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Last Minute Elf

Last Minute Elf 2013: Friday

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The Last Minute ElfChallenges.

Being a last minute builder myself, I have run into many challenges over the years trying to beat the clock for holiday presents.

I have had plenty of long shop nights, struggling to get everything done in time.  I have had to delay the giving of gifts because, well, they didn’t get done on time.

And, I can remember the one year that I was building a special train table for my nephew. The little guy wasn’t all that old – maybe five or six. And, he loved Thomas the Tank Engine more than life itself. And, I made the mistake of promising my sister-in-law that I would build the table.

Bad move.

Now, back then, my brother-in-law Larry was a much more accomplished woodworker than I was (he was the first of us to get a table saw), and had built a simple train table for his daughter. He showed me the rough dimensions of the project, and, well, I knew I could build it.

A train table similar to the one I builtFortunately, it was easy to build with plywood. And, I was going to paint it, so some exposed sanded through plies or glue splotches weren’t going to be a big deal.

I was well into the build when it hit me. The scratchy throat. The runny nose. Body aches. Soon, I was deep in the middle of a bad cold, coughing up a storm and running a fever. All I wanted to do was to lay on the couch and sleep, but my brain kept screaming at me to finish the table, because we were less than a week away from the holiday.  I struggled through the rest of the build, stopping frequently to blow my nose, take more Advil and sit down when I felt woozy. Which was frequently.

Suffering with a coldBut, I did it. Darned if it didn’t near kill me. My sister-in-law picked up the table and thanked me profusely, but I swore then that I would do two things…

First, I would never promise I was going to get anything done for a specific event…

And, number two, I always plan to give a back up gift, just in case those last minute plans don’t work out.

Just be sure to take your Vitamin C, eat well and get plenty of rest so you can fight off the bugs this holiday building season!

Chris' TunnelSticking with the train theme today, our winner for the Last Minute Elf building contest today is Chris Crozier. Those toy train toys are totally awesome for kids to play with, but, come on, what’s a train without a tunnel?  I mean, you have to use that train whistle for something, right?  Chris was able to set up an Instructable on how to build this tunnel using basswood, although something like MDF would probably make for an interesting project as well.  Chris, how about a pair of of 24″ Revo Jr. K-Body Clamps from the folks over at Bessey?  They would make building your next train table scenery that much easier.

Today’s articles?  We got ’em!


Last Minute Elf

Last Minute Elf 2013: Wednesday

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The Last Minute ElfMemories.

Aren’t they awesome? I mean, think about some of the best holiday celebrations you have ever enjoyed. What were some of the things you can remember? The smell of the special food? The sights and sounds? The gifts you received?

My car's RadioSome gifts you remember for a good long time. Two years ago, I got a new stereo for my base-model Toyota Corolla. Because it was built in 2007, no one had given any thought to making an easy connection from an iPod or other digital music device to the stereo. I had tried many different tuners and other patches to try to get the car to play my iPod, but they didn’t really work. That’s when my wife gave me a nice Pioneer sound system, complete with a USB connection. Right after we opened the gifts, I raced out to the car, tools in hand, to install it.

It took some time, but went in with no problems. Today, whenever I drive, I can listen to my music whenever I want to. I see it every day, and I am immediately whisked back to that Christmas morning.

Gift GivingI also have many memories of the presents I have built for others. So, I wasn’t surprised when I started posting about the Last Minute Elf a few months ago, there would be stories about woodworking projects that would be totally heartwarming. One came from reader George Bouchard. It was such a great story, I have to share it with you as he wrote it:

I built my sister-in law a cedar chest for Christmas one year, but told her we had hit on hard times and couldn’t afford much that year. There was a look of total disbelief when she opened up the ugliest pair of socks I could buy, she cried when the brother-in-law and I walked in the room with her cedar chest. We still exchange ugly socks every year for the past thirty years or so.

Now, that’s the kind of memory that will last a lifetime. Remember, when you are in your shop building those projects, you are doing so much more than assembling pieces of wood – you are making memories which may last decades.

