Made A Knob Today

[amioutaline?]

I was going to use another of the solid brass "Bottlecaps for Bottleheads" knobs Bill Martinelli made for me back when I was exclusively a Bottlehead but decided this build wasn't Bottlehead so it wouldn't be prudent. Plus I wanted to have the knob on the front panel. I think there was a Canadian company years ago that did an inset big wooden knob, not sure, but the idea certainly isn't new.

Anyway, I cut a blank in a contrasting wood (soft maple), drilled a hole for the Volume Control shaft then another at 90 degrees for a threaded insert and set screw and chucked it into the drill press with a hanger bolt. 40 grit to shape then an hour later 60, 80 100.....220 to smooth. My fingers are burnt!, even with the jig I made for the sander belt.

It's 1 5/8" round by 1 3/8" long with a slight conical taper and will sit in a 3/8" deep inset I'll drill with a Forstner bit after I wire things up and can locate the volume control. 

Sure beats daytime TV!

 

[JamieMcC]

Hey that looks nice I like the wood I use a similar drill press technique but use a hole saw with the centre bit taken out to drill the round blank out first. Next the round plug then gets hot glued to a dowel that is inserted in the drill press chuck so I can spin and sand it up.

 

[amioutaline?]

I like that hot melt glue technique you came up with and the design is beautiful.

It's amazing what so-called temporary glues can do. Lowes sells a double faced tape, not the carpet one but 2" wide with a blue peel off that sticks like crazy for routing little parts you can't clamp. 22,000 RPM doesn't bother it at all.

 

[2wo]

I really like the figure of that piece. I vote for a French polish...John   

 

[Grainger49]

Bill,

I'm confused.  Is the knob in the third picture the same as the knobs in the first picture?

 

[JamieMcC]

I really like the figure of that piece. I vote for a French polish...John 

French polish is nice but takes a while, a CA finish is much faster try googling it and checking out a few videos it works a treat literally 5-10 mins and you have a high class finish. I have used it in the past myself making carbon fibre rings.

 

[JamieMcC]

Bill actually I really need to say a big thank you to you as your work has really inspired me and helped rekindle my enjoyment of working with a nice bit of timber.

 

[amioutaline?]

Bill,

I'm confused.  Is the knob in the third picture the same as the knobs in the first picture?

Seems you're able to concentrate on the important knobs!

 

[Grainger49]

Have you seen my Halloween avatar?

 

[amioutaline?]

Have you seen my Halloween avatar?

That's what I'm talking about.  :

 

[amioutaline?]

French polish is nice but takes a while, a CA finish is much faster try googling it and checking out a few videos it works a treat literally 5-10 mins and you have a high class finish. I have used it in the past myself making carbon fibre rings.

I went looking for 'French Polish on the lathe' and found this Youtube video that looks like a winner to me. I have the ingredients for the "shine juice" except I'll use Mineral Oil as I don't want to go dark which the Linseed will do. Looks to me like the toilet paper got to a good enough finish. We're making electronics, not Steinways.

https://youtu.be/7obdn9xDVaA

 

[2wo]

I don't think mineral oil will work, will never dry. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

I have been using Walnut oil on knife handles, another possibility...John

 

[btrancho]

+1 on the CA finish.  I've used it on a few knife handles and it's held up very well with daily use.  You can apply it on the lathe in a manner similar to french polish - (while wearing nitrile gloves) put a liberal amount on a clean cloth or paper towel and spin a good coat on.  Don't work it very much, just get a good coating.  Lightly sand with 400 grit between coats and lay up 3-4 coats.  This forms a hard acrylic finish and really makes the grain pop.

 

[amioutaline?]

I don't think mineral oil will work, will never dry. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

I have been using Walnut oil on knife handles, another possibility...John

You're quite right! Mineral, Olive or Paraffin Oil, Pumice and Shellac are the classic ingredients of French Polish but tose oils are used by the drop so on reflection the 1/3 ratio of oil won't work. The 'Boiled' in Linseed Oil refers to metals, driers that are introduced.

I should also mention that the use of toilet paper just has to be adding a ton of lint to the mix. Handi-Wipes, those Blue or Pink Plaid towels from the grocery store are absolutely lint free.

I'm always concerned that chemicals like Goopethane and perhaps CA, look artificial. I think I'll spin up the knob and treat it with a not quite dry rubber with Amber 1 1/2 lb. cut, no oil and see what happens.