Bora Woodworking

Meeting people is the best part of any Woodworking in America. This past year I had the pleasure of meeting Craig Ursell of Affinity Tool Works. Affinity Tool Works represents the Tormek, Bora, Dtec Diamond Blades, Footprint Tools, Lynx, Pax and Fish Drill Bit brands. At Woodworking in America, Craig and his staff were showing off the Tormek sharpening system.

The Tormek display at Woodworking in America (thats not Craig, Im sorry I forget who that is).

After Woodworking in America, Craig sent me a 50” Bora Clamp Edge Wide Track to try out.

The Bora Clamp Edge Wide Track

Like the standard Clamp Edge, the Clamp Edge Wide Track works as a straight edge clamping tool. It’s designed to be used as a fence that clamps onto the workpiece. Then just about any cutting tool can be run along the Clamp Edge to create a perfectly straight line. The Clamp Edge Wide Track goes a bit further though, in that it adds T-tracks that accept ¼ x 20 bolt heads so that jigs and other accessories  (such as the Bora Saw Guide) can be attached. Both the standard Clamp Edge and the Clamp Edge Wide Track have pivoting clamping heads that allow them to be clamped to a workpiece at anything from a 0º to 22.5º angle relative to perpendicular from the edge of the piece.

These T-tracks allow Bora and shop made accessories to be used with the Clamp Edge Wide Track.

I put the Clamp Edge Wide Track to work on a few projects. I used it as a guide for cutting Lexan for the window well cover I recently made. Though not exactly what Bora had in mind, the Clamp Edge Wide Track workled very well for this task of guiding a utility knife. The only trick was to place a piece of wood underneath the Lexan before clamping it, as the Lexan sheet itself was too thin and flexible for the Clamp Edge Wide Track to properly bite too.

Cutting this Lexan sheet, the Clamp Edge Wide Track was a great help.

I also used the Clamp Edge Wide Track as a stop for setting the fences on jigs I was making. While working on the Tin Can Caddies I had to make a jig for holding the side pieces as I used the hole saw to make the can holes. The Clamp Edge Wide Track worked wonderfully for this, allowing me to set the Clamp Edge on the line, then just hold the wooden fence tight to the Clamp Edge while I screwed it in, without having to worry about watching the line and trying to keep the wooden fence perfectly set on the line while it was being screwed in.

The stacks of wood are to become a fence screwed to the sheet of MDF.
I used the Clamp Edge Wide Track to align the fence as I assembled this jig.

As the Clamp Edge Wide Track clamped tight enough to be used as a fence setting reference edge without shifting, I’m sure it can easily handle the force of having a saw or router pushed against it to ensure a straight cut. It is certainly in this role, as a straight edge to guide a cutting tool, that the Clamp Edge Wide Track excels. It is straight & stiff and quicker & easier to install than any guide rail, short of one for a dedicated track saw.It is also in this role as a cutting tool guide that I have used it the least. For you see, I already owned a track saw. Any discussion of the Clamp Edge Wide Track would be remiss if it didnt mention track saws.

Once the adjustable head is moved snug with the piece your clamping to, just through this large  handle
and the Clamp Edge Wide Track grips the wood tenaciously.

If ease of use & speed are the determining factors, track saws win out by a hair. However, if cost is included in the comparison, the Clamp Edge Wide Track is the much better value. For only $56.00 (amazon.com for the 50" model) plus a saw you already own, the Clamp Edge Wide Track will quickly & cheaply make your saw cuts much straighter.Overall, the Clamp Edge Wide Track is a great clamp-on straight edge and a great value. If you already have a track saw, it may take a little while to see its non-saw guiding value, but it is there. If you dont have a track saw, the Clamp Edge Wide Track will immediately be of tremendous use. Thanks Craig for letting my try out the Clamp Edge Wide Track. It’ll continue to see plenty of use in my shop.

Read More..

Chuck Bender Cuts His Pins Tails At The Same Time

Woodworking in America 2012 Midwest was filled with banter about the awesomeness of Chuck Norris. While it doesnt take much for a bunch of (mostly) guys hanging out for a weekend to start talking about Chuck Norris, the catalyst for the discussion in Covington was clear. There was an even more powerful Chuck in convention center with us: Chuck Bender.

Chuck Bender chatting with our very own, Tom Iovino at WIA

Chuck Bender is the proprietor of the Acanthus Workshop and the host of the No BS Online Woodworking Show. Chuck’s also a regular at Woodworking in America at many other woodworking shows and seminars around the country and especially the northeast (I can’t think of the last time I went to a show and Chuck wasn’t there).At Woodworking in America I was able to attend Chuck’s “How To Cut Fancy Pants Bermuda Dovetails Like A Man” seminar. Apparently, as there was nothing to do in Bermuda except drink, have sex and work wood, amusement for the natives came in the form of decorative patterns cut into their exposed dovetails.

Chuck cuts Dovetails in class

Chuck took us through the basics of cutting dovetails his choice, the choice, and then we moved on to the Bermuda Dovetails. After learning the technique, I’ll say that Bermuda Dovetails are not as hard as they look, but they’re still pretty hard. If the aesthetic peaks your interest, you should probably pick up Chuck’s Dovetail DVDs, as they’ll give you the opportunity to watch over and over as you practice.

