I thought it might be useful to do a photo-essay on how I go about making a tuning key. I think tuning keys are easy to make (they must be if I can manage!) and there is a lot of scope to adjust the design to make it work exactly how you want it to, in terms of appearance, ergonomics, and fit on the pin.
Continue reading Making a tuning keyTag: making
Gilded tuning key
I made this key yesterday, for a colleague who has been waiting too long for it! Continue reading Gilded tuning key
Paper astrolabe
I often used to visit the Museum of the History of Science in Oxford, and I used to admire the 1542 Nuremberg paper astrolabe. (I see from the online catalogue they also have a 1584 Paris paper astrolabe.)
Although the brass astrolabes are more common in museums and collections, and are a lot more shiney and impressive looking, I thought the paper and wood ones looked a lot more possible to make as a project.
Sgian dubh
I made this little knife in 1995 or 6, when I was experimenting with blacksmithing techniques. It has a pattern-welded blade, formed from twisted bars of iron with seperate steel edges, all forge-welded together. This was the only finished blade I made using pattern-welding.