Woodworking without pain (1)

I started a project to build a new outside table based on some laminated Yellow Box kitchen benchtops rescued from my mate Jase's kitchen renovation. Of course the table tob is useless without the infrastructure to support it so I went out and bought some 100 x 100 mm Black Butt (lovely wood and hard as b*****y) for the legs and some 100 x 50mm Black Butt for the rails. That was the easy bit - now I have to construct the thing!

The first thing I had to do was 'dress' the timber as it was rough-sawn. Fortunately I have a Towa electric plane and that made the job a bit easier although incredibly noisy and produced huge quantities of small wood shavings and dust. The garden is getting the benefit of those.

I had decided to place the horizontal rails at the top of the legs - each corner being a cross-over, halved mortice and tenon from two directions. This would give me the strength I needed and also allow the horizontal rails to be at such a height as to allow our outdoor chairs to be slid underneath. The first task was (is - it isn't finished yet) to cut out the mortices for the ends of the rails to lock into. Every good job starts with marking out so that one follows the principle of measure/mark twice (or more) and cut once. So here is a pic of one of the legs with the mortices marked out ready to be cut.

(Double-click to view larger)

As you can see this is my 'workshop' - two saw-horses outside the back of the garage. I had first of all thought to cut them by hand using a tenon saw for the long vertical cuts from the top of the legs and then chisel to remove the bits between the saw cuts. It could be done but would take several months of Sundays so I stopped and gave it some thought as to how to do it easier. The first thing that I tried was making multiple holes drilled by a spade bit in a drill press and then chiselling out the dross. This worked but was again quite slow. This pic shows the result of that effort - still have to do final chisel adjustments made at this stage.

(Double-click to enlarge)

The long cuts could easily made on a bandsaw but would require one with a deep enough throat to allow 100 mm timber to pass. That would be an expensive (but oh so nice) addition to the workshop. Then I though about using a router and, knowing that Jase has a router, I thought that I would give that a go. So - I contacted Jase and asked to borrow his router to test the theory. Since I hadn't used a router before it took a little getting used to and time to set up etc. Anyway, having proved the process on my second attempt I decided to get my own router.
I can use the router on other projects and there will be a lot of edge rounding still to do on this project after the structural work is done.

I had to buy a longer bit to take out the middle portion of the dross but I have now sorted out the process and can get through it relatively quickly with minimal stops for adjustment. I was initially taking advice I had read online and elsewhere - make all cuts at one depth before going deeper. That is probably OK for some projects but not for this one. Adjusting the parallel fence is what takes the time - particularly as my new router has a quick step-progression depth gauge adjuster - so I make all the cuts necessary to reach the required depth in one location before adjusting the fence to make the next parallel series of cuts. This picture shows one cut already down to the required depth.



Note my 'backstop' to stop the router at the end of the desired cut length. Also note the 100 x 50mm rails clamped to the sides of the leg to provide support for the router past the end of the legs.

And here is a pic with the next cut made about halfway down to the required depth.


This is one of the legs with cuts made from two sides to the full depth of the shorter bit.


Once all of the cuts have been made on all four sides it will be time to mount the longer bit and take out the middle section. After that the joints can be cleaned up by chisel and then they will be ready to measure individually for the tenons on each of the rails.


Question: Why not use the longer router bit to make all of the cuts?
Answer: Because the longer bit protrudes from the bottom of the router in the fully 'up' position and the initial cut depth would be too much. The general guide for depth of cut seems to be about 3.2mm per step.

One more thing. There was a potential to make a mess of this and have to start again so I have not yet cut the legs to their final finished length. There is enough to spare on each leg to do the whole thing over again if necessary.

Next episode: Finishing the mortices, cutting the tenons, and putting the infrastructure together.

National Pass

Saturday, March 28th, 2009

The day turned out fine and mild for the walk we had been planning for a couple of months. Not that the walk itself needed much planning - just that it took a while to get to a date which was mutually agreeable for Dominic, Elgan, John and me.

