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Dave Polaschek
1787 posts
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in about 2 years
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Niles Bottle Opener
A while back (maybe back in the summer), I ordered a few Niles Bottle Opener Kits from Penn State. This morning, after doing a glue-up on another project, and not being willing to call it a day in the shop yet, I dug one of them out and grabbed a chunk of mimosa that Pottz had sent me, and got to work.
This is the result. For my first try with this kit, I think it came out ok. I know of a few things I’ll do better next time around, but it’s a spindle-oriented turning, and I’m getting pretty good with my skew, so any deficiencies are more a matter of not spending the time to figure out a good design than any problems in implementation.
Anyway, it was a fun project. Turned it, sanded from 60 up to 400 grit, used Ack’s Sanding Paste to partially finish, epoxied the opener into the wood with some five-minute epoxy, cut off the stub-tenon, sanded the end of the handle smooth by hand, and then buffed it all with the Beall Wood Buffing System to make it all pretty. About 75 minutes elapsed for a fun little project.
This is the result. For my first try with this kit, I think it came out ok. I know of a few things I’ll do better next time around, but it’s a spindle-oriented turning, and I’m getting pretty good with my skew, so any deficiencies are more a matter of not spending the time to figure out a good design than any problems in implementation.
Anyway, it was a fun project. Turned it, sanded from 60 up to 400 grit, used Ack’s Sanding Paste to partially finish, epoxied the opener into the wood with some five-minute epoxy, cut off the stub-tenon, sanded the end of the handle smooth by hand, and then buffed it all with the Beall Wood Buffing System to make it all pretty. About 75 minutes elapsed for a fun little project.
May you have the day you deserve!
8 Comments
Nice morning project…finish looks great too!
Ryan/// ~sigh~ I blew up another bowl. Moke told me "I made the inside bigger than the outside".
cool simple project dave.
working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.
Thanks, Ryan! It might yet get a dunk in the tung oil, but I like being able to say “done!” in a single day.
Thanks, Pottz! And thanks for the wood that went into it!
Thanks, Pottz! And thanks for the wood that went into it!
May you have the day you deserve!
Nice little quick opener Dave, A great shape to fit in the hand. Never really seen one like that up close. Another item to keep in mind for a future order.
Main Street to the Mountains
Never seen a bottle opener like that before Dave! Beautiful timber choice sir!
Life’s Good, Enjoy Each New Day’s Blessings
Nice project for gifting, think I might try to make a few for Christmas give-aways.
I like using the Niles bottle opener I made. Doesn't look like it would work but does really well. Good job. Mike
Thanks, Eric! They’re a neat design.
Thanks, Peter! I think Kenny made one that I saw on the other place, then I saw it in the Penn State catalog and here we are. And the timber came from Pottz.
The hardest part about it is that the opener has a ⅜-16 threaded end, and the tap included with their kit works, but I’ve stripped out a couple handles trying to use the Penn State chuck. I think I’ll probably give up on that and just use a tenon on the handle end, then turn it off once everything else is done.
Yeah, Mike, it looks weird, but it sure does work.
Thanks, Peter! I think Kenny made one that I saw on the other place, then I saw it in the Penn State catalog and here we are. And the timber came from Pottz.
The hardest part about it is that the opener has a ⅜-16 threaded end, and the tap included with their kit works, but I’ve stripped out a couple handles trying to use the Penn State chuck. I think I’ll probably give up on that and just use a tenon on the handle end, then turn it off once everything else is done.
Yeah, Mike, it looks weird, but it sure does work.
May you have the day you deserve!
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