remove them.
Perhaps Gary; stainless steel window frames might be better for us?
If colouring is right through Gary on the coloured plastic window frames then this would be superior to simple coating but what would such frames look like in say ten years after the ravages of extreme weather here on the valley? When the sun does come out it can be extremely fierce and it has no problem bleaching the colour from plastic guttering and rainwater sections; gloss paint fades and I paint about every four years. Our friends visited us a couple of days ago and new window frames were discussed; these friends had an expensive large conservatory installed about five years ago and I was advised never to go for white plastic because it loses its newness and starts to look shabby? Most things look excellent when new but expose them to to the climate for a few years. Neighbours directly across from us had new double glazed patio doors installed and the seals failed within two years; their next door neighbour had a new hardwood kitchen window installed with double glazed units; these failed in three years; we are so exposed here on the valley; work carried out to the exterior of the fronts of our homes is severely tested.
Oak does indeed get harder Gary as it ages; I've always said if you hit a piece of 100 year old oak with an hammer it would ring?
Shortly after marrying and being broke Bron and I looked at ways of improving our lot and one thing we decided to try was making a new kitchen from reclaimed timber. At the time many local mills were being demolished and we owned a Citroen 2CV so transport wasn't a problem. We bought a load of thick hardwood flooring from one of the mills and at home removed all the nails. As I say we were broke and I only had hand tools. I had a woodworking vice attached to a rickety old kitchen table this being located in the spare upstairs bedroom. I had a good quality Stanley hand plane so went at this hardwood with a passion only to find the plane skidded over the surface producing dust but no shavings. This hardwood was "Rock Maple" which was then given to a neighbour as firewood and this neighbour had a hard time whilst trying to cut it with his hand saw. We saved up and bought ready planed softwood for frames and 8' foot lengths of white Contiplas for the doors; beautiful Formica was the work-surface over chipboard and once made and installed I was most proud of my efforts but what a struggle due to lack of money; now I struggle due to climate.
I've rambled on enough and its the season of goodwill to me; the weather won't beat me but it will slow me down; time to put my best clothes on and unpack the soda blaster; I'll post pictures and details later today; WOW its daylight?
Kind regards, Col.
Happiness is a wreck of a cabinet to restore.
