Not sure exactly what you're getting at, but I'm thinking that if we're on the same page here, it would not. If you wanted the base to be a different shape, you could just leave more wood on the outside- the important part would just be getting the inside to fit properly.
Good to know- and less work than getting the forge started and heating a piece of metal.
On the subject of nichrome wire- I bought my wife a razortip woodburner a while back (she's into pyrography) and we were looking for a cheap way to dig up some wire for tips- Razortip wanted a mint for them.
While it wasn't all that cheap, I messed up our (clothes) dryer a while back and wrecked the heating element. Since I was the dumb SOB that broke it in the first place, I paid a repairman to come and fix it up. After he left, I saw that he had left the old element sitting on my table saw. I untwisted the element, and cut it into 12" pieces- there's a lot of nichrome wire in one of those things.
Sure enough, it works great on the razortip, and I bet it'd be perfect for cutting glass with the method described above, and might even make a good foam cutter, if a guy needed one.
Just a heads-up, in case any of you have an electric dryer go out on you.
I had thought of that, but I'd be concerned that something like the roses we have next to the house would cut right through a plastic bag when the thorns touch it. The wrench dip is pretty thick, and seems like it would be at least mostly self-healing if it was punctured.
snip
I used to dampen a piece of string with kerosene, tie it around a bottle, and light it. When it was burning well I dunked it in a bucket of water and it would pop right into. Probably should have worn safety glasses, but had never heard of them on the farm in the dark ages.
"Prometheus" wrote: Just a heads-up, in case any of you have an electric dryer go out on you. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ If you're lucky, you will have to wait a long time for your drier to die. Check the thrift stores for toasters, small convection ovens, electric space heaters, etc.
The kerosene was the part I forgot!! I used to use lighter fluid, but I wasn't on the farm. Didn't wear glasses either - lack of safety instruction & sense.
"Gerald Ross" wrote: (clip) When it was burning well I dunked it in a bucket of water and it would pop right into. (clip) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ If you use a heated wire, I am sure you won't want to drop it into a bucket of water. I have done it by applying one drop of water to the heated glass. I am sure that would also work with the kerosene/string method.
One drop won't douse the flame.
Sure, if you're lucky, and don't do something stupid. In my case, a bit of wire from one of my wife's pieces of clothing got stuck and I couldn't see it, so I decided to remove what looked like an access panel in the back of the drum to see if the bearings had something in them (see how much I know about dryers already?)
If you know anything about dryers, it's probably pretty obvious what happened- the drum dropped, and I hadn't cut off the power, so it fried the element. Yeah, stupid, I know...
How about some sort of hot plastic spray, while the lathe is running?
John
Prometheus wrote:
"Prometheus" wrote: (clip) Yeah, stupid, I know... ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ It's NOT stupid to make the same mistake for the first time.
It's NOT stupid if you figure out what happened, admit that you made a mistake, and treat it as a learning experience.
It's NOT stupid to turn a lemon into lemonade. You did get an ample suply of heater wire for your pyrography pen.
Was it an underwire bra? It's okay to use words like that here. We're adults.
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