Ouija Planchette Belt Buckle From Rusty Knuckles

Ouija Planchette Belt Buckle From Rusty Knuckles

Working up new ideas for belt buckles is always on our work bench. Whether it be custom orders for folks world wide or new ideas that are being sketched out, we are here to continually revamp our approach to unique designs. This new spirit reader belt buckle can be ordered without a buckle back to be used on your Ouija board or can be made into a belt buckle. Head over to our Etsy store and have a look or send us an email about customizing them further with varying designs. We can't change the buckle template, but the top surface is open to interpretation.

Rusty Knuckles Etsy Store

Read into the deeper history of Ouija from the Smithsonian

Ouija Planchette Belt Buckle From Rusty Knuckles

Final Fantasy VII Buster Sword Build, Created By Michael Cthulu of Discovery's Big Giant Swords

Final Fantasy VII Buster Sword Build, Created By Michael Cthulu of Discovery's Big Giant Swords

If you haven't had a chance yet to watch the full builds on youtube or the show that was on Discovery channel, do yourself a favor and check out the work of Michael Cthulu. The swords seem decorative at first as they are all based around fantasy video games and lore, but they are well put together and go through a battery of tests to prove their worth. Quite a good watch and enjoy the quirkiness of the craftsman himself. 

Shane Martin Knows A Thing Or Two About Bending Metal

Shane Martin Knows A Thing Or Two About Bending Metal

One the greatest aspects of web searches or my new favorite, searching on instagram, is finding raw talent. There are a myriad of things in which we can find distractions in and one of the things I enjoy most is to see new artistic fabrication ideas in steel. What we think of as one secular object, being morphed into an entirely different object is just too damn cool. The patience to create these pieces along with the thought process speaks to the true imagination that might be lurking within any of us. Maybe it's time to take a page out of Shane Martin's playbook and work up some bolts into something cool. 

The Built Not Bought Dilemma In Regards To A True DIY Aesthetic

The Built Not Bought Dilemma In Regards To A True DIY Aesthetic

 
In a time when more individuals are looking to find a deeper sense of purpose within the products they own, buy or create, a new mantra has emerged entitled "Built Not Bought". For many, this is old hat, especially in the motorcycle community. But it might be new to some and that is where you get to enjoy a very interesting diatribe written up on the Salzmoto blog page. 

In our minds eye we fully understand the mission and purpose in the article and could not agree more. It has been amazing to see the #builtnotbought mantra permeate Instagram. Yet to truly live up to that catch phrase, it would mean that you indeed built something from absolute scratch. Very few humans on earth can do that, except for maybe John Britten or José Manuel Hermo Barreiro

Engineering A Minature 32 Cylinder Engine That Will Balance Pennies While Running, Is A True Work Of Modern Art

A perfectly balanced engine that pennies will not roll off of

To get something done fast, easy and cheap seems to be the modern approach to just about anything under the sun. Sadly, this lazy approach has become cancerous in so many areas, that finding anyone really putting a lot of care and effort into their work can be a daunting task. 

This is where a man by the name of José Manuel Hermo Barreiro walks into the picture and lets his work speak volumes. His work is a masters class in precision, patience and engineering and I can sit here for hours and watch this come to life over and over again. 

Tyrolean's Off To These Orchestral Craftsmen

Tyrolean's Off To These Orchestral Craftsmen

Sound by definition, are the vibrations that travel through the air or another medium and can be heard when they reach a person's or animal's ear. What constitutes those sounds and to what we hear and discern from them are all based upon our own preference. 


What makes one band better than another? What gives a guitar a certain warm tone? Many of these elements come into play with the materials that make up the instrument or the way an individual uses a certain skill set create the soundscape with the tool at hand. 

Tyrolean's off to these orchestral craftsmen who use a simple and effective sheet metal tool box to create a cacophony of sound that is pure rhythm and absolute utilitarian. Next time you blame your gear for acting up, maybe you should just get back to the basics.

