| Spring |
[May. 4th, 2008|01:57 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  amused | ] |
 A Luna Moth on the back of the white van this morning (usually it's on our sign)
 I don't know what kind of tree this is. But it's on our property and it just came into bloom (I missed taking a photo of the Dogwood's before the rain knocked all the blooms off last week)
 Iris are either native or naturalized. These are on the vacant property across the street.
Scott |
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| Horning In |
[May. 4th, 2008|11:30 am] |
| [ | mood |
| |  depressed | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Beep, Beep | ] |
This appears to be a Model A Horn sitting on an anvil.
The pisser is that it is not! It's a cheap 1960's or 1970's 12 volt P.O.S. It's not even a good reproduction. Original horns were painted all black, the bell was not chromed as in this one. The motor inside is a modern sealed bearing job. The housing is missing the data plate or anywhere to mount one. It's also missing the adjustment screw on the back.
I kind of wish I looked at this before. As I had ordered a horn rebuild kit in anticipation restoring an original horn. So now I am looking around for an original horn to restore. I have a couple of leads on ebay. But I don't hold a lot of hope and getting one at any sort of decent price. I'll try for awhile to get an original before I break down and buy a quality reproduction.
Anyone want a cheap 12v Ah'ooga horn?
Scott B. Jaqua
Hagerson Forge
(I got the Ah'ooga horn blues) |
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| Original Paint Found |
[May. 3rd, 2008|12:20 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | amused | ] |
This is the break light switch for the Model A.
 (note exposure is a little off, that's white paper it's sitting on)
It is made of Cadmium plated sheet metal, painted in Model A engine green. This is the same color the engine block should be. The platting and paint were preserved under a protective coating of grease and road dirt.
This spring loaded slide switch connects to the mechanical break linkage. It is located under the floor boards, attached to the transmission housing.
Now that is is clean I need to test it and if it's good repaint it. Prior to installing it again and attaching it to the new wiring harness.
Scott |
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| Blount County Arts and Crafts Guild |
[May. 3rd, 2008|10:25 am] |
| [ | mood |
| |  artistic | ] |
The first Monday of very month (except for a break for three months during summer), the Blount County Arts and Crafts Guild holds it's meeting at the Blount County Library in Maryville. The meetings start at 6:30, usually with some sort of program or presentation. This Monday I am giving the presentation.
I will be presenting a Power Point show (which I still need to write) entitled "Pattern Welding, Dark Ages Technology As A Modern Art form" The guild meetings are open to the public and are free. Membership in the guild is very nominal and it open to any artist in the county of any skill level.
Scott B. Jaqua
Hagerson Forge |
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| It moves under it's own power |
[May. 2nd, 2008|02:30 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | accomplished | ] |
We just took the Model A for a very short test drive. Half a mile each direction up and back to the local church parking lot for a turn around.
We found out several things. First the timing still needs a slight adjustment. The full flow was a little erratic , so that means the carburetor might need cleaning. The brakes need work. It could be just old cracked pads or something worse. but my money is on new brake pads. There are two oil leaks. They are both minor but should be fixed. The worse one appears to be at the oil pan gasket, so that is a real simple fix. The other one is the head gasket. A little more work. But on an engine this simple it's really not all that bad. There is also an exhaust leak. I could tell that just from the sound. ( The proper Model A muffler sound is very, very distinctive.) But there were also some fumes in the cab to confirm that. (Did I mention it was a very short ride...with the windows open)
So I'll order some break parts, new gaskets and after another look under the chassis some exhaust parts. While I wait on those I also get to work on all the lighting wiring.
Scott Jaqua
Hagerson Forge (and Model A works?) |
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| IT'S ALIVE!.. IT'S ALIVE!........BWWWWHAHAHAHAHAH! |
[May. 1st, 2008|06:59 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  bouncy | ] |
Tuesday I spent driving all over town. One of the stops was at the home of Dennis Havener in Fountain City. He has a a very large selection of Model A parts that he sells out of his very large basement (where he also has several Model A in various states of progress as well. An amazing place and an amazing man). Dennis gave me lots of important info and there I picked up a new radiator and several other parts.