A sample set of Chucks Bermuda Dovetails.

I must warn you, before you run out and learn to Dovetail as Chuck Bender does, you must consider the great responsibility that comes with such great power. It has been hard to watch the great Chuck Norris cope with the responsibility his power brings. If you learn to cut your pins and tails first like Chuck Bender does, you’ll become one of the few who are even more powerful than Chuck Norris. Consider that, and tread carefully.

Read More..

Kamis, 11 Februari 2016

Infill Plane

Yes, I waited a few years before getting such a kind of plane, believed to be among the best ones. The famous Norris, Spiers etc. have dangerous prices, so I contented myself with a probably auto-built plane.

This specimen is almost 8 inches long (20 cm); the plane body has the typical form (coffin) of smoothing British planes, with mahogany infill wood and a mahogany handle. Its weight is 1.8 kg, 400 grams more than a Stanley 3 wich has more or less a comparable length.It has a brass lever  cap, as well as the clamping screw. A little brass plate is screwed on the front wood insert, probably for giving an aesthetic additional touch (debatable). The blade (2 1 / 8 "/ 54mm) is marked HEARNSHAW BROS (1881-1960).

The tools was in good condition, despite some age signs and some old repairs. In particular it seems the handle has been repaired or replaced. However it has been reinforced by screws, hidden by caps. It is very solid. That is why I decided to leave the plane in its original condition, worrying only of blade and sole that required the attention necessary to re-put the tool at work.

Unlike traditional metal planes (like Bailey), the sole lapping tends to open the mouth, so we must act only when absolutely necessary and with great caution.

In my case, the sole was almost perfectly flat and the work on 180 Grit abrasive paper  had virtually no impact on the mouth width (only 0.25 mm). The blade is bedded to 45 °. The blade bevel was about 30 degrees and  so I reground it, without microbevel. The chipbreaker took a little leveling job on the side in contact with the blade.

I rounded the cutting edge at both ends to avoid the plane can leave marks onto work pieces. Even the sole edges were rounded crawling the plane and keeping it inclined in respect to abrasive surface. The mouth  requested filing assistance to adapt the opening to the cutting edge.

About four hour job and........................

 

Read More..

Rabu, 10 Februari 2016

December 8 time for Nativity Crib

The Nativity Crib (presepe) for Neapolitan people is a real must and in these gray days for our city, its nice to find some serenity and optimism in the continuing traditions full of  religious and family meaning. Yes, because the presepe as well as tells the Nativity, is a joy moment to share with our Family and especially with our children. I remember with great emotion the days of childhood, when my father invited me to look carefully at the presepe construction scheme, so that one day I might do it for my children.

The characters (called  generically "pastors") are still those of the time, jealously preserved for all these years (about 40) and that the December 8 begin to live  their annual glory moment, until Epiphany, when traditionally, the presepe is disposed and retained for the  next year.Wood, cork, glue and nails are the simple ingredients to build a traditional Nativity scene, but clearly there are no limits to our fantasy. Become a big play for us to try to make the scene as real as possible. The characters are all there, from the Roman soldier to the camel drivers, the pipers, shepherds with their sheep, the Archangel Gabriel announcing the forthcoming Jesus birth, the Magi Kings who come on their camels to bring gifts to the humanity Savior.

Of course the scene lacks of the main character, Baby Jesus, which cannot be placed in the manger before midnight on December 24.

Merry Christmas to you!

Read More..

Sabtu, 06 Februari 2016

If I Only Had Time For Marc

The Wood Whisperer posted big new yesterday, announcing that he was hiring. Producing and managing all that great content has become more than a two (2) person job. Initially the new hire will "help with written articles and post preparation." From there, Marc says it will depend on the hire.

Who wouldnt want to work for this guy?

Ill admit I found it tempting to apply. Working with Marc and taking an even greater role in the community would be a wonderful experience. Unfortunately I soon realized that between work, family, The Penultimate Woodshop and the Modern Woodworkers Association Im already spread far too thin.
That said, hopefully you have the time to take up the opportunity. Fill out the application form on The Wood Whisperer Site here, help Marc out and get more involved.

Read More..

Kamis, 04 Februari 2016

What Cool Kids Will Be Asking At Woodworking in America

I leave for Woodworking in America 2013 in two (2) days. As you can imagine, my excitement is tempered by the pile of work I have to do between now and then. Given the size of that pile, I was about to write an "Im lame and too busy for a proper post" post. Luckily, Modern Woodworkers Association members have come though and I can write an "Im really busy but this was a quick post to write" post. One that is hopefully also somewhat informative.

No one can escape the 5 questions.

We started a tradition last year of asking 5 questions to the woodworkers we met at WIA. Last week I asked for suggestions on 5 more questions. Many of your responded with great questions. Thank you.
After much consideration (and Changing up +Tom Iovinos suggestions) here are the 5 well be asking this year.

1. What was the first woodworking project you built?
2. What was the last woodworking project you built?
3. How messy is your shop, right now?
4. What is your go-to finish? Why?
5. Do you belong to a local woodworking club or guild?
Unfortunately, not everyones suggested questions made it in. Hopefully the selected ones will do. If youre dying to ask the question you submitted, hold onto it. Theyll be plenty of time to ask and discuss after hours.
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.

Read More..

Langganan: Postingan (Atom)