My wifes awesome rack!!

Well, this year for the little lady's birthday, her heart desired a
bakers rack. So, I had no idea what that was, but she elaborated "shelves" and I went to work. Solid oak, pecan stain, with a simple design I thought 2 weeks of 5am to 7am before work would suffice, however I was sadly mistaken. I missed her birthday by two days, which cause me to sleep on the couch for 3 weeks. Just kidding, 1 week!!

Pretty nice rack for Chris as well,

A place to hang your hat, not so much to ask, or maybe it is. With a backboard of walnut, and horshoes of red oak, no stain necessary to fancify this piece. A friend informed me of how forlorn his hats looked, what with one on the bed, 2 on the TV, and another of the bathroom towel rack. So for a small fee, this is what I came up with, large enough to accomodate a 5" brim, you'll never have to worry about losing shape with this jewel. Another satisfied customer.

Add a little spice to your life!!!

I suppose this post could've have been added to my lathe from earlier, but I don't know how to add pics to comments... So enjoy as I do this pepper mill made from a figured piece of walnut. This wood is particularly awesome in sunlight and the curly grain and speckled sapwood cause it to shine like a new penny. I made this for my wife on Mothers Day, and we've been spicin' it up ever since.

Ever started something years ago....

I started this DVD case when my son was

born 5 yrs ago, and couldn't ever figure out how to put the doors on it without making it front heavy. Well, upon my throne, where most good ideas are made, I came up with the bearing and guide rail options to cause the doors to open and fold simultaneously, and viola', half a decade later, I'm done. Heres to "Good things come to those who wait".

Note for later, bamboo is tricky to split in two when dry, best to cut wet and let season!!

Tung oil...More like Fun oil!!!

I have to apologize for that title, couldn't come up with anything to rhyme with tung. Except for mung, or fung-us, which really didn't apply. Just a quick note to say Tung oil. I love it. I mean, polyurethane has its place in the world, but when I want I clean hand-rubbed finish, I put my Tung on it. Ok, that didn't sound right, ya'll know what I mean. You just can't beat that durable shine. Feel free to leave me a note on your favorite finish.

Oh..here's some examples of that oh so smooth tungness! Seeing these pics doesn't do it justice, feel free to rub your screen and pretend.

One man's trash is another man's...um...tacky office chair.

So...I don't have much of a post today, just wanted to show off my new seating apparatus. Has one of your chairs at work ever been broken by one of your, well, larger than normal co-workers? No names. Don't toss it out, repair it!! And no this is not a Mighty-Mend-It ad where Billy Mays will tell you that if you buy enough of this product you could actually make a whole new chair. With a little careful template work you too can fix that oh so comfy chair that was almost thrown out by HR Puff n Stuff.

Materials: 2 pieces of 3/4" plywood

I won't bore you guys with the details. All you really need to know is double up that ply with a little glue, cut it, sand it, shape it, rout it. And bada-bing!! A treasure that you can be proud of, and one your wife will probably make you leave out in the workshop. Enjoy!!

Antler Knife Making respectfully...Andy Johnson

How many of us have tried to fulfill anothers legacy?? To attempt to perfect a skill in, I suppose memorial, of someone you respected. To me I suppose it would have to be my wife's Uncle Andy, who left us for greener pastures upwards of a year ago. I always knew he was a craftsman of sorts, but isn't it funny how things are underestimated on a daily basis until its too late??

As I drag on, the point I'm making is the bequeathment of a treasure trove of antler knife handles, knife blanks, leather sheathes, and enough brass to re-button the army. As I gather there are less than 3 or 4 assembled knives in the bunch, but probably enough material to make, I'd say well over 100. While this is a skill I in no way possess, the magic of google and I suspect a guiding hand will oversee my works as I attempt to teach myself and I suppose revive an artform that was simply collecting dust in a drawer, in a desk, in a storage building.

How is the best way to pay respect to someone....maybe to carry on tradition, or to follow in the footsteps of, or in better terms....to keep the edges sharp and sawdust flying.
Here we go Andy!

A LATHE BY ANY OTHER NAME.....

So as I peruse the Craigs List looking for tools to broaden my horizon, I run across a Jet JWL-1227 14/42 lathe with over 20 knives and assorted chucks to go with it. $700 dollars was all the person wanted for it, and the knives ranged in brand from General to Sorby, and I'm sure everyone reading can imagine the worth of the tools alone. Well I couldn't. I wavered back and forth, asking question after question, bla bla bla...for about 10 days. She said she would take $600 firm, and I held out even then. So finally last Wednesday I made a decision. I sent her an email and said "SOLD", I'll be there to pick it up on Friday (there was 4 hrs away, and I needed someone to help pick it up, so planning in advance was necessary) I made plans all day for my Friday trip, until that eve when I got the email saying "I sold it this morning"

Balderdash....

With each passing day I realize more and more the deal I missed.....

So here I am, Craigs list again, its not a Jet, but a Delta 46-715. Same size everything, different paint. Full set of knives, well only 18 this time, but I did recognize one Sorby handle in the bunch, and a Nova chuck to boot!! So why again am I wavering??? It looks like I'll need some support to spur me to a decision, especially because this thing is, guess where, four hours away. Irony, fate??? We'll see.

Will I be foiled again?? Will I turn wood or wait for fates next runner up??

Tune in next week for another excitingly indecisive episode of "As the Wood Turns"

Ode to my miter saw

My Dewalt compound sliding miter saw....How do I love thee, let me count the ways. You work better in less space than a radial arm saw. You swing both ways, which I'm not sure if I love you or hate you for it. With constant repeated angle cuts for decks, furniture, or just cutting wood for fun, you make my life easier with each back and forth slide on bearings that are oiled for life.....
With that said, I wish I had spent the extra dough to get the 10" model. Not that I don't love the 8 1/2", but during my deck project this summer I sadly realized that I would be double-cutting my 4/4 posts....Disappointing... The only other con would be dust collection, with a 1 1/4" port at the back that might as well not be there.
All in all, my saw is one of the main staples of my shop. I use it every day, for so many projects I can't even list, and it has been performing with 0 maintenance for over 4 years now. Any thoughts?? Discuss

Power tool reviews

So to begin, this blog will be a forum to discuss woodworking, power tools, chest hair, and anything else manly I can think of. To start, anyone have any thoughts on the Ridgid R1330 thickness planer? I'm running rough oak through and either the infeed rollers won't pull the work through or they are slipping on the top of the wood. Any thoughts or suggestions....