Yesterday on the Model A, I replaced my fathers engine wiring. He had made it a 12 volt system and I couldn't tie what he had done back to the factory wiring diagram. So I choose to redo it all for simplicity's sake. While I was at it I restored it to it's original 6 volt configuration. I used an instrument wiring harness, a generator and starter harness and a new distributor wire, that I got from Dennis. These harnesses have the look of old style cloth insulation over a modern rubber insulation for safety. The 12 volt battery was replaced with a 6 volt "Vintage Die-Hard" from Sears. I also replaced the distributor with a rebuilt one from Dennis.
I also got a 6 volt spark coil (above with new wiring (except for the short one on the far right that I have a replacement on order for)). Before mounting the coil I cleaned and repainted the bracket.
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| Yet More Model A |
[Apr. 27th, 2008|08:23 pm] |
The last couple of days have been spent cleaning up the front of the this place. This involved removing the klieg lights the prior owners had placed on the car port and replacing them with something more energy efficient. So while I did that I also wired in a weather proof outlet (even if it is well under the roof of the car port). I also tore down a battered old shade cloth (on a side already well shaded???) and moved the wood pile along with some other stuff. This resulted in better lighting and more space. The car port now holds three cars comfortably. Where as before one side was all cluttered up and the open area was just a little over two cars wide.
Having all this open area means I now have a work place for the Model A. So after we moved it over I then towed it up two sets of ramps (one set front one rear) and gave it a quick bath. Both above and below the wheel line (part of the reason for the ramps). This gave me a much better idea of what was needed on the cosmetic side of things. And she is really in much better shape then I thought. At one point my father and brothers had it looking pretty good (albeit with a spray can paint job). You can tell that was several years ago. But still not that bad.
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| Blade Show Coming Up! |
[Apr. 27th, 2008|10:31 am] |
| [ | mood |
| |  tired | ] |
And it keeps staying busy. After the last slew of events, my stock is low and I have another slew of events in May. Of course the biggest is the Blade Show at the end of the month, in Atlanta. But before that I have a have a local SCA event and then another festival in Nashville to try for the first time. I fully expect for knife sales to suck at Nashville. But my wife should do just fine with her amber.
So, between now and then I need to make some (read "a lot of") knives. Fortunately I'm back to having a lot of work in the pipeline again. I have a bunch of pattern welded material made up. I have some billets cut, cleaned and stacked to make more (But I still need to cut, clean and stack a few of the special billets to make axes). And I have one knife already forged to shape, awaiting grinding. (Outside of the work in progress for orders, that is. Several of those have been profiled and more)
This last week was spent on projects for the Kennel and the house. I still have a bunch left to do, but I can see the light at the end of that tunnel (at least for the time being (this season?)). So May will be spent makes Knives I hope (plus a few more house jobs and some more work on the Model A (More in another post))
I'll try to post more often, along with photos of work in progress. Speaking of photo's, would anyone care to see some Nature photos from around here? Spring has Sprung and it is stunning!
Scott B. Jaqua
Hagerson Forge |
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| More Model A |
[Apr. 20th, 2008|11:20 am] |
| [ | mood |
| | tired | ] |
So far I am very please with Mike's A Ford able parts. I ordered on Thursday, they shipped on Friday and DHL says it will be here tomorrow (Monday). The Order is sitting in DHL's Knoxville location, right now. That is pretty amazing service. Of course the proof will be in the quality of the product and if it was packed well enough to arrive in good condition. But so far so good.
On Friday we also went to order the paint and pick up most of it. About $700 later I should have everything I need for a three tone Green and Black paint job. A green body, with black fenders and roof, with a lighter shade of green for the wheels. My father had of course given it a spay can paint job way back when. But it never really "popped". What we ordered was a professional three step paint system, primer, color and clear coat. I'm really looking forward to we can start to paint this baby. We get the rest of the Paint on Monday and should start painting early summer. Sooner on the wheels. I'm going to start pulling them, un-mounting the tires, stripping and painting the wheels and then mounting fresh tires one at a time. Starting with the spare.
I also took a peak at the engine number. And once again it supports the whole 1929 chassis and 1930 body thing. Going by the number on the engine block, it was made in May of 1929. As engine manufacture was ahead of auto assembly at that time it was unusual for am engine to sit in inventory for three to four months. But not much longer. So it appears to match that 1929 chassis. Next I have to see if I can find a body number and find out when it was made.
