Woodworking in a Machineshop

I have an addiction. There, I've admitted it. Whenever I happen to be in a hardware store, electronics part store or any other store really that sells precision screwdrivers I have to will myself not to buy a set. I don't know what it is about precision screwdriver sets. I guess it's because people who use precision screwdrivers on a daily basis do incredibly clever things. And, by association I'd like to think that because I own a set of precision screwdrivers I'm the sort of chap that could do incredibly clever things. Not that that has happened yet to my knowledge.

I was given a multi-bit precision screwdriver when I started work here. Cute little set except for the cheesy plastic handle. Since I hardly ever use it (just proves I hardly ever do clever things) I figured I could probably do something nicer than what the factory had done with the handle. So, grabbing my trusty branch that I set to dry a couple of years ago I got to work and this is the end product.

Here's another one to show the wood off a bit.

While I was at it, and because the lathe was full of wood dust I was going to have to clean up anyway, I went ahead and made this shifter knob for my new Jeep.

For those wondering what kind of varnish I'm using it's called Plexitone. Well, that's what I call it anyway. It's just bits of plexiglas (perspex for you non north americans) dissolved in acetone. Lay it on thick, wait for the acetone to flash off and polish like there was no tomorrow and you get a plastic encapsulated piece of wood.