October 15, 2023October 15, 2023 by kritterspaw

Don’t do this at home

We do the darnedest things!, as we have been told more than once. So why stop now.

We got a wild hair, and decided we had a paver stone pad that begged for some kind of artful adornment. After scratching our heads a bit, and pondering the self-made dilemma, we decided that special something should be a sundial.

Ok, I know, now I’ve got you scratching your head, but stay with me. This sundial would not only read time via shadows, but it would be a 6′ circle made from re-bar (thank you, Pat & Leonard). So we did a bit of astrophysics to calculate the longitude / latitude for our elevation to determine proper degree of alignment for the numbers, and appropriate angle and height of the gnomon (you know, that angled piece that projects the shadows).

We built a jig made up of spaced ‘bumpers’ to cold-form the 1/2″ rebar into a perfect 6′ circle. As we bent it around, the re-bar resisted, so we had to convince it to conform to our whim with a helper bar and inch-winch, putting ‘keeper’ bumpers on the outside to contain the re-bar.

It was definitely a learning experience as the re-bar let loose a couple time. John has the bruises to add insult to injury. The 3rd time was the charm, making it easier for the inside 5’2″ rebar inner circle. By the time we bent the 2nd circle we started putting straps around the circle such that we could safely flip it to weld the opposite side, hoping for no more ‘un-furling of the re-bar’ incidents.

With the rings bent, welded, and ground, we were ready to undertake the roman numerals. We cut and ground the 16- I’s, and built a jig for the angled X’s and V’s.

Then welded them together, and ground them.

Using a protractor, a string and our calculations we measured the angles for placement of our clock face roman numerals – 11 am and 1 pm at 8.64 degrees, 10 am and 2pm at 18.13 degrees, etc. Then we individually welded our numbers into position.

For added strength we welded 5 re-bar support struts from the center to the OD of the inside ring, one of which the gnomon will mount on.

After a lot of welding and grinding, we are looking toward the embellishment phase. The clock face will be powder coated a brick red color, so to make it pop we decide to add a removable adornment at the bottom. It will be mounted on bands, adding strength to the bottom of the sundial, and tying the bottom rings together. So that it can be removed to be painted another color (black) we have to get creative on a method to remove.

We individually cut, bent and ground 1/4″ bar stock to make letters spelling out ‘HAPPY JACK’.

Individual letters are cut, ground and formed to shape.

To tie the letters together we attach them to a wire to hold them in place and make them removable, adding washers to bolt to the bands on the clock face.

Are you staying with me? Whew! I know.

Aside from the clock itself, some of the most pondering came from trying to figure out how to make the HAPPY JACK and gnomon removable, and seamlessly elegant without clap trap.

Finally we get to the gnomon part and speeding that process along, we cut the gnomon with a plasma cutter and weld it to re-bar, attaching metal tabs to the clock face and bottom of the gnomon.

And wa-la, a conversation piece is born.

We had it powder coated at Arizona Powdercoat (on Washington / 202 in Phoenix), who have always done a fabulous job for us, and it pops… and tells time, in it’s own artful ancient way.

For a high level history of the sundial check out my post here … https://wordpress.com/post/kritterspix.com/4441

March 29, 2021 by kritterspaw

Board & Brush, Prescott

Projects
board & brush, prescott, quotes, roadtrip, sayings
2 Comments

I’ve said it many times before, do what you love and enjoy every day.

With all this isolation and stress in our lives, it’s more important than ever to do things for yourself and what you enjoy.

While John and I do a lot of our own projects, we rarely solicit or participate in DIY kits or workshops. Drastic times, call for drastic actions – it was time for a get away, and a little fun! So we opted to do “Board & Brush” in Prescott.

You’ve likely heard of those Paint & Sip kinds of workshops where you pick a project and the host / proprietor teaches you how to create your masterpiece. Board & Brush is the same sort of workshop, but with signs – sayings on distressed wood.

We were surprised when we got there that the boards were a very blond pine wood. Bailie, the proprietor, showed us how to sand, distress and wash the wood to make it look like old barn wood.