Today it's off to the store to pick up paint stripper, to start on the wheels. I have already repainted the front bumper mounts so I can assemble the front bumper assembly when the rest of the parts arrive tomorrow. The Model A looks a little sad without it's smile (the Bumper) and it's Eye's (The Headlight Bar). It will look a lot more like model A with thos back it place (for the test drives after I get the engine going again), even if I have to take them off again for paint later.
This all while trying to get my knife stock back up in time for the Blade Show at the end of may.
Scott B. Jaqua
Hagerson Forge |
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| Show Results |
[Apr. 20th, 2008|11:12 am] |
| [ | mood |
| |  lethargic | ] |
Yesterday's Rossini festival was big, I mean really big. Almost too big for us to handle. I only sold one knife and a sharpener. But my wife's hat's and jewelry did well.
I had placed my knives in glasses cases for the day. Which was a very good move considering the crowds of folks going up and down the streets. For part of the day we had a friend of ours helping just to have one more set of eyes on things.
According to the Knoxville news this year was much larger then last year. And this is supposed to be one of Knoxville's biggest events.
Next year we may need two helpers (especially if they want me to bring my forge).
Scott B. Jaqua
Hagerson Forge |
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| Show Tomorrow |
[Apr. 18th, 2008|10:25 am] |
Tomorrow (Sat April 19th) the Knoxville Opera marks the official opening of the opera season with the Rossini Festival. This a one day Italian themed street festival covering several blocks of downtown Knoxville. It's open to the public from 12-9pm. My wife and I will be set-up in booth number 32 near the intersection of Church and Gay. Right next to the SCA booth.
Scott B. Jaqua
Hagerson Forge |
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| Old School..... in more than just knives |
[Apr. 17th, 2008|11:24 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | quixotic | ] |
The day before yesterday, my wife got a phone call asking if we wanted to sell the Model A. My brother used to drive this in high school, and folks would drive up beside him, roll down the window and yell "sell it?!" So with us having our phone number on our sign out front I guess I should have expected that call.
Well, with everything that has been going on around here, that's what was needed to remind me that my brother had sent all the estate release paperwork weeks ago, and I still needed to finish the transfer and register the Model A in Tennessee. That is what I did today. After registering it I cleaned it off and started to take a really good look at the project ahead of us.
It's really in much better shape then I though. At first blush the only things stopping us from starting it up appear to be electrical and fluids. Then there are a ton of misc. parts needed to tie down body parts, tail lights, front bumper, head lights and horn, mirrors and so on. It looks like a bigger job then it really is, because each job is real, real simple. There are just a whole bunch of simple things that need doing. After that the job is mostly cosmetic restoration.
Tonight was about searching the web for suppliers. And I think I found one I like, Mike's "A" Ford-able Parts in Maysville, GA http://www.mikes-afordable.com/
I just ordered about $300 in small parts (Just things I could remember off the top of my head, from my inspection). That will be a good trial before moving on to some of the more major parts.
During my inspection and during the ordering process I think I can confirm some of the thoughts my father had. He was sold the car as a 1929, which he liked because he was a 1929. But then he was a little disappointed because he thought it really was a 1930. Well I think both are correct. Model years were not as important back then. In fact the change in frame and and chassis parts appears to take place not in the fall or at the end of 1929. But, rather at the end of march 1930. With everything before that called a 1929 style part and everything after a 1930 style.
Now from what I can see. looking at the parts I needed (from the examples of the parts I had). Everything in the rolling chassis appears to be in the 1929 style. But everything in the body appears to be in the 1930 style. So what I have is an "official" 1929/1930 Model A Ford Deluxe Coupe! (The title still says 1929, however)
Scott B. Jaqua
Hagerson Forge
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| Off-Topic, but I don't care. |
[Apr. 15th, 2008|11:10 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | ecstatic | ] |
Tonight, I just watched the most amazing hour of television. If you missed, you will be sorry, because unless I miss my guess it will be a topic of conversation over water coolers across the nation tomorrow. If you are on the west coast and see this in time Tape, Tivo, watch! Boston Legal tonight. The writers pulled out all the stops and pulled it off (without coming close to jumping the shark).
