Miniature Tools

[Art Rafael]

Yes, John.  That's one of the right sort.  And plenty of pictures too. 
I couldn't buy it, but I think now that I can duplicate it in miniature.
I'll study it some more.  Thanks again.  Ralph

[john k]

The workings,  there are no springs in this jack, to make the lower pawl work, you insert your fingers in the oval hole in the frame, and move the pawl to contact the rack.  When finished, you can jack it back down, or flip the hook, that pivots on the handle side, and pull both pawls away at the same time. 

[couchspring]

Hi Art
I used my wife's phone for these and the last pic didn't
turn out. it had the pat no. on the handle.

[john k]

That is exactly what I was thinking about, and just like the one I had.  Does this one have the release wire running down the handle?

[couchspring]

no wire or springs for as long as I can remember but it came
with them. I can get better pics on the 3rd or 4th when I get back there
or maybe my brother can send some to me.

[Art Rafael]

Thanks, John and couchspring.  That is the type of jack that I have been looking for, and I think that the pictures you posted will give enough information to prompt me well.  That is - if I can do it at all.  It does have some complicated features to fabricate, and if I were to build several, I would resort to wax pattern building, which is much easier to cut and join.  But then more complex mold building and casting procedures would be required.  I do believe that a metal cutting and welding (silver soldering) process will be the way to proceed.  I'll keep you posted with success or lack of.

Ralph

[Art Rafael]

Thanks for all the help, guys.   I think that I can visualize the jack that I want now and have a good start cutting pieces and parts and soldering some together.   This is slow tedious work doing it all meticulously by hand, but I've got two of 'em, so I'll carry on and post as I progress.  Ralph

[Papaw]

We are fortunate to be able to follow along as you create these miniatures!

[OilyRascal]

We are fortunate to be able to follow along as you create these miniatures!

What he said! 

[Art Rafael]

Thanks, Gents.  This project really has been a challenge requiring so many soldering operations.  I thought that I had good skill at that, but have failed several times when preliminary joints came undone under the heat of near by soldering. Though I soldered the earlier joints with harder (higher melting temp) solder, subsequent solderings undid the earlier joints.  I realized that the joints that actually carried stress in the operation of the jack needed to be put together first with hard solder.  Then the lower load bearing joints were done with medium heat solder, etc.  Still, somehow I goofed and had to reassess order and temperature regulation.  I am really learning with this project that "sequencing" is a vital part of successful fabrication.  Some things just have to be done first and some second, etc.  Even yet, I'm running the risk of having the whole thing fall apart each time heat is applied, so I'll proceed carefully.





And some operations are just darn difficult to conduct by hand.





A mill sure would have come in handy, but good skill with jeweler's saws and files will eventually do the trick.














Thanks for coming along on this build.  It is encouraging.   Ralph

[oldtools]

WOW!! nice work!!

[Art Rafael]

Thanks, oldtools.  A little progress every day.





Closer up





Two major parts come together

[couchspring]

Looking good Art, do you have all of the parts drawn up?

[Art Rafael]

Hi, couchspring.  Thanks for  the help.  I'm well under way.  No; all the drawings that I have is what shows on the background graph paper.  For the rest I have mental images and / or make it up as I go along.  I typically ponder a piece for a long time to develop step by step procedures; then I find a starting point and build subsequent parts to fit and so on till all the pieces / parts come together to form the final unit.  Then I analyze for proper operation, feel, and aesthetic appearance, and usually have to tweek, adjust or remake some parts.  Ralph (aka Art)


 

[couchspring]

That's the way I've designed sofa frames, draw a little on the
puter/ think about it/dittle on scratch paper/go to work and draw
more on the puter/cut on the router/ponder some more etc.
I love your graph paper drawings.
What are you soldering on, a ceramic block?