Friday, December 29, 2017

The Epiphany of the Aglet Anvil

I finally found a company that makes up to 8E safety toe work boots.  I've been wearing them just about every day since I got them last February.  The laces finally gave way in late October, and I made a new set from some cheap paracord.

I just cut the cord and melted the ends, smashing it flat to get the cover and center fibers to melt together.  The resulting chisel tips were able to fit through the eyelets.  At least one end on each lace was able to fit through.  They were serviceable, but not very pretty.

After wearing them for a few days, I noticed the paracord kept on coming untied.  The cover was just two slippery for a conventional shoe lace knot.

Using some Google-fu, I found Ian's Shoelace Site.

Here he had a solution for slippery laces :  Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot. (*Twenty-nine and a half, and I've had to re-learn how to tie my shoes.)

While there and learning more and more about shoelaces, I saw a picture of an aglet anvil for crimping metal aglets.

It was then that inspiration struck on what to give my siblings for Christmas.

I usually try to give something that I can make, like fudge or humidity control media containers.  Last year I ran out of time and sent Amazon gift cards. 

With time running out for Christmas, I quickly assembled the materials.



The hammers came from Harbor Freight.  I picked them up on a Friday evening heading home from work.  I told the cashier that I was looking to get hammered this weekend.  She obliged me with a verbal rim shot.

The Boring Begins
Aglet Blanks

Assembling the first one.

Some finished anvils.

I was able to finish and ship in time for Christmas.  Now to get ready for Easter...I have some ideas on how to improve the striker...or maybe something completely different.


(If you got an aglet anvil kit from me, and would like some more aglets, let me know how long you like 'em. I still have 12 feet of copper tubing.)



*Twenty-nine and a half is the AOSHQ style guide suggestion for posting ages of pasty, middle aged bloggers.


1 comment:

  1. Genius! I love it. I especially think this is a must for avid hikers and hoodie donners. I am obsessed! Someone far south might be very appreciative of extra aglets if you could spare about 8 more?

    ReplyDelete