They addressed Alzheimer's, death with dignity (which we are not allowed in this nation), nucleor proliferation (with a nod to Tom Lehrer) and vulnerability in relationships (especially amongst the disabled). All the while handling the writer's strike with a toss off line that you will miss if you blink. And each was handled with amazing care, complexity and sometimes a little humor in what would otherwise been one hell of a tear jerker. Hats off gentle persons!
Two words.... Emmy Nomination
Scott B. Jaqua
Hagerson Forge |
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| "Tomatos you're falling behind", "Don't worry we'll catchup!" |
[Mar. 19th, 2008|01:37 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  hopeful | ] |
Sorry for the lack of posts for some time. I got back from a very unsuccessful Knife Expo, just in time to get ready for the SCA's Gulf Wars. That lasted all of last week. Now I'm getting ready for the SASS Smokey Mountain Shootout, that starts a week after tomorrow. From there it is on to the Rossini Festival in Knoxville next month. The end of May is the Blade Show in Atlanta. And July and August brings the two week long SCA event called Pennsic War. Plus a lot of other events I can't remember right now. (sheesh!)
Knife Expo was a major money loss. They rescheduled the event for a very busy weekend and attendance was WAY down. I am very much considering not attending again unless there is a major change in the show and an even bigger one in the economy. In fact for that weekend in Feb, I am thinking a return to the SCA's Estrella war is starting to look good.
After returning from Knife expo, I had three knives to repair. The Tulip Wood handles on one of the Green River knives shrunk badly. So badly in fact that it never went on the table. I tore them off when I got home and replaced them with some Tulip Wood I Stabilized. I also had shrinkage on the ebony handles of the Sgain Duhb's. But it was minor enough that I was able to put them out at the show and just buzz down the brass bolster and pin flush when I got them home.
Gulf Wars went very well. It was the first fight of our new DIXIE GUN Marquis Pavilion. Other then being too small to both merchant out of and live in (I already ordered a second one so we have one to live in and one to sell in, and even with two of them, it will still cost less then a Panther or Tent Masters for the same or smaller size)), It worked amazing well. At the start of war the Pavilion shook off an overnight long soaking rain storm. And on the last day of war it handled some pretty heavy winds (they lifted the rented commercial dining tent), without any problems at all.
The classes I tough at Gulf War's were very well received. With the only problem being the afore mentioned high winds canceling the second forge welding class for safety reasons. All told I manged to get in 11 hours of instruction over the week, before being shut down by the wind. I sold five knives over the course of the war. Which isn't at all bad considering no one knew my work before seeing me there. I figure next year the knife trade will pick up. Likewise my wife did well with her amber and hats. But it should pick up as well when our reputation gets better known.
Next week is a complete unknown. This will be our first try at merchanting a SASS regional event.
This week has been all about insurance. Insurance for the kennel and vendor insurance so we can get into the larger events (Like Pennsic). For that we found some clown to handle the coverage. That is Clowns of the US, with their Vendors of the US plan through the Specialty Insurance Agency. Real nice people, very easy to deal with.
Tomorrow is Thor's Mountain Metal workers meeting at our home. The topic will be Forge Welding. As I didn't get to teach the second class of that at Gulf Wars, I have more of the class materials already. I just need to run out today (our day off turned out to be rainy (grump!)) and pick up some 1/4" square steel rod to make the rings that are the first practice welding project.
I also need to get my web site back up to date. Especially in terms of getting my current stock on hand updated.
Scott B. Jaqua
Hagerson forge |
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| Knife Expo Trip; Thursday |
[Feb. 14th, 2008|11:50 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  awake | ] |
Well I arrived in California today. The flight across the country was the usual fun and joy. I am becoming more and more convinced The coach air travel was invented by Torquemada.
After I arrived at my motel, I made some calls to some friends, to let them know I was in the same time zone. Then my wifes best friend came bye o drop off the box of knives I sent ahead by UPS. After that it was an early dinner with her at Olive Garden. We have Olive Garden in Tennessee, but it's over an hours drive away. So it's not something I have done in a long while. The sad part is the other "restaurants" I miss are Jack in the Box, Del Taco and Wiener Dude (sigh).
The show opens at Noon tomorrow. Set-up begins at nine. Then I will start to see if the work getting ready for this show is going to pay off. I'll see if I can get some photos from my phone for my next post.
