Woodworking

This is a little garden tote I made for my wife to carry her garden tools in. I made it entirely with hand tools and it’s made out of pine. It has a couple coats of shellac and some furniture paste wax on it.You can see the build photos here.

Jay van Arsdale is giving a workshop on Japanese tools in August. More information can be found on the North American Japanese Garden Association website. Having seen Jay speak at Woodworking in America, this is an opportunity not to be missed.

What a beautiful morning it is! One would think that starting the day with a mundane chore like putting the garbage on the curb would be poopie, but I think with the right point of view, even something like that could be pleasant. Yes – I know I am crazy! Shortly after it got light out, I was making my morning coffee and saw my Google reminder that today was garbage day. While I waited for the water to boil I thought I may as well get it to the curb early. There was a foggy mist over the river and all was quiet (which was good because I had on my jammie pants and a t-shirt!) Our trash bin is located across the road nestled in the trees on the riverbank. As I approached it, I could hear the rushing water of the river and it was all so quiet and peaceful and pretty. Mornings are certainly wonderful. I almost would have liked to taken a walk just then, before the rest of the world awoke, but I didn’t think walking around in my jammies would be that impressive. I may think of keeping some clothes handy so that in the future if the morning calls to me, I can walk. We took a nice walk around the river yesterday afternoon. After sitting and painting all morning, my back was stiff and I needed to stretch. It was a beautiful day with sunshine and a calm breeze and it just seemed like the thing to do. It is a shame that I always feel guilty about the time spent walking, as there is just so much that I need to accomplish, but I do need to take these breaks and enjoy things around me. I know very well that they will soon be gone and I need to enjoy them every chance I can. Before I know it, they will disappear and I will find myself looking back with regret because I didn’t take advantage of these opportunities as they arose. I don’t want that. I also have yet to visit the beach. Here it is mid-June and summer is nearly upon us and I haven’t been to the beach all spring. Perhaps I should plan a couple of hours in the next few days if the weather cooperates and it is dry. I would love to bring my painting there and have a different atmosphere to work on this ornament set. Well see . . . Besides the break for the walk, I worked the entire day on the ornaments. I was able to progress by nearly finishing two more ‘days’ of the 12 days of Christmas. However, I am still working on the second piece of day 6 and have about an hour left to go on it. I am at the half way point in painting these and it feels good to progress. As usual, I am painting two sets – one to send to be published and one for myself to keep here. That way I don’t feel badly about sending them away and I have a set with me while I write the final instructions. It doesn’t hurt to have another set here too in case I want to give it away as a gift or donation. I wish I were that organize as to do that! I wanted to show the picture of the sixth piece: I am really proud of how it is coming out. While I liked the key shapes that I had created a month or so back, I do think that putting these same designs on a larger surface allows me to relax a bit more and add in better detail. They are simply just more fun to paint like this. Again, I wish you could see them in person. The colors are amazing and my scanner just doesn’t do them justice. The blue frame is coated with the Glamour Dust paint and it looks rich and shimmers beautifully. I am still thinking that I will be adding some rhinestones too on the frame. Not many, but I think a couple of them that are strategically placed will really make the ornaments look finished and polished. I have to think about it though. I hope you all have a good day today. I am still hoping that if I work hard I will be able to complete the painting part of these ornaments by the weekend, and get the packets done too. I realize I am redundant in my complaining, but they just take time. Wednesday already.

The first time I rode a bike. The first time I drove. My first date. The first night I spent away from home at college. You really never forget your first time doing something memorable. And, yes, I am about to experience a new first.. my first 2 x 4 contest with the St. Petersburg Woodcrafter’s Guild. I know. “Tom,” you must be thinking,”How on Earth are you going to contain your excitement?”  Easy there, Sparky. It’s a big deal, but not a life changer. The real challenge with a 2 x 4 contest is coming up with something inspired. I mean, there’s only so much inspiration you can get from looking at an eight foot long piece of construction lumber. Well, maybe you can envision a room being studded out in your home… but a furniture project?  Hmm…. So, I tottered over to the local big blue home improvement center and saw the stack of  2 x 4s to pick from. They all seemed to look the same to me. But, just as all the dogs look the same at first glance when you go to the kennel to get a new pet, a little bit of looking around will help you find the differences between the tail-wagging future four legged friends. After sifting through the pile, I found one that caught my eye. Very straight, just a few knots and not containing the pith of the tree. OK, this one looks nice. Into the car with you! Now, to think up a little inspiration… think.. think…think… A quick internet search shows some clever ideas out there floating around, and each of them is positively imaginative. Tables. Toolboxes. Toys. And boxes. Lots and lots of boxes. Wait a minute. What about a little box?  Maybe built with a technique I haven’t yet tried before? A small box built like a pirate’s chest.. with a domed lid.  I mean, even if the thing falls flat on its face, I am only out the $2.50 I spent on one stud. A few minutes with some pencil and paper and voila… I can see this thing with some dovetailed sides, a coopered top and an inset bottom.  Maybe I can even cut a fakie keyhole in the front to look like a lock goes there.  I know if I am going to build this, I had better get a jump on the building.. since the meeting is June 25 – giving me a little less than a week to work on it. Guess I know what I will be working on this weekend!  ### Similar Posts: Don’t box me in My secret board stretcher Better use of space Woodworking Spotlight – Doug Stowe The boomerang effect A Monday mélange My shop’s split personality

For those of you interested in traditional bench work this little jig may be of use to some. I hope you can understand the accent? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNrof3cd1cA

A wine cabinet I built from oak with a wenge top. Custom sized to fit a wine fridge we purchased. Further details can be seen on my website at www.paulcanbuildthat.com

Started building toys about 10 years ago I build all types of log trucks and other types of toys, hope you enjoy

Making this mortise jig, have a few more details to add….......will submit final results soon…........

Hi, I have two old vises made of wood. I can no longer use these and being on SS I could use some extra money. Can someone give me an idea what a vise like this might be worth? They’ve been around a while and are dirty. The jaws are 12” x 6” and open to about 7 1/2”. The screws are 1” diameter and are 15” long 11” of which is threaded. There is also a threaded center stop rod. The action still feels smooth and strong. Thanks in advance for any help.

Hello all,I’m relatively new at woodworking and I’m slowly building up my cache of tools. My most recent purchase has been a couple card scrapers and a burnishing rod. One of the scrapers (Bahco) showed up in the mail today and made me very curious about something. It arrived with a protective plastic sleeve, in a re-sealable zipper storage plastic bag with branding and pictures indicating usage. The illustrations indicate the proper method is to draw the scraper toward you with fingertip pressure and NOT to push away with your thumbs. In every video demonstrating the use of a card scraper, I’ve always seen it used as counter-indicated. Anyone know why this might be? Here’s a picture of the packaging (yes, that is my mug holding up the scraper, it did not come with a convenient handle):