Bailie, at the Prescott Board & Brush was fantastic. I would go back and do another one, just to solicit her business. She was kind, patient, and informative. She gave us all the tools and knowledge to allow us to make decisions that resulted in the perfect end result.

We pre-choose our saying online, and the stencils were ready and waiting for us to embark on our project.

Then we picked our background and lettering colors and after preparing the boards, we were on our way to creating our individual projects.

It was great fun and we got to take home a terrific project that is our own. Of course, in true Ritter style, we had to further customize it, so I wood burned our logo onto a plate to make my saying truly our own.

I strongly recommend the outing to Prescott Board & Brush. It was a great respite and super fun afternoon.

April 13, 2020April 13, 2020 by kritterspaw

All Torn Up

Projects
all torn up, hydrant, ritter, road, yard hydrant
4 Comments

What have you done during Quarantine?

It’s a popular question these days. For us, we did what we do… and pursued our already scheduled project of adding water hydrants closer to the house.

I know.. boring, right?!

Well we didn’t think so. We were more upset by the rationing of ibuprofen for our aching backs, than lack of TP (let’s not even go there!).

After taking 8 hours to jack hammer the first 10′ of ditch 3′ deep, we were already tired…. and had another 140′ to go!

So we solicited help. We hired a back hoe… and more importantly, a hammer hoe, to get through our all rock terrain.

In 4 hours a Case 580 made short work of our ‘little job’. But in doing so, it completely obliterated our previously well manicured road.

Even with big machinery, it took nearly a month of hard physical labor – jack hammering, shoveling, digging and moving rock and dirt, to ready our 150′ of ditch to drop our water line (between snow falls and freezing temps).

10layg line_IR.jpg

Once the line was all in, we covered it with sand, and backfilled the ditch. We cleared rock, graded the road, and spread 22 ton of gravel.

12 gravel_IR.jpg

In the end, you would never even know what we did… except we don’t have to walk all the way out to the road to get water any more.

Whew!

What will we do next?!

February 8, 2020 by kritterspaw

Creative Outlet

Ever feel like taking a break from life? Things are pressing you down a bit, so you need a new perspective? It’s those times, that it’s good to get out and fill the mind with something constructive, new, maybe even inventive.

Layout

We decided to take a ‘break’, and do something creative and fun…. so why not build birdhouses.

Plasma cutting metal

Birdhouses are an easy creative outlet. They can be made of anything – wood or metal… and be of any size or shape.

Bench grinding sides

With a little ingenuity, a few tools, some time and patience, one can build anything one sets their mind to. We find ourselves proving that time and again.

Angle grinding fronts

With a dash of creativity one can use just about anything to make something extraordinary.

Braising on ‘shutters’ from antique chain link

In the end, something special can be created from nothing, if we just feed our imagination and give ourselves time to flourish.

Arc-welding panels

Never underestimate our own power to surprise even ourselves and others with perseverance, determination, and shear will power. Stay the course, be strong, and good things will come.

Finish birdhouse – full of character and rustic charm

September 22, 2019September 23, 2019 by kritterspaw

Circles of Light

Projects
chandelier, circles of life, circles of light, lamp, light, project
5 Comments

We do the oddest projects.

Initial Layout

People who know us, know we are always working on something. It’s true. Some have questioned what we are up to these days.

bending rings_IR.jpg Cutting strapping material for circles (rings)

(Besides a gazillion other things), we tell them we are working on a chandelier. “What kind of chandelier?”, they’ll ask.

Preparing jig to weld rings

cut template_IR.jpg Cutting jig template on bandsaw

“It’s kinda hard to describe”, we reply

Ring set up in jig, ready to weld

“What does it look like?”

“A bunch of circles around a tube”, we’ll tell them.

Welding one of many rings

After a pause and a quizzical look, they come up with their next question.

k grnd rings_IR.jpg Grinding one of many rings

“What’s it made of?”

“Metal … mostly.” We say.

Grinding steel pin connectors

“How did you come up with it?”

