What the '''''''''

Have you ever had one of these days?

As always - Thanks for following
Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve

bench Hooks

Looking through some old books this morning and found a small article about the most underutilized, and undervalued shop accessory. The bench hook.'

Do yourself a favor, if you haven't already, make a few of these very simple, yet very useful jigs. Once you do you'll be using them all of the time. They only take a few strips of wood to build, a great way to use up some small pieces of off cuts or scrap.
They're small enough to store in a bench drawer when not in use, or drill a hole in them and hang them up.

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Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve

Dust

Dust

As I get older I find I'm more sensitive to wood dust than ever.
Dust collection systems have come along way. You can now get small portable units, perfect for a small shop space.
I have the dust right system by Rockler. It hangs on the wall and has all sorts of attachments available. I've used it for over a year now and have no complaints. It works well.

I also have a portable canister unit that is on wheels. I have it tucked away in a corner of the garage and take it out when needed.
For fine dust particles released when sanding,etc, I have an air filtration system. You can sit this on a bench but it's more efficient ( and recommended ) if it's suspended from the ceiling. It's heavy so make sure you attach it to something solid, not drywall.

I'll be setting up mine sometime today.

As always - thanks for following
Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve

Eggs

Full steam ahead

It's not woodworking. But I did make the coop they're laying in.
The ladies are in full egg production mode now.
I guess I know what I'm having for breakfast tomorrow.
And the next day, and the next day.......

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Best
Steve

Sure foot

Sure foot

I was in need of a few more bar clamps. I saw these 'sure foot' clamps in the Rockler catalog and decided to give them a try. I have a few aluminum bar clamps, but I find them a little flimsy. Not the aluminum bar itself, but the hardware.

I received my 'sure foot' clamps. I have to tell you, everything about these clamps is awesome. The attached hardware is machined well and is strong. The clamps are available in 24" lengths, 36", 48" and 60" lengths. If that's not enough,you can purchase a connector kit that allows you to extend the clamps length by connecting two together. The kit is strong and sturdy. I have the 24 inch clamps, so when I connected my 48 inch aluminum bar to it I then had a 72 inch clamping capacity. It only took a few seconds to do so. Awesome. The sure foot raises the clamp making it easier to glue up boards.

I'm very happy with these clamps. Check out the link below to see a short video to learn more about the clamps and to see them in action.

As always - Thanks for following
Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve

http://www.rockler.com/surefoot-aluminum-bar-clamps

Manuals

Manuals

This has been a much overdue task.
I finally got around to organizing all of my equipment and tool manuals and put them in a large three ring binder.
They've been scattered all around. Now I know exactly where they all are.

As always - Thanks for following
Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve

Constructive behaviour

Constructive Behaviour (CDN)

Twenty years ago I went back to school. I can't believe it'
Not that I went back to school, but that it's been twenty years.
I already had a formal woodworking apprenticeship under my belt. but I wanted to learn about design. So - I enrolled in Sheridan Colleges' School of Crafts and Design. I was terrified. First because I was much older than most students, and secondly because when i was in school I wasn't the best student. Lets just say I enjoyed the social aspect of college a little too much'.

While unpacking some boxes in the garage I uncovered a poster from my (our) graduate exhibition. I remember well how excited and exhausted we all were. see- the furniture program didn't mean we just made furniture. We had a lot of other course work to do like art history, craft history, 2D and 3D design, business,etc. This meant we had to divide our time between being at home studying or writing essays, and being in the woodshop designing and building furniture. In the first year of the program we also had to try another studio major. I chose ceramics. At the end of the year my professors concurred that I made the right choice in staying in the furniture program'''. I was horrible at ceramics. It also meant that for those years at school, we had to find a way to work with, and get along with each other, not always an easy task. We had the largest furniture class in the school's history.

Anyways- A few years went by and we did it. It meant pulling all nighters working in the woodshop, not the safest thing to do, I really wouldn't recommend it, but we did it.
As part of our business and exhibition planning class, we had to fund raise for, and organize our graduate exhibition.
We pulled it off, and it felt great. We had an opening and exhibited our work proudly. I think fondly of those few years at Sheridan. It gave me a lot of confidence. I proved to myself I could do it. After Sheridan I went on to go to Queen's University where I graduated from the education program.

I proudly hung the poster on the wall in the garage
The attached images are some of the work I had in the exhibition.
As always - Thanks for  following
Be safe and be creative

Best

Steve

Eggs

Good news today. Our hens have finally started to lay eggs. Chickens usually start laying eggs at around twenty weeks old. Our ladies are twenty one weeks.
I feel like a proud papa. The coop was fun to make and it is the ultimate functional piece.
It's a slow start, only one bird so far, but I'm sure the others will be off and running (laying) in no time.

As always - Thanks for following
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Best
Steve

Rocco

A sad goodbye

Well - this morning has been a difficult one. I had to put my old buddy down.
Poor Rocco never recouped from his battle with Lymes. His kidneys started to fail and he was in a lot of pain, so we did what was best for him and had to put him down.
Rocco was a great dog. He never had to be leashed and was a great companion to myself and my family.
Even with proper and regular medication he contracted the disease. If you have a cat or dog, please be diligent about regular Lymes prevention. Our vet said this is the worst year for Lymes that they have seen.
I'm sure in time we will get another dog, but they'll have big shoes ( paws ) to fill. We had Rocco for five years, he was a rescue from South Carolina.
I'll miss him in the garage.

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Best
Steve

Student work

Student work

I went to a craft fair this morning at the local high school. There were jewelers, potters, textile artist, and woodworkers exhibiting their work. My favorite pieces were three tables made by the students.
Very well done

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Best
Steve

Finishing

Finishing

I painted the finishing supply cabinet and added some appropriate decals.
Yesterday was a great day in the garage. I made a good size dent in the pile.