Jimmy DiResta Creates 15 Custom Boxes For George Dickel Tennessee Whiskey

Jimmy DiResta Creates 15 Custom Boxes For George Dickel Tennessee Whiskey

The process videos that Jimmy DiResta creates over on his youtube page are eloquently spartan in their narrative and scope, but the magic comes from his technique. The blurring of sound and action coming together as saw blades buzz, sharpies squeak across a surface and the cacophony of a hammer tapping wood, nails and rivets into place feels like a a blue collar orchestra in all it's glory. In the spirit of Jimmy's videos let's drop the floral language and hit the nail on the head. These videos are just damn cool to watch and seeing a true craftsman at work is better than any damn scripted show could ever be. Three cheers to all tradesmen world wide.

Jesse James New Show, American Craftsman

Jesse James new online series - American Craftsman

Crafting anything with your own two hands is a more satisfying feeling than any drug could ever hope to achieve. The sense of satisfaction and purpose from creating anything are buried deep within our DNA as another form of survival and perpetuation of our human existence. It is so damn great to hear about and now view the show that several major networks passed on finally be aired even if its just online. Keep up the great work and can't wait for more.

The American Craftsman With Jesse James, Is Exactly What We Need On TV

Hopefully Jesse James can get his new tv series launched about the American Craftsman

The American Craftsman, brought to you by Jesse James is exactly what we need on TV. The older I get, the less and less shows I find any interest in watching unless there is something I can glean from them regarding a new skill set or knowledge about an area of interest that I have. The further we move forward as a culture, it seems the less and less we have of folks actually understanding how to use their hands as a valuable tool. This to me is a sad facet of how computers and the internet are supposed to make life easier. In all reality they are robbing all of us what is intrinsically part of our nature. We were born from evolution of exploring and being tactile in our approach to the world around us. Getting back to basics is more than just a mantra, it needs to become a way of life akin to the way exercising is great for the body and soul. Working with your hands, intellect and perfecting your craft is a life long journey.



Jesse James American Craftsman TV Series (Minute Intro) from Jesse James on Vimeo.

The Greasy Hand Preachers Documentary On Kickstarter

Shinya Kimura's workshop

"A biker crossing a beautiful landscape is an image that, for most, conveys the idea of freedom. However, the mechanic who builds and repairs this bike remains perceived as proletarian with dirty hands, a man who is without a doubt dominated in the economies of knowledge. How did this generalized devaluation of manual labour create the image of a man in his garage as a prisoner of his own intellectual and financial misery? We can often recall hearing this saying at school: “if you don’t work you’ll end up a mechanic”. As if our good report cards would forever prevent us from becoming poor and stupid.

However, recently, the media has taken a liking to this new wave of handymen who seem to have deliberately chosen their track: from vintage motorcycle customizers to bakers, the fact that they are good with their hands hasn’t been a cause for lack of respect. It’s actually quite the opposite.

Often it’s white-collar workers who no longer find meaning in the contemporary working world. They have rediscovered the virtues of “savoir-faire”, the pleasure of building something tangible by seizing control of a method of production fit for their level and, above all, the satisfaction of understanding what they are doing. So, while the contemporary working world renders the act of “working” obscure by relentlessly continuing to separate the conception from the carrying out and the doing from the thinking, these new craftsmen see in the art of mechanics a way of finding a grip on reality. And, if we look at it closely we can see that there’s a lot more to it than it seems.

Amongst these bikers/craftsmen are those who walk the path to becoming a sensei. They seek perfection in their art without any financial rationality. Their lives are dedicated to this priesthood of seeking perfection; and of going against most things by achieving a certain generosity in their work. Others are, above all, interested in travelling on the machines they’ve created, giving a soul to their motorcycles by redesigning them to fit their own images. But all of them, as craftsmen, gain an honest satisfaction from both the actual physical and practical side and the marvel of the person for whom the machine is meant to be for.

Even if they all demonstrate the same kind of enthusiasm, they remain individualistic in their approach to work. Building a motorcycle is an affirmation of your personality. But, at some point, comes the need to share. Where it be on a road-trip, at a race or at a festival, there is always a sense of community, a “band of brothers”, that involves the enjoyment of being together. There is, in this crude world of mechanics and bikers, a need and desire that reveals an original outlook on work and pleasure, on the group and the individual, on the present and the past. Like surfers, bikers are dedicated to an authentic lifestyle and pure freedom while remaining in connection with the beauty of nature. It makes you wonder if they don’t have in their garage all the tools to build a happy life."


