pumpkinstrokemarrow

The table tops no big deal; little more than a bit of fiddling about with a couple of sheets of ply.

But the trestles are bit more of an operation. Four trestles makes four trestle pairs, that is to say eight identical elements. Each of the eight elements involves four pieces (three pine and one mahogany. Got to have a bit of class), four halving joints, two hinge cuts, various tidying up operations and then gluing & screwing up - this last always being a bit fraught with me. However much preparation one does, the actual application of glue always gets me in a sweat. Various little somethings - typically invisible to the casual glance after the event - typically go wrong. So far I have done three elements - up to gluing that is - might be an idea to paint or varnish them to harden up the surface - in about a day and a half. Even at minimum wage these two tables are going to be a considerable multiple of the cost of what might have been obtained from IKEA.

On the other hand, I have got to renew my acquaintance with carpentry. Of the outdoor furniture variety; not sure if I am really up for indoor furniture any more. Much too fiddly and time consuming. But, even so, I am still at a slightly higher grade than what my Dad used to call shut-knife work, this being all he aspired to.

One engineer's square deployed. Just the ticket for checking the the elements are square before setting them aside to dry. Not that I am very sure what I would do if an element was not square. Probably have to chuck it out and start over.

Two planes deployed - a jack plane and a jointer plane. The former is fine for odds and ends but I had forgotten what a splendid tool the latter is. Seems to cut true all by itself.

Three chisels deployed. Box handled jobs from Marples. The 1.25 inch bevel with which I cut my left hand open forty years ago, while snagging on the infamous Chingford Hall estate, now demolished. The 0.75 inch bevel which a very experienced old carpenter, who cut his teeth in a (largely women staffed) London factory making wooden assemblies for aeroplanes during the war and who should have known better, took a hammer to thirty nine years ago. Butt has never fitted the palm of the hand properly since. The 0.5 inch firmer which has had a quieter life.

Four G-cramps deployed. Two of them described as light but actually rather heavy so probably intended for an engineering rather than a woodworking shop.

Don't think there is five of anything, but there is quite a bit of it altogether. Fine collection of hand tools which cost quite a bit in their day but probably more or less valueless now. Few real carpenters use this sort of stuff any more and the tools are not old enough to count as heritage or collectable. Although I am using a heritage camping table to keep tools handy on, a relic of my sister-in-law's camping childhood.

And given that my ancient bench (which was made our of scrap shuttering timber from the incarnation before last of Croydon Art College and which used to double as a low table in our marital bed-sit) is a bit low for comfort, I am sitting to most of the cutting out of joints. Bit wimpish, but it does save the back.

Target for completion 0700 on 7th July.