August 2008 Blog Posts
I spent all of Saturday with a hammer in my hands and driving nails... but I was still not doing any woodworking.
Instead I was replacing the shingles on the roof of my father-in-law's house. Not a particularly fun task, but rewarding with its mix of comeraderie and hard work. Though I looked stupid, I wore my wide-brimmed fishing hat, and while the others had some sunburn on their necks and faces, I was spared any discomfort at all.
But at least now that task is done, and I can get back to work on my own projects. What is that,...
So I finally made an excuse to buy a new tool – a bandsaw to be precise. The problem is that I can not foresee a need for a heavy-duty model, nor can I justify its expense at this time. For that money, I could simply ask my wood supplier to resaw it for me for a few bucks.
I went to my local BORG and could only find mid-priced models, $400-800. This was more than I was willing to spend. Then I went to Canadian Tire, since there is currently a 1/3 off sale (thanks MsDebbieP for pointing this out)....
A construction worker using a circular saw suffered a critical wound to the neck yesterday (August 18, 2008) when the...
"blade struck a nail and kicked back, slicing the left side of his neck and cutting him towards his throat." (MetroNews.ca)
This accident is a timely reminder to work safe, and to avoid using power tools above your head. Though I have no details about this particular incident, it is likely he was using the circular saw to trim a board above the level of his shoulders. In such a position, the operator has no means to brace themselves against kickback,...
These cherry nightstands were built from 2002 – 2006
This pair of nightstands was taken from Woodsmith Magazine #76, however I modified the plans for height since the original was only 22” tall! I started the project while living at a house that had a double-car garage for my workshop (ah, it was nice to be spread out), but then I moved mid-project, then got married, and never picked it up again at the new house that only had a single-car garage and hence no real workshop. The project gathered dust, and I was actually ashamed that I had started it...
Boxes and boxmaking have always been popular subjects for many hobby woodworkers. What other project type offers such variety in technique, finish, and final application? A box project can often be completed in a weekend, and noone can ever say they have too many boxes!
The first place to start when considering making wooden boxes is to get some inspiration. Since the best place to get inspiration is to see other finished boxes, I suggest you start by looking through some books on wooden boxes.
Not every book on wooden boxes is all about plans and techniques. Some of the books available...
I don't profess to be an expert with 40 years of experience, and I certainly don't profess to be perfect, never making any mistakes.
What I do admit is to having fallen in love with woodworking, and all that it entails. Unfortunately, I also fall into that category of woodworker who has more desire than space in which to work. My workspace is small and cramped, consisting of an unheated garage that allows me to work from late March until perhaps December, weather permitting.
I have a variety of tools that all have to share a very small space, and often...