tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89472409374542348882024-03-14T04:08:01.062-07:00Might As Well Dance"While we're here, We Might As Well Dance!"BarbShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07150568874944098670noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947240937454234888.post-52067047273760621062016-06-18T08:15:00.000-07:002016-06-18T11:23:23.565-07:00A Structural Prototype Last week I received a beautiful box after one year of collaborating on a design for the storage of my wood samples collection. Each species is saved in a standard 6" x 3" x 1/2" size, unless what I had of an exotic was narrower, in which case I used what I had. I've commissioned friend and local wood artist <a href="https://autumndoucet.wordpress.com/">Autumn Doucet</a> (click on her name to see her work) to make the box. We brainstormed ideas, which changed throughout the year, and she settled on the idea of a carved exterior in Cuban Mahogany.<br />
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In order to work out the construction details, she decided to "throw together" a mock-up prototype of common poplar, to see what could be done within my size parameters of 18" x 12" x 8". I had had visions of a secret compartment at the back and she envisioned a slanted bottom on it to raise the wood samples at an angle for viewing. Both those ideas went out the window with the prototype. If i had let her increase the size of the overall box, we could have done that, but space limitations on where the box was to sit meant we had to stick with the original sizing.<br />
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When she called to tell me I could come and pick up the prototype, I expected a plain, utilitarian box in unappealing poplar. What I didn't know was, she used the opportunity with the prototype to practice her finishing skills on that secondary wood, and succeeded in making it a lovely resemblance of the Cuban Mahogany she would use later on the real storage box.<br />
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Autumn decided from this learning experience, to make changes for the sake of her carving design, and the lid will open differently than this 'recipe box' style. For now, I really love this thing to keep my current collection in. She used full blind, mitered dovetails for the construction, mainly for strength to hold the weight, and a full liner. It closes with a light 'swish' of air.<br />
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We decided the partitioned dividers can be lowered to show off more of the wood pieces, and can be made thinner so the interior pockets can reach from edge to edge, keeping to the dimensions necessary. <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Photo by Autumn Doucet</span><br />
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I am so Very pleased, even with this prototype, and am excited about what she has planned for the real box. When we were hashing out ideas for this project, with me trying to keep costs down and not abuse her good will in sharing her work with me, she finally looked me in the eye and said, "I've heard what you can afford. Now, what is it you Really want?" I blurted out, "What I Want is an Autumn Box!" And that is what I'm going to receive, apparently, because Autumn can't do anything half-way. Our collaborative design is now worlds away from what I originally intended, but when you work with an artist, you come to realize that just 'setting them loose' to do what they want is the best route to follow. She's champing at the bit and full of enthusiasm for this project, and I dropped the reins months ago. This box project is definitely an ongoing bright spot in my day.<br />
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<br />BarbShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07150568874944098670noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947240937454234888.post-41640292939156899202016-05-23T08:31:00.000-07:002016-05-23T08:31:01.951-07:00AbandonmentDear Readers ~ It's been far too long since I updated my blog, and I think that is a common malady among many woodworking bloggers. I'm going to be 67 this fall, and I've entered the stage of life where I've become a care-giver to one parent and one life partner, so it's been a double-whammy of a few years with life changes keeping me out of the shop, with no end currently in sight. <br />
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I love woodworking, though, and I love writing, so here is a non-essential update. <br />
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My big dream of a hand tool cabinet has been put off. Many days I go out to the shop and dust, clean and de-rust any metal, or sit on my shop stool and ponder exactly how the someday-cabinet will fill my space behind the little work bench. <br />
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And, I've been an 'arm-chair' woodworker, buying a few new tools from catalogs, and the hinges for the upcoming doors of the cabinet. The Lee Valley Small Plow Plane was my Mothers Day present, and is one sweet little plane that I dearly love. <br />
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The big news in my woodworking life is that I've commissioned an 'Autumn Box,' which means my friend, artist Autumn Doucet, has agreed to make a large carved mahogany box to contain my growing collection of wood samples, and is working hard on the design we've collaborated on. I'm very excited about this project, and it will truly be a treasure box once she's finished it, which may take many months. This is an older photo of the samples to be stored; I now have over 50 samples of various species waiting for a new home. <br />
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I'm sorry to those who were waiting on me to build my large cabinet, but my life is overflowing with lemons for these few years. It's a tough row to hoe, watching those you love descend into dementia. Our way of dying in this country is a long, slow process sometimes, with those going through it just wishing they could lay down on the tracks and be done with it. We don't always get what we want, so the next best thing is to buck up and deal with it. I have a new appreciation, though, for those heading into 'the golden years,' I'll tell you that. <br />
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In the meantime, I'll try to keep up some posting on this blog, and keep taking care of my tools until I can get the time to really put myself into the shop and get back to doing what I love best! <br />
~BarbS<br />
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<br />BarbShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07150568874944098670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947240937454234888.post-25453504595280495452014-05-10T10:20:00.000-07:002014-10-06T11:04:12.011-07:00Mini Lathe Extended Bed I'm still working on shop projects, as well as gifts and retail products. Busy, busy. Wanting to get back to work on my plan for a tall hand tool cabinet, I was not keen on spending a lot of time fabricating a longer lathe stand for last winter's purchase of a bed extension for my Jet Mini lathe.<br />
I'd purchased wide lumber, 20" maple at 8/4 thick. I wanted an S-curve, girdled looking leg on the outsides, but my bandsaw only has a 16" throat, so-o-o I was going to have to split the 20" width, resaw it and cut the arcs, then joint and dowel the two pieces back together. The idea put me off a bit. I had drawn up a fine design, but could foresee two weeks working with it to accomplish what I needed. <br />
