Quick Poll

January 12, 2014 Tom 8 Comments

Criticism.

Man, talk about a loaded word. Some folks cringe at the very thought of having someone weigh in on anything they do, while others may be more open-minded to the possibilities that an honest evaluation can bring.

And, when it comes to woodworking, we often find ourselves to be our own worst critics, pointing out every single mess up – no matter how small or inconsequential.

When the criticism comes from others, however, it can really be hurtful – or a springboard to improvement. (Thanks, Marc Spagnuolo for today’s poll idea!)

This week, tell us what you think about criticism, and can you handle it with your woodworking?

Link of the week

January 10, 2014 Tom 2 Comments

Chinese Woodworker

When most people think about Asian woodworking, their thoughts turn toward traditional Japanese woodworking tools and techniques. But, on mainland Asia, the Chinese have a long and interesting history when it comes to woodworking as well. The only problem is that there is very little information out there about it.

Master Craftsman Li Sifu uses a traditional hatchet to dimension a board.

Today’s link of the week can serve as an excellent primer into the world of traditional Chinese woodworking. From the tools and techniques to links to books and collections of these pieces, the site offers a broad introduction to how Chinese woodworkers plied their trade. It’s definitely worth a read.

Tools

The handiest tool

January 8, 2014 Tom 14 Comments

I have a confession to make.

Every time someone asks me, “Tom, what’s your favorite woodworking tool?” I always fail to tell the truth. It’s not because I’m trying to delude anybody. It’s just that I forget the one tool that finds its way into my grubby mitts for just about every project.

No, it’s not the joiner plane I mention frequently. Nor is it the table saw or the chisels. Instead, it’s my cordless drill.

This past weekend, I bought a new one, making it – I believe – the fifth one I have owned. First, there was the Ryobi 12 volt. Uber cheap, it was the drill that showed me that I didn’t necessarily have to have a cord connected to the wall to be an effective tool. It served me well for about a year before the NiCad batteries crapped out on me.

The DeWalt 14.4 volt I owned was awesome. That was a compact model that was built like a tank. It could handle all of the drilling and driving tasks I sent its way. I had that one for about three years of loyal service until, again, the NiCad batteries just gave up the ghost. Oh, sure, I could have bought new batteries, but the darned things cost more than a whole new drill setup.

I was later gifted a Kobolt drill with a Li-ion battery. The new battery technology was great, but something happened inside the drill after about half a year. I was putting up some fence panels in my backyard, when the drill suddenly stopped moving. For some reason, the drill seemed a little underpowered, so instead of going through the warranty mumbo-jumbo, I decided it was time to move to another drill.

I picked up a Porter-Cable drill kit (complete with a battery powered circular saw) about two years ago, and that served very well as my primary drill. Again, it could handle just about anything I could throw at it. Drilling holes, driving screws, mixing thinset mortar with a paddle attachment. Yes, I still have some hardened thinset on one of the batteries. The problem? You guessed it. The drill came with NiCad batteries, and after two years of charges, it started not holding charges anymore. I noticed during the start of the cabinet build that I was swapping batteries about every hour or so, and I wasn’t doing a lot of work with the drill. And, as you might imagine, new batteries cost more than a whole new setup. I needed a new way to do this….

That’s why this past weekend, I picked up a new Ridgid cordless drill. I went big orange because of their lifetime warranty – which happens to also include the battery packs. So, if they go south, I can get new ones.

This drill is solid in my hand, with a 30 position clutch – an essential when driving screws. It has two speeds – slow for driving screws and fast for drilling. My Porter Cable drill had a light in line with the chuck on the drill, where the Ridgid has and LED light at the base of the handle, giving a much better illumination of the area you are working. It may seem like a luxury, but let me tell you, working inside a dark, cramped place, the light is worth its weight in gold.

Just like my old DeWalt, the drill is also far more compact than my last one, which will allow me to work inside smaller locations, making cabinet work that much easier.

And, like the old Kobolt, it’s a Lithium-Ion battery. What’s the difference? Well, from everything I have read, when NiCad batteries start to run out of juice, the drill’s performance drops off significantly. When the Li-Ion batteries run low, they still provide top performance until there is no more juice. The charger also recharges the batteries very quickly, meaning less down time waiting for batteries the charge.

There’s nothing quite like the feel of a good quality cordless drill in my hands – especially when building an installing cabinetry. I can drive screws to build the boxes, then drill pocket holes in face frame members to accept screws. Switch to a forstner bit to drill holes for cable runs between cabinet boxes. Drive long screws through the cabinet backs to attach the boxes to the studs.

Yeah, I really do like my cordless drill, and this one one promises to be a solid performer for years to come. Look for this one to be by my side on some more upcoming projects.

Projects

A chain reaction

January 6, 2014 Tom Leave a comment

It all started in an electronics store. Yes, that’s right, not a single woodworking tool in sight.

For Christmas, my mom and Rhonda’s parents sent us some cash – as they do every year – to buy something nice for ourselves. The TV we had in the front room was a circa 1999 purchase, and it served us well for such a long time. But, as with all other electronics, it’s lifespan was limited, and the picture left something to be desired.

So, Rhonda and I bought a new TV. Really nice one with and HD tuner, built in wi-fi, and a gorgeous picture. A 42 inch model. Which created an unforseen problem – and an opportunity for a certain woodworker to strut his stuff.

