Bridge City Tools Chopstick Master V2

[fletty]

Now first of all, before the howls of derision start, YES I know that this is an indulgence and that I can buy chopsticks for a few cents each but....... THIS IS FUN!
I bought mine a week ago from Major Woodworking Equipment. It is BEAUTIFULLY packaged and presented and well thought out.

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In addition to the jig and block plane you get a honing jig, pencil(!), A square of sandpaper(!), chopstick oil, 6 pairs of blanks and 10 chopstick bags. I have decided not to use the supplied consumables as this could enhance any future resale value.
Basically the main jig holds the blank at the required angle/s and provides a guide for the block plane to taper the 4 sides of the blank about its centre line and then further taper the lower half by shaping the ‘pointy end’ to an octagon.
Mine is a V2 and the difference only appears to be the method of making the pyramid on the ‘blunt end’. The V1 used a depth stop and tiny saw blade wheras the V2 uses a clamp set into the end frame of the jig and cuts the pyramid using the block plane...
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.... and does a lovely job of it!
My GRAND PLAN is to use off cuts (from most probably my box work), trim them to 7 x 7 x 270, throw them into a box and convert them to chopsticks in batches?
So far I have made some from wenge and will soon convert some Huon pine off cuts as well.
My daughter will probably package them in little ‘velvet’ bags, include a descriptive note about the exotic timber and add them to her market range 🙂
A price tag of $380 confirms its indulgent and quirky status ......but it sure is FUN!

fletty

[elanjacobs]

A price tag of $380 confirms its indulgent and quirky status ......

Just having the Bridge City name confirms that

[fletty]

Just having the Bridge City name confirms that

[fletty]

PS, there is (at least) one more practical use for the chopstick master. By stopping before planing the ‘octagon at the pointy end’ stage, it makes brilliant square tapered bore pins for Arts and Crafts style furniture. I’m going to get a drift punch made that should stop unwanted rotation and won’t damage the pyramid as it is driven in.

fletty

[ian]

As you say Allan, an indulgence.

But next time you have a GTG, you could serve noodles and require each forumite to make their own chop sticks before they eat.

[FenceFurniture]

...require each forumite to make their own chop sticks before they eat.

Why stop there? Let 'em make the noodles too!

[ian]

Why stop there? Let 'em make the noodles too!

you put saw dust and shavings in your noodles ???




seriously, having watch a Japanese chef make noodles, it's a pretty skilled task

[fletty]

Why stop there? Let 'em make the noodles too!

....and I could call it the "use ya' own noodle GTG" ?

[ian]

....and I could call it the "use ya' own noodle GTG" ?

[Mr Brush]

OK, since one person has purchased this kit (and fletty at that), that's the entire Australian market for handmade chopsticks covered..... No need for anyone else to get one.

Honestly, when I got the Bridge City email announcing this "exciting new product" some time ago, I emailed them back to ask if this was some kind of late April Fool's prank (like the products Veritas announce around then). They were most upset

I confess to owning a Bridge City KM-1 Kerfmaker, which does get some use in the shed. The rest of the time it is on display in a glass case in the pool room...

Interesting that a few outlets here are reselling Bridge City stuff now. When I dealt with them years ago I had to use their "pre-order, pay half up front, we'll make it when we feel like it, pay the rest when it's ready to ship" business model. All the Bridge City stuff Major Woodworking had on display at the Canberra WWW show already had a liberal coating of drool on it by the time I got there.

[Chris Parks]

Fletty now needs to buy the saw so myself and FF can work out if it is worth the dollars or not.

[rwbuild]

Don't knock the saw, the way electricity prices are going it may well be the answer

[FenceFurniture]

Fletty now needs to buy the saw so myself and FF can work out if it is worth the dollars or not.

Yeah that is a seriously nice looking bit of kit........still nagging at me......

[fletty]

Fletty now needs to buy the saw so myself and FF can work out if it is worth the dollars or not.

Who? Me? The one who has spent a large part of the last 12 months improving and sound proofing his dust collection system?

Mind you, a few days after routering off half a finger, I did download all of the brochures. Like all Bridge City fare, the Chopstick Master and Jointmaker are aimed at niche markets and those 2 are aimed at those who have removed fingers but would rather have kept them to eat Chinese food with tailor made chop sticks?

fletty

[truckjohn]

No need to justify it... It looks like a seriously cool and fun little tool. No doubt the plane is useful on it's own.

Let's face it... All of us here have spent money on worse and more useless junk - though perhaps less at a time... If I added up the money and time I spent on old tools that turned out to be duds... And don't even talk about the money I have spent on cheap chisels - and trying to reharden them..... And then there's the boat... Well - bridge city would have several more sales...