Another nice week weatherwise, and not a thing being done in the shop.
I compiled my to-do list of chores to be done outdoors and it came to twenty items, most of which are left over from last year's list. If last year is any indication of this year, for every item I strike off, I will add at least one more. That trend is holding true as I started four small painting jobs (finished three) and only one, (not finished) was on the official to-do list.
The kids visited from "The Falls" this weekend and I was reminded, again, by my grandaughter that I need to build a stable for her two horses. Each measures about 14" long by 12" high so it will be quite a building if I ever complete it. As they left today, my daughter requested that I make them a "cell phone charging station" as shown in the latest issue of Woodsmith Magazine. That's what happens when you leave the mags hanging around in "the reading room".
I was already thinking of making a garden bench shown in the same issue. The one shown is made of White Oak but I just checked the local supply and they don't offer the thickness required and if they did it would cost over $100 for the wood. I will go to the local box stores and see what is available in cedar. I think this is the next best choice.
The weather has changed and the forecast is for the rain to continue until Thursday. That will give me lots of time to contemplate what I should be doing.
Have a Safe and Fun week!
John
Weekly Blog - May 19th
Moderator: admin
Love it when the kids make requests. They always go to the top of the to-do list. Guess that's why I seldom get my work done. This weekend my wife and I drove over to our son's house to help paint the kitchen. He is into a total remodel and he needed it painted before the cabinets came. Only about 103 degrees out here. The paint was dry to the touch in minutes and ready for a second coat in less than an hour. Sort of like working in a convection oven.
Good to hear from you. Looking forward to your next week post.
Gary
Good to hear from you. Looking forward to your next week post.
Gary
Gary Kalyn
Kalynzoo Productions
Woodworking
Porter Ranch/Northridge
Los Angeles, CA
Kalynzoo Productions
Woodworking
Porter Ranch/Northridge
Los Angeles, CA
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brown_hawk
- Gold Member
- Posts: 156
- Joined: Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:42 am
John,
Don't feel bad, as my outside work also got in the way of my woodworking. At least the Red Wings are in the finals.
My next major outdoor project is an air conditioning shade - something to keep the sun off the outside unit in the afternoon and evening. Simple enough project, but I have to find the time. The design needs to provide plenty of air flow while keeping the unit as shaded as possible. Also plastic and chips on the ground to simplify mowing. That will take up another weekend here real soon.
Hawk
Don't feel bad, as my outside work also got in the way of my woodworking. At least the Red Wings are in the finals.
My next major outdoor project is an air conditioning shade - something to keep the sun off the outside unit in the afternoon and evening. Simple enough project, but I have to find the time. The design needs to provide plenty of air flow while keeping the unit as shaded as possible. Also plastic and chips on the ground to simplify mowing. That will take up another weekend here real soon.
Hawk
Dayton OH and loving it! 
(Except they closed the store.
)
(Except they closed the store. )Oh gee! Seems like I'm not the only one not making any sawdust! That has to stop - now! Things around here might just get cranky if chips don't fly soon!
Had a nice quick trip to AZ to deliver tables and window shade. Every one in our AZ family is doing well. That's good to see. Couldn't help but notice the price of diesel while on the trip. Filled the tank before leaving AZ as the price is 35 cents cheaper there.
Witnessed a 'Habab' (think that's what they call it) while in AZ. This one started from thunderstorm winds and soon became a rolling dust storm. Wow! Glad we don't have those things here! Maybe we do but don't see them from the inside out. Noticed the TV weather folks differentiate between "lung dust" and "Sand dust".
Lost a full day on Sunday. Just stayed in the house because of the triple digit temps. 104, we are not used to! From the news, sounds like all the folks in So Cal were suffering the same temps. Finally got out yesterday and cleaned the dust from the shop A/C and cranked it up. Started cleaning the whole place and will finish up today.
At least one of us is happy the Red Wings beat up on Poor Dallas. I knew something good must happen because of it!
