It’s not quite that time of year again, but Marc’s pre-planning (a good thing with the coming little Spagnolo) his 2012 winter Guild Build already.This year he’s planning to help with your physical as well as educational woodworking fundamentals. That’s right . . . we’re building a bench!
The Worlds Greatest Workbench.
I was working on a bench myself when I stopped to participate in this year’s Winter Guild Build: The Wall Hanging Cabinet.
Workbenchs have been a favorite topic of mine since first hearing Dave Noftz discuss them on his (sorely missed) Modern Woodshop. As Im sure is true for many of you also, its high time I got off my butt and built a proper bench. The support, encouragement and friendly rivalry of the guild is just what I need to get back to the bench. You should too.
My Timberstrand Bench Slab Experiment.
If youre bench obsessed like I am, heres a partial list of links worth checking out:Schwartz’s Rules for WorkbenchesMy cross postsChris cross postsMarc’s build or buy postKari’s joinery benchShannon’s joinery benchMorton’s Sourcing the LumberMy bench build postsHeres a blatant re-post of the video I took of Chris Schwarz discussing his Petite Roubo:
There are a few corrections to what I say in the video:
I think the Port-A-Mate rack was more. I bought is a while ago.
What I say is cherry on the lumber rack looks like, and is, walnut.
I say “That’s about it” three (3) times. Only one (1) of those times is at the end.
How’s your shop organization? Time for a cleaning?
Buying used books on amazon has been a great choice to expand your library. Since last summer I’ve been using it to expand my design library. For as little as $5.00 per book (with shipping) I’m able to pick up used copies of books ranging from Fine Woodworking to Sam Maloof to Jeff Miller on Amazon.
You need this book. Its fantastic.
It was an low used price which first led me to buy Jeff Miller’s Chairmaking & Design book. When I bought it, I can’t say I had too much interest in chair making, but it was reviewed well and was quite affordable.
Once it arrived, I knew it was a masterwork when I first flipped through it at my office. Now, having read it I know it’s a brilliant reference and instructional guide for beginning chair makers. It has been my goal to make a chair this year, and Jeff Miller’s book is the reason.
My finished version of the Jeff Miller Benchtop Bench.
When I was researching designs for benchtop benches before Father’s Day, I ran across Jeff Miller’s Benchtop Bench and ended up making a version for my Dad as a Father’s Day gift. After Chairmaking & Design the Benchtop Bench cement Jeff Miller as a master of instructional woodworking. His work has made him a master of woodworking itself.
Given my esteem of Jeff, it was with great excitement that I learned he would be teaching a class, Designing and Building Chairs with Jeff Miller, at Highland Woodworking. When I realized that the class was only two (2) days, on a weekend and only $195.00 I immediately signed up.
These are some of Millers wonderful Chairs to be discussed in the class.
The added bonus for me is that it means I’ll be making my first trip to Atlanta where I’ll not only get to experience Highland Woodworking first hand, I’ll also get to hang out with my good friends of the Atlanta Modern Woodworkers Association (some of which have been kind enough to put me up for the weekend).There are only 25 spots available for the class, and I’m not sure how many are left or how long they’ll last, but if you’re anything like me, this class will scratch many woodworking itches and should provide a wonderful weekend with a knowledgeable instructor and good friends. I can’t think of a better choice to enjoy my first formal woodworking class.Dont forget about the +Modern Woodworkers Association Podcast. We talk woodworking with Guests from around the world of woodworking every other week. Subscribe to the RSS feed or iTunes today.
Wood Talk did the Modern Woodworkers Association a big favor by helping to promote the MWA teams for the Fine Woodworking Live Build Off.
Yep, these guys want the online community to rock.
I trust that if youre following the +Modern Woodworkers Association you already know who the Wood Talk guys are. If not, be sure to check them out. Youll be glad you did.
In their most recent episode, #141 - Quality Control Is Boring!, Marc mentioned our build off.
Like us, they want to demonstrate how thriving the online woodworking community is. Were looking to show everyone by assembling a number of four (4) person teams for the Fine Woodworking Live Build Off. Our goal is to not only have online woodworkers win, but to have them play a major role in the build off so that everyone in attendance at Fine Woodworking Live learns of the community and the fun we have.
If youll be at Fine Woodworking Live on Friday Night, August 9th, please joing us for the build off. You can sign up below. Youll make some furniture, meet some friends and have some fun.
A few weeks ago the Tree House suffered a major setback when one of the main support bolts broke. After some immediate triage consisting of temporary supports to hold up the unsupported corner and supplement the two (2) bolts which hadnt broken yet, Ive finally managed to restore the sagging tree house deck to its original position.
Finally, a jack setup that works. The deck is going up.
By using a house jack (or two) and ultimately learning that I needed to brace the jack stand against the tree and screw it together to prevent it from toppling under the weight, I was able to raise the deck back to its proper height today. Its now held there with two (2) temporary supports.
The 4" x 6" which will make the new permanent supports are ready to go. Next weekend Ill begin digging out for the posts. Once theyre attached - hopefully this month - well be back on track to paint the sides and install the decking.
Woodworking can be as dangerous as it is rewarding. Its important that you stay safe while you have fun in the shop.
Knowing that without safety there is no woodworking, The Wood Whisperer, Marc Spagnuolo, has lead the Woodworking Safety Week campaign for many years. He’s made his own posts about safety and he’s been kind enough to share links to other community members safety posts too. This years post is here.
This will be my third year writing a post for Woodworking Safety Day (formerly Safety Week). Both last year and the year before it was an easy post to write. My first safety week post was about a good friend of mine who took off two (2) fingers with a table saw. My second safety week post was about my dropping a spinning router bit into my left palm.
Luckily, this past year has left me with no injuries to speak of. Unluckily, that’s left me short of my usual cautionary tale for safety week. While I could tell you of my friend Tom’s recent kickback episode, I’ll leave that to him (Tom’s never short on things to say).
Ouch . Kickback - 1, Tom - 0. yfrog.com/ntv86rzj — TomsWorkbench (@TomsWorkbench) April 28, 2013
Instead, this year I’m going to share some simple advice:
If you’re nervous, or what you’re doing makes you uncomfortable, don’t do it.
These are words I live by not just in my shop, but also at my day job at a commercial roofing firm. While I’m not here saying that you can’t get hurt unless you’re nervous, I will say that I feel being nervous makes you more likely to get hurt.
When we’re nervous or uncomfortable we’re also distracted. We spent too much time being nervous or uncomfortable and not enough time paying attention to what we’re doing. Getting hurt then becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
So please, if you’re in the shop and what you’re doing doesn’t feel right, please don’t do it. The right tool for the job, waiting for help or just resting and approaching the task with a clear head will alchoices be faster and cheaper than your injury.
You need this book. Its fantastic.