Along the way I discovered buyer's reviews of the metal-legged Penn State Industries lathe stand. It is the only one I've found that is adjustable in length. Previous buyers' main complaint seemed to be that the directions were incomprehensible....big surprise. They said it is 'rock steady once assembled,' and 'just be sure to align all the square holes on the outside, round holes on the inside,' and it's easy-peasy. With that guidance, my new lathe stand was assembled in one afternoon. Sixty square carriage bolts later, with wood added, I had a very nice, solid stand for the extension bed, much more room to lay down the gouges I'm currently working with, and storage underneath. It's a Win Win!<br />
Here are two pics, one of the the Jet Mini as it is now, and one of the right side of my garage, with the Woodfast Short Bed bowl lathe on the right, the Jet mini on the left, and the grinder within easy reach of both. Now to find some showy woods for Long French Rolling Pins, comin' up!<br />
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And, in the Fall of 2014, finally, the added storage drawer, side-hung, below the lathe table. This organizes all my pen bushings and specific drill bits. Lots of room, and everything handy!<br />
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BarbShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07150568874944098670noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947240937454234888.post-25537729758229059592014-03-18T13:20:00.001-07:002014-10-14T08:28:53.038-07:00Breaking Down Slabs Winter had put the kabosh on my efforts at woodworking, as it had for many people without good shop heating, but now I'm started again, both on the hand tool cabinet and a new mini-lathe stand to accomodate a bed extension. With weight added. With drawers. With storage bins. My designs tend to evolve.<br />
As for the tool cabinet: first step is to break down all these big slabs into manageable pieces I can run through the band saw or table saw, planer and jointer (which is a only 6".) I'm using a Black and Decker Skill Saw about 35 years old, but it works fine if I make two depth cuts instead of just one. It's crucial to have this heavy wood well supported on both sides of the cut, so I've jury-rigged two sets of saw horses under the workpiece, and I'm good to go. I wondered today why there is a term for 'man-handling' big heavy things, and no term for 'woman handling?' I think I do pretty well for a weekend warrior nearly sixty-five years old. I don't know if I'll be able to move such things when I'm seventy, so I'd better get this project done! Infirmity may sneak up on me when I'm not looking.<br />
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What's done is laying on the back assembly table to acclimate before final milling...rails and stiles for the bottom unit of the cabinet. The upper, small pieces of Elm were coated with BLO to see what the overall color would be. I plan to cut mortises and tenons, then dry-assemble the bottom unit frame work before cutting and gluing the panel pieces to go inside them. That way, I won't have to depend so heavily on my fractional mathematical skills to judge cutting the pieces. The cabinet does not faithfully follow Megan Fitzpatrick's Step-Back Cupboard in PW, (see previous post: <a href="http://barbsid.blogspot.com/2013/08/thinking-through-cabinet-design.html">Megan's Step-Back</a>) because it will sit behind my small work bench, and space is a bit different than she built for, so I can't use her cutting dimensions from the magazine. Nothing like making more problems for myself! But, it will be the way I want it, which is what matters.<br />
I'm cutting wood for two projects at once here, so I'll try to keep them separated and make clear what I'm working on at the moment. I consider the lathe stand a necessity to get out of the way, and the floor-standing cabinet a labor of love. So, for right now, I'm busy working and oh-so-thankful for Spring!BarbShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07150568874944098670noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947240937454234888.post-92221982018410965712013-11-22T10:17:00.000-08:002013-11-23T20:10:18.483-08:00Welcome Home, Used Tools I'm busy with Christmas production, both family gifts and website offerings, but the plans<br />
for a new hand tool cabinet are always teasing at my brain. (See my plan for it here: <br />
<a href="http://barbsid.blogspot.com/2013/08/thinking-through-cabinet-design.html">Thinking Through a Cabinet Design</a>)<br />
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My hand tool collection has some gaps I am trying to fill, before I have to lay out the<br />
storage plan for the upper cabinet. I have only one narrow mortise chisel, and am lacking<br />
some good screw drivers, since my 'batch bought' foreign series of them broke at the tips<br />
and caused many bad words for doing so. <br />
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Now I've discovered e-bid, and a seller in the UK with many more resources for 'boot sales'<br />
than I have here in my local area, which is a dry desert for flea markets or hand tool sales.<br />
His older tools are of heavier steel, nothing is stamped into shape, and he cleans and sharpens everything before putting it on the market. <br />
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These arrived by 'Royal Mail,' flown all the way across the Atlantic Ocean and the<br />
continental United States and right into my hands. They'll start a new life now:<br />
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It has been quite cold here recently, with lows into the high teens and sunny, daily highs<br />
just at freezing temperatures, so these have had a chance to sit in my living room for a<br />
few days before finding a position out in the garage. I've had a chance to handle them,<br />
examine them, and think about them. The blades are somewhat pitted, scarred and marked.<br />
The handles are worn and could do with a good sanding, because some of the 'patina'<br />
slips over into 'grime' and comes off on the hand. The hooped end of the mortise chisel is<br />
dug into and decayed like it's been hit with a tack hammer instead of a mallet... what's with<br />
that? What was someone hitting it with? The wood extends above the metal hoop though,<br />
so it can be sanded down and improved. It's very good, thick steel and I'm pleased with it.<br />
Even with shipping, I paid under $20 for it, and a new 3/4" mortise chisel goes for well<br />
above that. The little calipers are a treat...weighty in the hand and with a good screw<br />
mechanism that will hold a setting without moving. The veining chisel is 1/8" wide.<br />
I've sold all my carving tools because someone else would get much more use from them<br />
than I had been over the years, and now I'm looking to replace a few of them I've missed.<br />
The Archimedes drill was quite inexpensive, and was purchased just for fun.<br />
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So, Welcome to America, old used tools. I don't know what projects you've been a part<br />
of, or whose hands have held you, but you are now destined for new endeavors in a new<br />
land. You'll gradually, with use and time, become 'mine,' and I won't think much about it<br />
any more. Then someday, when I die and my kids have a big (choke!) yard sale, you'll<br />
move on to someone else's hands, and continue your craft. I'm not going to mark my<br />
name on you, or brand you with initials, but I am going to ask a lot of you...<br />
Performance, Integrity, Reliance.<br />
I think you'll do just fine here. Welcome home.<br />
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<br />BarbShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07150568874944098670noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947240937454234888.post-24901378001074540402013-10-07T13:02:00.000-07:002013-10-07T20:02:39.890-07:00Buying The Wood: Elegant Elm This weekend I made the full commitment to doing the large hand tool cabinet. I had gone back and forth for weeks, trying to decide what to use for wood. It looked like my budget was only going to handle a hardwood frame inset with plywood panels, but even in figuring that cost (alder faced plywood at $179 per panel, plus shipping) and alder lumber at $4 bf, it was looking more expensive than the value of the final product, at least for what I wanted.<br />
Then I contacted a man I'd met through WoodBarter.com. He lives 150 miles away, but has shipped me some very nice maple and walnut in flat rate boxes. I asked about his walnut stash, and he replied, "Yes, but right now I have all this Elm sitting." He showed me photos of a desk he'd made from it, in a warm, golden-oiled beautiful finish, and he had lots of it, in 8/4 thickness and everything from 8" wide to 20" wide.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-usaGPSeirx8/UlMQN1p1UjI/AAAAAAAACSM/ozudfUUhTYU/s1600/YewTruck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-usaGPSeirx8/UlMQN1p1UjI/AAAAAAAACSM/ozudfUUhTYU/s400/YewTruck.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">We drove over to his place, and </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">here's what I brought home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I need to add a correction here. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I'd originally blogged this wood </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">as Yew but my seller corrected </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">me, it is not Yew, but ELM. I </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">knew that, but was so tired after unloading this pickup, I messed </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">up on the unmarked wood and </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">had Yew on the brain. Sorry for</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">the confusion. It has been </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">corrected throughout this post. </span><br />
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And here it is unloaded into the garage:<br />
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All Elm, 7' long boards, 14"w down to 8" wide.<br />
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And several large slabs, all Elm except for the center one, third from the left, which is 8/4 silver maple, six feet long.<br />
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Now that I have it unloaded, I spent some time just sitting on my shop stool staring at it all! It's so beautiful it makes my heart swell. Silly me.<br />
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Now, I'm just hoping I can get the lower base cabinet of the hand tool cabinet completed before the cold sets in and I can't trust any glue-ups. By then I'll have to wait for spring. In the meantime, I have grandkids' presents to make, Christmas projects to stock for websites, and a min-lathe stand to build so I can DO the Christmas projects. I'm hoping those duties will go quickly. This Elm is going to make an amazing large, floor-standing cabinet, and I am quite excited about building it! BarbShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07150568874944098670noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947240937454234888.post-92209486320511946862013-08-18T11:28:00.000-07:002013-08-18T11:28:51.961-07:00Thinking Through A Cabinet Design Sometimes I think I need to have my own private 'think tank.' It takes many days of cogitation to come up with a plan, and then it is usually altered in a quirky 'light bulb' moment of inspiration that changes everything.<br />
I revamped my entire garage/shop in order to make room for a large, free standing hand tool cabinet, now in the planning stage. My internal debate on construction materials is ongoing, but the design is now pretty much decided. I had looked at hundreds of examples, being very impressed by Andy Rae's tour de force cabinet in The Toolbox Book by Jim Tolpin (Taunton Press.) But my heart kept going back to a wonderful piece of furniture made by Megan Fitzpatrick for Popular Woodworking's February issue in 2009:<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Sketch Up model by Bruce Beatty, PW website)</span><br />
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This is a Shaker-style, step-back cupboard over seven feet tall, and forty-four inches wide. The upper unit is 12" deep, and the lower cupboard is 16" deep; plenty of room for a wide assortment of tools, if I just reconfigure the inside shelving. It sounds so simple, doesn't it? I've almost decided on cherry ply for the panels and cherry boards for the casework, but that's not a final decision. American Cherry is extremely expensive here in Eastern WA. I could also go with walnut. I'm undecided on this option, because I tend to use free space by hanging things on outside surfaces of my storage units, and defacing a fine piece of furniture like this would seem like a sacrilege. If it was nice plywood, I'd not feel so bad about it.<br />
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In deciding the interior structure, I had to list what I intend to store, and how to allow for extra room for new purchases. I'm short on good hand saws, so some kind of saw till will be included. I own lots of useful marking and measuring tools, so the doors must display storage, whether that be deep, box-like doors or frame and panel with fitted hooks and holders, I don't yet know. And I have a large bow saw to hang, with another smaller scrolling bow saw, and a long panel gauge. And a big 'Commander mallet.' <br />
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A main consideration is having the upper doors high enough off the floor to swing clear of my workbench, which is currently 35" high. If and when I build a nicer one, it will have to be at least 36" high, as I am six feet tall and everything in my shop feels sized for midgets some days. The Shaker Cupboard has a base cabinet at 34", so raising it a little won't alter the proportions too much to look bad. It is crucial the upper doors swing free of the bench, so I've no choice there. The 44" width puts it squarely over the end of the bench, and I'm going to have to be careful to place the cabinet so the lower doors can swing open to at least 90º without hitting the bench or the newly-added garage storage shelf I've found so useful. Space constraints.<br />
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I set to work designing the interior of the base cabinet, changing the feet to some form of club foot for strength, and adding cubbies for smaller hand-held power tools like a trim router, an angled screw driver used for sanding pads, and a random orbit sander. The saber saw proved bigger than I'd thought, with the blade sticking out ready to use, so I had to make one space larger than the others. Then I added in a shelf. Organizing the upper cabinet is going to be an exercise in tool layout, putting cardboard down on a table and actually tracing around tools to see how packed I can get everything in. That's an exercise for later, but as I thought about it, considering an angled, lift-up shelf for planes, etc., it occurred to me I was packing the upper space and leaving no room in this cabinet for one thing I really wanted: a nice presentation box for my growing collection of wood samples. This photo is an old one; I am now up to fifty 3x6" sample pieces of different species of wood:<br />
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With that realization, the interior space is radically changed. This was my 'light bulb' moment.<br />
When I make the box, it will sit front and center upon opening the top doors. So. That means a bank of small drawers on each side of it, filling out the 40" interior space, with tools arranged above them.<br />
Somehow, I keep cutting into the upper storage space for these large hand tools, but I'll just have to do the best I can. There are priorities, after all, and an artsy burl box of wood samples is just too good an idea to pass up.<br />
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So here is my initial design for the overall cabinet, drawn out on my 'Bucket Boss' graph paper, which is old as the hills, I think. Feel free to let me know what you think of it, and to make any suggestions before I truly get started. The base cabinet, of course, is first. Wood selection has me stymied right now, but I just have to make a decision and go with it, I think. The upper unit will probably take me all winter, as it is much more complicated than the base. The height will be changed by adding crown molding as Megan did on the Shaker cupboard, but that depends on whether elves come in and lower the height of my garage rafters when it's all done. We'll see.<br />
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All comments are very welcome!<br />
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<br />BarbShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07150568874944098670noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947240937454234888.post-79780332884137390052013-08-09T14:12:00.000-07:002013-09-30T16:01:03.719-07:00Simple Storage Shelf I am amazed at how much a simple shelf unit can hold. My new one is basic open shelving, attached to the garage rafters. It is only 34" long and 14" deep, but those four shelves are holding all sorts of odds and ends I had scattered around the shop, and sit nicely in the space the Radial Arm Saw used to occupy. The two long boxes of veneers are safely tucked away on top, and I now have a place for almost everything, and everything easily accessible in its place. <br />
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Here is the 'other' side of the garage during the makeover, piled with scrap bins and at least one box full of garbage to go out the door. There will probably be two. Or three.<br />
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Even the top of the table saw was piled with 'extras' needing a home.<br />
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And here is the new storage unit with much of that now housed where I can get to it easily, with room to spare.<br />
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The unit is open for a 36" stretch below the last blue shelf, where I
will move a kitchen-garbage-style container to hold long wood cutoffs,
and a low barrel-type for shorts I don't want to throw away. There is more sorting to do, but my bench top is finally clear, the TS is open for use, and I can finally get to making some catch-up products I needed to do.<br />
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The design for the hand tool cabinet will begin earnestly, now, on paper. Wood selection is still a consideration, with prices to be checked. I can't wait to get started!<br />
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<br />BarbShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07150568874944098670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947240937454234888.post-15094008055937055782013-08-07T11:59:00.000-07:002013-08-07T11:59:46.370-07:00Rearranging Machinery At last, I got the back bench torn out and the space cleaned up, and have moved three machines into it. I was a bit worried about access to that upper back wall, but there's plenty of room to reach around the machines and get to my sanding supplies shelf and any tools I need. This arrangement is going to give me quite a bit more space, even after I build a simple storage unit for the overflow, and then the hand tool cabinet. Putting the router table cabinet on casters was something I should have done a long time ago! It's perfect.<br />
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There is quite a bit more minor organizing to do, but now I can sit at night and play with designing the main part of this endeavor, the 7' tall, 40" wide floor standing hand tool cabinet. That will be the Fun part!BarbShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07150568874944098670noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947240937454234888.post-4144315225267944402013-08-05T16:25:00.002-07:002013-08-05T17:04:57.808-07:00Cleaning the Shop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is where I began in my new shop renovation. The intention is to eliminate the old garage bench along the back wall and move machinery in that space (see previous post.) First I cleared the cluttered bench top, then sorted through all the stored wood salvage shoved underneath for twenty years. I have one huge box of garbage to discard (can't believe I even saved pieces of cheap wafer board and chipboard back then) and two more tall garbage bins to sort through later...lots of hardwood pieces I knew I'd need someday for jigs and such. Now there is way too much. <br />
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I'm keeping four feet of the bench on the right, because it is space for my hollow chisel mortiser and some plastic drawer bins for hardware. Today I put up brackets elsewhere in the garage to hold odds and ends boards and some 2x4 material I'll save. There were surprises in cleaning this out. Between two long cardboard boxes of veneer, lo and behold I came across a thick veneer sheet of maple burl a new acquaintance had given me about 15 years ago. There isn't enough for my new hand tool cabinet door fronts, but I'll find something to use it on! And there was my beech coffin plane, too, pictured up on the workbench.<br />
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I also got the new casters on the bottom of the router table cabinet. Now when I'm ready, I can just put all the machinery in place and fill in back wall floor space with whatever fits for storage.<br />
The pegboard will stay until I get the hand tool cabinet built, when much of that will be fitted to the doors and shelves inside the new cabinet. I'll have to see what remains, but I'm hoping I can fabricate a wall storage system for clamps behind the machinery. I have clamps hung all over the place, and it is definitely not convenient. <br />
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Tomorrow I'll be setting up a new table for the belt/disk sander so that I can move the huge machinist's vise onto its space across the room, clearing all things from that old bench top, and then I'll get into de-constructing it. I don't yet know what I'll do with the scrap from the torn apart work bench. So after that, more lumber storage to set up. Then, some retail product to make, and it will be on to designing the new hand tool cabinet. I'm all ready fiddling with it on paper, and quite excited! I'm even making room in the center of it, for a nice box for my wood samples collection.<br />
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More later, when I have the bench gone and the machinery in place. <br />
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<br />BarbShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07150568874944098670noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947240937454234888.post-45838512025272124052013-08-02T10:45:00.000-07:002013-08-02T10:58:49.904-07:00Big Plans in the offingI've not recently had any blog-worthy projects to cover here, but now I've decided on another Shop Overhaul that may be of interest to others. As I've added machinery in the past, the shop had to be rearranged for simple fitting in, but this idea is a new one. Or rather, a one-year-old one. I decided I want a large hand tool cabinet instead of the existing open shelving, something as big as Andy Rae's beautiful cabinet on the cover of the Toolbox Book. I may, however, have to be more practical in the materials selected, and do without the inlays and stringing decoration. We'll see. Here is what I have now:<br />
