It's a steamer!

Good Tuesday to everyone out there in blog land! Early on Chris built a steam box for rib-bands ribs and planking. It has all sorts of neat-o features including this slick temp gauge  To steam wood you need to heat a box to  between 160 deg F and 200 deg F with steam. Then an hour of cook time for every inch of thickness. Our rib-bands are basically 1" thick so a little over an hour is premo.

 It may look like a battered still but you wouldn't want to drink any shine out'o that!

 It takes a while, but eventually the steam from the coffee gets replaced by leakage from the steam box. After an hour here they come!!!

 Here we have the brain trust, discussing the benefits of the steam box on skin with Sam. Apparently its not only good for the pores but the soul as well.

Here are some snaps of the clamps going on.

 Chris getting the aft rabbit on Thing 2 ready.

 Gina filming me taking a picture,

and Gina finishing the bow rabbit on Thing 2. 

All in all it was a productive day in the shop. I would have had more pics but the camera died mid afternoon. Technology can be a real @%!! %@@ (*&^ rat bas$#!@^, eh?

Some panic, and progress.

I decided to get some pictures of the smaller Whitehall this morning. She seems to be getting along well.

 They have the strong back and the molds set up, the keel and the apron are here as well as the transom.

It will be amazingly small compared to the boats were working on. Made me think how different they will be on the river. Both have advantages and disadvantages, i'd still hop in either!

After a long lecture there was a long lunch. Working on the big Powell boats is a lot like camping. The temperatures this time of year are cold but with a little effort the food can kick ass!

 Salmon and stuffed peppers on the grille.

 After lunch i caused a bit o" panic. I was securing the stem to the strong back, after the faux rudder was fitted but before the transom were totally screwed down.

 Anyhow as i was getting the stem all into place i started looking at the station lines in the molds, keel, and strong bake. Most didn't seem to line up at all. I measured, checked the lofting and remeasured. With a little but of panic i brought Ben into the fold. Most of us got into it before some poor communication was discovered. In the end the panic was nothing (it usually is) and Thing 1 is ready to have the rib-bands steamed on.

Tomorrow should be fun!!

Don't worry Nelly!

It was all excitement this weekend. It was to be the first time a Stubegge house has ever had a baby in it. Beth, Josh, and Adele came out to enjoy the Late Saturday sunshine and some late night euchre.

 Nelly seemed a little wierded out but in the end she just did as always and melted into the couch.

Even the sea anemones were even hiding out, but they sure look beautiful even out of the ocean and in the sun.

 We were all feeling a little giddy and pale as the sky opened up, no liquid sunshine for this group. We were enjoying the real thing.

 We climbed big wood,

Poked some limpets, 

 and even walked home. They all left too soon, we're looking forward to having them out soon!

After they were gone i finished up the NPFF art work. It seems like it takes more and more time every year. As soon as the powers at be let me post a copy i will. It kicks ass!

Then i put together this collage of the loft floor at school. Hope everyone else had a great weekend.

The ghost of river rats past.

Sitting at home tonight i began to work out one of the little side projects i have going. 

The boat was called the MOJA, a combo of the owner's names.  There is a brief description i'll sum it up.

The remaining pictures aren't that great either.

 Later it looks like the bow washboard was modified... Anyhow sketching it helps me think.

 A few more of these and i think i can get a drawing and table o' offsets going. We'll see....

What the what? Sunshine?

Its been a rainy cloudy week here in the north west, but we were given a break today with a rare intrusion. Sunlight in the shop.

 It made for some dramatic footage, Noah milling up the ribbands.

While that was going on Asa and i were working on the deck beams. The tool you see here is a radius plane. The user can change the radius of the soul with the knob in the front. 

 Its a magical device. If anyone is ever wondering what to get me for Flag Day here is a great idea!

We cut the pieces out with lil' blue. Damn that saw rips through wood like its not even there. It will be sad to leave it when the school year is over.

When your running her there is a little whirl wind that forms at the blade. As the speed ramps up the intimidation factor is huge but the smooth operation, sweet.

Also while this is going on.... A keel assembly was being centered onto a strong back.

It was a good week. 

I have also been working on a lines drawing for a replica MOJA. Some problems there and also a post in the future. Y' All have a killer weekend!