We saw something like it 10 – 15 years ago in a fancy light shop… and were inspired by it’s uniqueness… and thought someday we’ll make something like it. So we wired the house when we built it (a decade ago now) with this chandelier in mind.

Mock up of ring assembly

Welding rings together into subassembly

The design has been a complex math problem. Our ceiling is 14’ high, and we want the chandelier 8 – 9’ off the ground. It should have a decent Length-over-Diameter to have a pleasing aesthetic. So we had to calculate not only the circle diameter, but their circumference as they are splayed out and reduce as it goes away from the center.

Welding ring assembly

Should we do a splayed series of 3 circles or 4? 13″, 15″, 17″ diameter or 19″ diameter, (which equates to 30-some inches splayed out), or all of the above… Hmmm? The bigger the ring diameter, the longer the overall length. Decisions. Decisions… and lots of layouts and mockups.

grind rings_IR.jpg Grinding ring assembly

Should we paper mache the exterior of the center tube or sand blast to assure the light bulb doesn’t become overly prevalent. We’re looking for more of a ‘glow’ afterall.

Spraying spray tack on inner tube

As we work through building this unique project that has been on our project docket for well over a decade, it occurs to me that it isn’t just Circles of Light… but Circles of Life.

Our life, all the many projects, trials and tribulations, friends & family come and gone – on and off.

Spraying textured art paper to coat tube

Applying paper to tube and trimming

Somehow, as it comes to fruition after all this time, so many things have changed in our own life, and it makes us reflect on those things we have accomplished, and those things we have lost.

Painting interior of chandelier ‘shade’

As it shines down from it’s new home, it casts shadows, points of light, and a soft subtle glow. It has it’s new beginning, and will shine long after we are gone.

finsished close_IR.jpg The big reveal

finished far_IR.jpg

August 20, 2019August 21, 2019 by kritterspaw

Mushrooming

Projects
chanterelle, mushrooming, mushrooms, porcini
1 Comment

Everyone’s got a hobby of one sort or another. We actually have quite a number – woodworking, stained glass, etc. For me, the line gets blurred between a hobby and a sport. A hobby is something that one does for the pleasure and the relaxation of it. A sport is more of a physical activity, like golf, baseball, or football. So I’m not sure where ‘mushrooming’ falls – as it is a source of relaxation, fun, and physical exertion (as in – LOTS of walking through the woods).

They say one person’s trash is another’s treasure. For those that don’t go mushrooming, it’s hard for them to understand the draw. As someone who enjoys the ‘sport’, I get a great thrill every time I find one of the prized mushrooms I seek – like porcini and chanterelle. It’s exciting, exhilarating, and satisfying.

At worst… it’s a lovely walk in the woods. At best, one comes home with coveted mushrooms to eat and enjoy. In what other sport can you eat your spoils?

I still remember the very first time I ever tasted a porcini mushroom. It was probably 25 years ago in Pisa, Italy. There was a basket of porcini’s in front on this lovely bistro. I stopped to ask the attendant what they were…. when they described this king of mushrooms fresh picked from their local forest, we went straight inside and ordered off their menu those dishes they recommended that were porcini forward. I will never forget the meaty, earthy delicious flavor they imparted. Like no mushroom I have ever eaten.

Years later, now living in Northern Arizona, once I heard there were porcini mushrooms growing in our local forests, I just knew I had to get educated on the how, where’s and what to find them for myself. Now I forage for my own, and enjoy the ‘foraging bug’ and finding my own wild things to put on my table and in my pantry. The euphoria and joy of finding these beautiful little treasures is unparalleled. I’m hooked. Can’t wait to go back.

June 6, 2019 by kritterspaw

Stained Glass Floor Lamp

Projects
floor lamp, lamp, project, stained glass
5 Comments

glass panels4_IR.jpg Finished stained glass panels for floor lamp

Remember those stained glass panels I wrote about here? .. https://kritterspaw.com/2019/03/18/one-thing-begets-another/

We have been working hard to get the woodworking done to receive the panels I worked so hard on… but the woodworking has proven to be as labor intensive as the glass work.

