TooLs I'd Like to Have....

a nail gun....

Since we are doing bits and pieces of our House, ourselves,

this sure would come in handy.

It would be, dandy.

 

 

Tools I'd Like to have....

 I LoVe to GLass Etch

and create PaPer Jewelry.

Both create a need for 

quality

repetitive 

workings.

This machine seems to right up that alley.

Especially for the

 glass etch stencils.

The possibilities are endless.

Cricut

Tools I'd Like to have....

BRIGHT annnnd Shiny!

I do have fun working with Metal.

Alas, one of the biggest turn offs for Me

is the filing and sanding and polishing...

I just can't get past the nails on the chalkboard thing!

Problem solved!

 At least, a big portion of it.

still have to file...

TumBLe TuTorial

Tools I'd Like to have....

I actually know  a couple of pEEps who own one.

Nothing but RaVe reviews.

As someone who has constantly had to 

fight to have nice skin, I am eager to give it a whirl.

I LoVe the whole home spa thing,

and this would be a delightful addition to it.

This is going on my Day of Birth gift list.

the Clarisonic

Tools I'd Like to have....

A LaSeR CuTTeR!

I wann kick up those Shrink PLaSTic pieces I'm doing

{PrisciLLa says: Bam! }

For now,

I'm on the hunt for a company

that  can cut the pieces for Me locally.

If not, we'll head to the Cyber MaLL.

Home Lasers....it's so StaR wArs!

the RayJet ~

Tools I'd Like to have....

Cause, anyone who LOVES to cOOk

as much as I do,

deserves it.

Viking

The hardest decision is:

What CoLoR???

Tools I'd Like to have....

Allll of them!....just sayin.

Kitchen Aid Attachments

right here!

Tools I'd Like to have....

Plasma Torch/ Cutter

For Real.

I have a friend, Annie, who is a Metal Artist.

She took a round of metal,

Doily~ied it,

cut out the Doily pattern,

cut the circle in half,

painted them bright white, 

and had two of the Finest!

End Tables I have ever seen.

Torches are so COOL!

I don't know what kind of Torch she has,
but this one from Harbor Freight might be one to start with...

Plasma Torch/Cutter

Tools I'd Like to have....

 

  Srsly?
  Srsly.

Can you Imagine?

Perfect 90* Angles.
NoN shrinking Willy Wonka hallways.
Flat screens hung in perfect alignment,
{yes, Chook, it is crooked}
Yep.

Stanley FatMax Five Beam Laser Kit

Tools I'd Like to have....

I need a Table Saw.

I have woOden projects that require it.

I wish I had a studio/workshop big enough to accommodate

a full size mac DaDDy table saw,

for, like, whole sheets of plywood~table saw.

 

oH, Table Saw Fairy, please send me one!

The Right Table Saw for Your Shop

 

My FaVoRiTe tOOLs ~ Gentec Torch Kit

Gentec Torch Kit with Oxygen and Acetylene Tanks

I LOVE this tank system,

and I haven't even used it yet!
At least, not at home.

The reason behind this is simply,

at this time I don't have a safe enough 

place to set it up.

We used these types of torches when I was

taking Jewelry classes at University,

and it was just so friggin CooL!

Being a Fire sign,

not surprising.

Right now, I use the MAPP tanks I get from Wallie World.

They're ok, and can get the job done,

but I'm itching to seduce some proper Silver,
with the proper Fire.

The WombWeebles are older now

and can understand Safety issues.

The biggie problem now would be

The NiNja Darling.

She may not let me have it back.

My FaVoRiTe tOOLs ~ Le STaPLe Gun

 

No permit needed for this baby!

Invaluable tool to have especially for stretching canvases.

Or hanging Holiday HoHo Decor

Or holding balsa wood together while drying

Attaching string/wire for your Vines to grow on

Notes to a door...

You get the picture.

Not the Fingers though....just sayin.

My FaVoRiTe tOOLs ~ Dremel Work Station

is da BomB!

How could I have not gotten this til now???

I've been running around

trying to figure out what power tools to get 

and with this one stand I can combine at least three of what I need: 

drill press

sander

buffer/polisher

When working with smaller pieces,
especially Resin,
you need the smaller tools.

And you need to be able to have both hands free.

Viola!

The mostest greatest thing is the

itty bitty tiny little holes 

that I can now place anywhere I want

using the smallest Drill Bit and the Dremel.

You get a clean, professional strike

{in Resin, you can see EVERY crack, drill mistake, and crevice}

I've been going through all my Old Pieces,

and trying out different things.