As always - Thanks for  following
Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve

Mallet

 I love making my hand tools. I've been unpacking boxes and discovered a right and left handed mallet I made.

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Best
Steve

Elvis

Elvis is in the building

Once in awhile I visit the local Habitat for Humanity Re-Store in my area. If I need a piece of hardwood for a certain project I'll go through the store and check out the beds and bed rails. They're normally made of solid cherry or maple, and I can buy one ( a rail ) for a couple of dollars. I then also get the bed hardware, that I throw in my can of hardware for latter use.

If you've been following for awhile you know I',m a fan of Elvis. I had three life size cutouts that would stand in the shop. If you watch some of the earlier episodes of the show you might see Elvis, or Buddy Holly hanging out in the background.

Well- this morning I went rummaging through my local Re-Store.
I found a great 45 record of Elvis. It's not the sun years but it will be a nice addition to the wall of the garage I bought fourteen 45's for $2.00, that's a deal.

As always - Thanks for following
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Best

Steve

Going buggy

Going buggy

I saw this beautiful old and weathered buggy/coach seat while roaming around an antique store this morning.
Inspiring

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Steve

You never know

You never know

Another segment of 'you never know'
I saw this amazing purple martin birdhouse in my neighborhood today. I was driving by the house and had to stop to take a picture. I couldn't get that close, but the house is approximately three feet tall.
I love it'

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Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve

Wainscotting

Wainscoting

I love older homes. You will always find some great woodworking in them.

Yesterday I took my son to his dentist appointment. The facility is in a renovated old home. It's beautiful. The contractor left most of the original interior and brought it back to life.
Look at the amazing quarter sawn oak wainscoting on the stairwell. Sure- you can buy wainscoting today, but something about the older interiors. I also love the handrails and bannisters.
Maybe I'll switch dentist'

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Best
Steve

The guild

The Guild

Here are some images from my visit to the berkshire Woodworkers Guild's annual fine woodworking show.
Beautiful work. It's easy to get intimidated. I felt like I needed to rush home and brush up on my skills..The folks in the guild are easy going and eager to share their knowledge. I found it very inspiring.
Enjoy the show'

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Best

Steve

Fine woodworking show.

Yesterday i had the privilege of attending the Berkshire Woodworkers Guild annual fine woodworking show. the event was held at the berkshire Botanical Gardens. I love woodworking, and I love meeting and talking to people, so this event had everything for me.

The Berkshire Woodworkers Guild is a not-for-profit association of professional and amateur woodworkers.

Members come from a range of backgrounds and experience. They include cabinet makers, boat builders, sculptors, house builders, suppliers of wood products, wood turners, makers of musical instruments, and more. They reach common ground in Their interest in fine woodworking on a professional level and woodworking as an enjoyable hobby. They're interested in the work of others, in exchanging ideas and techniques, in learning more about woodworking, and in helping one another with advice on skills. They are a supportive group, welcoming new members to join with those who have been part of the Guild for many years.

If you live in the berkshire region and are interested in, or already are a woodworker, check out the guild at the link below

https://www.berkshirewoodworkers.org/

as always - Thanks for following
Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve

Sweet sixteen

Sweet Sixteen

Nah. It's not my birthday, but thank you''
If you're of the same vintage as I then you probably remember the redline series of hot wheel cars. Also know as 'The Sweet Sixteen' It was the first year for hot wheels. Hot wheels were ( are ) more of 'tricked out' cars, where matchbox were ( is ) more of real life cars.

I loved hot wheels, still do. There's a reason my son has hundreds of them. I keep buying them for him. He doesn't play with them, he just gives me a reason, or excuse to buy one. I had all of the originals, even the wheel carrying case and the superchargers for the track.

What does this have to do with woodworking you ask?
Well-nothing' But it does have to do a lot with 'The Garage'
You see- my shop space, the garage, is also my space. It's my den, or my 'man cave' if you want to call it that. It's where I feel focused and creative. It's the environment that means the most to me. The walls are filled with images and things that mean the most, or are important to me. There's pictures of my family, notes from my son, postcards of past exhibitions I participated in, postcards of friends works, vinyl record albums, street signs, you name it. It's where I go to be'

Today I found a hotwheel, brand new in it's package, that I bought ( for my son of course ) months ago. It sat in a drawer until I had the garage set up. It's a of a 1962 custom chevy. It has a surfboard in the back.

You see. I love the culture that is music and cars. I love surf and cars, rockabilly and cars. I love going to Honkey Tonks. I love beatnik culture. Maybe at heart I'm a car guy. I'd love to own a hot rod. Do I know anything about cars??? Nothing'''' I'm that guy that stands on the roadside with the hood open and a dumb look on his face. When someone drives by I give them that 'Help Me' look
But I love cars. I was raised by my Mom, and grew up in an apartment in a big city. We didn't even own a car til I was eighteen. That's okay. I found woodworking and wouldn't change a thing. So today I'll head into the garage, put on some music, maybe The Red Pennys or Hot Rod Walt and The Psycho Devilles ( now there's a car guy ), and find a home for my new 62 chevy hot wheel, and just be'

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Garden

Garden work

I didn't spend the day in the garage as planned, but i did do some garden work. I made a simple trellis for the cucumbers.
It feels good to get your hands dirty, literally.

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Best
Steve

Roadside

Roadside Attractions.

I love the area I live in. It's full of quaint places and has lots to offer.
It seems that when I travel 1/2 a mile down the road I come upon another roadside attraction.
Now this is my type of roadside attraction'

As always - Thanks for  following
Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve