Early Sources Of Inspiration...

The end of this week has been filled with non-woodworking efforts related to my employment, so my shop has been silent nearly all week. Instead of the normal post about what I am doing in the shop I thought I would post a few links to several of the sites that provided inspiration to me as I was getting started. Below is a list of the sites in no particular order. I hope next week's post will be a little nosier.

http://www.furnitology.com

http://www.mattsbasementworkshop.com

http://www.thewoodwhisperer.com

http://woodworkingonline.com

http://johnwesleywilliamsfurniture.com

http://www.logancabinetshoppe.com

http://www.renaissancewoodworker.com

http://www.newwoodworker.com

http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/woodnews/2010july/downtoearth.html

http://theboisshop.blogspot.com

http://www.garagewoodworks.com/index.php

http://tomsworkbench.com

These are just a few of the sites that provided the fuel to my fire and I greatly appreciate all the effort each of these contributors has provided. I realize a lot of the links are so commonly known that most people will already be aware, but I am hopeful someone may stumble across at least one they were not.

Hope everyone has a great week with lots of shop time.

Until my next post:

KEEP YOUR MIND ON YOUR FINGERS AND YOUR FINGERS ON YOUR HANDS…

Plywood Shelf & Sump Pump Installation

Well this week has been filled to the brim with woodworking nirvana and back breaking labor. On the woodworking front I was able to assemble the Plywood Shelf I discussed in the last post. On the back breaking labor side of things I have, with the help of a friend (THANKS JOEY!!!), installed a sump pump in our garage. This installation has really needed to happen since I was a youngster, but never became high enough priority. Now with the pump installed it may be possible to slowly migrate the woodshed from the basement to the larger garage. As usual all the pictures are at the end of post, enjoy (I hope)!!!

Regarding the plywood shelf build, I have put the one and only coat of BLO on the shelves and will finish it out with two coats of poly. For all intended purposes the shelves came out functionally perfect. In comparison to personal expectations they didn't come out quite as accurately or error free as I would have liked. As I stated in the previous post this was my first time using a router to create dados and actually the first time I've created dados period, so I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised with the outcome.

I really wished I could figure out why my projects seem to lack the precision that I am expecting. Early on I in my efforts I recognized that I tend to rush things. Sometimes I would make a cut before I was 100% sure or make a cut based on a single measurement. Now I am "TRYING" to force myself to measure, measure again and then repeat the measurement just to be sure. When I am "TRYING" something, or figuring something out, for the first time I "TRY" to make myself either physically test the process or think all the way through the processes at least two or three times before going live. I "TRY" to think of all potential failure paths, possible mental and physical obstacles to success and I "TRY" to make sure I clearly think about what is a successful outcome to the process/problem.

Recently (honestly currently) I was "TRYING" to blame a lot of my precision issues on the quality and quantity of my tools. I can't get this curve because I don't have this bandsaw blade. I can't get accurate tenons because I don't have a shoulder plane. I can't "TRY" that technique because I don't have a double beveled case hardened giraffe-necked two-handed wizzywhatsit. I can't "TRY" that because my table saw is accurate enough. Now I am "TRYING" to force myself to push through these limitations. I "TRY" to adjusted my thought processes when I find myself "TRYING" to use the tooling rationale as an excuse. I just tell myself to quit the quitting and "TRY" the "TRYING". If I fail I just chalk it up to practice makes perfect, next challenge please.

Simply stated, I am "TRYING" to make a significant effort to avoid "STUPID", which seems to dog me on a much too regular basis. 

Who knows maybe one day or one project somewhere in the future it'll all come together and I won't wonder anymore. I'll just look back at all the memories, sawdust, splinters, band-aids, scrap lumber, blazing fire pits and occasional successes and think how much enjoyment I've gotten out of all this "TRYING"!!! Now excuse me I've got another crazy idea I want to "TRY"!!!

Until my next post:

KEEP YOUR MIND ON YOUR FINGERS AND YOUR FINGERS ON YOUR HANDS…

±40 Gallon Poly Drum With 1/2" Holes In Bottom 2/3 Wrapped In Landscape Fabric

Low Corner Of Driveway Just Inside Garage (Water Has Gotten About 2' Deep Before)

Hand Dug 20-25' Ditch 12-18" Deep - ±8' Through +4" Asphalt

Right Side View

Front View

Left Side View

Live Edge Table Progress & Plywood Shelf Design

This weekend has been and will continue to be rather hectic, so this post will be short on the verbiage and more picturecentric. Hope that you enjoy it none the less.