Next up,

is some work drilling GLaSS.

The goal is to be able to manipulate the GLaSS piece,

and hopefully minimize jumpage.

Ta to The Chook Man..MUAH!!!

{caused he'd rather have me at home, safe with my Toys,
than out chasing Thugs}

My FaVoRiTe tOOLs ~ Razor Saw

oh lovely saw, razor saw...

how i have waited for thee!

FINALLY.

I work with a LOT of Resin.

One of the biggest problems

is being able to cut.

Dremel ~ only so so, and depends on what you need.

If you use a cutter wheel,
you can only get half through and then you have to turn your piece.

Many times that leaves an very unsightly ridge,

which takes serious sanding to get out.

Jewelers Saw ~ yeah, if I like wasting 20 blades on one cut.

Jigsaw ~ yeah, right.

Band Saw ~ haven't tried yet.

Mini Cutter Saw ~ will be trying soon.

You get the jist of it.

I don't know how I never stumbled upon this,

but I hit pay dirt in my gOOgLeNess.

A Razor Saw.

Model Train and Model enthusiasts seem to really like this tool,

and now I know why.

I went for the middle one, and luckily

HoBBy LoBBy not only carried it,
but had it in stock.

And does it work.

Yes, I have to use some elbow grease
{but hey, my arms could use it}

But as long as I go slow and steady,
I can get some hella good cuts.

Thinner than I've been able to with other blades.

The handle is extremely comfortable in the grip department.

The cuts are clean for resin.

Resin is going to have cut~film no matter what you use

{at least in my experience so far}.

This keeps it minimal which is VERY important 

when it comes time for the task of Sanding.

I cannot say anything about how long the blade lasts,

I haven't used it that long yet.

These are not replaceable blades.

The experience with this razor blade makes it easier to 

decide to try a higher end model that does come

with replaceables.

This was less than $15, and I've already gotten my money's worth out of it.

My FaVoRiTe tOOLs ~ Shape Stencils

These handy dandy Stencils!

 I mean it too.

It is absolutely HELL to try and work a project 

and not have the RIGHT SIZE of Whatever.

For I, it is usually the coordinating size of the Embeddment

to the Bezel I'm using.

You'd think it would be simple.

Oh so simple, not.

No matter what I did I could not get the correct sizing.

Tracing, gueSSing, making mocks;

My Resi~tation is always thrown off it's grOove Tracks

because of this persistant annoyance...

Not anymore.

I stolt borrowed these two Stencils from The Mother's Office.

Oh the simple joys.

No more crOoked lines and woBbLy edGes.

I can have LoVeLy CirCLes instead of eggs.

I can have Solid Squares instead of that, geometry thing..

I can get a cleaner, more precise line for 

PaPer and CLay cut outs.

 I could collect Circle Punches, but in the interest of price and space,

these Stencils are perfect for Me.

Constructing a Wooden Frame for Canvas

 It was so delightful and satisfying to finally learn to build 

my own canvas frame for painting.

No more paying for overpriced canvas's. 

I'm in need of a practice Canvas, 

and this pOor wOOd was going all Wonky,

plus I had the Saw out....

hey, Opportunity!

Let's make a Canvas.

While I was taking University classes, 

I would just take my wood to the shop,

and let them cut it for me.

With minimal tools, You can do it your Self.

1x2 WoOd Boards

Saw

Headless Nails

Corner Brackets w/ Screws

Drill

1/4' Quarter Round

Hammer

*****

First,

If you have access to a Table Saw, this is the Best.

You can bevel the long edges

and cut your end angles, all at once.

Plus, you don't have to worry about the QR.

Sweet.

*****

If not, a Miter saw ~ Electric or Hand,

will do.

I cut my straight lines and then my angles.

But you can also get two angles from one cut

{which will save a LOT of time with the Hand Miter}.

This site has a great section on the two Miter Saws:

http://emptyeasel.com/2006/12/29/how-to-make-your-own-stretched-canvases-for-painting/

*****

If using the QR for the eDge,

use the 1/4 Quarter Round

the same size as the 1x2,

attaching them with headless nails.

{also shown in above tutorial}

*****

I use the 1x2 pine boards.

Lay them out on the store floor to check for straightness.

Depending on how big your want your frame,

will depend on how many boards you need.

Don't forget to add the Support Beams 

for the inside of the frame to your measurements.

They are fairly inexpensive.

Gather your Supplies and begin.

Remember the golden rule: 

Measure. Measure again. 

Measure. 

Then cut.

 Once you cut all your WoOd,

start putting it together.

