Not bad...

[stellar_muddle]

Z's linen trousers are now finished (as of last night). Hand sewn with linen thread, though cheated and looted the belt loops (for documentation see Thorsberg Trousers, though admitedly they are Migration era, have feet and the wierd pieced crotch) off the dead pair of trousers (same blue dyed linen - only faded slightly).
Also last night learned how to handle a chisel and started on cleaning out the wax tablets - did part of one panel last night and two this morning. Edges are tidy, but the insides are rough - though that is ok given the blackened wax will be covering those bits. Small issue in the top of one where there was a knot and the grain dipped in around it and hence took a bit out of the top edge - saved the piece and Z may be able to do something about that later. Quit for now cause while the hand holding the hammer is fine, the chisel one is complaining, but a rate of 2 panels per day, getting better as the hands get used to it, should get things done on time, especially with Z doing more than half of the rest of the panels (mainly the little fine ones - I am definitely not up to doing those at present). Also, inside the garage is starting to heat up...
So, time to cut out replacement oilskin hood, (machine) stitch that up and clean up Z's old hood for sale later. Should work well with Phantom of the Opera and Mrs Henderson Presents.

Edit: (~1 1/2 hours later) Replacement hood is machined and the threads finished. Would start cleaning up the old one, but there is only so much oilskin hand sewing one can do at a time with a fine needle - and unfortunately the seam finishing wont be nearly as fast. Embroidery I think now.

Comments

[knightclubbing.livejournal.com]

Also last night learned how to handle a chisel and started on cleaning out the wax tablets - did part of one panel last night and two this morning. Edges are tidy, but the insides are rough - though that is ok given the blackened wax will be covering those bits.

Actually, that's a bonus, because the wax will grip to the roughened bits better than smooth, and will be more likely not to fall out.

Small issue in the top of one where there was a knot and the grain dipped in around it and hence took a bit out of the top edge - saved the piece and Z may be able to do something about that later.

I've had that happen before, and a small amount of wood glue did the job.

Have you decided what you're using for wax? I'm still using the purified bee's wax I bought in Christchurch a long time ago. I've used Bee's wax candles, but they have added stearine I think. On the down side, this makes the wax harder, and I'd avoid that in NZ. In Australia though, that may actually be a good thing.

[stellar-muddle.livejournal.com]

Rough is ok, it is the not being able to control the depth that is a problem, especially when we move onto the double sided tablets. Getting better with practice (up to about 7 or 8 panels now).

Have been using the bees wax we have around the place, which is generally straight bees wax, rather than candles sold under that catagory. Still working out whether this means we can't take them back into NZ later on - we didn't bring the wax tablets we use over to CF because of that. In any case, the bees wax we have works well though you have to watch leaving them on top of the car in the sun to smooth out - Z's needs refilling with blackened wax after forgetting about it and then spilling it. Also found that rather than oiling the panels, we just waxed them with unlampblacked bees wax.