After looking at a few walk options we had settled on the National Pass walk in the NSW Blue Mountains as being of sufficient interest to us all without being over long - although still graded as 'hard' due to the amount of descent/ascent in a relatively short distance. The walk has been well documented by others such as this which has a detailed PDF available (National Pass) so I won't describe it in great detail.

We had arranged to meet at the Valley of the Waters Reserve car park for a 9:30am start. Leaving Epping at around 7:30am got Dominic and I there at around 9:00am with Elgan arriving just as we were donning our boots. While it was nice and sunny there was a definite hint of autumn in the air as we waited for John.

We set off at about 9:30am as planned and had elected to take the clockwise direction which, we were informed, was the easier direction to walk in. Of course, being a circular walk there is the same amount of descent and ascent (different track notes give different amounts between 500 and 700 metres) but what does vary is the steepness and concentration of said ascent/descent.

The most popular clockwise track seems to be the overcliff/undercliff track which turns off the Empress Falls track not far from Conservation Hut. It isn't long before the promised views are being experienced over the valleys from the track which follows the cliff edge fairly closely. A short distance along we disturbed a group of Yellow-tailed Balck Cockatoos as they were feeding in one of the many Banksias along the cliff top. Also present and easily identifiable were Yellow Wattle Birds. I've seen both of these species occassionally in the urban landscape but they tend to be infrequent visitors - especially the Black Cockatoos.

This neing a not very long walk, it wasn't too long before we were able to get a view of the cliffs just past Wentworth Falls which is about the half-way point on the trek.

View of the cliff at Wentworth Falls showing the
track down to the crossing below the upper falls

This photo (click to enlarge) shows the cliff-face on the South-Eastern side of Wentworth Falls. About halfway down the photograph - roughly level with the top of the eucalypt at the left hand forefront - the track can be seen, and lower down to the right there is a white sign at the top of another set of steep steps. The sign warns not to go along the old section of pathway leading to the left (penalty $500) which was only protected with chicken mesh held up on wire strung between start pickets. The path as it now exists is well protected and it would take a great act of stupidity to put oneself in any real danger of falling.

A little further on we were able to look back and down from a lookout on the edge of the cliff. This gave us the opportunity to see the path where we would be walking on the return leg of the trek.

In the photo below (a bit washed out because I'd forgotten to switch to landscape mode :-[) the track is visbile about half-way down as it wends around the cliff face and disappears back around the corner.

Looking back at the actual National Pass
track along the cliff face

Leaving the lookout behind we were soon at the approach to Wentworth Falls. A small cascade at the top, above the main falls, is worth a look.

Cascade on Wentworth Falls creek

I had thought that there might have ben more water after recent rain but John assured us that there is often a lot less than we experienced.

Crossing over the top of the falls the track goes around the opposite cliff (first picture above) and then heads down in a series of steep stone stairways before crossing below the upper falls at the start of the actual National Pass track.

Looking back up at Wentworth Falls from
the crossing point

After a short uphill stretch the National Pass track levels outand is quite easy walking back along the side of the cliff towards the starting point. Nearing the end of the cliff the path descends via stairways again to just below Empress Falls. A short uphill brings us to the bottom of Empress Falls which, while not as big as Wentworth Falls, is just as pleasant a spectacle. It would be even more welcome on a hot summer's day.

Empress Falls

After the Empress Falls there is a procession of stairways and track leading back up to the Conservation Hut. It is quite steep ad hard going but there are plenty of opportunities to rest and catch the breath. This section of the track was actually quite busy as many people seem to come down to look at Empress Falls and then go back up to the cafe at the top.

We arrived back after just under three hours. We had taken it quite gently and stopped many times to admire the views and take the odd photograph (memo to self - use landscape mode instead of portrait mode for this sort of photo!).

Reaching the top it was a good time to have a snack and a good chat before heading back home.