 Using Headless Nails, Corner Braces, and a Drill

I put the frame together.

WoOd Glue is optional.

This is always the worst part for me.
I am constantly struggling to get a good clean corner.
It really would BeHoOve you to invest in some Corner WoOd Clamps
{Harbor Freight has them for $4 each}
Since I'm using this as practice on the building and painting part,
I'm not going to get obnoxious about the corners.
There's nothing bitchier than having to take apart a complete Canvas
to shave off 1/4 inch from one pocky corner!. and yes, yes I have.

I will put some wood glue on the corner cuts after checking to fit,
and using one or two nails, tack the frame together.
After checking the fit again, if there are no adjustments,
I put in the Corner Braces with the Drill

When measuring for the Support Bars,
I add an extra 1/4 inch to the length, for a snugger fit.
It's much easier to shave a bit off,
than have the damn thing too short and wasted...and yes, yes I have.
Insert middle support boards and attach with nails or some smaller corner braces.
My canvas's are usually big so I do the braces for extra support.

Ta!Da!
You have a naked Canvas Frame.

Tomorrow, we shall clothe it.

mY fAVORITE tOOLs ~ Miter saw WITH Laser light!!

 This saw Rocks!

Since I was a Little Kelly
back in the day,
The Dad let me have
free reign of scraps.

I got my very first art scar at the tender

age of 6 give or take, when The Dad let

me take a crack at the balsa wood and X acto knife....

and I promptly sliced a 1 inch gash in my finger.

ahhh, the good old days....

Now I get to play with the Big Dog tools. 

Chook Santa gave to this to me couple of years ago, 

and between the Miter Saw and the Dremmel, I"m deadly. 

Watch out pine...

 My saw is equipped with Laser Light,
and believe Me, it is the Icing on the Cake.

Another feature that I like about this saw, is the ease of the swivel....
I shall call her Elvis.

Levels of Frustration rise quickly when time is wasted 

trying to get the damn thing to work.

*************

With any Power TooL, PLEASE use all Caution.  

I unplug EVERY time I have to adjust the Saw;

I unplug if I'm not going to use it for more than 5 or 10 minutes.

Its' Common Sense, especially with Children around.

Clean your equipment after every use!!!

Use Protective EyEwear and Dust Mask.

*************

Yes, anytime I get to play with the Big Dogs,

just color me a happy campster.

now where's that plug???

My FaVoRiTe tOOLs ~ Heat Gun

 My heat gun.

I don't know how I got along with out it.

It helps me out with those pesky resin bubbles

by gently busting them into oblivion...

 Occasionally, they will help to hurry along 

the drying process

of my trusty glues

I also have found a new use for my heat gun,

although I have not had a chance to try it:

Adhering my Herbs and Flowers to

my Magical Herbal candles.

I've on occasion,

used it to dry my hair.

nuff said.

mY fAVORITE tOOLs ~ Swivel Vise

My swivel vise.

its sturdy
its just the right size
it swivels~ duh!

Another Harbor Freight purchase;

and as You can tell,

it is well used.

Having multiple pieces in one is a serious space saver in small
studios/workshops such as Mine.

It's been especially helpful when trying to cut thin slices of Resin...
or open up the glued on Modge Podge cap.

 The anvil part is the right size for banging and burning smaller pieces or burning incense...

pair this with a set of Helping Hands {double clamp tool}

and no job is too large

or too small.

peace

mY fAVORITE tOOLs ~ The Dremel

This is for the serious studio hookers out there. 

The Mac~Daddy, the daddy Mac. 

The Chook man presented this to me several years ago 

after I got all giddified over the smaller demel.  Little did  I know.

This Dremel has more accessories than I know what to do with. 

But I Try!

 




This is the tool to have
for all my smaller projects.
Wood, resin, glass....it handles it all.

Different sets of shafts are needed for the different widths of the Dremel tips.

These tips are da bomb,
and work especially well with my Glass art.

Those thin drill bits are fantastic for making
attachment wells and openings
for jump rings and bails.

That steel wire one will skint you good too!

One huge ass carrying case that conveniently holds everything.

All these sanding bits

and a few buffer wheels.
Great for Wood
and rough sanding of Resin. 

Loads of cutting "wheels"; 

available in this really coarse type material

and a few metal wheels.
My only problem with these is the depth.
The connection to the shaft is dead center
of the cutting wheel.

And even more attachments and toys 
to keep that Dremel from getting lonely.

I still haven't figured out how to use that router thingy, 
but oh yes, I will. 

I've got plans for that one!