So, over the recent holiday break – when I wasn’t aching with a terrible sinus headache – I started working on a new set of cabinets for the front of our living room. Basically, I wanted to build a low console cabinet for the TV to sit on, the stereo and other entertainment equipment to hide in and storage. That’s a critical component of living in a basementless Florida ranch house.

I discovered that my new workbench – even though it was designed in the early 1800s – was awesome for modern plywood cabinetmaking. I was able to balance the sheets of plywood on it and use my track saw to break down the components. From there, I was able to cut a groove to hold the 1/2 inch backs.

On the tail end of the bench, I clamped my Kreg pocket hole jig and drilled the holes onto the sides. After that, I used some glue and pocket screws to assemble the boxes. I can remember from several cabinet projects that building the boxes is so easy, and gives you a false sense of nearly being done with the project. In reality, there are a lot more steps to go after you have three big boxes.

For legs, I went with the design I had used on my banquette project from last year – the stiles of the cabinet sides extend four inches below the bottom of the boxes to serve as feet. I tapered those feet to give a little more grace to the project.

I made the back feet just simple pieces of plywood pocket screwed to the bottom of the boxes, in a little bit from the back of the cabinet (so I didn’t have to remove the baseboards).

I will pass on a piece of hard-earned wisdom – do with it as you will. When planning a cabinet job that will go from wall-to-wall in a space, don’t build the boxes to be the exact dimensions of the room. You need about an inch of play total to allow the boxes to fit comfortably. You can hide the spaces between the boxes with trim, and you won’t have to cut your completed boxes apart to gain that space. Trust me.

With everything attached to the studs and each other, I added some filler strips to ensure that everything looked clean and gap free. I bored some holes in the boxes to allow for passage of the cable and power cords, and even had my son Dominic drill the shelf pin holes using a jig to ensure proper spacing.

While I got most of the work done, I have to build and add some shelves, paint the piece in place (and the wall behind it), build some tops (maybe oak to match the laminate floor) and build some sliding bypass doors. That will be a first for me.

As for the old corner TV cabinet where the old set lived, it’s not going anywhere. I will have to build a pair of doors to convert that open area into some closed storage.

For now, well, hey, we have a comfortable place to sit and watch some ultra-clear HD TV…

Quick Polls

Quick Poll

January 5, 2014 Tom 1 Comment

Happy New Year! Ok, it’s a few days past New Year’s Day, but still, we are in the first week of the year.

It’s that time of the year when people make resolutions. To see more of the world. To push for that promotion at work. To shed those excess pounds.

As a woodworker. there are lots of things we can resolve to do. Built that project you have been putting off. Learn a new skill. Try working with a new wood.

This week, tell us if you have made any New Years resolutions when it comes to woodworking, or do you pass on that?

Link of the week

January 3, 2014 Tom 2 Comments

The Crazy Canadian Woodworker

It is with much sadness that I discovered that Paul Moore, known as the Crazy Canadian Woodworker, passed away on December 28.

Paul was definitely a showman, playing up his North of the Border schtick while imparting some awesome woodworking know how on the Woodworking Show tour and on his YouTube videos. Not only a knowledgeable woodworker, he helped develop a number of innovative tools for work on the band saw.

Last spring, I watched him cut one of his famous Ditchwood Bowls using his round ripper jig. It was so elegantly simple, and produced such great results.

While Paul’s passing is a major loss to woodworking, his skill – and humor – will prove invaluable for woodworkers for years to come.

Tom

Little Norm makes a resolution

January 1, 2014 Tom 2 Comments

Happy New Year, everyone! I’m sure that some of us are sleeping off what happened last night, while others are already up at at ’em, seizing the first day of 2014.

Someone who was up early this morning is my friend, Little Norm. Every since his days hosting the Teeny Weenie New Yankee Workshop, Little Norm has taken a lot of abuse from folks who had him pegged as a power tool only woodworker. Well, Little Norm is ready to show he’s turned over a new leaf, and he has taken some time this New Years Day to build himself a cabin in the woods.

First, Little Norm broke out his shiny new axe to start notching timbers to make sure they fit. “Measure twice and cut once,” says Little Norm.

As the work progressed, Little Norm was ensuring that all of his timbers were notched properly. Remember, Little Norm, wear those safety glasses!

After a few hours of hard work, Little Norm stopped to get a cup of coffee, eat some black eyed peas and collard greens (he is in Florida) and show his progress. “We’re gaining on it!” Little Norm exclaimed.

Once the walls were up, Little Norm used the back of his axe as a persuader to help knock the gable ends into place. “Yeah, the building inspectors here in Florida don’t like gable ends, but since this is a weekend fishing cabin, I don’t see it being an issue.”

With the gable ends up, Little Norm turned his attention to the roof planking. Yes, the wood is a little green when riven from the cypress logs, but since the humidity in these parts never drops too low, Little Norm doesn’t seem to upset.

Yes, it’s Florida, but Little Norm insisted on a fireplace in his cabin. This way, he had someplace to kick up his feet on a chilly night, make some S’Mores, and maybe smoke a little venison sausage…

Uh oh. It’s Little Norm’s agents, and they don’t look to happy to see that Little Norm has gotten away form his power-tool reputation from the Teeny Weenie New Yankee Workshop. Looks like Little Norm may want to start renegotiate his deal with the show after this!

Everyone, have a very Happy New Year, and let’s make 2014 a great one for woodworking!

Tom's Workbench

Quick Poll

Link of the week

The handiest tool

A chain reaction

Quick Poll

Link of the week

Little Norm makes a resolution

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