This is just a quick update to inform those of you have been patiently waiting for your CS12v2, they are all in house, inspected and will be at the warehouse tomorrow. We believe this is our best combination square–solid stainless steel and comes with both an 18″ and 12″ blade. The run is completely sold out so we are taking names for the next batch here–scroll down and click “Add to Favorites”, this gets your name on a list to be notified when we make them again.

I had lunch with Joe Felzman last week (Joe has been shooting my work for over 30 years!) and like always, we had lots of laughs and some terrific food. I thought you might enjoy some of his most recent efforts below.

If you have a few moments, take a peek at his work–stunning is an understatement.

And, if you are looking to add an image or two to your portfolio, you won’t find a better photographer–mention Bridge City and Joe will double his rates. Actually, you will be pleasantly surprised!

Best-

John

One sure way to avoid winning the infamous Sh!t Bunny Award is to use tasty hardware–like the knobs below!

Recently unearthed in our warehouse conversion, these small brass knobs have many practical uses, some of which are obscure. For example;

1. Offer a handful to your neighbor as payment for his land adjacent to your property. ( This has worked in the past.)  Then go buy a bigger lawn mower.

2. Next time you are pulled over for a speeding ticket, offer a handful to the officer explaining that the knobs were made from recycled bullet casings gathered at the Police Academy firing range. (We are guessing the ticket will be waived…)

3. Arrange a dozen or so in a circle on your driveway. Make note of the shadows. Do this each day for 23 years (or any other prime number) and you will soon learn how to tell time and be spot on when asked, “What season is it?” . Best of all: goodbye watch battery!

Or, you can use them for tool chest drawer pulls, or small pulls of any kind… surely you must have some ideas yourself–yes/no?

Here are the details;

Diameter: 11.9mm (.470″)

Height: 8.6 mm (.340″)

Internal Threads: #10-32

Thread Depth: 6.5mm (.256″)

Details: Solid brass, straight knurl

Cost: $12.95 for set of eight.

Shipping: FREE

Question: From the picture it looks like they are slightly tarnished-can I get an additional discount?
Answer: No. Chuck the knob in your portable drill and polish with steel wool or Scotch Brite. It doesn’t take but a few seconds.

Question: That incredibly easy to read black ruler in the picture…are those in stock?
Answer: Yes!

Question: Is there a limit of 10,000 sets per customer?
Answer: For the knobs yes. The rulers, no.

Question: Is this deal on your website?
Answer: No. It is a blog special while supplies last.

How? 1-800-253-3332

Or? sales@bridgecitytools.com (if we have your CC info on file, just tell us how many sets you would like.)

While supplies last.

-John, your knob shill and Tool Potentate all in one!

I knew this day was coming.

After much internal consternation (not really) we are finally able to award the Sh!t Bunny Award to Fred West’s Entertainment Center.

Before anybody fills a diaper here, Fred did not make this entertainment center–he inherited it from his ex-wife. Nice.

Fred, here is your award:

At this point you are probably asking yourself, “What deserves this award, and how do I avoid being a recipient?”  Good question. There is no identifiable criteria for this award, we just know the winners when we seem them.

Let us all take a look at Fred’s Entertainment Center (once you win the Sh!t Bunny award, your project if forever a proper noun-FYI).

Brace yourself;

This piece, by way of this Totally Awesome and Worthless Blog, is now famous, as in Louis XIV famous. Beyond belief isn’t it?

When Fred learned he had won the Sh!t Bunny Award, we talked about the certain possibility that somebody would want to buy this, to which he replied;

“As far as someone buying this, I cannot in a million years conceive of somebody that stupid. However, should someone want it, as long as they picked up the freight it would be theirs.”

Not only is Fred a gracious Sh!t Bunny recipient, he is generous too. The piece obviously will require no crating or packaging of any kind.  How cool is that?

But wait! There is more!

Back from the bathroom yet?

So here we are, and Fred has decided “enough is enough” — he has promised your favorite Tool Potentate that he is going to make a BRAND NEW ENTERTAINMENT CENTER!

Here’s where you can help!

Chime in with entertainment center ideas and pics (if possible) so Fred can start his idea bank. For those of you who don’t know what an idea bank is, well, it is a bunch of ideas that incubate until you decide on your next step–which is not the step that leads out into the shop.

Now if you want to pile on and dissect this piece further in the spirit of having fun, Fred is emotionally unattached to this piece so pile on.

My thoughts?

As far as entertainment centers go, it is rather entertaining.

–John

Today we are continuing the remodel of our warehouse to accommodate  our new video studio. When we moved a bunch of cardboard boxes we found a shelf system stuffed with parts-some of which I think might be of interest to you. Personally, it makes me mad.

These are excellent drawer pulls and can be used for a myriad of purposes.  1/4-28 fasteners can be ordered from McMaster-Carr (this company should run the country…simply amazing.)

Here’s a pic of the the solid brass knobs infilled with cocobolo;

Here are the details;

Diameter: 21.5mm (.848″)

Height: 12.25mm (.483″)

Internal Threads: 1/4 x 28

Thread Length: 10mm (.396″)

Details: Beautiful Radial Knurl

Cost: $12.95  for set of four

Shipping: Free

Will the wood be similar in color tone? Yes, to the best of our ability.

Is there a limit of 10,000 sets per customer? Yes, STRICTLY ENFORCED–don’t bother begging.

Is this deal on your website? No. It is a blog special while supplies last.

How? 1-800-253-3332

Or? sales@bridgecitytools.com (if we have your CC info on file, just tell us how many sets you would like.)

-John

Thanks to all who helped us unload our 27 year supply of Cocobolo and Ebony shorts.

While perusing through some old stuff, on yet ANOTHER RAINY DAY in Portland, I came across this image of a small chest front I made in the 1970′s—and oh how I wish that decade was a typo…

This small  Cocobolo draw pin effectively uses the sap as a strong visual element on a plain, straight grained walnut drop face chest. It is about 5 inches long. From a design standpoint, it begs to be removed, examined and replaced.   Sometimes sapwood can be very powerful and other times a complete disaster and contrived. So be careful with sapwood.  The design was inspired by a feather I found while on a walk.

What you cannot see is the reverse curve–the draw pin is inserted rotated 90 degrees to what you see here and then rolled downward to seal the lid to the body. This keeps one from scratching the crap out of the front if it were straight.  Lastly, since most box type projects tend to be boringly symmetrical, a little asymmetry can be a welcome contrast.

The hole has the visual function of inviting removal.

The female it engages is also a very small piece of cocobolo.

Just something to ponder when you need ideas.

Now go make something worthy of the space it occupies!

–John