Silver Spoon Ring {Wordless Wednesday}

The spoon: sterling silver teaspoon that belonged to Alex's grandmother The D: for Davis, her maiden name, my great grandparent's last name, my late grandfather's first name The jeweler: my uncle Mike Tayse The spoon ring: Created Sunday, August 5 in Mike's one-man backyard studio in Painesville Ohio

Aside: Mike is an amazing Ohio certified K-12 art and reading teacher who needs a job. If you know of a school looking for a creative, qualified teacher, please send them to Mike Tayse's resume site.

How to Make a Titanium Scraper by Mike Tayse

While I am busy leading spring break camp at Franklin Park Conservatory (a few spots still available for next week, by the way), I am filling the blog with guest posts and reposts. Happy reading! This guide comes from my Uncle Mike, teacher, jeweler, handyman, and all around good guy. He writes a blog about his classroom activities and Mike Tayse Jewelry with more tutorials like the one below. I love the post he wrote about making a pendant with my little girl Lil.

Mike's teaching job in Cleveland may evaporate next year. If you have any leads on an elementary school position for a master's degree educated, certified teacher in the Dayton/Cincinnati/Columbus area, please contact one of us.

Making a Titanium Paint Scraper

This project was done around Christmas time in 2010.  In my family we draw names to do a random gift exchange and have to give/make gifts that are generally handmade and preferably use less than $10.00 worth of materials.  In the jewelry class I teach I've done a bit of simple knife making and this falls under that realm.  There is really no particular reason to make a titanium paint scraper other than the fact that the person I drew that year was Alex, who is an engineer, and I figured he would appreciate, no demand, a tool that utilized aero- space materials. Since Alex makes beer, I figured I'd also cut out a profile on the side of the scraper into the shape of a bottle opener- a handy addition to any tool.  In addition to the titanium blade I used/cut apart a largish walnut branch from my yard for the handle on Alex's scraper. You can see from the pictures I really made two scrapers The other one I used a piece of scrap Corian, a counter top material.  I rarely make just one thing at a time, let face it, the tools are out, might as well make at least two.

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This is a picture of the walnut log, recently pried out of the snow, with my friendly neighborhood rechargeable Milwaukee Sawzall, perched on top.

A close up of myself cutting apart the walnut branch into a couple of usable slabs destined to make a handle or two.  I really should have cut this in the summer and let the slab dry-age, plus it would have been easier than doing the deed in the snow.

A picture of the tool, material, and finished slab.

This is a picture of a sheet of 14 gauge titanium partially cut on my small band saw.  It's a portable band saw with a homemade plywood base screwed together to make it a stationary band saw.

Continue to Mike Tayse Jewelry to read about how to finish and assemble the scraper.

The Births of March Second

Here ye, here ye, today don't delay! It's the wonderful underful birth triple play.

Years past in march on the second day,

three babes were born, some of the best I say.

In nineteen oh four it was Theodor Geisel,

a rhymer of words, cat hat green eggs sisal,

a war correspondent, fun loving bambisel,

memorialized now in bronze at an easel.

Michael D Tayse arrived next in fifty five,

my favorite uncle, I'm glad he's alive.

An avid creator, on Converse he thrives.

Stop in, fresh doughnuts coming in five.

Mike's niece Sarah was born in eighty two,

A collector of pets, she's my sister too.

Send a pup or kitten, she'll train it to moo,

Her only fear is the canoe, boo hoo.

For these three dears I say, don't be late!

Jump the gate, clear your slate, you can ride on one skate,

Bring your mate, come in freight, please heed the date,

Whatever you do, celebrate!