Initial back of the napkin concept drawing

I got a hearty laugh, when someone mentioned to me the other day, that as I put out these blogs, that people will know how to make our projects.

pillars groves_IR.jpg Making pillars for uprights to support stained glass panels

We never have plans for any of our projects. Projects for us start as a hair brain idea and a need for something… in this case for a floor lamp to be able to read by… which morphed to wanting to match it to the stained glass door we had just finished.

Cut upright pillars

stretchers fit_IR.jpg Trial fit of pillars to stretchers

We actually think through the project and ask ourselves questions as to how it might go together and draw up multiple concept cartoon drawings for the different pieces and phases of the project.

Cutting list

We then make a cutting list of the pieces and parts that need to go together, making sure to include stacked dimensions of the veneered pieces, various tongues, grooves, or other cut outs.

pillars glued_IR.jpg Glued together top section for glass panels

We often design on the fly, and the project may morph as we go along.

shelf veneer_IR.jpg Cutting mesquite inlay for shelf

Gluing shelf together

Which was the case when we decided to make a pull out shelf for the lamp base, so that we could sit a glass of wine (or coffee) on it while we read.

baseboard joint_IR.jpg Making our own baseboard molding from pecan lumber (started as tree cut from our yard)

baseboard moldg_IR.jpg Cutting moulding on baseboard

Of course, in true Ritter style, the shelf had to have 3 inlays, made with birch, mesquite and pecan.

cuttg mirror_IR.jpg Cutting mirror for light reflection

mirror ret2_IR.jpg Retainer for mirror on top stretchers

To further complicate things as we went along, we decided to add a mirror to the top of the lamp to reflect back light that would beam through the glass panels… so yet another change had to be incorporated … no drawings to be had.

trail fit_IR.jpg Trial fit of glass panels with light and mirror

Once we started on the base, cutting all the sides, top, bottom, and lots of pecan veneer… we decided the empty box would be better with a door… and power to be able to charge a tablet or phone.. and storage for magazines and such.

bottom ply_IR.jpg Cutting birch bottom section pieces

Cutting veneer

So with yet another change (no drawings) we are off on the fly again morphing the design to continuously improve this already interesting project we have embarked on (same ol’, same ol’ around here!)

Bits and pieces of bottom section, cut and veneered

door hinge_IR.jpg Hinge recessed for door

With all the bottom pieces cut, veneered, shelf designed, cut, glued, door made, and new designs incorporated… we are finally ready for final sanding (and sanding!) and gluing.

Lower section glued and clamped together

Someone else suggested once, we could put our projects on Pinterest… What?, and have them steal and make our ideas? Ha, not likely.

Gluing baseboard moulding

Staining lower cabinet section

Since only a subset of the actual steps and operations are represented here (none of the jointing, plaining, mortise & tenons, etc, etc), no plans in sight, not to mention the 6 months of labor… I think we’re safe in no one copying our designs! There I go, heartily laughing again. You know what they say, ” Laughter is the best medicine.”

Spray lacquering cabinet top, bottom, and pieces

No matter. We work for ourselves and do projects that intrigue and interest us for our own perceived ‘need’. We enjoy the work, the problem solving, and the end product. It is always intellectually challenging, fulfilling, and leaves us with a sense of pride and accomplishment. That’s all that really matters.

finished vert_IR.jpg Finished lamp with shelf pulled out

finished lamp_IR.jpg Finished lamp in place

April 17, 2019 by kritterspaw

Tinder Table

Projects
fire, firewood, table, tinder fire, wood, woodworking
3 Comments

It’s hard to believe it has been almost a year since the Tinder Fire that stormed up our hill and almost took our home. But we are still here, stronger than ever…. and found a great way to memorialize our tenacity, good fortune, and strength.

Several years back we cut a burl off a tree (making sure to keep the tree alive). It has been drying in our shop for the past 3 – 4 years. We figured it would make a great table top when it was good and dry. So we used a chainsaw to slab it, then set up a router on boards across the top to slowly and meticulously router it down to a flat even surface… then sand, sand, sand.

