All posts by Tom

I'm the guy who writes the blog...
Quick Polls

Quick Poll

5 Comments

Schnieder from One Day at a TimeNo matter where you look, it seems as if every woodworking catalog or store carries a wide selection of tool belts.  Some are rather simple affairs, with just a few pouches that connect to your regular belt and offer a small amount of convenience, while others are full-blown carpenters’ rigs that could  keep you working on a roof all day.

Many woodworkers that I have run into don’t use a toolbelt.  But, that Norm Abram guy who works on that long-running TV show wears one every time he’s in the shop.  Some people see them as essential, while others believe they make them look like Dwayne Schneider – the ultra-creepy yet loveable maintenance man from the 1970’s sit com One Day at a Time.

So, where do you fall on this issue?  Are toolbelts essential shop equipment, or would you only put one on if you were roped into framing out a new room by a do-it-yourself neighbor?

[poll id=”44″]

Link of the week

Link of the week

Leave a comment

Legozilla’s New Yankee Workshop

It’s amazing what people can do with Legos.  Those interlockable pastic building blocks can create some amazing works of art… just like this one.

'Norm' at the latheA person identified as Legozilla has created  – in Legos – a complete replica of the New Yankee Workshop.  Complete with a little whiskered Norm Abram.

From his signature plaid shirts to his workbench, this miniature goes into great detail and – as accurately as can be accomplished – depicts the shop, right down to the approximate location of the tools.

It’s not only the shop itself that is represented.  Legozilla also offers some shots of ‘Norm’ standing proudly in front of one of his completed projects – a roll top desk.

This is an amazing display to see – it’s worth a visit to the site.

Oh, before you ask, this was a customized piece built by the user.  There are (currently) no plans to offer Lego setups for sale to the public.

RATS!

Shop Talk

My very own tell-all book

3 Comments

Marcia! Marcia! Marcia!In case you have been living under a rock, a lady by the name of Maureen McCormick recently published her memoirs.

Why is this significant?  Well, Ms. McCormick once played the lovely and talented Marcia Brady on the super-cheesy 1970’s sit com The Brady Bunch. You remember her – her younger sister Jan kept lamenting, “Marcia!  Marcia!  Marcia!” as she was elected president of her class, made the cheerleading squad and later went on to share the Nobel prize as she figured out a new way to split the atom.

Apparently, her years after the show were – to put it mildly – tumultuous.  Problems with drugs and other issues plagued her life after the show ended.

Now, I have no plans to buy her book and learn all of the sordid details.  It is interesting, however, to see just how many people are willing to put to print the details of the evolution of their lives and careers for the public to read.

It’s funny, because I have a similar book on the bookshelf in my living room.  Is it professionally printed?  Nope.

Does it tell all the intimate, embarrassing details of my life?  Nope.

The project book coverHowever, it does – in a way – chart my woodworking progress through the years.

About 10 years ago, when I first started woodworking, I needed a notebook to jot down some ideas.  Hey, I had a circular saw, a drill, a doweling jig and a whole lot of enthusiasm. I picked up one of those marble-covered composition books – you know, the ones with the black and white covers and the stitched binding – and started sketching out projects that I was picturing.

The first pages of the book...Those front pages do tell kind of a funny story about projects that never saw the light of day, designed with just unbelievably bad technique.  Many of those babies really needed to be strangled in their cribs.

The best part of this book, however, happened on the back 20 pages.  I took the time to color the edges of those pages with a red marker and start listing the projects I built on those sheets.

The listings are very simple.  The name of the project.  The month is was completed.  Who was it built for – my home, a friend, a neighbor?  Did I make any money from it?

At first, the projects seemed to take forever to get started.  Simple projects, such as a step stool for my son to use to reach the bathroom faucet, took about four months to build.  Other months, I was able to crank out project after project.  I could tell when I got my portable shop air conditioner – that’s when I started actually building stuff during the heat of the Florida summers.

The most important function of this list, however, is for me to look back at what I have already built and see where I’ve come from.  I have a few stars next to projects that were big steps for me.  The first project I built.  The first time I built stuff to give as a gift.  The first time I sold a piece. The first time I cut dovetails.  Each milestone brings back the memories of where I was, what I was doing and who I was building with.

My trips to a woodworking school that I used to go to in Indiana.  Yup.  Got ’em there.

The times when I worked with my brother-in-law at his house?  There they are.

The times when my sons would come out and help me build projects?  You betcha.

The cool thing is that everything I have built is listed there.  No matter where those pieces are today, my list keeps reminding me that my work is out there somewhere.

If you are a hobby woodworker, you might want to consider starting your own book.  Remember, when you build, you aren’t only building projects – you are also building memories.

OK, I have to admit that sometimes I get embarrassed when I look back at some of my stinker projects.  But, hey, we all have those from time to time.

At least the public doesn’t have to read about them…

Tools

Tools I use: My routers

2 Comments

My routersThe router is one of the most versatile tools in the shop.  Edge jointing, profiling, joint cutting, pattern cutting… you name it, and the router is up  to the task.

In my shop, I have two routers or, more accurately, two router set ups I use.

My first router is the DeWalt 618 three-base kit.  The motor swaps between three bases – a plunge, a fixed and a D-handle.  I bought this kit with the intention of mounting the fixed base in a router table and using the plunge and D-handle for handheld work.  The motor moves easily between bases, has a soft start, can accept both 1/2″ and 1/4″ shank bits and is a real pleasure to use.  I like how low the center of gravity is on the router, and the D-handle is a joy to use, giving me more control – especially on the edges of projects.

