Tampa Bay area strike team Hurricane Sandy relief

AGAIN?  What gives?

Yes, there was no post this past Wednesday.  Why?

Because I was deployed with a Tampa Bay area strike team to New York City to assist with the relief efforts post Hurricane Sandy. No woodworking here, but lots of tracking relief supplies, inventorying shipments and documenting what has been going on. The days have been grueling – 12 to 15 hour days, but it’s nothing compared to the troubles that storm affected areas have been experiencing.

Today’s link is to the blog I have been doing day by day (yes, another blog for me to work on) giving everyone a look into the workings of the logistics center here in Brooklyn.

Oh, another important thing… this event is no where near done. While contributions of coats, blankets and other material are great, they do create a logistical logjam, since they need to be shipped, sorted, warehoused, packaged and delivered. Contributions to organizations like the American Red Cross allow for items to be sourced from vendors and shipped directly to where they are needed. Thanksgiving is coming up here in the United States… we have a lot to be thankful for, but a lot of folks here in New York are suffering…  Just a thought.

Lake Erie Toolworks

Yes, I did once feature Lake Erie Toolworks a few years back, but after running into them again at Woodworking in America, I have got to tell you about two new products they have.

Known for their giant wooden screws that make vise building a piece of cake, they are now offering two new vise kits for your workbench – a wagon vise and a shoulder vise. I had a chance to use both of these vises at the show, and I can tell you they work VERY well. Nice and smooth, with a thread that’s fast enough to release your work quickly, yet provide tremendous amount of leverage and clamping power.

Give their site a look.. I think you will be impressed.

Hancock Shaker Village

Many woodworkers admire the clean, simple lines of Shaker style furniture. The forms are classic, and are still reproduced even though it has been a century or more since the originals were made.

So, if you are big fan of Shaker Furniture, you should probably go to a Shaker Village to get a better idea of how members of this religious sect lived, worked and interacted with their craft. Hancock Shaker Village is a lovingly preserved Shaker settlement where you can see, admire and immerse yourself in the Shaker lifestyle.

Rod Johnson’s Chess and Checker game board pictorial

Back in 2010, woodworker Rod Johnson had to come up with a woodworking plan to instruct a group of 4-H participants on woodworking. Something that would build their skills and challenge their minds. Why not a chessboard complete with chess pieces, checkers and storage!

While his method might lead to some issues with expansion and contraction on the board, you will certainly get a kick out of how he made the checkers and chess pieces. It is certainly a simple plan that does give very good results. With the holiday coming up, it is time to start thinking about those gift projects…

Making wooden bowls

They can hold fruit, salad, bread or flowers. They can serve as the centerpiece of a fancy table, or be a very utilitarian service piece for your kitchen.

Wooden bowls are certainly something to behold, and they can be easy to make with the right tools. This site run by Ed Keenan shows his gorgeous wooden bowls that are for sale, but also walks readers through the step-by-step process of how these babies are made, just in case you would like to try your hand at making one.

With the holidays coming up in a few months, it’s time to start thinking about what you might be building, and wooden bowls may just be the ticket.

Wikipedia’s entry on Cosmoline

It’s a thick, nasty looking, sticky concoction that appears to be a cross between axle grease and earwax. Historical arms collectors have to clean it off of and out of the bore of their weapons. The military slathers it all over their vehicles before they ship them to servicemen and women around the world. And, yes, even woodworkers have to clear the gunk off their power tools before they can put them to use.

It’s known as Cosmoline, and while cleaning it out of your power tools can be a sticky, gummy mess, it certainly does a great job preventing rust from forming on bare metal parts. This entry at Wikipedia notes the substance’s history, and even goes into some detail about how to clean it off treated surfaces.  Something you may not do every day, but it’s worth filing away for when your dream tool arrives at your shop!

Suite 101’s tips for theatrical set building

Sure, the actors are the ones who deliver the lines and make the action happen in a play, but a well-built theatrical set can help transport the action to far away lands and helps the audience suspend their disbelief.

This brief introduction to building theatrical sets is a must read for the budding set designer. Tips on how to save weight, effort and money are sprinkled throughout the article, with sound advice on where to spend the money and where to save a few pennies.

So, if you are cobbling together a quick set for a child’s school play or working with a much larger budget for a community theater, the tips here can help lead to a standing ovation for your work.