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Two recent acquisitions helped push this decision: I bought my first antique 'collector' tool off the web, a lovely rosewood panel marking gauge, 20 inches long. I fell in love with this thing.<br />
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And a massive slugger of a 'Commander' mallet, sent to me on a trade with another woodworker. It is a wonderful piece made of mulberry and walnut, and both these tools are too large for my little open cabinet shelves.<br />
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So, first step: I combed through books and magazines looking for what would work for the space I had to fit in my shop, and what I could alter to pack in as many hand tools as I could for efficiency. There are hundreds of designs of floor-standing tool cabinets available. However, I kept coming back to a strikingly simple piece of furniture, a Shaker style step-back cabinet that Megan Fitzpatrick had made for Popular Woodworking, February 2009, as an entertainment center. It's a 16-1/2" deep base cabinet, with a four-inch step back to a 12" deep top cabinet, the whole being 88" tall. I need a tall cabinet, and it struck my fancy as perfect for my space.<br />
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Here is a photo of one-half of my garage/workshop as it stands now. It is pretty crowded. I need the hand tool cabinet behind the small bench on the left, where the radial arm saw is taking up too much space. I use it for a lot of cross-cutting, and it has to go somewhere else.<br />
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The RAS protrudes 40" from the back, mainly because a hooded garbage can conveniently catches all the dust and cut offs behind it. At the back of the room, behind the floor fan, is 24" worth of wood and scrap storage under an old garage workbench covered with clutter. Pegboard hangs on the back wall above it. To move things around and fit in a large floor cabinet, I plan to eliminate the back wall bench and move into its place the RAS, a floor standing drill press not in this photo, and a router table cabinet I'll have to put on casters so it remains functional. Parking it at the back wall would prevent passing longer wood pieces across its table surface unless I can roll it forward, so that is easily fixable with casters.<br />
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The wood stored under that back garage bench is mostly scrap, but a couple of bins of hardwood, a selection of dowels and a few boxes of weighted veneer selections, are all worth saving, so moving them means building another wood storage unit also. It will go where the router table now stands, around the corner from the RAS pictured. There are table saw jigs under there to be saved, too. <br />
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Oh, man. How one thing leads to another! And all this started with a beautiful, innocent rosewood panel gauge. I don't know how long this will take, especially with Christmas retail stock and gifts to consider, and a commission or two coming up. Rearranging everything in the shop and keeping it open to function as necessary is going to be a challenge. It may take me all winter, but once I get started, all the problem-solving will keep me going with gusto. It has been years since I've dug into that space under the bench at the back of the garage. There is no telling what surprises await. I may even find that old beech coffin smoother I put away because it had no wedge. I haven't been able to find it for some time now, but I know it's there somewhere, and needs to be fixed.<br />
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I wish I could just sit down and design the tool cabinet, but first things first. I think I'll get the leaf blower, and then put on a dust mask. It's raining today. That's perfect!<br />
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<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">©Barb Siddiqui</span></span><br />
<br />BarbShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07150568874944098670noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947240937454234888.post-13876551018382352082013-02-03T12:24:00.001-08:002013-04-06T08:44:28.977-07:00Spoons: An Introductory Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The goal of Get Woodworking Week is to encourage any admirers of the craft who may think they'd like to try it, to Get Going! Beginners are often overwhelmed by the variety of woodworking subjects available to tackle, and have no idea where to begin, or how to prepare. Be sure to check on the sponsor's blog, Tom Iovino at <a href="http://tomsworkbench.com/get-woodworking/">Tom's Workbench</a> for many more articles to do with getting started in this rewarding craft.</div>
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This year I'm offering a suggestion on a beginning project that does not require a lot of investment in tools, or a shop full of power equipment. Making a spoon will introduce a new woodworker to dealing with grain direction in the wood, to sanding and finishing techniques and a little bit of sharpening knowledge. There are many YouTube videos and helpful websites available, so don't be intimidated! You can carve a spoon with a pocket knife and a towel across your lap to catch the shaving, if you want to.</div>
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The history of wooden spoon making is as old as soup and stew. And as for variety, you can make anything from a coffee stirrer to a ladle, to an Artistic Sculptured spoon only meant to be displayed and dusted. You can make it however you want it, and for whatever purpose you wish to use it.</div>
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Handcarved Spoons of various woods gifted to me by Albert Avila, from California.</div>
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It's best to have a scroll saw or a hand held coping saw to cut out the basic shape from a board, but it can be whittled out, too, though it's more work. Start with a hardwood such as cherry, or beech, or maple, a close-grained wood that won't open up with holes for food residue to hide in. If you don't know where to get wood, you can check nearby lumber merchants on <a href="http://www.woodfinder.com/">Woodfinder.com</a></div>
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Draw pencil lines on the top surface to shape the spoon you wish to cut, and on the side edges to show its depth and the arc of the handle, if there is one. Cut away the waste wood until you have the basic shape, remembering the one cardinal rule of carving: Never Cut Toward A Body Part. Always hold the workpiece so that your stroke of cutting is away from your hands and fingers. It also helps to set your thumb against wood while holding a knife, and Leverage a cut away from you with two hands, slowly and in small bites so it is controlled and sure. A sharp tool is actually safer than a dull tool, because it takes less effort and force to do its job, so re-hone on a leather strop or resharpen the tool frequently. Cut away in shallow strokes; don't try to hog off deep shavings of wood.</div>
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Start with a small spoon, and don't be afraid of messing up! If
the first one looks awkward, begin anew. You will get the feel for
carving a spoon more quickly than you ever thought you would. You could
always set a teaspoon or a serving spoon beside your work, to eyeball
the arcs and dimensions of your creation. When you're through carving,
sand your finished product up through several grits of sandpaper (80,
150, 220) and apply a light coat of walnut oil (safe for food use when
cured, and will not go rancid) or leave it unfinished. When done, you'll
see there is nothing quite like the feeling of saying, "I Made This!"
