My good friend Iggy, the trained shop monkey.

He’s got a really good story. It started a few years ago, after my oldest son came out to the shop to watch dad work. After a few minutes, I set him up on a section of the shop floor with some scraps and a bottle of Elmer’s white glue.

While I watched him work, I started calling him my little shop monkey. It was a cute thing to call a cute kid, and he was in his glory impressing the heck out of his dad. After that, every so often, I would call him that when he came out to the shop.

Fast forward a few years later when I took a class with Marc Spagnuolo at a woodworking school in Indiana. While Marc was showing his mastery of woodworking, I showed that I was still a little rough around the edges in my technique. He was trying to pump up my confidence, and I, recalling that moment back in my shop, started referring to myself as the trained shop monkey.

When I got back to Florida, I joked with my sons that I had taken the title of trained shop monkey from my oldest. They kids were laughing, but I could see the gears starting to spin in their heads.

The following month, when Father’s Day rolled around, my wife told me that we were going on a little trip. We piled into the car and headed over to International Mall in Tampa.

Right to the Build-A-Bear Workshop.

The kids wanted to make sure that I had my own shop monkey. So, the Adoption Experts helped me select the right monkey. We stuffed that little guy and gave him an air bath, as is customary for all animals adopted there. We also selected the proper boots and clothes for a day in the shop, and a tool belt. Of course, my youngest son pointed out, I couldn’t forget the safety glasses.

Sure, it was a silly gift. But, whenever I’m having a tough day at work and a long night of speaking at hurricane seminars, I can come home, kiss the kids goodnight while they sleep and take a quick glance at Iggy before I head out to the shop.

That reminds me that my little shop monkeys really do care about their dad.

To all the fathers out there, have a very happy Father’s Day.

It’s good to be popular.

I mean, who doesn’t love being invited to parties, being picked for the adult kickball league or wowing the crowd at karaoke?

The best kind of popularity is when your family loves you. My wife and sons love to have me around. No matter how overworked or grumpy I get, they always welcome me home with big hugs and invitations to play video games, watch a TV show or take on all comers in a tough game of Monopoly.

The fact that I practice my hobby at home means I can put a project down, take a few hours to have some fun and then return when I get the inspiration. I know I couldn’t do that if I was out on the water fishing or on the links playing golf.

Unfortunately, some of the attention can get dangerous. Specifically when it comes to all of that attention when the power tools are running. I’ve had one of my sons walk up behind me and hug my legs while ripping on the table saw. My wife came out to talk about dinner plans while I was working with the bandsaw. And, one of my son’s friends came out to the shop to ask if he could go home while I was shaping a piece on the router table.

At first, I was upset after each of these incidents. One split second of distraction could mean the loss of a finger or a some other gruesome injury. I started lecturing each offender, spelling out in gory detail just how badly I could be hurt.

After sitting and thinking for a while about this danger, I decided that my method of addressing the problem was all wrong. I found myself waiting for something bad to happen before I addressed the issue. I can always control my actions in the shop, but I had to find a way to address the issues that are out of my hands.

That day, I started involving my family in the discussion about shop safety. After letting my family know about the potential danger, everyone understood why I am so concerned about this.

And then, something unexpected started to happen. My two sons started offering up suggestions on how I could stay safer in the shop. While some of their ideas were a little more fantasy (”Why not use bullet proof gloves?”), others were pretty sound ideas:

• “Put up a sign on the door warning us not to bother you when the tools are running.”
• “We could talk to our friends and let them know what the rules are.”
• “Maybe you could put a latch on the door from the shop side and lock it when you are working with the tools.”
• “We could put a flashing light or a doorbell that we could turn on if we need to tell you something.”

I was very pleasantly surprised by these suggestions, and I plan on putting a few into action very soon. When I asked my oldest son why he was being so prolific with the ideas, he told me, “I don’t want to see you hurt, dad. Who would play chess with me?”

Like I said, it’s good to be popular.

Just an FYI - I want to you include everything. Hand held, table mounted, multi base, trim… heck, even add Dremels if you want…

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Understanding Wood Glue

Yellow glue.  White glue.  Hide glue.  There are so many different choices out there when it comes time to stick two boards together.  What are the strengths and weaknesses of each type?

Popular Mechanics gives an excellent primer on each of the more common types of glue that are typically found in woodworking shops.

This article goes into more than just a laundry list of glues to choose from.  Since proper technique is as important as glue choice, there are some tips on how to properly apply these adhesives to get the best results.

Although most of this information can be redundant, STICK with it, and you might learn a thing or two!

Just where the heck have I been?

For months, I’ve been writing like crazy, putting post after woodworking post on this site. But, recently, things have slowed down. Is it because I don’t want to punish you anymore with my warped sense of humor or lousy writing?

Nah, I’m not that nice.

Actually, it has to do with my day - and more and more and more frequently night - job. I am a hurricane preparedness specialist with Pinellas County government here on the west coast of Florida. Hurricane season has begun for the tropical Atlantic basin, and we’re in harm’s way.

So, for the past few months, I’ve been out talking to homeowner groups, businesses, schools, city meetings and anyone else who will listen about the importance of being prepared. Some folks get it, planning to evacuate from vulnerable areas and shuttering their windows. Other people aren’t convinced there is at threat.

Now, that’s scary.

What does this have to do with woodworking? Well, maybe it’s not fine furniture, but it’s woodworking nonetheless. A few years ago, I was out speaking to a group of homeowners, and someone said, “You tell us to put up this plywood, but we don’t know how to begin.”

The idea struck me. Since I hadn’t shuttered my windows, it was time that I started to practice what I preached. I quickly scratched out a plan to cover my windows with plywood and show all the steps - from selecting the materials to cutting to fastening them to protect my windows.

Later that week, we were on our way to the local Home Depot to begin shooting. Stupid me couldn’t have had this idea earlier in the year, when it wasn’t so blazing hot during June afternoons in Florida. Sweat stained and all, I demonstrated the necessary steps to show people how to get ready. And, yes, you get to see some of my tools in my shop!

How successful was it? Well, today, whenever I am out shopping or at a restaurant, someone always calls me out as the Plywood Guy. I have also had dozens of offers from homeowners to come to their homes to shutter their windows. Hey, I’m a full service guy, but that’s a little too much for me!

If you want to watch this video - or any of the other hurricane safety videos I star in - visit our county’s hurricane video page.

And, if you live anywhere near the coast, it doesn’t hurt to take the advice I give to our residents - you have got to have a plan when it comes to hurricanes. You can review our county’s hurricane guide as a .PDF here.

Remember, the Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1 through November 30.

That’s why I’m always so happy to see the first week of December.