It’s been since February since I updated this blog - probably nobody even looking or caring, but just in case, I spent the weekend making a bed for my son and cutting out templates for future Adirondack Chairs. Pictures to follow soon. Felt great to be in the shop again!

Just purchased a Grizzly G0505 12.5” portable “Lean & mean” planer. Here’s a video of the setup and the first couple passes over some pretty hard sycamore.

Found a great arts & crafts clock project on LumberJocks: http://lumberjocks.com/projects/1113

Got me thinking…

Here’s a clock face I just drew in CorelDraw that I’m thinking of building a mission style clock around this weekend…

Here’s my e-x-t-e-n-d-e-d video review of the WorkSharp WS2000.

Here are two much better reviews on the WS3000 and the Veritas alternatives:
http://lumberjocks.com/jocks/WayneC/blog/1113
http://lumberjocks.com/jocks/mot/blog/1149

Thanks to all of you who are bearing with my videos as I learn while I go! I apologize for the length of the video - I just want to sharpen everything in my shop! I keep calling it “WorkShop” in the video - I mean “WorkSharp” - I keep saying stropping, although I’m not sure it’s a word and I’m tired of hearing myself saying it. I also keep saying “shavings” when I mean “filings” — again thanks for your patience.

High-resolution version here.

I’m uploading video right now of a review of my newest tool: the WorkSharp WS2000 sharpening system. Here’s a link to the tool at Rockler:

Work Sharp WS2000 Tool Sharpener

Adding dust collection to my bandsaw required that I extend the DC hose under my workbench. Also installed modular static control.

Enjoy!

My daughter received a “prized” Hannah Montana calendar for Christmas and needed more than just a nail in a wall to hang it in her room.

My wife has a Lang calendar holder that this is based on.

This is made from Quarter sawn sycamore, however, I turned the two sidepieces 90 degrees, so they’re really flatsawn in this configuration. That and a couple other flaws that I see but no one else does. I’m proud that there is no metal in this, just wood, glue and 2 mini-biscuits. The bottom crosspiece is rabbited. The backing is HDF.

Here’s the Sketchup Model.

My wife, parents & mother in law got together to get me this great Christmas present!

Assembling my new band saw - what a great Christmas present!

It’s been done for a couple weeks - sat in the garage forever while I tried to find the perfect hinges and knob. But I had to get it out of the shop and into the house so I settled on both the door and the hardware.

The door is a quasi raised panel but the panel isn’t mortisied, it’s floating and held together with pocket screws. The hardware is from Lowes and is fine for now, but my intention is to replace both the door and the hardware in the spring. I want a whte oak door to match the top.

The top I am especially happy with - I fumed the White oak which was the way Gustav Stickley used to darken his. I stuck the machined and sanded top in a big box with a bowl of household ammonia (the pros use much stronger stuff, which makes it darker, faster), but I like the color I got from leaving it in there for 3 days. I then finished it with Minwax hand rubbed poly.

The important thing is it’s done and LOML likes it!

Getting ready to make my first door - raised panel no less!
Top is cut to size, needs a decorative edge.
Carcass is ready to be sanded and painted.