OK, so I've continued slowly working on the Live Edge Table. At this point, as you'll see in the photos below, the overall form is complete. I finished the stretcher and mortises and currently have the table dry fitted. I am less than proud of my joinery, but chalk most of the errors up to the learning process. The biggest issue is sloppiness and plenty of it. The biggest cause for the errors, aside from inexperience, is quality chisels and honestly the patience to keep my crappy ones sharpened. The old 1970's Stanley's I have from my father hold an edge about as well as a historical re-enactment holds my 12 year old son's attention. Hopefully one of my next significant acquisitions will be a decent set of chisels. I've been ogling a set or two from Tools For Working Wood. From this point the project turns into to a shaping and sanding and shaping and sanding project. As noted in my previous post about the project, all the edges on the legs will be rounded over and blended into the top of the table. You'll notice in the photos that I've played with curves in the stretcher and it will also receive the rounding and shaping treatment. In the end I'll have to use some epoxy to compensate for some of the looser joints. I plan on shimming as much as possible and then use the epoxy for gap filling. I will post a future update as the project wraps up.

In other news... I am trying to finish my miter saw station that I posted about a few weeks ago. While it is fully functional as a miter station, I never completed the shelving behind the fence or installed the t-track on the fence. Well below you'll see a couple of Sketch-Up images that show the general design. I haven't shown the edge banding, but I do intend to use 1/8" Red Oak strips on all the exposed plywood edges. The first image it is the final completed station, minus the t-track. The substructure, miter extension table and fence are already completed. The second image depicts the shelving and bin storage unit design that remains to be constructed. This will be my first project using my new Bosch Router and the first time I've used dados as the primary joinery. I've made an exact wide dado jig for the router, so hopefully a couple of practice runs and I'll be ready to go live. Unfortunately there isn't a local source for quality plywood, so Lowe's Birch 3/4" will have to suffice. I figure its a shop fixture, so good practice anyway. Again, I'll post an update as I get this one rolling too.

Until my next post:

KEEP YOUR MIND ON YOUR FINGERS AND YOUR FINGERS ON YOUR HANDS…

Don't You Just Love Birthdays...

Well the last week of March is always a good time of year, as far as I am concerned. I think most people feel similarly during the week of their birthdays. This year was no exception, as I was blessed with well wishes and gifts from many of the special people in my life. Thanks to everyone for making it a great day!!!

The one item I received that kind of sticks out to me (not meaning to lessen my appreciation for ANY of the others) is my new Bosch 1617 EVSPK Router Kit. The router kit includes the 2-1/4 HP variable speed soft start router, the fixed base, the plunge base, a 1/4" collet and a 1/2" collet. Additionally, I was able to purchase a single 1/2" straight pattern bit and the complete dust collection shroud kit, which includes a fix based collection shroud, a plunge base collection shroud and the edge cutting collection shroud. All the dust collection accessories will not arrive until next week, so my patience will be tested. The only items I will need to acquire to round out the entire setup is the centering bit/guide and the guide bushing set. I built a quick and dirty  exact width dado jig early this week. After I play with this preliminary version of the jig I will create a second generation version using better materials for accuracy and durability, but for now this particle board version will suffice. Eventually I will start on a custom router table and fence similar to the New Yankee Workshop version. There are a couple of modifications I think I will make, but for the most part I'll stick to the plans.

The router is one of those items I have been putting off buying due to budget issues for some time, so I am very grateful to receive such a wonderful gift. While I will be keeping my father's old B&D router for sentimental reasons most likely it's use in the shop will be extremely limited. Maybe I'll set it up for round overs and/or chamfers? Any suggestions? This is like a 4 or 4.5 amp B&D Deluxe Router from the late 70's or early 80's, so it is neither powerful or "Deluxe" by comparison with today's router options.

After I complete a couple of the items on shelf of misfit projects I think I am going back to basics  to focus on some general cabinetry projects. Not that plywood cabinets are simplistic or easy to build, but more because I have never really taken the time to try to build any basic cabinet carcasses. The projects I have in mind are both shop built and household in nature. For the shop I am looking at several base cabinets, a router table and a couple of wall mounted shelving units. In the house it will be two bathroom cabinets for above the commodes, three different areas that need shelving and one kitchen wall cabinet. Nearly all of this will be primarily  plywood with some hardwood face framing. My one regret is the lack of a quality plywood provider in the immediate area. The bulk of these projects will have to be sourced from the local hardware company (Citizen's - Ace Hardware) or the big box (Lowe's) so material selection will definitely be a concern. If my world is perfect I would like to finish all these projects by the end of the year, so I better get busy!!! Not to mention painting the house and repairing eaves and soffits. Oh boy!!!