Help them out on Kickstarter

The Clockwork Perfection Of An Automaton By Pierre Jaquet-Droz

Mechanical devices never fail to intrigue our imagination. When these devices are created using trompe l'oeil, the viewer can become engaged in a vastly different way. Not only are you as the viewer witnessing a device that operates for a specific function, but several of the characteristics that define it's visage are also part of the design.

Automaton's are a pre-cursor to the modern computer as they were designed to be highly programmable and they also function in the visual realm. Have a look below at a few of the amazing automaton's that were created by talented engineers whose curiosity and artistic flair merged together for timeless entertainment.

View a few more posts about Automaton's:

Demon Automaton from Milan

Tipu's Tiger crafted in India

Singing Bird Pistols


More on Pierre Jacquet-Droz from Wikipedia

(1721–1790) was a Swiss-born watchmaker of the late eighteenth century. He lived in Paris, London, and Geneva, where he designed and built animated dolls, or automata, to help his firm sell watches and mechanical birds.

Constructed between 1768 and 1774 by Pierre Jaquet-Droz, his son Henri-Louis (1752-1791), and Jean-Frédéric Leschot (1746-1824) were The Writer (made of 6000 pieces), The Musician (2500 pieces), and The Draughtsman (2000 pieces).

His astonishing mechanisms fascinated the kings and emperors of Europe, China, India, and Japan.

Some consider these devices to be the oldest examples of the computer. The Writer has an input device to set tabs that form a programmable memory, 40 cams that represents the read-only program, and a quill pen for output. The work of Pierre Jaquet-Droz predates that of Charles Babbage by decades. The Jaquet-Droz automata

The automata of Jaquet-Droz are also considered to be some of the finest examples of human mechanical problem solving. Three particularly complex and still functional dolls, now known as the Jaquet-Droz automata, are housed at the art and history museum in Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

He once constructed a clock which was capable of the following surprising movements: There were seen on it a negro, a dog, and a shepherd; when the clock struck, the shepherd played six tunes on his flute, and the dog approached and fawned upon him. This clock was exhibited to the King of Spain, who was delighted with it. "The gentleness of my dog," said Droz, "is his least merit; if your Majesty touch one of the apples, which you see in the shepherd's basket, you will admire the fidelity of this animal." The King took an apple, and the dog flew at his hand, and barked so loud, that the King's dog, which was in the room, began also to bark; at this the Courtiers, not doubting that it was an affair of witchcraft, hastily left the room, crossing themselves as they went out. The minister of Marine was the only one that ventured to stay. The king having desired him to ask the negro what o'clock it was, the minister obeyed, but he obtained no reply. Droz then observed, that the negro had not yet learned Spanish. 

Pierre Jaquet-Droz

Back of automaton by Pierre Jaquet-Droz showing the complex cam system

Back of automaton by Pierre Jaquet-Droz

Complex detail photo of movable type used in automaton by Pierre Jacquet-Droz

Rusty Knuckles Belt Loops Featured On Craftsman Slideshow

The biggest honor I think one can ever receive is when folks dig your work and talk on it. We have been producing our signature belt loops for about six months now. They are a clean style and made to function perfectly, plain and simple. It is a great honor to know they are featured on the Craftsman Tools Flickr slide show on Craftsman.com. Sears Craftsman tools and toolboxes have been a staple item with us, since getting our first three drawer tool box as a kid filled with sockets, a few ratchets and some other hand tools from the bearded one up north. Stoked beyond belief, is probably the best way we can sum things up.

Got a tool junkie in your family? Order them some new tools

Rusty Knuckles Belt Loops designed for Rough Design Co. featured on Craftsman.com photo page

Can You Really Ride A Cardboard Bicycle?

Sustainable materials are all around us. Now, it is just a matter of reformulating their original purpose and repurpose these materials into new and challenging solutions. Who woulda thunk that cardboard could be crafted into functional bicycle or that wood could be potentially stronger than kevlar or carbon fiber?

Necessity is the mother of invention and hearing about stories such as a bike being built from cardboard keeps us awake at night. We know of the amazing building properties within bamboo, concrete, hemp and an array of other materials, so now we are seeking out a plethora of interesting stories such as this.

Neil Fallon sings it best in the Clutch song You Can't Stop Progress

Link to short film on Vimeo

Izhar cardboard bike project from Giora Kariv on Vimeo.

Questions and answers, original post and info here

What was the biggest challenge in working with cardboard?