A wordle of this blog

Here is a 'Wordle' (word cloud) of the blog up to now - see http://www.wordle.net/

Click to see full-size image

Himalayan Odyssey(25)

Monday 29th October, 2008

After breakfast we head down to the main road to get a taxi into the city to visit the 'Monkey Temple' (Swoyambhu Hanuman Dokha). This turns out to be an entertaining ride as there is a police blockage diverting traffic to the north when we are a little over half-way into the city. This is probably due to traffic congestion but, as usual, information is hard to come by. Anyway, our driver persuades the police to let him divert into the valley southwards instead. This takes us along narrow roads between rice paddies and through small villages and eventually brings us to the eastern north-south section of the ring road at Patam from where the driver can takes us fairly directly up to the temple. Fairly directly means lost of back streets, through another Durbhar Square and finally up the main road to the temple. As it has taken quite a bit longer to get there than expected (about 1 hour instead of 40 minutes) for the fare we negotiated we are happy to give the driver a bit extra for the scenic tour.

View of the temple dome

The temple is very busy with many tourists. It is quite interesting and another example of the toleration that exists between the Hindus and the Buddhists as both faiths are well represented at the temple. Strangely monkeys seem scarce although there are a few on the lower level before we make our way up to where most of the activity is on the upper level.

Souvenir seller and Hanuman Shrine

Large golden Budhha

The view for the temple could be quite good but it is fairly hazy so visibility is somewhat reduced. Dominic has been looking out for a good quality Tibetan Singing Bowl and manages to find one to his liking - about 18-20cm in diameter and weighing several kilogrammes. It is important to try such a bowl for yourself as its natural resonating frequencies may not be harmonious to you. Fortunately the sellers are always willing to give lessons on how to make the bowl 'sing'.

Looking back down the steps towards the city

After our visit to the temple we head down the steep steps (where I manage to save myself from a nasty fall on the worn treads) and walk back into Thamel for lunch before taking abother taxi back to Bhaktapur.

Himalayan Odyssey(24)

Sunday 28th October, 2007

It promises to be a nice fine day so having studied the local map we head off southwards past the temple to hopefully walk a circular route ending up in Bhaktapur.

The road goes down into a valley past rice paddies and through villages. The rice harvest is in full swing - people cutting, stooking, threshing and carrying all by hand. The villagers are all very friendly and the little kids like to practice their English on us. The rice stooks and the general atmosphere remind me of time spent on a farm with my aunt and uncle in Northern England as a child. The same sort of languid summer days and the women bringing lunch and tea out to the fields as we played while the men worked.

View north-east across rice fields near Bhaktapur

Rice stooks drying near Bhaktapur

Family cooperation in the rice harvest near Bhaktapur

After walking for about 80 minutes we come to a fork but there is no indication that the left hand branch - the most likely one -will lead us back over the hills and around northwards into Bhaktapur. Reluctantly we turn around, not being willing to take the chance that the road would lead us in the right direction.

As we follow the road back down the valley we stop to look at some sort of citrus tree which has enormous fruit. A local girl around 16-17 years old stops to ask what we are looking at. She tells us the fruit is edible and much like an orange. We chat for a while as we walk down the road together and then we get to her turn off. Before leaving she asks us our names which we duly disclose, upon which, and with a sweeping gesture of her right hand, she informs us the "and I am Lolita". We are gobsmacked and have a good chuckle to ourselves as we carry on down the road. From the gesture, and the way she announced here name (possibly a name she has adopted) we are in little doubt that she has read Nabokov's book.

The day has warmed up quite a lot leaving us quite hot and sweaty. I have suffered from some dizziness and blurred vision and a mild angina attack.

After lunch back at the guest house we do some (very necessary) laundry and then I entertain the staff by playing a bit of blues 'harp' outside in the banda.

Himalayan Odyssey(23)

27th October, 2008
After arriving back at the Bhaktapur Guest House yesterday, thankfully now mostly free of the UTI that kept me in the city, today we are going to visit the old royal city of Bhaktapur itself. Dominic has already seen most of it of course on the day that I was obliged to return to the guest house in sorry state.