John - you are going to have to get a start on those stables, and I'm going to have to get going again on the shutters. Think I've found one of those "round tuits". It was on the floor in one of the shop corners, under some scraps. Probably, as soon as you get all those plants in, and watered, you may find yours.
Gary - I think the fuel prices have completely changed our supplier's wood costs so much as to change his business from one that specializes in small amounts to anything over 150 board feet. I'll be going down there soon to get 150 bf of poplar.
Had a nice quick trip to AZ to deliver tables and window shade. Every one in our AZ family is doing well. That's good to see. Couldn't help but notice the price of diesel while on the trip. Filled the tank before leaving AZ as the price is 35 cents cheaper there.
Witnessed a 'Habab' (think that's what they call it) while in AZ. This one started from thunderstorm winds and soon became a rolling dust storm. Wow! Glad we don't have those things here! Maybe we do but don't see them from the inside out. Noticed the TV weather folks differentiate between "lung dust" and "Sand dust".
Lost a full day on Sunday. Just stayed in the house because of the triple digit temps. 104, we are not used to! From the news, sounds like all the folks in So Cal were suffering the same temps. Finally got out yesterday and cleaned the dust from the shop A/C and cranked it up. Started cleaning the whole place and will finish up today.
At least one of us is happy the Red Wings beat up on Poor Dallas. I knew something good must happen because of it!
John - you are going to have to get a start on those stables, and I'm going to have to get going again on the shutters. Think I've found one of those "round tuits". It was on the floor in one of the shop corners, under some scraps. Probably, as soon as you get all those plants in, and watered, you may find yours.
Gary - I think the fuel prices have completely changed our supplier's wood costs so much as to change his business from one that specializes in small amounts to anything over 150 board feet. I'll be going down there soon to get 150 bf of poplar.
Octogenarian's have an earned right to be a curmudgeon.
Chuck in Lancaster, CA
Chuck in Lancaster, CA
Just got back from my local lumber supplier after looking for wood to build the charging station for my daughter. Came back with nothing as the poplar he had in short lengths was so cupped I didn't feel I could use it. Needed maple too but again couldn't find nice small quantities. I dread thinking of buying "dressed" wood due to the price so I will hold off and visit the dealer again in a few weeks. As luck would have it, he had some nice lengths of 12" wide oak that I could use for a rocking horse without having to glue panels, but I'm not ready for one yet.
As to the stable, I guess I will have to get a "round tuit" sooner rather than later.
And then there is hockey. Both my sentimental choices, Philly and Dallas are gone but I must admit, The Wings and The Pens should make for a good series.
As to the stable, I guess I will have to get a "round tuit" sooner rather than later.
And then there is hockey. Both my sentimental choices, Philly and Dallas are gone but I must admit, The Wings and The Pens should make for a good series.
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Ed in Tampa
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 5834
- Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2006 12:45 am
- Location: North Tampa Bay area Florida
Well I finally did it! I finally made my workbench mobile. Woodcraft is having a sale on casters this month and I took advantage of it and bought four $11 buck a piece. The casters I bought are 3 inch casters with about an 1 to 1 1/2" wide tread and bolt on using four bolts. When they lock they lock both the caster itself and the swivel mechanizm.
I have described my bench in other threads but basically I got a piece of Bowling alley which I split lenght wise and used for the top, after adding a recessed tool tray and maple dovetail apron around the original alley. Originally I designed it with wooden legs but one day I was in Sears and they had one of their metal 1 door four door tool benches on clearance for a price I couldn't pass up, under $50 buck if I remember correctly. I bought it and mounted the bowling alley top to it. I had to raise the whole thing slightly so I used 3x4 treated wood as sort of a skid to get the metal off the concrete floor and the table at the height I wanted.
Well today I emptied the woodbench and tilted it up on one end and cut the legs about 4 inches off from each end. It was easier than I expected. Recip Saw with metal cutting blade went through it like butter. I then built a 18"x44" 3/4" thich apple ply base. I doubled the ply at both ends where I mounted the casters.
