As expected, there was absolutely no work in the shop this past week due to hockey and travelling.
Our trip took us first to visit some friends we hadn't seen in over a year and while there I was able to visit the Canadian Shopsmith distributor. For the second time in two months, I could not get a fence mounted feather board due to a lack of stock. They were still "on order". The distributor expressed his concern over lack of supply from SS. The order he placed in July was still not totally filled and only about ten percent of the August order was in. Shopsmith represents about five percent of his business but it is mostly in repairs and parts but he is concerned about continuity of supply. I initially wasn't going to mention the negative feelings but when I returned and caught up with the forum news, I guess it is not really news.
Knowing my interest in woodworking, my friend said he had some pieces of plywood left over from a repair job that I might be interested in. He didn't know what it was but it cost him a lot. Well, it turned out to be several pieces of 3/4" baltic birch plywood. I gladly took it but don't know yet what I will use it for.
Next stop was my son's place in London, and as mentioned last week on to a visit to the Woodstock Wood Show on Saturday. Another bit of a downer as the show was much smaller than previously, with fewer good vendors. Even so, I did enjoy the thinner crowds which allowed us to get a better view of demonstrations. The only purchase was some new "cool blocks" for the bad saw though I almost bit on a "gripper" push block and a couple of other gadgets but managed to keep my hands in my pockets.
My son's father-in-law used to teach woodworking and they had to move him into a retirement home recently. Most of his tools had gone to his son, but I came home with more aniline dyes than I will ever use.
The Shopsmith situation is certainly discouraging to read. It is doubly discouraging not to be able to do any thing that can really help. I hope some how they can get back on track and we can get back to making sawdust without worrying about the future of SS.
Have a Safe and Fun week!
John
Oh yeh, that is a nice looking tool box that Chuck is making, eh.
Weekly Blog - October 6th
Moderator: admin
Hi John! It sound like you had a busy week, even though you didn't have tome to make some sawdust.
Glad you got a supply of aniline dyes. I've never used them, but have read quite a few articles on their use. Will have to try them one day. Maybe you will post some of your experiences with them If you try them out.
I also feel bad about the Canadian SS supplier! Maybe if someone like ADMIN reads your paragraph, they will take notice of this potential market. Hope so!
Good job of keeping your hands in your pockets while at the show!
My week offered a few hours each day in the shop. This is really recreational time for me. However I didn't get along as far as imagined on the tool box. Got all 5 drawers made and installed. Thought I was doing so good but then found I got a bit careless with the sanding. Doggone it! the drawers started out to be right on but ended up being a little too lose to be real good. Since it's my box they will stay that way, until I get a bug to make new ones.
Started on the curved top yesterday. A good thing happened (totally by luck) when I slapped the miter gauge on the saw table and the spacing between new fingers was perfect. Don't know if that will ever happen again!
No photo this week - one next week for sure.
I was surprise when I read that Bill Mayo has run a drive bet on the Mark V down to 1/4" wide. Guess I'll quit worrying about the thickness of my belt!
Glad you got a supply of aniline dyes. I've never used them, but have read quite a few articles on their use. Will have to try them one day. Maybe you will post some of your experiences with them If you try them out.
I also feel bad about the Canadian SS supplier! Maybe if someone like ADMIN reads your paragraph, they will take notice of this potential market. Hope so!
Good job of keeping your hands in your pockets while at the show!
My week offered a few hours each day in the shop. This is really recreational time for me. However I didn't get along as far as imagined on the tool box. Got all 5 drawers made and installed. Thought I was doing so good but then found I got a bit careless with the sanding. Doggone it! the drawers started out to be right on but ended up being a little too lose to be real good. Since it's my box they will stay that way, until I get a bug to make new ones.
Started on the curved top yesterday. A good thing happened (totally by luck) when I slapped the miter gauge on the saw table and the spacing between new fingers was perfect. Don't know if that will ever happen again!
No photo this week - one next week for sure.
I was surprise when I read that Bill Mayo has run a drive bet on the Mark V down to 1/4" wide. Guess I'll quit worrying about the thickness of my belt!
Octogenarian's have an earned right to be a curmudgeon.
Chuck in Lancaster, CA
Chuck in Lancaster, CA
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perryobear
- Gold Member
- Posts: 155
- Joined: Sun Jul 23, 2006 6:29 pm
- Location: Youngsville, NC
Hi Guys,
Well it was a pretty tough news week on the Forum, but lets be as optimistic as possible as we look ahead.