The biggest challenge of the Cardboard Bike project was to learn and develop a whole new know how of cardboard. Our challenge was to take the cardboard material, and pass it through a set of treatments, to replace the raw materials of plastic, wood or metal.

What did you learn from the experience?

What start up nation learned: That Nothing is impossible if you have patience and you are persistent.

How far along is the development of the Cardboard Bikes?

The development started 3 years ago. Since there was no know how with regards to the cardboard material, the first 2 years were devoted to learning the properties and behavior of the material; from all aspects of engineering tools, strength calculations and analysis and establishment of the IP that protects all of this know how. The "packaging box on wheels" as seen in our video was the third prototype, the Alfa commercial model (with the letter A on the chassis), is the first operational model that is made of a 100% recycled materials (with the electric motor as an add-on option).

Is it patented?

All know how, working procedures and production techniques are fully patent protected worldwide by Israel’s leading patent Reinhold-Cohen.

When will the company get to the point where it is manufacturing?

The Company is now in the process of raising funds that will bring the company within 6 months of investment to the point in which we will have a full and detailed manufacturing plan for the first 2 platforms. The commercial/Urban bikes (BOM – $9, 9 KG), and the kids/youth bike (BOM - $5, 3.5 KG). These models will be made of almost 100% recycled materials and will have the option of adding an electric motor. At this stage we have only the prototype for the commercial bikes as shown on the video.

How do you have the knowledge to take it from here to the market?

The inventor, Mr. Izhar Gafni, is a mechanical engineer and a multi-disciplinary systems developer. Izhar developed the recycled cardboard bikes combining his knowledge in 2 main areas: being an expert in building and designing custom made carbon fiber bikes for high end riders and his experience as a production line expert. Izhar is known for his former developments of the Pomegranate Peeling Machine (for which he has won a prize by the American Association of Engineers), a Smart Robot for sewing shoes, a Disabled Climbing Machine and more.We believe we have the knowledge and the ability to reach our goals and that nothing is impossible.

What is your vision?

Cardboard Technologies is all about making a better world for us to live in by two main principals: creating the ability to produce almost any daily product from at least 95% recycled materials and building auto production lines, with a simple post production assembly that will be performed by people with difficulties or disabilities.

Unlimited and incentivized raw materials and incentivized manpower will help us create working places in every location which we will find a local partner at. Our vision is also to bring the factories back from China (starting with the green ones).

What is your business model, and what will be the end user cost of your bikes?

The principals of our vision above, will allow our partners and manufactures to receive almost all of the of the production costs of our products back from governmental and global incentives, making our products available to almost any person in any philanthropic or commercial business model.

We can add any design or logo to the bike chassis for example and with by adding a simple electric motor, making it the most classical urban clean transportation.

This will allow our bikes to be given away as a commercial transportation or as a gift for Christmas from your Mayor.

Another important attribute of our bikes, is that they need no adjustment or maintenance, making them available directly to consumer at low price, and not through the regular marketing chains that will bring it to an end cost of X5 post assembly."

Who Is Going To Build Our Infrastructure?

Using the new tools of the internet enjoys us to no end, but in the process as a nation of builders, are we losing our sense of how to do things by hand? The do it yourself mantra is one that we hope this nation never loses. As jobs and career paths move in different directions using new technology, losing hard fought skill sets and basic mechanical knowledge could be our ultimate downfall. A nation that cannot build and sustain its infrastructure is losing all footing for its base to grow.

Mark Cuban recently expressed his thoughts about the next big debacle of financial crisis in defaulting student loans, check it out here. What really got us thinking on this more than anything is not about how many folks go to college but what are they learning and how it relates to a solid career path. 

When plying in a trade, you are taught all the facets of that particular job and in the actual job setting. Every day is continual growth as you learn more about the job at hand and your pay is directly tethered to your experience and drive to succeed. College on the other hand is teaching you how to learn about learning. There is inherently nothing wrong with that equation as knowledge is power. But, on the other hand, many more individuals are seeking out college instead of a pliable trade in which a solid future could be more within their grasp.

Have a look at these graphics below, from some years back talking on the decline and rise of jobs. Even though the information is a bit older the trend is easy to see. We are losing much of our skilled workforce to high technology, which shifts as often and regular as the tide. Does this mean that instantaneously all perspective students will graduate into a white collar work force, not at all. What bothers us the most, from looking at the thirty thousand foot view, is the overall loss of skilled craftsmen on a large scale.