Below are a few pictures. I will provide a brief review of the router in a future post. For now suffice to say it is the greatest router ever and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it!!! But don't think I am naive enough to actually think these are not biased preconceived notions generated out of the sheer excitement and jubilation of receiving a TOOL for my birthday. When the review hits the site it will be based on the facts after using the tool for a couple projects and experiencing both the pros and the cons of its operation. For now, I'll enjoy the blind ECSTASY!!!

Until my next post:

KEEP YOUR MIND ON YOUR FINGERS AND YOUR FINGERS ON YOUR HANDS…

Live Edge Table Build...

Well I wanted to challenge myself, so I started a live edge table build back before the holidays. After I screwed up the joinery at the top of the first leg I shoved the project back up on the shelf of misfit projects. Until yesterday I figured it would never see the light of day, but I've had a change of heart. Although I won't be able to fix (cosmetically modify maybe) the original screw up I figure there are still lessons to be learned from the project.

Everything I am attempting is really a first attempt and although I have read and watched quite a bit of woodworking related educational materials, the solutions and processes I am using are self destructiv... I mean I am figuring them out on my own. I realize there are better ways to do everything I am trying to do, so I am begging anyone and everyone to comment and share their ideas, suggestions and experience. I have had trouble finding local educational resources and a woodworking community to learn and share ideas with, so the internet is my resource for sharing my passion for the craft. So please feel free to point your fingers and laugh at my project(s), but don't leave me in the dark if you know a better technique, recognize a failure path or simply have a tip to share. I wouldn't mind a couple of atta boys along the way, but honestly they're not necessary for me to enjoy the journey.

Anyway below are a few pictures of the table, including close ups of the screw up. I am in the process of working on the joinery for the other leg and then it will be on to the stretcher. Wish me luck and let me know what you think!!!

Table Top

Live Edge

Going To Drill Out Epoxy As It Dried Yellow (Any Suggestions For Clear Drying Epoxy?)

Solid 8/4 Walnut Leg

Leg Edge Rounding Template (Mark Legs Then Use Planes, Scrapers And Rasps To Shape Edges)

One Leg Partially Shaped (Looong Way To Go. Wishing For A Draw Knife &/Or Spokeshave)

Arc At Base Of Legs (Note Tapering At The Top)

Mortise For Stretcher (Stretcher Will Be Made Of Hard Maple, Maybe Curly)

KABOOM!!! Not Sure What I Did Wrong, But Obviously Something Wasn't Right. I Had Plywood Backing Up The Stock As I Chiseled Through The Waste, So Anyone Got Any Thoughts On This One???

Dovetail Joint For Attaching The Top To The Legs

Marking Out The Dovetail On The Top (Just Started Chiseling Waste To Define Edges, Will Drill Out Bulk Before Final)

First Socket Completed. Disappointed In Sloppy Fit (Where I Had Shelved The Project Back Before The Holidays)

Until my next post:

KEEP YOUR MIND ON YOUR FINGERS AND YOUR FINGERS ON YOUR HANDS…

Blog Entry - Triple Play...

 This week it is sort of like three posts in one, so I won't waste anymore time on the introduction.

The first thing I'd like to accomplish is providing a final update on my recent box build. It has taken me several days of stop and go woodworking to get to a point where I am calling the project complete. I won't say it was successful, but it is a box and it does have a lid, so it is complete. I finally settled for gluing a walnut lip around the inside of the lid. It is snug enough you can pick the box up off the table by the lid without it falling off, but it is loose enough lightly holding the base and the lid can be removed with minimal effort. Not the exact look I was going for, but functionally acceptable. On the finishing side of the project I also experienced disappointment. After having terrific success finishing the inside of the box with shellac I decided I would use the same for the exterior. I am fairly certain my failure lies in the drying time, or in the case of the exterior lack of drying time between application and sanding. When I did the interior I allowed probably 3 hours or so between coats. On the exterior I only gave it about an hour, if that before I would start to sand. I knew immediately there was a problem as the shellac seemed gummy and actually rolled up in balls as sanded. Not knowing how to address the issue I would continue sanding and apply additional finish. The next coat I would go through the same erroneous process. By the end, there were a few areas where the finish is obviously thinner and ridges can be seen in the finish. In hindsight I should have stopped sanding immediately and given the piece additional drying time. Then once it was completely dried I could have cleaned the areas already affected and moved on. One day I will probably make an effort to sand the entire project down to bare wood again and refinish the outside, but for now... IT IS WHAT IT IS!!!