The walk into Bhaktapur city from the guest house is not long, taking about 15 minutes. On the way we stop to watch rice harvesting and threshing in a field using a treadle driven thresher.

Rice being harvested near Bhaktapur

The city, like Durbar Square in Kathmandu, is a 'pay to enter' proposition but the cost is low. There are many old buildings in the city and many of them are under restoration. Even though tourists have to pay a fee to enter the city, it is still very much a 'working' place and there is a grammar school just inside the gates.

Backstreets of old Bhaktapur

When buying our tickets we talk to the very friendly student manning the ticket booth. When he finds out that we are from Australia he tells us that he is learning to play the digeridoo.

Walking on into the city we are accosted by another young man whom I manage to offend with ease. As he comes alongside us I tell him that we do not need a guide thankyou, thinking that he is one of the usual touts who annoy tourists. In a slightly huffy voice he says that he is a student and just wishes to talk to us and be of whatever assistance he can. I am suitably chastened and he leads us through some interesting back streets before taking his leave - we wishing him well in his studies.

Rice spread out to dry in a square in old Bhaktapur

In Peacock Alley I buy a small wooden carving of 'Garuda' which will look good on the wall at home.

The eponymous Peacock Window, Peacock Lane, Bhaktapur

Then we visit a shop selling handmade paper that Dominic and the others visited the previous Saturday. After buying a small package of greeting cards the owner Mr Prajapati offers to give us a guided tour of the paper-making factory out the back. He then takes us up through the four-storey building explaining the contents of each floor until we arrive in his son's study on the top floor. We partake in a very welcome cup of tea with father and son while discussing the son's book publishing - he has written a guide book to Bhaktapur which will be published in paper form. There is also an explanatory book which will be printed locally on hand-made paper. Our suggestion to him is to also publish it electronically.

Following lunch after walking back we spend a lazy afternoon mostly just watching the rice-harvesting going on in the valley.

Himalayan Odyssey(22)

Thursday 25th October, 2008

Today starts off rather dull in content - pick up the CT scan and take it to the clinic. The urine culture has showed up a very nasty (Nepali) bacterium which caused the prostate infection. Antibiotics for another two weeks should make sure it is gone for good (I hope).

Afterwards we check in again with Thai Air to see if a flight change has come thorugh for him. No luck yet so check back on Tuesday 30th.

In the late afternoon we take a taxi to see the giant Stupa at Bhoudanath. Apparently both locals and visitors take the opportunity to make clockwise circuits around the Stupa at the end of the day. As they go they turn the many prayer wheels set into the lower walls. They can also go up onto the Stupa and make their circuits on to of the immense building. Dominic and I also take a turn around but this is most definitely non-religious on my part and more just a look at the local culture. Along the way their are some fine examples of carved wooden doors as well as a huge prayer wheel inside a building.

The Stupa at Bhoudanath from the main entrance

Local colour at Bhoudanath as people circle the Stupa

Beautiful carved doors at Bhoudanath

During the latter part, as the sun is setting, Dominic and I go up onto the rooftop area to have an early dinner while watching the spectacle.

View of Bhoudanath Stupa from our rooftop restaurant

As the sun is setting many Buddhist monks enter the Stupa for their evening prayers and leave about half an hour or so later.

Himalayan Odyssey(21)

Tuesday 23rd October, 2007

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me ...
I'm feeling so much better this morning following yesterday's big hit of antibiotics plus the follow up ones I have to take. While not completely 'healed up' its just so much better and since today is my birthday I think that is a pretty good present!

I'm back at the clinic at 11am for a quick check on progress. At 105/65 my blood pressure is a bit low but nothing to get too concerned about. Tomorrow I have to go for a CT scan for an anomaly which showed up on the XRay.

Later in the day the hotel sent up a birthday cake and Dominic and I had some of it as desert after dinner.

Birthday cake kindly provided by Radisson Hotel, Kathmandu

On this day last year I was at the Radisson in St Petersburg, Russia and they also provided a birthday cake and a bottle of bubbly which I shared with Mike and Sandra. Maybe this is to become a tradition for me? I wonder where I'll be next year - hopefully somewhere exotic.