Chart is from The Atlantic article on job growth and decline - http://tinyurl.com/7f358qm

Chart is from The Atlantic article on job growth and decline - http://tinyurl.com/7f358qm

With all that in mind, take a read on the article and videos below about Ford Motor Company and the innovative TechShop in Detroit. Employees are allowed to access the facilities whenever they want and to work on their own projects. Perks are even given out to potential windfall projects that could be used on new vehicles. Needless to say, that is an amazing idea on how to help innovate for the future while keeping hands on skills at the ready, bravo to Ford!

Link to original article on Wired.com

CNC router carving the Ford logo at TechShop. © Ford Motor Company

"Before he invented the assembly line, Henry Ford built his first prototype on a workbench in a shed. More than a century later, his company has partnered with TechShop, Detroit, the 21st-century equivalent of that shed, with a bold program to ignite innovation in the company.

Ford employees who invent something that the company ends up patenting receive a free three-month membership to TechShop, where they can flex their creative muscles. Project sponsor Bill Coughlin, CEO of Ford Global Technologies, has high hopes for the partnership. He expects it to supply Ford with innovative new features for its fleet of automobiles and also to act as a catalyst for Detroit’s economic recovery, generating new businesses and jobs.


It’s easy to see why the program is appealing to Ford’s designers and engineers. The Detroit TechShop is an amazing 17,000 square feet, stocked with $750,000 worth of laser cutters, 3-D printers, CNC machine tools, and staffed with “Dream Consultants” whose job it is to help you fabricate pretty much anything.



Ford employees are free to use the space day or night, for projects related to their work or personal projects. So far, employees have used the tools to prototype new features for car doors and for more fanciful pursuits like one employee’s “Whirlygig,” a plastic sculpture made with a laser cutter that spins in the wind and reflects light in interesting ways.

Ribbon-cutting ceremonies are a little different at TechShop © Ford Motor Company

Since launching the program, patent disclosures are up an impressive 30 percent, but Coughlin thinks there are more long-term organizational benefits. Disruptive ideas, for example, are more likely to be taken seriously.

“An idea on paper is easy to kill, but when you create a prototype of it and a supervisor can see it and experience it, it’s harder to say no,” Coughlin says. “Once someone starts thinking creatively it’s hard to turn that off. People stop seeing problems and start seeing opportunities.”


The partnership also promises to forge deeper relationships between Ford, its suppliers, and the maker community. How? The automaker recently asked a manufacturer of an environmentally friendly material to bring samples to TechShop to see what members could make with it.


Coughlin is a lawyer by training, But decided to temporarily trade in legal briefs for a bandsaw. He posed a simple question to himself: “Could I do better than Ikea?” After taking a couple of classes, he successfully designed a flat-pack end table and worked on another prototype using a ShopBot (an industrial-strength CNC cutter). He won’t comment on whether it is IKEA-worthy, but does say that it is at least “dimensionally stable.”

Water Jet Cutters - The world's most dangerous squirt gun © Ford Motor Company

Coughlin’s group at Ford is responsible for filing patents for the company and monetizing the thousands of patents it already has. Open source hardware advocates aren’t big fans of patents, viewing them as impediments to innovation. But Coughlin points out that many Ford patents are for the greater good — and shared with the industry at large — like the pernicious beep your car produces when you don’t buckle your seat belt. The profits his group generates helps fund new programs like the partnership with TechShop.

Still, the program raises some thorny legal issues for inventors. If an engineer designs something in his free time and funds it on Kickstarter, say, would Ford own the patent?


Coughlin says there is a process for employees to clear after-hours projects, and in all but one case, they’ve been free to pursue their ideas without fear that Ford might claim ownership. And employees who create patentable projects related to the auto industry receive a portion of revenues generated from the patent.

Soon to be quaint. A Milling machine operated by a human. © Ford Motor Company

Will the TechShop partnership help to beef up the dashboard tech too? At Wired’s Disruptive by Design Conference, Ford CEO Alan Mullaly pointed out that Ford would be foolish to install cutting-edge electronics in the dash, as they’d be inmediately obsolete — consumer electronics advance much more quickly than the automotive industry. Instead, drivers can just pop in the latest iPhone and leverage all of Apple’s innovations.