My second subject involves one of my early sources of renewed inspiration to take up the hobby of woodworking. The Woodsmith Shop and their early internet based videos "Woodworking Online", provided me with both inspiration and the practical information to get me up to speed quickly. Over about a 3 week period I consumed all their online content and quickly turned to the Woodsmith & Shop Notes magazines for additional woodworking wisdom. This past week I had the opportunity to attend a software based training class in Des Moines, IA. The class was completely unrelated to woodworking, but provided me with an opportunity to visit the site of my early inspiration. I went on Tuesday night and again on Thursday to attend one of the seminars they put on regularly. At first I was somewhat disappointed to find out the seminar would not be technique or project based, but rather a glimpse in to the wildly popular public access based "Woodsmith Shop" tv program. Seeing I would most likely never get a second opportunity to attend I decided not to pass up the opportunity. There was an $8.00 entry fee, but I received a $5.00 coupon for any store purchase, so the net cost to attend was $3.00. In the end it was the best $3.00 I could've spent on entertainment. Everyone greeted me with kind words and a welcoming smile. I was already aware that Bryan Nelson, Managing Editor of Woodsmith and Shop Notes magazines was scheduled to be the presenter, but to my surprise both he and Don Peschke, Publisher of the magazines showed up for the presentation. For those of you unaware of the "Woodsmith Shop" tv program, Mr. Peschke is the primary host of the tv show and Mr. Nelson is a regular contributor and co-host on the program. While I didn't get the opportunity to meet them it was easy to see they are both passionate about the craft and seemed very approachable and down to earth. I really enjoyed my time in the store and certainly wished there was one in my neighborhood. I encourage anyone who has the opportunity to visit them. Thanks Woodsmith I truly enjoyed the visit!!!

And for the finale, I thought I would post a brief description of the item I purchased with my $5.00 coupon and $45.00 additional. The Wixey Angle Gauge with Level is one of those items I've thought of purchasing, but kept pushing out. With having to carry my purchase back on the plane the Wixey's small size seemed to fit the bill. I haven't had a real opportunity to use it yet, but it is such a one purpose kind of tool I highly doubt it will disappoint. I did try it on my miter station and was pleased that it appeared the saw is both level and the blade is plumb (or 90°) to the table. I wish I could get crazy excited over this purchase, but it does what it advertises. I am excited to have it in my aersenal and look forward to using it on future projects.



 Until my next post:

KEEP YOUR MIND ON YOUR FINGERS AND YOUR FINGERS ON YOUR HANDS…

The Box That Almost Never Saw The Dawn...

This is an update to a project I described a couple of posts back. The Dawn of a New Box, briefly discusses my first attempt at inlay or intarsia. I also used splined mitered corners for the first time on the project.

My original design and intent was to create opposing rabbets to form the interface between the lid and the box. After constructing the box and gluing everything up I discovered I had thought how I was going to accomplish the inside rabbet on the lid. For about two days I brewed what I thought I knew. and later realized I didn't know, over and over in my mind. No solutions came to mind. I decided to look for help from the online community on a couple of the forums, but I wasn't getting any responses or at least no response in the immediate manner my impatience typically demands. On a whim, I looked on Google+ to see if I could strike up a one on one discussion with someone and low and behold there was Chris Wong from Flair Woodworks. He was very patient and took quite a bit of time to describe a couple of techniques I could use. One option he gave me was to use my wheel marking gauge to slowly cut my shoulders, while using a sharp chisel to pare to the desired depth for the cheek. The second method would utilize my small Dozuki saw to cut kerfs between the shoulder and cheek lines to speed waste removal and limit tearout at the corners. I had choosen the latter as the method I was going to use. Thanks Chris for pointing me in the right direction.

Before I could begin to work the rabbets I was going to need to cut the lid from the fully assembled cubicle box. I had already determined that I was going to cut 3/8" from above the second spline from the top of the lid. and this should have left me with about 3/8" of material to cut the rabbet. I had intended to cut the top off using my bandsaw, but for some reason I have been getting a lot of oscillation in the blade lately so I opted for the tablesaw. So measure twice check, better make three times and as we all know you can only cut it once. BBbbuzzzzzz, one, two, three and finally four sides cut off in seconds. Awesom... Aweful what have I done, there is only about an 1/8" and its not nearly the clean cut I had imagined. I looked for a second and then quickly realized I had measured the 3/8" from the bottom of the first spline instead of the top of the second. Now there is no way I'll be able to cut the rabbets as I originally planned. I wasn't even sure I would be able to clean the surface on the bottom of the lid and top of the box good enough. What a mess. I decided to let it set a couple of days to avoid immediate use as a heat source.

After a day I proceeded to clean up the surfaces and sanded them flat. At this point the lid and box sit nearly flush with one another. There is only about a 1/16" lip left on the lid so I will be gluing in pieces to serve in place of the rabbet. I will post updated pictures over the weekend as I near completion of this little project/learning experience. Thanks for stopping by.

Until my next post:

KEEP YOUR MIND ON YOUR FINGERS AND YOUR FINGERS ON YOUR HANDS…