John,
Glad you had a good trip. It’s my turn to travel this coming long weekend with a swing through western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio to see several of the kids, the grandson, and make a required stop at the Rockler store outside of Pittsburgh.
I did reach into my pocket for a Grr-ripper earlier this summer. I have used it a few times, but really would like to have a riving knife in place. I’m not ready to cut apart my upper saw guard so I guess I will be making one up from scratch.
Sorry about the parts shortage north of the border, all I can say is I’ve been waiting for my fence mounted feather boards since last April (Sorry, that’s not much comfort is it?).
Chuck,
Glad to hear of your progress on the tool box, and look forward to the photo next week. As to the fit of the drawers, a little loose now is better than a little too tight after the weather gets damp!:rolleyes:
On my end, I did finish up building the hearth pad and installing the gas stove in the family room. This was the last major item in the project (Still some wall hangings to put up after they are chosen by the Mrs.) so I am declaring the job “done”. It ended up being a bit more of a project than the “sprucing-up” that I first anticipated. New lighting, wainscoting, hardwood floor, stained glass window, and finally the decorative gas stove. I’ve shared some of my experiences in previous weekly blogs, but here are a couple of photos of the end product.
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Have a safe week everyone,
Dennis
Well it was a pretty tough news week on the Forum, but lets be as optimistic as possible as we look ahead.
John,
Glad you had a good trip. It’s my turn to travel this coming long weekend with a swing through western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio to see several of the kids, the grandson, and make a required stop at the Rockler store outside of Pittsburgh.
I did reach into my pocket for a Grr-ripper earlier this summer. I have used it a few times, but really would like to have a riving knife in place. I’m not ready to cut apart my upper saw guard so I guess I will be making one up from scratch.
Sorry about the parts shortage north of the border, all I can say is I’ve been waiting for my fence mounted feather boards since last April (Sorry, that’s not much comfort is it?).
Chuck,
Glad to hear of your progress on the tool box, and look forward to the photo next week. As to the fit of the drawers, a little loose now is better than a little too tight after the weather gets damp!:rolleyes:
On my end, I did finish up building the hearth pad and installing the gas stove in the family room. This was the last major item in the project (Still some wall hangings to put up after they are chosen by the Mrs.) so I am declaring the job “done”. It ended up being a bit more of a project than the “sprucing-up” that I first anticipated. New lighting, wainscoting, hardwood floor, stained glass window, and finally the decorative gas stove. I’ve shared some of my experiences in previous weekly blogs, but here are a couple of photos of the end product.
[ATTACH]2129[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]2130[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]2131[/ATTACH]
Have a safe week everyone,
Dennis
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Chuck:
I have used aniline dyes in the past on some of my smaller trucks made of pine, though I have never used it on a hardwood. I have attached a Pic of one truck in a ruby colour. Others were royal blue, bright yellow, and green but for some reason, don't have pictures. All are finished with several top coats of shellac.
Looking forward to your finished project.
Dennis:
Now that you mention it, the demonstrator of the "gripper?" did not have any guards in place and as I recall his method probably they can't be used with this tool. I guess it requires a closer look.
Nice job on the hearth and wainscotting!
John
I have used aniline dyes in the past on some of my smaller trucks made of pine, though I have never used it on a hardwood. I have attached a Pic of one truck in a ruby colour. Others were royal blue, bright yellow, and green but for some reason, don't have pictures. All are finished with several top coats of shellac.
Looking forward to your finished project.
Dennis:
Now that you mention it, the demonstrator of the "gripper?" did not have any guards in place and as I recall his method probably they can't be used with this tool. I guess it requires a closer look.
Nice job on the hearth and wainscotting!
John
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a1gutterman
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 3653
- Joined: Tue Jan 09, 2007 12:45 am
- Location: "close to" Seattle
perryobear wrote:Hi Guys,
Well it was a pretty tough news week on the Forum, but lets be as optimistic as possible as we look ahead...
Hi Dennis,
Good idea you have there.
Nice work on your family room! Did you do the stained glass too?
Tim
Buying US made products will help keep YOUR job or retirement funds safer.
Buying US made products will help keep YOUR job or retirement funds safer.