At every level, Ford seems to realize that the days where customers could “choose any color as long as it’s black” are long over. The future of innovation lies in the hands of customers and employees who identify automotive design problems. Giving those employees passes to a hackerspace is a giant step toward finding solutions."

All photos courtesy of Ford Motor Co.

ANTiSEEN and Hellbound Glory Keychains Now Shipping Worldwide

Keeping busy is something we tend to do quite well. The project board is forever being updated and the sketchbook is full of ideas for new things to create. Does this make us work long hours into the night with early morning rises? Why hells yes and we wouldn't have it any other way.

Huge shout out over to Mike over at TWT Motorcycle Parts for helping us get our new line of metal accessories off the ground. Without his help none of this would be possible. Thanks to all who have been placing orders. We have been severely backed up by the amount of orders coming in and products continue to sell out. If you are still waiting on a shipment, trust us, its coming. Thanks again to everyone for the continued support of all that is Rusty Knuckles and to all of the bands that we work with, we truly appreciate it.

Coming later this summer - Belts, Leather Tool Bags and more for your bike and even more band designs in the works.

Buy the ANTiSEEN - Fuck All Yall - Keychain

Buy the Hellbound Glory - Keychain

Aluminum pieces are etched and ready for paint

Hellbound Glory keychains are painted, prepped and sanded down ready for keyrings

One of our many work benches which has now become the leather shop and manufacturing area for all of our accessories that are made up of leather or metal.

Hands down the meanest keychain made in the South East for the Boys From Brutalsville - ANTiSEEN

For all you Scumbag Country fans, Support Real Country Music artists such as Hellbound Glory

Jeff Clayton of ANTiSEEN says it best, Fuck All Yall

Don't forget about our Rusty Knuckles 12 Gauge Belt Loops as they have been a huge seller, you can buy them within our store, same as all of our other great products.

Rusty Knuckles 12 Gauge Belt Loop Keychain or for your Wallet Chain

Henry Studley Toolbox, Work Of Genius

Keeping your tools organized is absolute zen. I cannot walk in my shop and not know where every tool is or what cabinet section within which it is located. Now is our tidiness on the level of Henry Studley? I think not, but the design of his toolbox and the contents within it speak of the precision to the instruments which he built. Just from the tool locations and setup it is easy to imagine how well his piano's were put together. 

We have spoken multiple times on how we are losing craftsmen and the art of having a trade and it is a sad state in our mind. Whatever hobby or craft that you have to which you find an affinity, push it to another level. Whether it be leather craft, welding, mechanic or even a musician, take it to another level and just keep pushing. The more things become just a commodity, lets challenge that reality and help to turn the tide.

Link to original article on FineWoodworking.com

Custom toolbox created by piano builder Henry Studley

The history of H.O. Studley and his tool chest
 
Massachusetts piano maker Henry Studley built his magnificent tool chest over the course of a 30-year career at the Poole Piano Company. The chest lived on the wall near his workbench, and he worked on it regularly, making changes and adding new tools as he acquired them. Using ebony, mother-of-pearl, ivory, rosewood, and mahogany -- all materials used in the manufacture of pianos -- he refined the chest to the point that now, more than 80 years after his death, it remains in a class of its own.

Packing more tools per square foot than seems physically possible, piano maker Henry Studley's unrivaled tool chest also manages to be beautiful in the process. The chest stands as perhaps the most exquisite example of 19th-century tool-chest craftsmanship.

Considering how many tools it holds, the famous chest is really quite small; when closed, it is just 9 in. deep, 39 in. high, and just more than 18 in. wide. Yet it houses so many tools -- some 300 -- so densely packed that three strong men strain to lift it.

For every tool, Studley fashioned a holder to keep it in place and to showcase it. Miniature wrenches, handmade saws, and some still unidentified piano-making tools each have intricate inlaid holders. Tiny clasps rotate out of the way so a tool can be removed. In places the clearances are so tight that the tools nearly touch. The chest, which hangs on ledgers secured to a wall, folds closed like a book. And as the chest is closed, tools protruding from the left side nestle into spaces between tools on the right side. Amazingly, despite being so densely packed, the tools are all easily accessible.