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Here are some suggestions for carving tools. These exact tools may not be available, but there are enough look-alikes on tool vendors' websites that you can easily find what you need. The first is a basic Sloyd Knife, sharpened on both sides of one edge. It comes in a range of sizes and is very sharp Swedish steel. The second photo is of Bent Knives, and are my favorite tools for hollowing out the bowls of spoons. The third photo is of a small Scorp. It is difficult to sharpen, but can work well on convex spaces. You wouldn't need all of these. One bent knife and one straight knife can help you make a fine spoon.</div>
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Many of these tools are available from <a href="http://www.traditionalwoodworker.com/Wood-Carving-Tools/departments/1/">The Traditional Woodworker</a>, and a bent-knife selection you can put handles on yourself is available at <a href="http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=43352&cat=1,130,43332,43339">Lee Valley Tools</a> . All of these tools could find other uses than spoons, as your journey
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Another necessity is a sharpening stone for the steel you use, whether it is a pocket knife or a dedicated carving tool. There seem to be as many sharpening systems as there are woodworkers, and a simple pocket whet-stone will work, but it is better to have a selection of grits to sharpen steel with, where each higher grit eliminates the scratches from the previous grit, leaving you with a razor-sharp mirror finish that slices wood rather than tearing it.</div>
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Here is an inexpensive multi-stone system that can be purchased from <a href="http://www.traditionalwoodworker.com/4-Stone-Mini-Hone-4-Long/productinfo/367-4114/">The Traditional Woodworker</a> where you turn the stones upward to use any of four densities of Arkansas stones, with oil provided. It's small, at only 4" long, but is sufficient for the carving tools shown.</div>
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Dell Stubbs has a wonderful website, <a href="http://pinewoodforge.com/">Pinewood Forge</a> with handmade tools and a page dedicated to sharpening advice: <a href="http://pinewoodforge.com/sharpening.html"> Sharpening</a> </div>
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I hope this information encourages beginners to take on the project. Woodworking forums are literally full of experienced artisans eager to answer questions and bring new people into their craft, so don't be shy about seeking them out. Here are some further references for you to browse at will:</div>
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from 'Top20Sites': <a href="http://www.top20sites.com/Top-Wooden-Spoons-Sites">Top Wooden Spoon Sites</a></div>
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Artist 'Spoontaneous': <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Spoontaneous?ref=seller_info">Spoontaneous on Etsy.com</a></div>
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And, a Gallery Art Work by <a href="http://www.normsartorius.com/">Norm Sartorius</a></div>
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Also, don't forget Tom's contest this year. He has major vendors offering prizes for your submission of how you got interested in woodworking, <b>if you're new to the craft within the past year</b>. Send an e-mail to tom@tomsworkbench.com and tell your story to be eligible! Here's his post on the subject.</div>
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<a href="http://tomsworkbench.com/2013/01/14/get-woodworking-week-has-helpers/">Get Woodworking Contest Prizes for new woodworkers</a></div>
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BarbShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07150568874944098670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947240937454234888.post-73426894491472949922013-02-02T10:12:00.002-08:002013-02-02T10:12:45.481-08:00February sneaks up on us It is now February, 2013, and I thought I had lots of time for a writing deadline. Not so. I'll soon have a post up for Tom Iovino of Tom's Workbench fame, a noted blogger and woodworking enthusiast. He has sponsored and instigated a push for wanna-be woodworkers, encouraging them to Get Started and not be intimidated with, "But, where do I begin?" <br />
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What is different this year is the assistance of several very big magazine names and vendors who want to offer prizes for the best story of a new woodworker, within the last year's time. Here is a link to what Get Woodworking Week is all about, and Tom's words on qualifying for his contest:<br />
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<a href="http://tomsworkbench.com/get-woodworking/">Tom's Get Woodworking Week</a><br />
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<a href="http://tomsworkbench.com/2013/01/14/get-woodworking-week-has-helpers/">Get Woodworking Week Prizes</a><br />
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and in Tom's own words:<br />
"How will we figure out how someone can win these?
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OK, here’s how this will work. If you are a woodworker who has been
in the craft for one year or less, send me an e-mail at
tom@tomsworkbench.com and explain how you got into the craft. On
Saturday, February 9 (the last day of Get Woodworking Week), I will take
the entries that I get and pick the new woodworker with the best story
to feature."<br />
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Stay tuned. There are lots of good articles coming up this week for your interest and delight! BarbShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07150568874944098670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947240937454234888.post-72350223270764158012013-01-16T05:54:00.000-08:002013-01-16T05:54:05.379-08:00Used Books... What A Deal I've always been a big book fan, preferring the hard copy held in the hand and quality paper pages to turn one by one. A friend who is a woodworker/sculptor/woodturner/historian/polymath is selling off his vast woodworking library so he doesn't have to box and move it again someday. This means seriously good deals for all woodworkers, from beginner to advanced experts. If you love learning new skills in woodworking, or are just starting out as a beginner, take a few moments to browse his pages. All his prices include domestic shipping, and there are many valuable buys here. All are sold via PayPal. Some examples below.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mirabelliusedbooks.com/">Mirabelli Used Books</a></div>
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BarbShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07150568874944098670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947240937454234888.post-20565052829612212012-11-23T09:29:00.000-08:002014-09-26T08:16:04.164-07:00Handmade -- All Year Long!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Whatever the occasion, consider hand-made goods from craftsmen working to offer unique gift ideas. Keep an eye on my Etsy Treasury Lists for unique gift ideas from wood artists year round:<span class="count" id="activity-count"> </span><br />
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<span class="count" id="activity-count"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/people/BarbSWoodworks/treasury?ref=pr_treasury_more">Unique Handcrafts on Etsy.com</a></span></div>
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And here are just a few of the many retailers of handmade gifts to consider for gift giving all year:<br />
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Pens and Wood Items: <a href="http://www.grecowoodcrafting.com/">Greco Woodcrafting</a></div>
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Pens and more Pens: <a href="http://www.jimshaver.com/pens.asp?VIEW=ALL">Pen Street Woodworks</a></div>
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Handmade Furniture by<a href="http://shopping.sierralivingconcepts.com/storefrontprofiles/default.aspx?sfid=163917">Sierra Living Concepts</a></div>
