Woodchat is Yours

This is a very quick post via the Blog This extension for Chrome, but please check out Matts list of #woodchat topics and be sure to vote. Last Wednesdays re-introduction of #woodchat brought both new and old participants together for a lively discussion. This weeks #woodchat is looking to be even more.

Upper Cut Woodworks Woodchat is Yours: Vote on the Woodchat List of Topics for Woodchat Wednesday Upper Cut Woodworks:
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A Sight 4 Saw Eyes

Its a happy day! After waiting for over 3 weeks, I finally have my saws back from being sharpened.

As mentioned previously I have been given some saws (1,3 and 4) which I promptly de-rusted, cleaned and oiled and sent off for sharpening as follows:

1. Warranted Superior 26" - 5ppi RIP

2. Sandvik 22" - 10ppi RIP

3. NoName 21.5" - 8ppi Crosscut

4. Warranted Superior 20" - 10ppi Crosscut

All saws have been jointed flat and resharpened and set, each costing £10.50. I will get myself some files and a saw  set to learn to do it myself eventually but for now, for just over £40 I should be able to cover most of my larger sawing requirements - bargain! 

Unfortunately, the guy who normally does the sharpening has been on holiday, hence the delay, the service normally only takes a week. If anyone in the Surrey area is interested, the company who carried out the sharpening is Winsor Saw Ltd of Windsor 01753 862029, but you can also drop off and collect saws from  Village Mowers in Hersham, Surrey 01932 248538.

Aside from my Lie Nielson backsaws (a crosscut carcass saw and a dovetail saw), which I use all the time. I still need (would like) a larger tenon saw. Common sense suggests something like a 400mm 10ppi rip saw as the largest cuts are with the grain when cutting a tenon, but would it still be suitable for making precision crosscuts when my carcass saw is a bit small ... or should I just try and do precision cuts with the panel saws above ... decisions decisions.

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At Last!!!

Well after waiting for what seems like months, sending several emails regarding UK availability and keeping a close eye on the Lost Art Press website & blog and finally monitoring stock levels of it on Axminster Tools, its finally mine - At Last!!!

The Anarchist Toolchest by Chris Schwarz - The Modern Day Godfather of hand tool woodworking.

I cant wait to get stuck into this book and I will do my best NOT to review it, as it seems the whole woodworking world and his wife has already done so...

So what else have I been spending money on ...

Just a few stocking fillers from Axminster Tools - not that I wear stockings...

• 2x Large Old fashioned Carpenters Hand Screws
• Veritas Card Scraper set of 4
• Veritas Gimlet set of 7
• Kirschen Burnisher to sharpen the Cabinet Scrapers
• Crown Adjustable Square
• 12" Center Finding Rule

I also purchased a set of 6" and 4" dividers on Ebay. These dividers have a more reliable screw adjustment. I was given my current pair which are from an old trigonometry set that move while in use, unless you are extremely careful with them.

 

Aside from a few luxury items, I should be able to control my hand tool fetish for a while - at least until I have read about the 50 essential tools in the Anarchist Toolchest...

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Kamis, 10 Maret 2016

Modern Woodworkers At Fine Woodworking Live 2012

Next week, the inagural Fine Woodworking Live event begins at SUNY New Paltz.

Fine Woodworking Live is the first conference put on by the folks at Fine Woodworking Magazine and FineWoodworking.com. Its a three (3) day day event. To let them describe it:
The first-ever Fine Woodworking Live event, where you can see the pages of Fine Woodworking magazine brought to life before your eyes. Meet the experts behind the magazine that you love, and spend time with fellow woodworkers sharing experience and knowledge.If youre anywhere near the New Paltz, NY, or if you like last minutes airfare rates, be sure to register for the conference before its too late.

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For those of you who are going, please come join us on Thursday night after registration. The Modern Woodworkers Assocation will be hosting a get together at Bacchus Resturant in New Paltz. You can read all about the detail here on the MWA site. If youre going to join us, or you just thinking about joining us, please be sure to fill out the survey on the page so that we can let Bacchus know about how many woodworkers to expect.
As were looking to have as many folk there as possible, please let others know and tell your friends.
Ill see everyone in New Paltz, where nothings shiny, except your future.

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Jumat, 19 Februari 2016

MWA Podcast 4 SketchUp Basics

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Jumat, 12 Februari 2016

Its Wanderful Part 4 Carving

Now that the wands were just about shaped, I thought about the carving. Kenneth’s wand that I was using as a design basis is covered in wonderful carving that he managed to create using just a set of cheap carving tools. I had picked up the same set of tools, so off I went. First I practiced on the initial blank that I had turned to a dowel with my spokeshave. Then I went on to the first wand.

Marking lines I drew on the initial blank to carve. In the background
you can see a close up of the awesome carved handles of Kenneths wand.

I found the carving results to be acceptable (I certainly wasn’t thrilled with the results). They were however, far too time consuming. At this point I was beginning to seriously run low on time. Knowing that un-carved wands derived in time for the movie premier were better than carved wands delivered weeks later, I completed the carving on the business end half of the first wand handle and called it quits on the carving.

The one wand I half carved (dont tell that the order of the
description is slightly out of  order for better continuity)

Even though the carving phase of the project was aborted due to time and the results leave something to be desired, the process did intrigue me enough that I plan to take Kari up on her offer to provide some guidance. Having gotten my feet wet and seeing the beauties she’s able to turn out, carving is now certainly on my list of woodworking skills to learn.

Whos ready to sand?

Once the carving was done aborted it came time to sand. Though I normally enjoy sanding (thanks to my nice random orbit sanders, vacuum boom arm and headphones), I found the hand sanding of these damn wands almost unbearably tedious. By the time I had worked though the 80 and 100 grit sanding pads I was ready to call it quits. Luckily the small windows of evening shop time I get meant that by the time I was fed up with it, it was time to call it a night anychoice. Over the course of a few days I did manage to sand all four (4) wands to 320 grit.

Do youre natural work breaks break up the tedious tasks too?

Its Wanderful: Part 1

Its Wanderful: Part 2

Its Wanderful: Part 3

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