One of my favorite parts of a project is the final assembly. It’s so gratifying when all the pieces come together and you see your vision, radiant and complete.
In this case, I somehow forgot that I needed to fit the wrap-ferrule to the front of the handle. I had everything all nicely covered in epoxy and … it wouldn’t go on. The temptation to grab a hammer and make it fit was extreme, but I know that sometimes you can crack silver or pop a braze that way. So I wiped everything down again and took it back to the shop. This is a significant mistake because having epoxy on the wood affects how the finish will be absorbed – you can’t use an oil finish anymore, you have to go with some kind of polyurethane. These little details are what separates a piece that looks good 6 years later from one that looks like garbage in a year.
Final fit and finish
The wok has to make one more trip to the shop. I noticed that (even before I put that big handle on it) it wants to fall toward the handle if it’s placed on a flat surface. What I think I am going to do is make a few small weld beads with the MIG, down near the bottom of the pan, so it’ll stand upright and won’t slide in the ring.
I’m happy with how this turned out. I’ve got another wingnut left; trying to decide if I should auction off another pimped out wok, or just drill a hole in the wingnut and auction that. Right now, I believe FTB management is setting up an independent donation-well, and I’ll hold off on more auctions until that is done.
What I think I am going to do is make a few small weld beads with the MIG, down near the bottom of the pan, so it’ll stand upright and won’t slide in the ring.
Excellent safety idea. I have a small (6 inch?) wok with too heavy a handle that I noticed does this when sitting in the ring.
I had it half-full of hot (200C) oil when it started to slide.
You might want to check the balance in the ring with it fairly full of water. I don’t recommend hot oil.
It’s lovely, but yes the safety beads are a good idea.
Ah! Now I understand the wingnut. All my woks have had shorter handles on both sides near the top edges. Somehow I was picturing the wingnut on the cover, not on a handle. Looks nice.
That looks great! I would totally bid on a pimped out wok with safety beads!
That looks very fancy
Selling the pimped out wok rather than the nut is probably worth the extra effort, if you can be bothered.
Holy cow that is gorgeous! I love the combo of wood and metal in the handle. What a great way to make meals… I would encourage you to make another and auction it off (or keep it and use it yourself!) That’s pretty cool.
I’ll definitely be making another, for reasons I don’t want to go into, right now. So it’ll wind up on auction, eventually.
I was thinking the other day that it’s unfortunate all the hippies bought up all the old silver spoons to make jewelry out of them, because I could do wrap ferrules out of spoon handles; just flat-grind the inner surface.