Vertical Router Table

As I've mentioned before I really like having dedicated stations in my workshop for different operations. It means I don't have to spend time setting each machine. 

A while ago I build a small router table that I use just for rounding over, this gets used multiple times a week and makes life that much easier.

One job I end up doing is trying to smooth over the tops of my scoop handles. I make a range of different scoops and making them all in batches when I do the ends of the handles it's hard on my hands to hold them while sanding them. I thought a jig on the router table might work well. Then I thought that another router table just for this job would be better. 

Small routers aren't much money (about £100), so I got one, a No Volt Release Switch and a new plate to fit in the table. It didn't take too long to knock up a router table for it. 

This one is mounted vertically to save on bench space, and I'm already loving it. In essence it's an electric pencil sharpener. You drop the dowel in, turn it around and the end gets rounded over evenly. Really simple but makes a boring task a little quicker and the end result even better. 

I know some think it's dedicant to have multiples of the same tool, but with what I do time is money, so the more I save the more likely I am to make a living. 

I made a full video on how I made it up above, so give it a watch and let me know what you think. 

Thinning Fruit

There is a phrase about how you should get your enemy's to thin your fruit.

But mine are busy, so I have to do my own. 

It's been interesting this year seeing a new area become heavily fruitful for the first time. When I used to graft a few apple trees (something I need to get back into) I put some trees down in the coppice.

This year they've cropped really well. In fact they've cropped just too well. I waited for the June drop, but it just never happened, so last week I took to knocking some fruit off the trees. It always feels wrong, but I know it's for the greater good. 

I love being able to have different areas for fruit growing, all with different microclimates and quirks. These seem to have faired much better this year with being a bit of open light and air, unlike the orchard which is tucked away a little bit. 

Lovely to see these trees to start coming into their own. Hopefully this should help fill the pantry for winter if they get to ripen. 

Who else as thinned fruit this year?

Dehydrated Blackcurrants

One of my absolute favourite preserved items lately has been the super intensely favoured dried blackcurrants. 

These have the unique blackcurrant flavour but condensed down. We use them each year in baking now, they've become a store cupboard ingredient rather than using sultanas or raisins. 

They take an age to dry though. Probably nearly two days in the dehydrator. The video above shows the process I went through. Cleaning them is often the hardest bit, but I discovered I could winnow them once dry, using an old bouncy castle fan I own. It worked well and blew out all the bits we didn't really want to store. 

Do you dehydrate blackcurrants? 

What's your favourite store cupboard ingredient you make yourself?

 

A Few New Tools

As I go deeper and deeper into making small batches of my products I'm always looking for ways to either speed up the process or to make it easier on myself. 

One thing I spend a lot of time doing is sanding. I tend to use two orbital sanders for this and in all honesty it can be a little tough on my hands. I'm either holding the sander or holding the wood. 

So I had a think about how I could improve this process. I knew a bench mounted disc sander would be the right answer, as well as a bobbin sander for all the curves I cut on my work. 

First Hive Inspection With Both Daughters

Last weekend we had a break in the weather and decided to quickly get outside and do an inspection on our two hives. 

I was keen to make sure the bees had settled into each hive from the two swarms we caught last year. 

The girls were really keen to come and help (the boy not so much). So they donned their suits and came with me. 

Have a watch of the video to see how they get on. 

It was a really lovely thing to share with them. Both very enthusiastic and really keen to learn. 

Adjustable Sloe/Berry Scoop

So today I came across someone who had a carbon copy of my gooseberry scoop on Instagram. That I'm not too worried about, it was going to happen and they're not selling them. The bit that annoyed me was the fact they denied that it was a copy, saying they saw something on holiday last year, but could show me no pictures. I only asked for  tag in the video so people could find me. I understand that people will make their own, I'm fine with it, but say where you got the idea rather than passing it off as your own. 

There are also 2 3D printed designs out there that very closely resemble my design. They have given the plans away for free, so they don't really benefit from it much.

I'm tempted to make a video showing how to make mine, as people that will, will do it anyway, maybe making the design have a creative commons licence, so I can still build them but morally others shouldn't do it for profit. Not sure, willing to take advice. I doubt a patent is worth it, and it'll probably only cause me headaches and paperwork in the long run. 

Anyway, on that note I thought I'd share the prototype for an adjustable berry scoop, with sloes in mind really. By sharing it here I know people can copy it, but at least the original idea is mine. I had considered it when making the other scoops, but it takes longer to build and is heavier.

Young Beekeeper - Collecting Swarms With Middlest

 So last week I collected two swarms on my own. Well I say on my own, but I actually had some help...

 

I had a phone call in the middle of the day from Lesley who got me my first swarm (which unfortunately didn't stick around). She said there was another swarm in the church yard, she was away so I should get it! 

Getting My First Bees

 So the last few weeks have been a bit wild for me. I don't think I've actually sat down in the last three weeks! 

My business has been really crazy, which is awesome. I've been trying to make as much as I can to make sure no one is disappointed. The other thing that's been filling my time is a bit of beekeeping. Not just from the training course every week, but I've also got some of my own bees now! 

So with a knock at the door it all properly began for me! 

The video explains it better than I'll probably write it so give it a watch. Hopefully makes for some good viewing!

Let me know what you think.