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More Handmade Furniture: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/tkellyfurniture">tkelly furniture</a></div>
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Fine Handmade Boxes: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/watswood">Watswood</a></div>
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Fine Hand Tools for the Woodworker: <a href="http://www.badaxetoolworks.com/">Bad Axe Toolworks</a></div>
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Wood Art by <a href="http://www.douglasjfisher.com/index.html">Douglas J Fisher</a></div>
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Fine Sculpture in Wood: <a href="http://www.custommade.com/by/milomirabelli/">Mirabelli Designs</a></div>
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A woodworker's dream: <a href="http://www.scottmeekwoodworks.com/">Scott Meek Woodworks</a></div>
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Exceptional Handmade Soaps: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RiverhouseBathAndBody">Riverhouse Bath and Body</a></div>
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The Hand Forged Adze: <a href="http://www.rockisland.com/~kestrel/index.html">Kestrel Tool</a></div>
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Unique Hand Engravings:<a href="http://www.catharinekennedy.com/"> Catherine Kennedy Engraving</a></div>
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Wood turning and Furniture: <a href="http://brianhavens.com/">Brian Havens</a></div>
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Garden Sculptures: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/BirdhousesByGlenn?ref=seller_info">Birdhouses by Glenn</a></div>
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Wonderful Woodcarvings: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtistinWood?ref=usr_faveitems&atr_uid=12807814">Artist In Wood</a></div>
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and More wood carving, plus classes in Ohio: <a href="http://www.woodcarvedart.com/">Wood Carved Art</a></div>
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Colorful wood turnings: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/makye77">Makey77</a></div>
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and Natural-edged wood turnings: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/JLWoodTurning">J & L Woodturnings</a></div>
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and Turnings from Exotic Materials: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/TurnedtoTreasure">Turned To Treasure</a></div>
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and of course, I cannot leave out my own websites for your perusal:</div>
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<a href="http://barbs.vpweb.com/">BarbS Woodworks</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/BarbSWoodworks?ref=pr_shop">BarbS Woodworks on Etsy</a></div>
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There are Many Many More artisans and craftsmen always ready to commission work for giving, so just Google 'Handmade Gift' if you are at a loss for ideas. Or check out Etsy.com or CustomMade.com for original, unique and handmade items to your liking. It's a wide world out there, with lots to see and lots to choose from.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: purple;">Support Handmade Art! </span></i></span></div>
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BarbShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07150568874944098670noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947240937454234888.post-61799748492170451562012-09-22T09:58:00.000-07:002012-09-22T10:01:51.453-07:00Gathering Woodworkers For History<div style="text-align: center;">
I am very honored to be included in a project put forth by fellow woodworker </div>
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Jed Dyke, on his Blog </div>
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<a href="http://www.mickeyjedswoodworking.com/gathering-woodworkers-for-history-5/">Mickey & Jed's Woodworking</a></div>
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Jed had the good fortune to meet some very famous woodworkers, and the good sense to ask for their autographs, collecting signatures on wood blocks. He may frame them someday, he said, but the collection is getting to the point it may cover a wall before he is done. This is just one photo of several, so be sure to check out his Blog post on how all this came about, and see who he has managed to include so far. I feel quite privileged to be included among so many woodworking stars!</div>
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<br />BarbShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07150568874944098670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947240937454234888.post-57654994083419315142012-08-15T20:26:00.003-07:002012-08-15T20:26:41.968-07:00The First of my Grandkids to Hit The Shop It isn't Christmas, but it felt like it. At Christmas, though, there are so many little kids running around feeling up the Christmas tree, that my efforts are directed on mob control more than shop directions. This summer, I was fortunate to get a one-on-one with a single nine-year-old grand daughter, who lives 200 miles away. I asked if she'd like to learn to use the lathe in my shop. She thought a minute, looked at her mother, and grinned, saying 'Yes' very quietly. I think I beamed.<br />
I offered her several kits I had available: a magnifying glass, pens, key rings, and a touch screen stylus. She chose the stylus, much to my surprise. Her mother said, "You do realize that only does what you already do with your finger, don't you?" She laughed and said, "Yes, but it's so Cool!" and I said, "Stylus it is, then."<br />
So, with her mother fluttering like Henny Penny every time I introduced a machine to the girl,<br />
we forged ahead. I used the radial arm saw while she watched, with safety glasses on. I shielded her bare arm from the spinning drill chuck. I positioned her so her pigtails wouldn't swing into the headstock on the lathe. We adjusted the face shield to perfection. I explained what a tool bevel was, showed her what was about to happen with the lathe spinning, and stood behind her to help control her first moves with a spindle roughing gouge.<br />
She took to it like a champ. She listened well, was cautious with all that was new to her (she had no problem with sanding; her dad is a remodeling contractor and she'd been in his shop) and did exactly what she was told. She was only distracted by the baby lizard that ventured inside the garage door to sunbathe on the concrete. Five minutes with that and we were back to turning.<br />
She is one of eight grandchildren, so far. The others want their turn, too, so the future is bright.<br />
And I must say, there is nothing quite like the bursting pride a youngster shows when they've completed their own project. Her mom wrote me after returning home, saying "Thank you for that. She's completely enamored with it." And I with her. It was a Great weekend!<br />
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<br />BarbShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07150568874944098670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947240937454234888.post-1324823498929691702012-05-13T18:21:00.000-07:002012-05-13T18:22:00.643-07:00New Tool HandleJust have to show off my new Curly Cherry tool handle on the newly purchased bent hollowing tool from Greg Darlow at Woodbarter.com. Now I can do deep hollowing in style! 25-1/2" long overall.<br />
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<br /></div>BarbShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07150568874944098670noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947240937454234888.post-8563352355652716862012-05-07T09:09:00.001-07:002012-05-07T09:09:09.168-07:00Desk Accessories<div style="text-align: center;">
Look for a brand new products page on my main website:</div>
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<a href="http://barbs.vpweb.com/What-s-New-.html">What's New at BarbS Woodworking</a></div>
