Author: Caryn

Center finder DIY

On By CarynIn Craft, Tools

I made a simple center finder for drilling holes and turning round stock. I drew concentric circles with a fine-tipped Sharpie mounted in a compass on the inside layer of a lamination sheet. (I recommend practicing making circles on some scrap paper before going to the clear sheet, especially if it has been awhile since you’ve used a compass. Yup, personal experience.)

Circles drawn on the inside of a lamination folder

I then sent the lamination folder through the lamination machine to seal in the drawing and make it more rigid, used the sharp point of the compass to poke a hole in the center, and scissors to cut out the circle. By lining up the edges of the circle with the wood, I can mark the center.

Using the center finder to find the center of a maple turning blank

There are commercially prepared center finders, but this is an easy and cheap way to make one if you have transparent material available.

(Part 2 of 8 in this blog series)

I dropped it

On By CarynIn Craft, Tools

25 years. I’ve had this marble rolling pin for 25 years. I was making crackers and dropped it off the side of the counter onto the concrete floor. Crack. sigh.

Broken and disassembled marble rolling pin

I contemplated gluing it back together, but the crack would have to be filled, or I’d forever have a ridge on whatever I rolled out. It could be that there is a material that is suitable for filling a crack in marble that won’t potentially dislodge and become one with the dough, but I don’t have it on hand. I do, however, have wood and a lathe. Oh by the way, I’m going to draw this story out.

(Part 1 of 8 in this blog series)

Glad I didn’t cut it off

On By CarynIn Craft

Although I made a different way for the spindle to mount on my mini bike spinning wheel, I’m glad I didn’t cut off the original top slots as I wanted to do to clean up the look. They make a decent place to rest the spindle as I’m winding off onto a nostepinne. (Ok, winding off onto my drop spindle which works also as a nostepinne when turned upside down.) I did need to add weight to counterbalance the yarn on the spindle, so grabbed a nearby pair of scissors and hung them on the end. Eventually I’ll come up with a more elegant solution, or at least something that holds on better.

Winding off yarn from the mini bike spinning wheel

Pill bug trap

On By CarynIn Wildlife

Well that was unintentional. My makeshift cord plug protection also appears to be a death trap for rolly pollies. I finally unplugged the holiday deer, mainly because half the lights went out, and found a gathering of critter shells in the bin. The deer? He will stay in the meadow, because I really do like seeing him there. He is now a year-round decoration as I took off the holiday bow. So glad there isn’t an HOA here.

Pill bugs and some beetles met their end in this modified plastic bin