Seam Rippers!

[Charlie_W]

Here is a quick pic of a few seam rippers I have turned. All are acrylics with the exception on one made with colorwood. The colorwood has a CA finish. The components are from Woodcraft.
I like making these closed end and not using the clip or finial. The added length feels good in the hand.

 

[Dan Masshardt]

That finish just glows!

Looks like you found a shape you like.

 

[Charlie_W]

That finish just glows!

Looks like you found a shape you like.

Thanks!

Remember the conversation about buffing? ....try Barry Gross' system. Get his polish too. It is finer than another one I had.

I made one of this style for my Wonderful Wifey several years ago. Next week I am meeting the owner of a quilting store where they saw the original one I had made.
I am hoping she will want them all after she sees them!

 

[CrimsonKeel]

how are you holding them for the closed end effect?
I Love all these especially the lime green one.

 

[Acelectric]

Thoxe are gorgeous. Gives me some inspiration for the seam rippers I am about to make.

 

[Charlie_W]

how are you holding them for the closed end effect?
I Love all these especially the lime green one.

Didn't have a knock out rod the right size to use in my collet chuck. In the past, I had used a knock out rod in a drill chuck with tape wrapped around it to get the blank to fit tight. Sometimes, it wouldn't run true.

This time, now that I have the collet chucks, I went to Home Depot and bought a piece of 3/8" aluminum rod, cut it, chucked in the collet and turned the end down to fit the 8mm tube with a snug fit. The rod goes all the way in and bottoms out in the hole. The tail stock with a live center not only holds it true and gives support till ready to part off the end but also gives lateral pressure against the end of the rod to help keep the blank from slipping.
I did not leave a shoulder like a bushing at the open end as I wanted to be able to work the end right to the edge of the tube.
After turning, doing most of the sanding, I part it off and finish wet sanding and then use the polish.
I then remove, use a flat file to clean up the end at the tube and then buff away!
I will get a pic for you later.

 

[Charlie_W]

how are you holding them for the closed end effect?
I Love all these especially the lime green one.

Hi Ben, here is a pic.

 

[Charlie_W]

Here is another pic. I added more to the collection.
Yesterday, a quilting store bought 4 of them to start with!

 

[Charlie_W]

A close up pic.

 

[endacoz]

I too have hit a nice market selling seam rippers. Sold 23 in the last 2 weeks.

I like the woodcraft design on the chrome on yours. I have been using the PSI seam rippers.

What prices are you selling them for?

I'm selling single seam rippers for 20-24 and double seam rippers for 25-30 depending on material used.

I sold 10 seam rippers to a quilt shop for $16 a peice. My material cost is $9.05 before I turn them.

 

[endacoz]

a few pictures

 

[Charlie_W]

I too have hit a nice market selling seam rippers. Sold 23 in the last 2 weeks.

I like the woodcraft design on the chrome on yours. I have been using the PSI seam rippers.

What prices are you selling them for?

I'm selling single seam rippers for 20-24 and double seam rippers for 25-30 depending on material used.

I sold 10 seam rippers to a quilt shop for $16 a peice. My material cost is $9.05 before I turn them.[/QUOT

Ethan,
Very nice job on your seam rippers!
I had some older PSI seam ripper kits which used a metal sleeve inside the tube to hold the seam ripper in. Sometime they caused issues and scratched the metal finish. The Woodcraft ripper uses O-rings which slide right into the brass tube. Since I am making these closed end, I can put one back on the lathe if I needed to return or wet sand for some reason. Also, the ripper does not get scratched at all. The end of the brass needs to be chamfered and smooth.
I also sprayed a little silicone spray lube on a Q tip and rubbed a little in the tube so the o-rings would slide easier.

I have a $6.50 ripper kit and my acrylic blanks are between $4 to $6.00. Add in paint, glue, sanding and buffing materials and I am about at $13.00 before labor.
I would sell these for $30 to $35. I priced these to the quilt store at $26. She bought 4 and is pricing them at $52.00 each....we shall see if she orders more. I am glad they are not on consignment.
Another lady there wants a fountain pen for her husband!

 

[endacoz]

more rippers made

Nice oak burl