Hi Dennis! Beautiful work! Really made a change in the room. Looks very nice and I bet it is cozy in the winter! Also, I bet the wife is happy!
I'm curious as to how the gas stove works. Is there a gas line coming through where the little white spot on the hearth seen on the first photo?
Is there a flue coming from the stove?
I'm curious as to how the gas stove works. Is there a gas line coming through where the little white spot on the hearth seen on the first photo?
Is there a flue coming from the stove?
Octogenarian's have an earned right to be a curmudgeon.
Chuck in Lancaster, CA
Chuck in Lancaster, CA
-
perryobear
- Gold Member
- Posts: 155
- Joined: Sun Jul 23, 2006 6:29 pm
- Location: Youngsville, NC
Hi Guys,
Thanks for the kind words on my family room project. It was certainly a learning experience for me and enjoyable most of the time.
The stove is a Vermont Castings natural gas unit. The gas line comes up thru the floor from the basement. It is a vent-free model (like a kitchen gas stove), so there is no flue pipe. The unit requires very little in the way of clearances. You certainly wouldn’t want to try and heat the house with it, but it is cozy and takes the chill out of the family room nicely (and operates without power).
The stained glass panels are set into an Andersen fixed transom window assembly to provide weather tightness and some physical protection.
The stained glass panels are the craftsmanship of my father-in-law. Thankfully, he has shared his talents generously over the years and his work is now proudly displayed in the homes of all of his children, grandchildren, and many friends; Treasured gifts indeed.
Dennis
Thanks for the kind words on my family room project. It was certainly a learning experience for me and enjoyable most of the time.
The stove is a Vermont Castings natural gas unit. The gas line comes up thru the floor from the basement. It is a vent-free model (like a kitchen gas stove), so there is no flue pipe. The unit requires very little in the way of clearances. You certainly wouldn’t want to try and heat the house with it, but it is cozy and takes the chill out of the family room nicely (and operates without power).
The stained glass panels are set into an Andersen fixed transom window assembly to provide weather tightness and some physical protection.
The stained glass panels are the craftsmanship of my father-in-law. Thankfully, he has shared his talents generously over the years and his work is now proudly displayed in the homes of all of his children, grandchildren, and many friends; Treasured gifts indeed.
Dennis
Chuck:
The dye does go on pretty good on face and side grain, but is usually darker on end grain due to absorbtion. I try to reduce this effect by wetting the end grain first, but have not yet succeeded in getting a uniform finish. The amount of colour and transparency is determined by the ratio of dye to water. A little can go a long way. It can be made quite dark if desired.
Dennis:
That's an interesting concept for a heater. I always thought anything burning fosil fuel needed some sort of venting, though you are quite right, gas stoves don't seem to have one, at least for the top burners. I've never noticed what happens with the oven. Must check next year at the cottage.
Once again nice job on the reno!
John
The dye does go on pretty good on face and side grain, but is usually darker on end grain due to absorbtion. I try to reduce this effect by wetting the end grain first, but have not yet succeeded in getting a uniform finish. The amount of colour and transparency is determined by the ratio of dye to water. A little can go a long way. It can be made quite dark if desired.
Dennis:
That's an interesting concept for a heater. I always thought anything burning fosil fuel needed some sort of venting, though you are quite right, gas stoves don't seem to have one, at least for the top burners. I've never noticed what happens with the oven. Must check next year at the cottage.
Once again nice job on the reno!
John
Jphn,
I really like the look of that aniline dye. Think I'll try it on a project sometime soon.
Getting an even stain on the end grain can be made more successful. I tried this on a teddy bear rocking chair and was very happy with the result. Simply sand the end grain two grades finer than where you stopped with the faces. Example if you sanded everything to 220--sand the end grain only to 320 and finally to 400. As I recall I was staining pine. I can't take the credit for it--I read it in a article on finishing somewhere. FYI
Regards,
Dwight
I really like the look of that aniline dye. Think I'll try it on a project sometime soon.
Getting an even stain on the end grain can be made more successful. I tried this on a teddy bear rocking chair and was very happy with the result. Simply sand the end grain two grades finer than where you stopped with the faces. Example if you sanded everything to 220--sand the end grain only to 320 and finally to 400. As I recall I was staining pine. I can't take the credit for it--I read it in a article on finishing somewhere. FYI
Regards,
Dwight