I’m trying to make my own Micarta at the moment because I want to use it for a new knife project. I made a simple press, took an old t-shirt and some epoxy and started.
New Bevel Grinding Jig DIY
Without further a do, my bevel grinding jig for knife making just … disappeared … (somehow, things in my shop seem to have a tendency for that when I’m around…). So I made a new one, this time from aluminium, since it’s simply easier to work on for me.
Dehydrating Food
I grabbed some sweet apples that were on sale at the supermarket, decided to buy some other veggies as well and turned on my trusty food-dehydrator. I tried to slice everything to about the same thickness of about 4-5 mm, as I expected that all ingredients would take roughly the same time to dry.
The groceries I used (apples, button mushrooms and chili peppers) are rather moist material so the drying time was a little longer. It was about 5 hours at about 55°C (131°F) for the shroomz and indeed 7 hours for the apples and chilies. Everything turned out fine.
Food Drying Box Restoration
The dry ager’s compressor unfortunately went belly up lately, so I cannibalized it thoroughly and re-vitalized the northern germany drying box instead (see the munich version here).This time with tolerable wiring and even a light 🙂 It’s going to see some action the next weeks or so.
DIY Power Box
So, germany is having a turnaround in energy politics… Yeah. More and more voices join in the concern that this energy transition will run all but smoothly this winter, since it is (german standard by now) poorly planned and badly managed just because of too much ideological wishful thinking.
We’ve seen at the Ahrtal floodings (which was just a local event) again this spring how reliable and professional our authorities work in emergencies. Hadn’t it been for loads of volunteers and private helpers, I suppose the area would still be uninhabitable.
Anyway I don’t trust our government farther than I can throw it, should it come to a large-scale and lengthy blackout, so I think being prepared is never a mistake. One among various precautions might be this:
Self Made Chicken Coop
Last two week’s big project is finally done! I made a chicken coop in the back yard and now I’m waiting for some chickens to move in! Living in a rather rural area, I took great pains in creating an as much as possible predator-proof construction.
Cider done! Taste Test.
(This is part IV of the cider making series. Read part I, part II and part III here.)
I tested my apple cider for the first time after letting it mature for almost eight weeks – it’s amazing what you can do with a load of apples, a little work and some time. It tastes good and refreshing, it definitely has some alcohol (7% vol. as per calculation) and a nice color.
It is a little acidic, not really sour but rather with a sour-ish hint. Next time I’ll not use “some apples” that I can get hands on but I’ll try to select some really sweet and ripe ones. Other than that: Great! I’m very pleased.
Knife Tang Hole Filer
I made a tang hole filer for my next knife project to come. Just drilling and working with a needle file is not very satisfactory. I used a jigsaw blade that I trimmed down a little, some scrap wood and a dab of epoxy glue. Done.