Build log · Phase 8, Guns

A quoin handle from a satay skewer

10 January 2020 · How-to · Problem and fix

No idea whether anyone will find this useful, but since it cost me a few attempts, here is a way to make the handle for the quoin. Initially I made them from a square walnut strip in a small lathe. That went wrong quite often and therefore took a lot of time. Then it occurred to me that a satay skewer might well work too. Now I put a satay skewer in a small drill and go over it with small turning tools and sandpaper until the thing is in shape. Then treat it with walnut stain from Kolderstok, and there you go. Stephan confirmed that satay skewers and toothpicks turn well.

The turned handle on the quoin of a gun
The turned handle on the quoin of a gun
The handle close up, roughly 4 x 1.7 mm
The handle close up, roughly 4 x 1.7 mm

The photos are not very forgiving, but since it is really tiny in reality it looks quite fine. Pingu57 asked how big it actually is, a centimetre? About 4 x 1.7 mm. Not exactly huge, then.

Hans Groenenberg thought the quoin alone was already a nice detail, but that the handle makes it sublime, and asked how many I have to make. There are 28 guns on the gun deck, of which ten are visible from above. So I am making ten. That is not too bad.