Wednesday 24th October, 2007

Feeling so much better every day now so after breakfast, at Dominic's suggestion, we walk to Hanuman Durbar Square. This is an old imperial and religious area and even though it is a significant tourist attraction parts of it are still in use for religious purposes. On the way there we traverse back streets which I find quite interesting with normal everyday business going on.

Kathmandu street scene on the way to Hanuman
Durbar Square

There is a lot of reconstruction and renovation going on. Many buildings date back as far as the sixteenth century.

Pagoda, Hanuman Durbar Square, Kathmandu

Statue of Garuda, Hanuman Durbar Square, Kathmandu

Leaving the area we are again in among the back streets and alleyways and the older architecture is quite fascinating - particular the upper storey overhangs which are reminiscent of parts of some of the older towns in the UK where they built out over the street to gain more space in the building.

Residential architecture, Kathmandu

At 5pm the CT scan is over quite quickly although it takes a bit longer to get the bill paid as they have to go to another building to do the credit-card transaction. Afterwards we walk back looking for an Italian Restaurant but finding none we arrive back at the hotel and have a very pleasant dinner at their Italian Restaurant and are serenaded by a live group of local musicians. Now that I can eat again the Minestrone soup and Spaghetti Carbonara is delicious.

Himalayan Odyssey(20)

Sunday 21st October, 2007
Some slight improvement but still very painful and volume way too low. Dominic phones the CIWEC clinic in Kathmandu and is fortunate to talk to one of the doctors. He gets me an appointment for 11am tomorrow (Monday). The doctor confirms that the antibiotics I am using should be sufficient to do the trick so we'll just have to wait and see how it goes.

Monday 22nd October, 2007
There has been no real improvement in my condition since yesterday so its off to the clinic in a taxi. The guy who runs the guest house takes us down to the main road as I am really not up to walking far at all.

Arriving at the clinic which is just across the road from the British Embassy, I am attended to quite quickly. The nurse takes vitals Pulse - 88 (high), BP - 120/70 (good), temp - 38.7 (high) plus a urine sample which is a huge effort. After seeing the doctor (David K.) I'm taken in for xray and ultrasound. Because of the obvious urinary tract infection I'm put on a saline IV. Since the Norfloxacin hasn't worked they zap in some Gentamycin via the IV and I just rest for most of the rest of the day. They also gave me paracetomol to break the fever and for some time I'm lying in bath of perspiration.

It doesn't take too long for the Gentamycin to start working its magic and I'm able to pass more of a normal volume for the first time in a few days - wonderful. Dr David wants me to be available to attend the clinic over the next few days so suggests two possibilities. First would be to check me into the clinic hospital wing. Second option is to go into a local hotel for a few nights. I choose the latter so we end up in the Radisson which is just five minutes walk away. In this state I'll worry about the cost later.

Himalayan Odyssey(19)

Saturday 20th October, 2007
Woke up very tired after a truly rotten night. Very painful to urinate and little output. I had woken up in a lather at one stage and even had to change pillows because the one I was using was soaked through. However, I get up for a light breakfast as Tulsi and Bhimal are to take us into Bhaktapur to look at some of the Dashain festival celebrations. After walking down the hill and across the main road we stop to have a look at a Temple where there were many people queued up to get their sacrifices blessed.

People queued at the Temple to get their sacrifices blessed
(Outskirts of Bhaktapur)

It is quite warm and I am very thirsty, needing to urinate, and getting very cranky at Barry who keeps hanging around the temple rather than carrying on which is what I want to do. I realise, however, that it is not his problem but mine so I decide to go back to the guest house and let them enjoy the day without me acting the misery guts.

I spend the rest of the day in bed. When Dominic gets back from the excursion we look up the book and decide that a course of Norfloxacin is in order. Fortunately we have plenty on hand so I start off on a course of it.

All in all it has been a pretty awful day but hopefully the antibiotics will do their job and tomorrow will be better.