Scott B. Jaqua
Hagerson Forge |
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| last three done, all packed, and 15 min of fame |
[Feb. 13th, 2008|07:11 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  blank | ] |
The last three knives are done for the show.
Two Viking style utility knives. One is pattern welded with a South African Zebra Wood handle. The other is welded cable with a Red Palm Wood handle. The third knife is a three color, star-twist, pattern welded ballock dirk with a Cocobolo Wood handle.
I just finished packing them and just about everything else, I'm downloading some Ebooks, for reading material on the flight, into my phone. After that is done, all that is left is the last min bag of stuff from the bathroom and then it's all buttoned up and ready to go.
I'll be arriving in LA around noon tomorrow.
Due to bad timing (I'm in LA while they are in Tennessee) and travel budget issues, it looks like I won't be on Modern Marvels on the History channel. But the good news is they considered and spoke with me about the project. So hopefully a future project will work out. I may able to turn this knife making gig into something yet :)
Scott B. Jaqua
Hagerson Forge |
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| One done, three in W.I.P., one day to go |
[Feb. 13th, 2008|12:10 am] |
| [ | mood |
| | sleepy | ] |
I finished the last of the pattern welded tomahawks for the show, today. That just leaves three more that I will be able to complete in time.
Whats left to finish is two Viking knives, base on the Gotland digs and a late period Ballock knife. I polished, etched, and assembled them today. Tomorrow, after the epoxy cures over night, all that is left to do is finish shaping the handles, polishing the brass and oiling the wood, and at last, marking and sharpening the blades. I should be able to finish that all pretty early, then finish packing (started today) and then take a nap. Because my flight takes off at a way to early hour on Thursday morning. Which mean I have to get up at O-Dark 30, to be at the airport the prescribed amount of time in advance.
it goes without saying that I'll miss seeing all my SCA friends going to the Estrella War this weekend. It also goes without saying, that if they try to hold the knife show this early in the mo0nth again,,,,,,, well I'll just pack up my knives, my wifes amber and hats, and go to Estrella instead.
Scott B. Jaqua |
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| Lots of W.I. P., no completions today |
[Feb. 10th, 2008|07:22 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | accomplished | ] |
No new knives were completed today. So that means the 17 I have done need to goto the UPS store tomorrow to get shipped UPS orange label to ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) ladysabina in California. That will get them to her on Thursday and She can bring them to the show on Friday. (She will be at the show with me and is the other badge holder for my table.) Anything I get done between now and Wednesday night will have to go in checked luggage. Which I'm hoping will be at least three more pieces.
Right now I have a large ballock knife ready for the final handle carving by my wife. So that should get done in time. I also have a third pattern welded tomahawk completely forged to shape (welded, drawn down, welded back on it's self, ax eye drifted,blade forged to shape and currently annealing, all today). Tomorrow I should be able to grind it to final shape and heat treat it. Allowing me to finish grind, polish, etch and mark it and add a handle on Tuesday. I have three more knives profiled with a tang welded on. If any of them are going to make to the show, then need to be ground an heat treated tomorrow as well. Because they would will need to be finished ground, have bolsters and butt plates made, be assembled and epoxied on Tuesday. The epoxy would then need to cure over night in order to finish shaping, polishing and finishing the handle on Wednesday in order to get in the suitcase.
That work in progress does not include include three custom order pieces. So including those my total work in progress stands at eight pieces in various states of completion. Plus I still have several billets ready to weld. Which is a good thing. Because after this show I'll move right onto preparations for the SCA's Gulf Wars in March. I think this is what a busy season is supposed to feel like (assuming, I sell any knives at any of these shows coming up)
Scott B. Jaqua
Hagerson Forge |
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| Green River Knives |
[Feb. 9th, 2008|04:46 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | accomplished | ] |
A style made popular in the 1840's by J.Russell & Co. and Green River Works, this knife was part of the American West. However, this knife style can trace it's roots to medieval kitchens and butcher shops.
Equally at home in the kitchen and field. Mine are made with Sandvick 13C26 Stainless Steel blades, a full tang and hardwood handle scales held on with epoxy and mosaic pins. The woods used are (from top to bottom), Blood Wood, Tulip Wood and Honduran Rosewood.
This brings the count of knives going to Knife Expo to 17. With four more days of production yet to go.
Scott B. Jaqua
Hagerson Forge |
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