With the top ready, we needed legs. So we decided to make the legs from the Tinder Fire. We cut all the wood from our forest, using dead burned trees or fallen logs.

We decided to use a combination of oak and cedar for an ‘architectural’ highlight. The wood was super dry, almost kiln dried. Using the jointer we cut a flat through the 6″ – 8″ logs to clear the bark and provide a flat datum. The jointer allowed us to make parellel sides.

joint cedar_IR.jpg

For the cedar we needed to work through the exterior white to get to the ‘red heart’ of the wood. We used the planer to make numerous passes to reduce the wood to 2-3/4″ squares for the legs.

Once both the oak and cedar logs were reduced to ‘legs’, we had lumber ready to process.

We used a black resin goop to fill the cracks…. a long tedious task, which took multiple applications until the cracks were filled.

Finally, we were ready to assemble the legs and stretchers for the base.

With base and top ready to go, final sanding complete…. it’s time to stain.

… and finish, ironically, as it started to snow.

topspray IR.jpg

I think the finished product came out great. The red heart of the cedar shows through, as does the tenacity and strength of the sturdy oak. They made it through the fire to become something lasting and symbolic, and will forever be a reminder of the Tinder Fire, moving on, and persevering.

March 18, 2019March 18, 2019 by kritterspaw

One thing begets another

Projects
crafts, eagle, floor lamp, glass, hummingbird, lamp, owl, pygmy, squirrel, stained glass
1 Comment

You know how you embark on a project and once you’re done, it has created a new list of projects? Kinda like when you remodel your kitchen and you do the cabinets… and soon as it’s done, the floor now needs to be done.

You read about my stained glass door here … https://kritterspaw.com/2018/12/10/stained-glass-door/

The door came out great, and is now a centerpiece in the house. I was already planning on building a stained glass floor lamp, but something simple. With the door completed, and the elks peering in on us… our lamp design took another turn. Why not use animals from our forest to grace our lamp.

So I began the task of drawing up patterns for 4 panels….

eagle patt_IR.jpg

There would be an eagle, a squirrel, hummingbirds, and a pygmy owl.

With the patterns drawn, the pattern pieces had to be made.. and glass had to be cut.

I did one panel at a time… pattern, glass cut, grind, foil / lead, solder, pack, repeat four times.

IMG_20190113_144053401~2_IR.jpg

Once the glass was cut and ground, each piece had to be foiled or leaded.

After it was leaded, all the joints had to be soldered, and then it was packed with a window caulking and glazed with a gypsum powder.

All to make a final glass panels to ready for the wood working portion of the project.

On to the next phase.

To be continued…..

December 10, 2018December 10, 2018 by kritterspaw

Stained Glass Door

Projects
bunny, door, elk, perseverence, projects, stained glass, stained glass door
3 Comments

All good ideas start with a vision.

It’s not like I seek out things to do. They just come to us, with a need. Well, maybe, need, isn’t the right word. How about… a good idea.

For instance… we have these doors. They are pretty plain. Wouldn’t they look better with a stained glass window on them. That’s what we thought!

So I drew up a pattern that seemed suited for our area… you know, elk, bunnies, blue jays, trees.

And then set out to build it. We have never fretted over the amount of work in any particular project. I suppose if we did, we’d never get anything done. We just think of the finished project, and how cool it might be… and set out to accomplish it.

Once the pattern was finished, I set out to choose the colors… and cut the glass for the 6′ tall door.

And cut glass….

Then I began the daunting task of a combination of leading and foiling the glass pieces in a long labor intensive effort that took patience, determination and perseverance.

Then after soldering all the joints, I had to ‘pack’ the lead channel with a DAP window caulking.

Then use a gypsum powder to clean the flux off the solder joints and lead channel.

I actually made my husband a bet… I expected the project to take a year, he gave me 8 months. Working long consecutive days at every opportunity I had available to me, I finished it in 6 months.

Now our door isn’t plain any more. Who knew we needed a stained glass door… but it was a good idea.