Next I mounted the bench onto the ply. What a job trying to lift the whole work bench to get it onto the ply and casters. After much messing around, grunting and heavy breathing I got it done. I then bored holes through the horizontal member of the bench and put screws in it to hold the bench securely on the mobile bottom. I ran out of time but what little time I did get to play with my new mobile bench seems like it does just what I want.
With the casters locked the bench is rock solid but unlocked I can swing and move the whole thing with one finger. Even with the drawers and cabinet fully loaded with precious junk. As soon as I can con one of my grandchildren to let me play with their digital camera I will try to get a picture or two.
Ed
I have described my bench in other threads but basically I got a piece of Bowling alley which I split lenght wise and used for the top, after adding a recessed tool tray and maple dovetail apron around the original alley. Originally I designed it with wooden legs but one day I was in Sears and they had one of their metal 1 door four door tool benches on clearance for a price I couldn't pass up, under $50 buck if I remember correctly. I bought it and mounted the bowling alley top to it. I had to raise the whole thing slightly so I used 3x4 treated wood as sort of a skid to get the metal off the concrete floor and the table at the height I wanted.
Well today I emptied the woodbench and tilted it up on one end and cut the legs about 4 inches off from each end. It was easier than I expected. Recip Saw with metal cutting blade went through it like butter. I then built a 18"x44" 3/4" thich apple ply base. I doubled the ply at both ends where I mounted the casters.
Next I mounted the bench onto the ply. What a job trying to lift the whole work bench to get it onto the ply and casters. After much messing around, grunting and heavy breathing I got it done. I then bored holes through the horizontal member of the bench and put screws in it to hold the bench securely on the mobile bottom. I ran out of time but what little time I did get to play with my new mobile bench seems like it does just what I want.
With the casters locked the bench is rock solid but unlocked I can swing and move the whole thing with one finger. Even with the drawers and cabinet fully loaded with precious junk. As soon as I can con one of my grandchildren to let me play with their digital camera I will try to get a picture or two.
Ed
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Ed in Tampa
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 5834
- Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2006 12:45 am
- Location: North Tampa Bay area Florida
Okay now everything in my shop is up on wheels. Today I played with my new casters and have posted a full report on Woodworking Tool review subgroup under the heading casters.
Well I traded where my Shopsmith usually was stored with my workbench and put the workbence where I usually stored my shopsmith. I gain a lot of room between cars due to this so I think I will keep it.
Now I have to move or install new lighting and some plugs. I think I'm going to store my sheet stock against the wall behind the Shopsmith so I have cut down a cabinet and build a ply wood holder. Since I move my workbench I can now build a shelf about waist height to store my Bandsaw and jointer. This will keep me from having to lift them the height of my head to put them on the shelf. I'm sure glad for that since they were starting to get heavy.
With my old setup my window air conditioner blew straight on me when I was at the workbench. I have found out that I get weird body pain when air conditioning air blows straight on me. Now I'm out of the air flow.
Again if I can talk one of grandchildren out of a digital camera I will take some pictures when I get my shop back in order.
Ed
Well I traded where my Shopsmith usually was stored with my workbench and put the workbence where I usually stored my shopsmith. I gain a lot of room between cars due to this so I think I will keep it.
Now I have to move or install new lighting and some plugs. I think I'm going to store my sheet stock against the wall behind the Shopsmith so I have cut down a cabinet and build a ply wood holder. Since I move my workbench I can now build a shelf about waist height to store my Bandsaw and jointer. This will keep me from having to lift them the height of my head to put them on the shelf. I'm sure glad for that since they were starting to get heavy.
With my old setup my window air conditioner blew straight on me when I was at the workbench. I have found out that I get weird body pain when air conditioning air blows straight on me. Now I'm out of the air flow.
Again if I can talk one of grandchildren out of a digital camera I will take some pictures when I get my shop back in order.
Ed