Showcase 1

Dave (Trunk) Dowding - March 2023 - A Cheap Holder to keep Smart Keys In

I keep my 2018 Skoda Karoq on the drive away from the house. I have been concerned about the cheap technology that can be purchased on the web to amplify the signal given off from a smart key inside the house. Once the car keys signal has been amplified the thieves can pinch the car because it is a smart key the drivers door can be opened and starting is carried out electronically. My method is not original but a variation on a tin can.
Method. (Good practice for parallel side hollow form with top) Empty a Schweppes Lemonade can and remove the top. Put car keys in can Walk to the car and catch hold of the door handle. With the keys in the can the car should stay locked. Open the car in the normal way and put the keys back in the can outside of the car. Sit in the car. With the keys in the can my car states "ignition key not detected". I have therefore assumed that the signal given off by the key is blocked by the can. I turned up a hollow form to fit the can. The bottom piece fits as far up as where the can goes concave. I then made a top in a contrasting piece of wood, and glued it all together. I then rechecked that everything worked and the car would not open. I do not guarantee that it will work but my understanding of the Faraday principle is that conductive material can stop a signal.

Dave (Trunk) Dowding - March 2023 - Sanding Arbour for Safe Sanding inside Hollow Forms

In Mark Sanger’s book "Turning Hollow forms" on pages 65 and 66 it shows a Ball End arbour for safely sanding inside hollow forms. I have never seen a commercial version, however that doesn't mean they don't exist. Material I used Wood from the odd box suitable straight grained for a handle and cone. 40mm diam Thermoset ball knob tapped M10F 20mm diam Thermoset ball knob tapped M8F Heavy duty self adhesive velcro M10 or M8 threaded rod to suit ball end M10 or M8 washer and nut Balls and Velcro were sourced on the internet. Method Machine handle to suit the user and bore hole either M10 or M8. Machine cone making sure that the radius inside the cone which holds the abrasive against the Velcro is a few millimeters bigger than the ball. The other end is the same size as the washer used Glue threaded rod into handle using 5 minute epoxy. When set, fit the nut,washer, cone and ball in that order. Stick on Velcro around the cone. Fit abrasive as required. Things I would do different. In Mark's book he has a true cone, mine is stepped. It does not get in the way but does make it wider and bulky. Mark used a longer rod in Aluminium by the look of it. I lengthen mine if required by screwing on a coupler and another piece of rod. I used heavy duty Velcro which does not form easily.On Marks arbour looks like light duty Velcro. I made 20mm and 40mm ball end arbours. A 30mm ball end may have been more suitable for all forms. I am happy with my arbours because it keeps my fingers a long way away from rotating machinery. The creases in the abrasive paper do flatten out and do not mark the wood Dave Dowding - (A valued member of the Kennet and Avon Woodturners) - March 2023

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