Andrew's Cocobolo PocketwatchToday’s winner tried to get his project in as many different categories as possible. Andrew Arndts told me that it could go in the turned category, or perhaps the greenest project. Maybe a child would like it, but an adult would certainly enjoy it as well. Yeah, he covered the bases. But, this simple cut off of cocobolo, with a chain attached and a simple clock insert certainly makes a handsome pocket watch, and it makes him our winner!  Hey, Andrew, you are going to receive two pairs of MicroJig’s Zero Play guide bars for making the jigs of your dreams and a Consulting Woodworker’s two-book combo – Sand Shading and Frontier Log Building – for when you want to build your next awesome gifts!

The gift ideas keep pouring in!  There are a lot of friends out there in the online woodworking world who are helping to come up with some great Last Minute Elf ideas. Today’s batch is a Doozy!

 

 

Last Minute Elf

Last Minute Elf 2013: Monday

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The Last Minute Elf“It’s the thought that counts.”

Ugh. How many times have I heard that expression. Usually, it means, “Way to go, bonehead. I really didn’t need a Pepe Le Pew key chain for the holidays, but wow, you must have really been desperate to find a last-minute gift at the local gas station before you stopped here.”

It's Pepe LePew!Yeah, I’ve done stupid stuff like that.

But, I can also tell you that while getting something you may not want could be a disappointment, not getting anything – when others around you are receiving gifts – can really be a blow. That says that, yes, it’s true, that no one thought about you. It’s happened to me a few times, and it did not feel good…

That’s part of the reason why I enjoy building gifts for friends and relatives. It doesn’t only show that yes, I thought of you, it also shows much more importantly that not only did I think of you, but I carved hours out of my free time to make something especially for you.

Christmas Boxes, 2003The first year I built holiday gifts was when I made some mitered boxes for my parents and my in-laws. No, they weren’t all that great. I can still remember trying to figure out how to hide some gappy miter joints after I had assembled the pieces. And, there were more than a few puzzled looks on the faces of the recipients when they got them.

But, ten years later, when I walk into my mom’s or my in-law’s homes, I can see those boxes still out on display. I know that they are still being appreciated.

So, if you have never built a gift for the holiday season, give it a go. While you may not think the project is a big deal, it may be a huge deal for the person who receives it.

Yes, it certainly is the thought that counts.

Today’s winner?  Well, when you get an entry from someone known as The Woodfather, it’s an offer you cannot refuse, capisce?  That’s what happened when Mario Cappellano sent me the plans for his children’s picnic table.

The Kids approve of this table!Mario – I’d say the kids are liking that table. And, when the weather gets warmer, it will be a great place to gather with friends to enjoy some fresh air and sunshine – and a good snack!

For being today’s winner, how about Fine Woodworking’s Basic Box Making DVD with Doug Stowe?

And, here are some Last Minute Elf links for some really cool quick holiday ideas.

Remember, if you have posted a Last Minute Elf idea on your site, or see one posted somewhere, be sure to send me the link at tom@tomsworkbench.com so I can post it here this week!

Last Minute Elf

The Last Minute Elf 2013: Sunday

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I woke up this morning and realized… WOW…. it’s DECEMBER… which can only mean two things.

First, I have to flip the page on my calendar.

Second – and most importantly – it’s day one of the Last Minute Elf week!

The Last Minute ElfThat’s right, all of you elves out there. It’s time to get off your duffs and start building for the special people in your lives. After basically completing the new work bench yesterday (Iggy was a huge help), we’re getting the rest of the shop ready for the holiday season!

And, I think it’s a good time to award our first prize for a Last Minute Elf project.  John Gulich was definitely thinking green when he came up with this cool doll bunk bed plan. Click here to get the plans and some more photos of this interesting project made of pallet wood.  Hey, John, I hope you enjoy the set of Two Cherries Chisels, courtesy of Wood Magazine! GE DIGITAL CAMERAToday, we are going to ease into the week. Let’s start off with a quick poll… with the holiday shipping deadlines coming up in a few weeks (less, if you are shipping overseas), how are those projects going?

Projects

We’re gaining on it.

