all right lads

[mr dazzler]

All right lads
I am Mr Dazzler
43 years of age
Learning woodwork 2nd fix
aiming to learn timber framing cut roofing restore old houses
Likes:-
Studying ancient methods of building, toolmaking, hunting, transport etc
renovating tools
Archalogical finds stuff ordinary folkn made and used
Places like West Stowe iron age village
weaving (simple basketworks and webbings)
"primitive" technologies but not barmy or unrealistic not bothered about modern materials just using whats there
Strummin' t guitar delta blues sort

When I was young lad:- :roll:
fished mostly trout perch mostly freelined lob worm or small coffin ledger in fast water little floats in ponds canals lakes
shooted shotguns (at game vermin clays) also rifles revolvers and automatic pistols (my Dad let me do lots of that sort of stuff)
We had goats chickens pheasants geese
Studied art & design :roll:
Spent lots of time in museum of mankind
Went fishing in Canada - the best - saw black bear at close and unexpected quarters

dislikes
having wasted too many years in crap jobs
nancy boy nanny state invasion of privacy/erosion of rights/erosion of national identity
global village people who think they've got it all under control

This is a busy forum. Absolutely fasinating.

Thats me - WYSIWYG Mr Dazzler :wave:

[Adi007]

Warm welcome Mr Dazzler :wave:

[ScottC]

ullo Dazzler!

[Simon]

Welcome Daz, :wave:

we have a few things in common

Ex Exhibition Joiner ... currently 50/50 between freelance scenic carpentry and freelance special effects sculptor/mould maker, with a hons degree in theatre technical arts .

some of our dislikes match too :wink:

never played the blues on a guitar though :?:

[Tony]

Fanbloomintstic mr dazzler....it's nice to know something about you. Welcome to our little cozy place on the web. :biggthump

[Dave Farrant]

I think that's enough information to be going on with.

Welcome to the site.

:wave:

[Ed]

Welcome aboard mate. Good to have you here, any questions you have please feel free to ask as someone on here probably has an answer for you :-)

:wave:
Ed

[tenbears10]

Welcome Mr D

I like your description it's rare for people to be able to describe themselves in such a consice way like that. That would take me about half an hour.

Have you ever been to the Weald and Downland Museum

http://www.wealddown.co.uk/

It would be right up your street and they sell Gransfors Axes as well so you can drool over the toys if nothing else.

Bill

[mr dazzler]

I have heard of Weald & Downland Museum; maybe I'll take the family there one day.
I've also heard good reports about Granfors bruks axes.
Might buy one some day if I thought I'd really use it well (maybe roughing out large tenons "on't fraymes lark yer noe")
At the moment though, am doing up and getting used to a nice little sandvik axe I got at car boot £1.25. Liked it as soon as I picked it up. Got it sharp using a little magnifying glass. Am more used to Kent pattern though. I get 'em from car boots antique shops etc. Lots of sizes. Make my own hafts from ash split out of my own garden. Prefer single bevel. Easier to plane cut and cross cut to make notches etc (holding axe head with finger alongside it like you would a saw)
You know what I think I'm more of an axe man than a knife man :lol:
Got a nice billhook from a car boot in Normandy. Blows my crap machine mart one away. Probably hadn't been used in 30 or 40 years, yet still felt good, nice strong forging, 'gentle s' shaped cutting edge. Couldn't believe the bargain price 20p. Loadsa good tools over there.
Know what maybe I'm a bit of a tight wad 'an all!!
Anyway lads thanks for making me feel welcome. This site "gets the juices going again". I'm going to take my boy camping and fishing when he's older. Its goin to be good.
Mr Dazzler :wink:

[Adi007]

http://www.wealddown.co.uk/

It would be right up your street and they sell Gransfors Axes as well so you can drool over the toys if nothing else.