Custom calipers by H.O. Studley

Studley was well into his 80s when he retired from the piano company. Before he died in 1925, Studley gave the tool chest to a friend. That man's grandson, Peter Hardwick, loaned the chest to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. in the late 1980s and later sold it to a private collector in the Midwest. That owner again sold the tool chest to another private collector, where it now resides.

Almost lost among the tools but no longer obscure to history, the name of the maker, H. O. Studley, and his Massachusetts hometown of Quincy are engraved on small plates just above his brace. Scraps of ebony, ivory, rosewood, and mother-of-pearl left over from his work as a piano maker gave Studley raw material for his tool chest and many of the tools it contains.

Henry Studley's custom toolbox with all the tools taken out

Need A Portable Stereo Or Amp, Try An Old ToolBox

Do yourself a favor and dig into sites such as MakeZine.com if you enjoy actually creating things from scratch or recycling old materials. Many ideas for cool projects are on there and most of all, many of the ideas are well explained. Whether it be toys, tech or mechanized mayhem, surely there is a topic you can enjoy and dive into.

Link over to MakeZine.com

Craftsman Toolbox converted into portable boombox

Liberty Tool Company - Providing Sustainable Tools

Are you just a wee bit nuts for tools? Yep, we thought so. Hell, you might not be reading this or even perusing such a site as ours, for that matter, without enjoying a finely tuned instrument. Old tools or ones that have been used and lasted for many years have tales to tell and are generally a good indication, that their purpose is still being served. 

It is easy to go into a place such as Harbor Freight and pick up cheap tools and for many of us that might be our only option, which is totally fine. If we had the extra coin, that beautiful Mac Tool Truck would be pulling up to our shop weekly, but it has yet to come to fruition. We ask this though, why not seek out other places to find decent tools and reuse what is already in existence. Nothing against the major tool manufacturers and we value their presence. Used bins, flea markets and more importantly businesses such as Liberty Tool Company want to help the artisans and craftsmen in all of us with their continual rotating supply stash. There are a plethora of places to find used tools and if you are a bit handy, why not fix them up and keep them in good working order. Peep the video about Liberty Tool and help to keep small businesses viable. America and every country in the world has small independent businesses along with large corporations, but who can you actually call when you need help or advice on how to fix something? We are betting the small independent shops so help to support them and make friends. Never know who might just have the info you need to fix that random item.

So santa, we are happily waiting on a few items to arrive anytime you please. Doesn't have to be at the end of December, we are fine with all the other eleven months. Here is our short list in no certain order as we could use them for the Buell and Chevy 3600 builds:

• Bridgeport Milling Machine

• TIG welder

• Spot welder

• Deep well impact sockets, metric and standard

• sheet metal cutting shear

• Klein Phillips head screw driver with wire nut tool top (we didn't lose it chief, but we will make amends to keep the family squabble from getting out of hand!)

All images courtesy of the Liberty Tool Company

Set of 4 Antique Pliers: Kraeuter, Red Devil, OTC

Antique Tomahawk / Francisca Style Throwing Hatchet 13" Made In Italy

Vintage box wrenches

Vintage B.C. Ames Co. 1/1000" Dial Indicator

1876 Woodman's Patent Ornate Dial Indicator

L.S. Starrett No. 279 Machinist's Radius Gauge

Antique Goodell Pratt RPM Speed Indicator

Otto Carter - Master Engraver

We are huge fans of anything created by hand. The mass homogenization of all that is our everyday existence makes it even harder to find true craftsman anymore. This makes me think of my disdain for certain style springer front ends that just don't have the soul of an OEM style Harley or Indian. Valiant effort maybe but its just that lack of adding all the details that make those original ones so great and the rest seem subpar. Yes, we get it, time is money but I think pushing through that barrier and truly creating something new and in your own vision is what separates the wheat from the chaff. Same goes for anything you create, make it your own and not just a rehashed vision taken from someone else.

Thinking along those lines its easy to see how such a talent as Otto Carter stands out amongst the crowd. Good ol' Trent over at BikerMetric.com posted a photo of one of his projects and it made my jaw drop. Not only was it a motorcycle tank but it was also cast in 1/4 inch aluminum to which he could engrave a masterpiece. The work is beyond good and knowing that some proud owner will be filling this baby up with octane and roaring down the highway almost brings a tear to my eye.

Otto Carter - Master Engraver