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Remember when Norm Abram would get close to finishing a project on the New Yankee Workshop? He would always throw out that expression, “We’re gaining on it.”

Well, that’s exactly how I feel about this bench.  I’m definitely gaining on it, and I think I may be very close to done.

The drilling rigWith the side aprons attached, I was able to tip the assembly on the ‘back’ rail and start drilling the holes in the sides and down the leg away from the vise. These would be able to hold pegs to support work while I’m working on it in the vise. I used this drill jig I picked up for $25 at a large retailer in order to ensure the holes are perpendicular.

Drilled outAfter measuring, marking and drilling, I stool the bench up on its feet again and admired my handiwork. I had even taken a router with a round over bit to the holes to prevent chipping (and around the sharp edges as well), I put in six cross members to catch the top.

As you can see from the photo, I notched out for my old Wilton face vise. While I worked on the top of the bench, I also notched out a recess so the back jaws of the vise would be flush with the top. It took some time with a forstner bit and a chisel, but I got the back jaw recessed…

The back jaw is mortisedOn the front jaw, I put on a long wooden chop. I know, someone’s going to say, “Hey, Tom, that vise is going to rack!”  First, at Woodworking in America, Chris Schwarz mentioned that a vise like my Wilton really won’t rack… its running gear is 100% metal. Plus, I could always throw something in the opposite side if I feel as if something is going to go awry.

The vise closedI kind of like the big wide wooden chop on the vise. It looks substantial.

End on I still have some more work to do on this tomorrow… I need to trim the ends so they are nice and even. And, I still have to put on the Record fast action vise on the far end, and start boring some dog holes on the bench top.  Maybe I’ll even throw in a little shelf for mallets, holdfasts and other goodies…

The bench is almost ready!But, for now, I’m just very happy with the results. Oh, I will be ready to go for Last Minute Elf week for sure!

 

Tom

What I’m thankful for….

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It’s an annual tradition here on Tom’s Workbench. Since I normally post on Wednesdays and Thanksgiving is always on a Thursday, it’s easy and very timely for me to post a list of all of the things I am thankful for.  I’m not making an exception for this year!

So, without any further ado, here’s the 2013 edition of what I am thankful for.

I am thankful for my wife Rhonda and the 20 years of marriage we celebrated this year. Standing at the altar back in 1993, I could have never thought my life would be the way it is today, and I owe much of that to you, Rhonda.

I am thankful for my two wacky sons. They got their mom’s looks, but they got their dad’s zany sense of humor. Fortunately, they are both doing well in school, and every day with those two mooks is an adventure.

I am thankful that my trained shop monkey Iggy hasn’t thrown me out into the street and changed the locks to the shop.

I am thankful that I was able to attend the Woodworking Show in Tampa back in March and the Woodworking in America show in Covington, Kentucky this past October. The folks I meet at these events are just so darned talented and welcoming. It’s great to be a woodworker.

I am thankful for my friends and family. It still gives me the biggest thrill to hear from someone I know and care about, “I read that on your blog.”  Thanks for being my support throughout the years and for tolerating the 800th trip through the shop to see what’s on the bench.

I am thankful that I (finally) built the banquette project this year, after a few years of – ahem – dragging my feet. Tomorrow at dinner, we will have that bench filled to capacity with hungry relatives ready to dig in to the feast.

I am thankful that we had an amazingly successful Get Woodworking Week this past February. If we can inspire new woodworkers to get into the shop, then our job is done!  Oh, mark your calendars for the week of February 2 – 8 for the 2014 edition of Get Woodworking Week.

I am also thankful that there has been tremendous support for the Last Minute Elf project, which is coming up next week!  Remember to get those project ideas in to me soon, so you can be entered for some fabulous prizes.

I am thankful that my first year as Vice President of the St. Petersburg Woodrafters Guild went well, and I look forward to another successful year.

I am thankful that Chris Schwarz inspired me to build the Dutch Tool Chest to provide a safe and convenient place to store my hand tools and keep them organized. In 2014, I hope to become a whole lot more acquainted with them.

