The Call

Yesterday I was interviewed by Russ Olivo of the Woonsocket Rhode Island newspaper The Call.
Russ is writing an article about myself and the show.  I'm not sure when it will be published but when it is I'll post the article here.  Thanks for watching and following' 

Stage Box

My son and I  recently visited a mill and farming museum where we saw this nice stagecoach box.  The box sat behind the driver of the coach where he would keep his valuables.  I love the hinge hardware. I think this box will make a nice project to build.

Window Boxes

I finished the three window boxes for Bill.   Bill commissioned me to make these boxes after he saw the episode of the show where I made the planter boxes for Lynchs Package store.  The boxes are made using simple joinery.  The bottoms are dado into the all sides of the box.  The box parts are then joined together using butt joints and then nailed and glued.  The joints are strengthened by adding decorative strips that wrap around the butt joint, reinforcing it.  Bill is going to paint the boxes in an antique red and green for the trim.

Studio Spring Cleaning

I finally got around to doing a massive spring cleaning in the studio.  Every nook and cranny has been swept and cleaned.  We are a filming a new episode this week.  I'm excited to work with the new crew.  

I'll be making a toy box out of  tongue and groove pine.  The box is like the one I made for my son.

The box has painted panels on the front and back and the side panels are painted with chalkboard paint.

I'm very grateful to have Rockler Woodworking as a sponsor for the show.

Rockler has jumped on board and is willing to help make 'The Garage with Steve Butler'

a success.

It's official'

It's official.

The show will start to air on WSBE Rhode Island PBS on Saturday, July 5th at 2:30 PM

What an awesome time slot.'

facebook

I have a facebook page.  Well- The show does.  Please vist it and follw it at facebook stevebutlersagarage.

You'll be able to see what's going on in the garage.  What projects I'm working on for the show and what's coming up.

Thanks for following'

One good turn deserves another'

I have a commission to replace and build new planter window boxes on a house in Uxbridge.

The person who commissioned me saw the episode of the show where I had built planter boxes for Lynchs Package store.  I'll upload images as I build the new boxes.  I'll be making three boxes.  I'll be making two new ones to fit the windows and I'll be replacing another.

  

I've been sorting through my tools lately and deciding what I use and what I don't use.

I've been lugging around a bunch of tools that I never use.  They are great to look at and create a great atmosphere in the studio but I have to be realistic - I never use them.  I think tools should be used, not sit on a shelf to be looked at'  I love wooden hand planes.  I love making wooden hand planes.  There's nothing better than using a tool made with your own hands.  I decided I would sell off my set of Primus hand planes.  These are great planes made in Germany.  The planes are made out of beech with either hop hornbeam soles or lignum vitae soles.  The soles of the planes are dovetailed to the body.  They're beautiful planes, I just don't use them.  below are images of a primus jointer plane, a scrub plane and a smoothing plane.

Spring Cleaning

I spent this past weekend cleaning out the garage.  I have some new equipment so I had to make room.

It was a beautiful day out which was great because I was able to open up the garage door and move things outside.  I live on a busy street so I thought I would try and sell some things also.  I moved a few tables into the driveway and stuck a for sale sign up.  I ended up selling a couple of small shaker style end tables and I cleaned the garage.  A perfect day''