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<br />BarbShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07150568874944098670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947240937454234888.post-35748262588531615102012-04-29T12:13:00.000-07:002012-04-29T12:13:17.928-07:00Flame Box Elder BowlJust finished a sweet little, 5" diameter bowl in Flame Box Elder. It is already promised, but I have a bit more of this wood, so stay tuned!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a51FY6AZoVk/T52SmjdhK7I/AAAAAAAABdc/CEcbJGJnLZE/s1600/FlBxEldrBwlFace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a51FY6AZoVk/T52SmjdhK7I/AAAAAAAABdc/CEcbJGJnLZE/s320/FlBxEldrBwlFace.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>BarbShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07150568874944098670noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947240937454234888.post-65016120948445678422012-04-22T07:28:00.002-07:002013-03-11T08:31:00.024-07:00Desk ClocksI had a few pieces of showy wood I didn't know quite what to do with, and decided on these:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7-V4wHFd3fY/T5QUJ-ZghYI/AAAAAAAABcI/FXCs12-dGqI/s1600/PineClockLft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7-V4wHFd3fY/T5QUJ-ZghYI/AAAAAAAABcI/FXCs12-dGqI/s320/PineClockLft.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
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I think they turned out rather well, and now I'm plotting how to do more.<br />
The top photo is Big Leaf Maple Burl, about 8" tall and 11-1/2" wide.<br />
The bottom one is some kind of unknown Pine, with a brilliant red, flame-grained surface when oiled. It is 10" tall and 4-1/2" wide at the base. Each has a clock face of 1-3/8", large enough to read close by on a desk top, and small enough to show off these flashy woods.<br />
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The tall pine clock is available at my Etsy website: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/BarbSWoodworks?ref=pr_shop" target="_blank"> BarbS Woodworks</a><br />
The maple burl clock is on <a href="http://barbs.vpweb.com/Desk-Accessories.html">Desk Accessories</a> on my main website. BarbShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07150568874944098670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947240937454234888.post-73222988062594833282012-03-23T20:45:00.001-07:002012-03-23T20:45:49.914-07:00Oh, my aching back!Tonight I sit with a heating pad on my back. My shop is cluttered with freshly cut turning blanks stacked helter-skelter on top of each other, with latex paint protecting the end grain of each one. Twelve and fourteen-inch blocks sit in the wheel barrow, on the bench, atop an extra chair, and sawdust from the band saw litters the floor as if the place was a circus tent.<br />
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Here is where it began: a yard tree we are sorely going to miss. Catalpa, in winter, with no hint of its elephant-ear leaves, pyramidal white flowerette blossoms and 12-in. long bean pods. It gave us plenty of shade, lots of birds' nests, several wood peckers, and even a big horned owl one year. Yes, we'll miss this tree. It was old. It was rotting from the inside. And it had to come down.<br />
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The tree service ground up the small stuff, and piled huge hunks of the trunk and main branches on our side lawn. I am the proud owner of a new Peavy Hook. It's a monster tool, and just what I needed to move these chunks around so I can get to them with my small electric chain saw. I begin by lopping off outer parts of the edges, then cut from two sides toward center. It's a lot of labor, but it feels tremendously good to get some results before all this wood cracks beyond redemption.<br />
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Tomorrow is another day. I need to rearrange, to make room for storage. And I'm planning on cutting some more big pieces with the chain saw. And learning to use my Peavy Hook. And, the forecast is for a sunny, beautiful day. Life is good.</div>BarbShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07150568874944098670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947240937454234888.post-45026453455808128842012-03-19T11:00:00.000-07:002012-03-19T11:00:04.232-07:00Readers Gallery/ Woodturning MagazineI'm honored to be included in the Reader's Gallery section of GMC Publications Woodturning Magazine in the UK, issue 236, February 2012.<br />
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<br /></div>BarbShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07150568874944098670noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947240937454234888.post-49849350002947860672012-03-15T09:07:00.001-07:002012-03-15T09:08:09.394-07:00A Fun Project!Having some fun over the last two days. I have a few birthdays coming up, and these are really popular with the Grandkids!<br />
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<br /></div>BarbShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07150568874944098670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947240937454234888.post-38812721389956224572012-02-25T20:02:00.000-08:002012-02-26T07:52:45.965-08:00A Necessary Storage Unit Through the winter I've become weary of carrying adhesives into the house from my very cold shop. I have three electric heaters, but running them all trips the breaker, and running one big one only maintains the garage at about 40ºF. I don't leave heat on all night, so our Pacific NW chills of 20ºF at night don't do my finishes any good, either. The solution was a heated cabinet for storage of all these shop necessities.<br />
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I started with drawings to design a tall skinny cupboard to fit an available space. I had 60" in height, 15-1/2" in width, and 10" in depth to work with. I did a lot of scribbling and gathered some plywood and old shelving salvaged from a kitchen remodel years ago.<br />
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I cut pieces and added in the shelves, leaving 1-1/2" open space at the back and 1" open space at the front of each shelf for air flow to carry the heat throughout the cabinet.</div>
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Then I turned four bun feet out of oak because it would wear well against a concrete floor.</div>
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And cut foam board to lay in for insulation on all inside surfaces. The thermostat at the top of the cabinet is wired in series with the 60 watt light bulb at the bottom, so as I set the temperature it turns the light on and off. (Credit goes to George for helping me with this.) The light bulb is protected by a wire cage taken off an automotive trouble light so if something falls, the bulb won't be broken.<br />
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All assembled and the hinges added on. Four small rare-earth magnets hold the door closed. I still need a knob or handle on it. The top overhang on the right side is to store four cam clamps I have nowhere else to put. I'll be adding some hooks on the right side for various things, too.</div>
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And here is the inside with the light on, fully insulated with foam board.</div>
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I've photographed it outside, and will be putting it in place after testing it all night as our temperatures drop. I have an independent thermometer to place inside for a reading.</div>
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It's such a sense of accomplishment to complete some new shop furniture. I love getting my storage more organized and freeing up space where all these things are scattered around, and now drawn together in one place so I know better what I have. </div>
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So, enough with the shop organization for now. On to some real projects!</div>
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<span style="background-color: #cccccc; color: white; font-size: x-small;">copyright Barb Siddiqui, use with permission only</span></div>
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