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....