The other router is permanently fixed on a Rousseau router plate.  It’s a used Freud FT2000E plunge router I bought used.  I took the handles off and the springs out of the plunge base to make getting the router into a table and adjusting bit height easy. One day, I do want to get a method of  raising the router from above the table.  This muscular router is what I turn to for the heavy duty jobs.

Quick Polls

Quick Poll

1 Comment

Brushing VarnishWoodworkers – as with most other people in the world – are creatures of habit.

Think about breakfast, especially during the work week… so many of us stumble to the breakfast table, eyes barely open, and go through the motions of getting what is – in many cases – the exact same breakfast we had the day before.  A cup of coffee, a bowl of cereal, a glass of orange juice.

We typically stick with the familiar because we are on autopilot, so finding the comfortable and familiar is what works.

The same thing happens when it comes to finishing.  When we get to the end of a project, most woodworkers want the tried-and-true methods that will give good results – and prevent disaster on a project we spent so much time lovingly building.

When it comes to your finishing regimen, what is your favorite think-of-first method of applying finish?

[poll id=”43″]

Link of the week

Link of the week

2 Comments

College of the Redwoods Fine Furniture Program

College of the Redwoods furniture shopTucked away in the small California coastal town of Fort Bragg, the Fine Furniture program at the College of the Redwoods, Mendocino Coast campus is a national treasure.  Established in 1981 by master woodworker James Krenov, this program is one of the world’s most famous and respected.  The work turned out by graduates is truly inspired.

Building on Krenov’s teachings, students are encouraged to explore project shapes, grain patterns and wood colors in their understated yet stunning designs.

Currently, the college offers a nine-month program in cabinetry and furniture making with noted instructors Michael Burns, Jim Budlong, Greg Smith, Ejler Hjorth-Westh and David Welter. Other workshops lasting a few days or weeks are also offered in the summer.

How-to

My first Hammer Veneering adventure…

8 Comments

For all you children of the 1990’s – STOP!  It’s hammer time!

Hammer veneering is actually not all that tough.  This was my first time trying it, and I was pretty impressed with the results.  In fact, for an initial investment in a veneer hammer and some hide glue, I feel I am well on your way to making some pretty sweet veneer layups!

Here’s what I needed to start – A veneer hammer, hide glue and a way to mix it up, some veneer, substrate (which can be MDF, particle board, plywood or the like) and veneer softener.

Hammer Veneer SuppliesI picked up my veneer and some Super Soft 2 veneer softener from Joe Gorleski over at Veneer Supplies.  The veneer is some flat sapele pomelle… some cool stuff. Since the veneer is already flat, it’s easy to just spray on the Super Soft, let the surface dry and stack the sheets overnight between some brown building paper under a piece of Corian as a platen.

Meanwhile, I whipped up a batch of hide glue, letting the granules soak in water overnight and later heating them in a hot pot to 145 degrees F.

Hide Glue CoverageWhen I was ready to start the process, I brushed off the piece of 1/4″ plywood to get any dust off of it, and slathered a liberal amount of hide glue on the piece, making sure I got a nice, even coverage on the substrate’s surface. You shouldn’t have to race from here, but hide glue’s legendary quick setting time means now is not the time to make a sandwich, call your bookie or ‘answer the call of nature.’

I retrieved the sheet of veneer and simply laid it down on top of the glued surface.  I tried to keep it roughly centered, but I knew I could still shift it around.

Hammer Veneering - NOT MY HANDS!Now comes the fun part – I took the hammer and used the broad ‘blade’ end like a squeegee (Don’t beat on the piece with the ‘hammer’ – that’s not what it’s used for!), pressing the veneer down to the surface.

Sure, there were gushes of glue coming from under the veneer.   Seemed normal. I got some glue on the surface of the veneer.  Not only did it seem normal, but the glue helped the hammer’s blade glide over the surface.  The piece did slide initially.  Again, it seemed totally normal. After a while, I could start to feel the veneer ‘grabbing’ the substrate.

I kept working from the middle to the outside.  Remember, I was pushing air bubbles and extra glue out from under the veneer so the bond would become even stronger.

Here’s a hint – push gently when going across the grain of the veneer.  The piece may split of you push too aggressively.  I saved the final firm pushes for along the grain.

Final glue upWhen I was done, I had a gloppy mess and a veneer that had a few ‘bubbles’ under the surface.  Seemed normal to me.  What I did was get a wet cloth and started mopping up the mess, rinsing frequently.  Then, I started wiping off the veneer surface, getting the majority of the glue off.  Sure, it looked like I was making a mess, but that wiping will help make finishing easier and it made the veneer just a little more supple so it wouldn’t split the drying process.

After I cleaned up, I repeated the process and veneered the other side (the piece is going to be a lid and a bottom for a box I’m making – I wanted both sides covered).

After the last clean up, I wrapped the piece in more brown building paper and put it under the platen until it dried.

In the morning, I had a perfectly veneered piece of plywood, ready to be gently sanded, cut to size and put into the project.

Did I make mistakes?  Heck yeah.  I still have a lot to learn.  For a first attempt, it was faster than I expected and the results were pretty cool.  No doubt I’ll have to improve my technique, but I’m liking this new skill a lot.

And, I didn’t have to wear those throwback baggy pants…