Weekly Blog - September 29th

[john]

As summer winds down things seem to get slower and slower, or maybe it's just me.

Cut out a couple more bread knife blanks and did the primary sanding. Started another by planing some oak to use as the "bread" to sandwhich a piece of jatoba but then remembered that last year the jatoba dust stained the oak when I sanded it, so I canned that idea. Too bad I don't know of a way to seal the oak pores before sanding as this makes a good colour combination.

Also did some more planing, this time using poplar to bring wood down to pre-project thickness. In this case I had to rip 9" wide boards as they had developed a bad cup that would remain after planing. The resulting boards should be OK.

I was looking through the Shopsmith catalogue the other night and boy could I use a lot of the accessories they have. A guy could really go broke if he bought all the toys on the "want list".

Got an early start on next year's outdoor project list, not that I have completed this year's. Many of the remaining original pieces on my garden swing are starting to rot so major work will be needed NEXT year to rescue it. Then I saw that our garden bench is suffering from the same problem. This is mostly a decorative piece that is an obsatcle when mowing the lawn but I doubt I will be able to give it a funeral as it was a gift from the kids and MIL used to enjoy basking in the sun and enjoying the flowers on it before she left us. So I guess it will go on the to-do list too.

This week will be equally slow as we will be leaving Wednesday morning for another of our short trips. In this case to visit friends in the Toronto area and then on to London, ON. to visit our son and family. However I have timed it to coincide with a woodshow in Woodstock, On. next weekend. This is a large show at the local fairgrounds that I have not had the chance to get to in several years. Hopefully this year I will. Lee Valley has a store in London so I hope to get a chance to visit them too and spend a little money.

Have a Safe and Fun week!

John

[kalynzoo]

It's always nice to read your blog. It reinforces the fact that people have a life and that life often takes them away from the fun of making sawdust. This week I finished rebuilding the quarter map I gave my son. He dropped it so it took some repair. Now it's good as new, maybe better. Since he just refinished his kitchen I am in the process of making a new towel holder, in a sports motif, that will match with the new wood. I promised my daughter to rebuild the closet that will be used for the twin in January. And I have to finish before the knee replacement I just scheduled for November. Guess I'll be busy for awhile. On the bright side, I love every minute of it.

[john]

Gary:

Glad to hear you enjoy the blog.

As for the quarter map, I mustn't let my wife know this exists. She has been collecting olympic quarters for the younger grandchildren. These are being issued up here in preparation for the 2010 winter olympics in Vancouver. If she got wind of this, I might be required to make about eight to hold the many coins, one for most winter sports, that are being issued.

I know November is still a little ways off, but good luck with the knee. Those that I know who have had replacements or a clean-out, feel great.

John

[charlese]

Yep! Another week already. Today caught me by surprise in that the beautiful Shopsmith Shop we saw in American Woodworker Mag. was the shop of our member nuhobby. This guy is not only a Shopsmith owner, he is a thinker and planner to be envied.

Our week here was quite different. My better half came down with the worst crud either of us has ever witnessed. Never figured out a cause, but she was down for the 7 days. Therefor I became cook, cleaner and bottle washer. A role I am not familiar with, but must have done good enough, as no complaints when she got up and around again. As of yesterday and today things are good with both of us.

Got a little work done on the curved lid tool box. So far I have found that 1/4" fingers through 1/2" wood are a bit more touchy than those through 1/4" panels. Finished the case body, now working on the drawers and interlocking drawer holders. I'm kinda amazed on how many boards remain to be cut to size (Photo two) They all have been marked with part indication letters and rough size. This way I know they will go somewhere.

College football is interesting this year with USC blowing their chances and Montana moving up to no. 2 in the 1AA ranks.

Also watching the baseball playoffs with interest.
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[nuhobby]

Hi Chuck,

I just tried to clear up confusion on that American Woodworker article on the other posting.... it's not my shop, but the CAD model used my primitive Shopsmith model.

Many sympathies on the "creeping crud" your wife had. Many have been sick here in the Midwest also.

Great toolbox coming along there !!!

[charlese]

Hi Chuck,

I just tried to clear up confusion on that American Woodworker article on the other posting.... it's not my shop, but the CAD model used my primitive Shopsmith model.

Many sympathies on the "creeping crud" your wife had. Many have been sick here in the Midwest also.

Great toolbox coming along there !!!

I read the other thread twice thinking I may be missing something! I was! - It's called comprehension! His name is Ed and that doesn't even sound like Chris! Sorry!
Anyway - it's a nice primitive Shopsmith model!

You can keep the ATTA BOY for putting a Mark V model in the library.