I am thankful that I was able to see the smiles of my two nieces – Lauren and Katie – after they got their presents this year, and I’m glad that my friend’s daughter Sydney was happy with her medal rack. There is indeed nothing like the sight of a happy customer.

I am thankful for my sponsors – Bell Forest Products, Infinity Cutting Tools, Bora Tools, Tormek and Laguna. Some days, I really do have to pinch myself – I can’t believe that you guys are still supporting me so readily!

I am thankful that our hurricane season this year was quiet, with minimal impact for my friends and relatives here in the United States. After Irene in 2011 and Sandy in 2012, it’s good to get a year off from worry…

I am thankful that I was able to sleep on my response to a post made by Paul Sellers back in March. I could have just thrown out an angry response to his post about the lack of younger and female woodworkers at the Tampa Woodworking Show last March, but I hope my more measured response helped folks become more interested in working together to grow the craft

The MWA Podcast - LIVEI am thankful that the brain trust at the Modern Woodworkers Association hasn’t wised up yet and given me the boot!  OK, just kidding.. but, I really do want to thank Dyami Plotke and Chris Adkins for tolerating my hijinx…You guys rock.

I am thankful that there are so many talented woodworkers out there taking the leap and contributing to the online woodworking experience. Each blog post, each video, each podcast is an opportunity for someone to showcase their skill and enthusiasm for the craft we love so dearly. I cannot tell you how great it is to be in the company of people I admire and want to emulate. Thank you for what you do for the community.

And, most importantly, I want to take a moment to thank each of you for reading Tom’s Workbench. Who would have known six years ago that this little shop distraction would have become what it is today – a blog where people actually read the content?  Thanks for all of your support.

Tomorrow, as I lift my glass to make the toast, I want you to know I’ll be making a special one for each of you…

Projects

Bench press(ure)

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OK, no quick poll yesterday. What’s the excuse this time, Tom?

It’s not like I had to rearrange my sock drawer… but, I did have to do a ton of laundry. There was also the annual purchasing of the turkey for Thanksgiving. And, there was a sand castle contest in Treasure Island, Florida, where we saw some interesting sculptures.

A sand sculpture on Treasure IslandWhile these were all great events, they weren’t the reason why the quick poll didn’t come out. It was due to this….

Stack o' wood

And, just what is this pile of Southern Yellow Pine supposed to become?  Something like this:

A line drawing of a Nicholson benchYes, I’m building a new work bench. A Nicholson bench, to be exact.The bench I built back in 2008 is nice, big and heavy, but there are some things I can’t do with it.  I can’t clamp anything to the face of it in order to secure it for edge planing. I really don’t have a good tail vise. And, I think the time has some to remedy this.

After using – and laying on – Mike Siemsen’s Nicholson at the Hand Tool Olympics, I really got the bug to build one.

Mike Siemsen's benchThis weekend, I headed over to big orange, and started buying southern yellow pine dimensional lumber. Man, those boards are pretty sweet.  Not a lot of knots, pretty darned flat and ready to be worked.

Starting the mortisesSo, I started with building the legs. I used 2 x 8’s, ripping the radiused edges off until I had 7 inch wide boards. After marking out where I wanted the mortises to live, I set up the drill press with a one inch forstner bit. I have never made mortises this way before, and I have to admit, it was pretty cool. And made quite a mess…

Mortising MessFresh off the drill press things were nice, but needed a little cleaning up to get ready for the tenons.

A little chisel work in orderI cut the tenons on the table saw for the cross pieces, and with some work with a shoulder plane, they fit nicely.

The leg assemblies good to goWith the leg assemblies together, I can now turn my attention to the upper part of the bench. One critical component of a Nicholson bench are the sides. So, ripped off the radiused top of the board, and nipped off the bottom corners of the sides, and now need to start thinking about boring holes for them and getting them ready to mount to the leg assemblies.

The sides ready for workWhy now? Well, I know with the long Thanksgiving weekend coming up, it will be a great time to get out to the shop and get everything put together.

Hopefully, I’ll have it all ready in time to build some projects for the Last Minute Elf week…