When it comes to Gransfors, just remember that there are cheaper places to buy them from than there ... :wink:

[Wayne]

Welcome :biggthump

The weald and down museum is a great place to visit. i live fairly close so i would say that. The wooden dome workshop thingy is a joy to behold. the axes are a bit steep from there though.

[Kath]

A very big welcome to you Daz! :wave:

[tenbears10]

When it comes to Gransfors, just remember that there are cheaper places to buy them from than there ... :wink:

I know what you mean but when I got mine from there about a year ago it was the cheapest place in the country I promise. Since then they saw how much woodlore et al were selling them for and instead of staying as the best price they followed suit.

I paid £36 for a scandinavian forest axe from weald and downland but as I say they have re-evaluated their prices since then.

Bill

[Roving Rich]

Good to meet you, sounds like we share some interests. And it definetly sounds like you ought to visit the Weald and down museum. Shows us how they put buildings together from the start, loads of timber framing and joinery, aswell as a brick works, forge, plumbers shop, water mill....loads of interesting stuff.
Hope you enjoy yerself here

Rich

[Ed]

Got a nice billhook from a car boot in Normandy. Blows my crap machine mart one away. Probably hadn't been used in 30 or 40 years, yet still felt good, nice strong forging, 'gentle s' shaped cutting edge. Couldn't believe the bargain price 20p
You lucky man.... It hard to find good quality forged hooks these days. Is it french made? does it have a makers stamp?

Ed

[mr dazzler]

All right Ed? :wink:
Yes there's a stamp, but its partially missing. I reckon it is hand made by a skilled smith, or possibly customised from a mass made one. Its not crude though. The steel feels like my sandvik axe steel when you file or stone it. It had remains of a wrapped thick leather handle, but I made an ash replacement with a swell end.
If you use your ingenuity and take the time to look there are dozens of old tools axes adzes hooks saws etc to be had. Best to visit "vide greniers" (Americans have barn raisin's, French have good old attic emptyings!!)- the high brow antique warehouses will try to overcharge. :wave:

[TheViking]

Welcome. Enjoy here! :wave: :D

[hobbitboy]

Hey hey!

Nice to meet ya! :wave:

[bushwacker bob]

hi mr dazzler, I think were leading parallel lives, I've got a sandvik axe as well! :o): :o):

[mr dazzler]

Well like I said Bob, I only got it recently, Nice and compact, harder than most of my other axes, but easy to sharpen. Had yours long? Mines only got paint inside the stamped lettering yours that well worn?? :wink: Be nice to 'ave a goe at building a skin covered canoe or kayak using axe, knife, and gimlet (or hot nails)
What else do you do mate?? Nice to hear from your "parallel universe" :-) :wink: :wave:

[bushwacker bob]

yep mines in the same condition.I brought it 16 years ago when I worked for Jewsons.It was orange when i got it and I just put a new handle on it,it shaves! I still work as a sales manager for a builders merchant but :***: loath it nowadays.I will be changing emloyment by christmas if all goes to plan.(it rarely does :wink: )

[mr dazzler]

I'm changing direction too. Spent 20 odd years in, er, unhappy employment situations. I worked for the first company in UK to do computer cut lettering, now its everywhere and all but finished sign writing :roll: . Screen printing (Learnt observation and accuracy there doing stencils & screens). Pallet bashing gave me strong right arm. 5 years upvc window factory. Got finished from Flymo when I asked for a few days off to see to our lass (and kids) while she had cancer tumour removed. Am now well into re-training in joinery, hoping & planning for a more relaxed and productive life in France fairly soon restoring timber frames, barns etc. Nice surroundings there, roads quiter (I get road trauma first few hours back on British roads after a visit to France!!) plenty of forests hardwoods (they burn oak on't fires!!) Good tools for sale etc. Lots of Folk there know when to go out and find this or that food, exactly where and at what time of year. Very fussy and knowledgable. Good luck with new plans, I hope for once things do go as you'd like them to! :wink: :wave:
Mr D