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Turning A Live Edge Bowl

Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2021 6:01 pm
by Chad
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Nick Engler's Workshop Companion

Watch it here: https://youtu.be/dOHxUR3k-B4

Have you ever wondered how to preserve the bark on live-edge stock? Normally, bark dries and shrinks faster than the wood to which it's attached. This stresses the bond between the two and the bark sloughs off. But as this video begins, Nick has been soaking a slice of a walnut log in polyethylene glycol -- PEG -- for four months. The PEG has stabilized both the wood and the bark; neither has shrunk; so the bond between them remains strong. He turns a bowl the same diameter as the log, leaving a ring of bark all around the circumference. Not only does the bark remain attached, it is hard enough to be turned just like the wood.

#lathe #turning #live #edge #bark #bowl #PEG #polyethylene #glycol #faceplate #woodworking #howto

Pick up one of Nick's books FREE just for visiting: https://workshopcompanion.selz.com/categories/books

And if you want clear, concise information on any woodworking topic, visit the Workshop Companion web site: http://workshopcompanion.com

Bandsaw Magic - Melting Shelves

Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2021 7:33 am
by Chad
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Nick Engler's Workshop Companion

Watch it here: https://youtu.be/bcHezjT2f54

Exploring an old, obscure band saw technique, Nick discovers some new magic. The undulating legs on these "melting shelves" were each made with just two band saw cuts, then joined to the shelves and apron with some remarkably ordinary table saw work. Although the results are spectacular, the methods used to make this unique piece involve nothing more than sawing some curves and making a few crosscuts. As magic goes, this particular bit of woodworking prestidigitation is remarkable simple and straightforward to conjure.

And if you'd like to try this bit of bandsaw magic yourself, Nick has collected all the necessary spells in a project plan available at our Workshop Companion Store: https://workshopcompanion.selz.com/it... . You can also read about this band saw technique and many, many others in his book, "Using the Band Saw," available at https://workshopcompanion.selz.com/it... .

#bandsaw #band #saw #compound #cuts #woodworking #DIY #howto #display #shelves #magic

Pick up one of Nick's books FREE just for visiting: https://workshopcompanion.selz.com/categories/books

And if you want clear, concise information on any woodworking topic, visit the Workshop Companion web site: http://workshopcompanion.com

Touching Up Saw Blades - Harbor Freight Saw Blade Sharpener

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 7:43 pm
by Chad
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Nick Engler's Workshop Companion

Watch it here: https://youtu.be/wXk8X93LTtU

Nick reviews an inexpensive "circular saw blade sharpener" from Harbor Freight/Central Machinery'. While this little machine is no where near sturdy enough to do precision sharpening or restore the symmetry of your blades, it does a decent job of "touching up" -- that is, lightly sharpening the teeth and restoring their keen edges. This will not eliminate to need to have your blades professionally ground from time to time, but it will greatly extend the time between these expensive sessions.

Pick up one of Nick's books FREE just for visiting: https://workshopcompanion.selz.com/categories/books

And if you want clear, concise information on any woodworking topic, visit the Workshop Companion web site: http://workshopcompanion.com

Bandsaw Magic Part 2

Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2021 7:11 am
by Chad
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Nick Engler's Workshop Companion

Watch it here: https://youtu.be/yGa2bU3l0dI

There was an abundance of questions and suggestions concerning our first "Bandsaw Magic" video, so in Part 2 we have answered those questions, reviewed the suggestions, and pushed this magic to a new level. Nick shows new mixed-wood pattern that yield spectacular results, reveals what happens when you cut two markedly different curves in adjoining sides, and explains how to modify the bandsaw magic technique to create tapered shapes. He then uses this modified magic to create a true cabriole leg with tapers to two directions! He also answers your most pressing question, "Which band saw blade works best?"

Nick's "Chart of Common Band Saw Blades" and their uses is available for FREE at the Workshop Companion Store: https://workshopcompanion.selz.com/it... . It covers blades of both metric and English-sizes. If you'd like to buy his book, "Using the Band Saw," find it here: https://workshopcompanion.selz.com/it... .

Pick up one of Nick's books FREE just for visiting: https://workshopcompanion.selz.com/categories/books

And if you want clear, concise information on any woodworking topic, visit the Workshop Companion web site: http://workshopcompanion.com

Band Saw Lumber-- Sawing Firewood into Usable Boards.

Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2021 7:18 am
by Chad
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Nick Engler's Workshop Companion

Watch it here: https://youtu.be/bfmCV7qKtGk

If your band saw is big enough to do resawing, it's big enough to do sawyering -- you can turn tree limbs and small logs into usable lumber. Nick shows how you can cut a log that's larger than the your band saw's capacity into wide, flat boards. And just as important, he explains how to assemble a small stack of lumber and wire it together so the lumber will air-dry evenly and all the boards will turn out straight and true. Amazingly, this doesn't require complex jigs to turn your band saw into a saw mill -- just a scrap of plywood!

If you'd like to know more about sawyering and drying your own lumber, you might like to read Nick's book, "Wood and Woodworking Materials." It's available from the Workshop Companion store at: https://workshopcompanion.selz.com/it... .

Pick up one of Nick's books FREE just for visiting: https://workshopcompanion.selz.com/categories/books

And if you want clear, concise information on any woodworking topic, visit the Workshop Companion web site: http://workshopcompanion.com

Re: Nick Engler's Workshop Companion

Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2021 1:04 pm
by DLB
I found the following comment and response interesting and insightful for SS owners:
"Woodshop Nerdery
You have a knack for covering topics that I am capable of approaching in my garage shop and are actually worth trying. Also very motivating to see it done on the tool I own already."

"Workshop Companion
It may not be exactly the same tool. That particular band saw is driven by a two horsepower motor. When mounted on the Mark V or -- worse -- mounted on an SPT stand with a 1/2-HP motor, the SS band saw is disappointing as a resawing tool. Add some power and its capabilities expand considerably."

I know there are inconsistencies when folks talk about AC motor HP but in this case Nick refers specifically to the Mark V so it seems that he is talking about somewhat more power than the Mark delivers.

- David

Re: Nick Engler's Workshop Companion

Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2021 1:10 pm
by RFGuy
DLB wrote: Mon Oct 11, 2021 1:04 pm I know there are inconsistencies when folks talk about AC motor HP but in this case Nick refers specifically to the Mark V so it seems that he is talking about somewhat more power than the Mark delivers.

- David
Thanks David. Yeah, I saw that video from Nick and enjoyed it. I didn't see the comments, so thanks for pointing this out. I was wondering how he was sawing through that log with ease. It makes more sense now if he has a 2HP motor driving his Shopsmith bandsaw.

Sheep from Shavings – Taking Scrapwood Projects to a New Level.

Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 7:11 am
by Chad
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Nick Engler's Workshop Companion

Watch it here: https://youtu.be/xIve0zruojI

This project combines two things that are near and dear to every woodworker’s heart: (1) Using a hand plane, which once you get the knack is a metaphysical experience. And (2) using every available scrap of wood no matter how small, which is of course our very reason for being. These sheep are covered with the scraps you make by planning your scraps! What could possibly be more soul-satisfying?

It’s delightfully ingenious. Create a sheep shape from a block of wood, and then cover it with bench plane shavings to suggest wool. You get an ear-to-ear grin from everyone who sees it as they make the shavings-as-wool connection. Then you grin because they’re grinning. Like I said, what could be more soul-satisfying?

If you’d like the plans for these sheep, including FULL-SIZE patterns and dimensions in both Imperial/English and metric, they are available soon at the Workshop Companion Store: https://workshopcompanion.selz.com/it...

Pick up one of Nick's books FREE just for visiting: https://workshopcompanion.selz.com/categories/books

And if you want clear, concise information on any woodworking topic, visit the Workshop Companion web site: http://workshopcompanion.com

Find us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/workshopcomp...

Re: Nick Engler's Workshop Companion

Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2021 11:12 pm
by thedovetailjoint
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Just a heads up, I recorded a conversation with Nick Engler that will go live on YouTube tomorrow (10/24/2021) around 6 PM Eastern.We talked at length about a number of topics that I think will be of interest to any Shopsmith fan. www.youtube.com/MyGrowthRings

Nick Engler from "Workshop Companion" talks Shopsmith, woodworking education & more

Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2021 8:23 pm
by Chad
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My Growth Rings with Scott Markwood viewtopic.php?p=289866#p289866

Watch it here: https://youtu.be/-UA5ZIFJCfA

Popular author and educator Nick Engler reminisces about his years at power tool manufacturer Shopsmith and brings us up to speed on the launch of his "Workshop Companion" Youtube channel and more. Check it out and subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/c/WorkshopCom...

🟢 Be sure to explore Nick's vast catalog of woodworking books: https://amzn.to/3py2Hwn