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''

Rikon Install

I spent this past weekend setting up and installing the new drill press and bandsaw that was generously donated to the show by Rikon tools.  I can't thank Jack Bransfield enough for his support of the show.

The band saw is Rikons model 10-325 14" Deluxe Band  saw.  This is a very solid, well built machine.  It has an 8" re-saw capacity.  The drill press is a 13" bench top model.  The machine runs quiet and smoothly.

Cape Town

The show has recently been picked up by a station in South Africa called Cape Town TV.

It airs on Saturday and Sunday mornings. The station broadcasts to more than 2,000,000 homes.

Christmas in April

 Christmas came early today.

Three large boxes were delivered to my door today compliments of Jim Krueger, the president and CEO of Pony/Jorgenson Tools.  Joe donated some clamps to the show.  I can't thank Joe enough.  The clamps are fantastic, especially the 90 degree parallel bar clamp called 'Cabinet Master'.  The clamp bars stay upright while gluing because of the built in supports and the jaws keep your material even at 90 degrees.  They have a quick action release, making clamping and gluing procedures much easier.

Thanks again Joe'

WSBE

This past week I received my agreement with WBSE, Rhode Island PBS in the mail.  WSBE has agreed to air thirteen episodes a season of the show 'The Garage with Steve Butler' for four seasons/years starting August 1st, 2014. I have only a couple of weeks to clean up the studio and rearrange the space.  I have some new equipment coming in courtesy of Rikon and Pony tools.  We start shooting the next episode on May 1st.  I'll be making a storage bench, re-using a cushion from a vintage ottoman I took apart. I'll be posting images of the project as it progresses.

  

The Big Freeze

I just couldn't wait. This past week the temperature finally reached  50 degrees outside. It's seems like it's been a very long winter this year so when the last patches of ice and snow finally melted I had to dig out all of the outdoor furniture I've made and set up the deck.  Just looking at it makes me feel warm.

The two round cafe tables are made from 4" x 4" post and a bulk head door that I used to cut two circular tops out of.  The two seater picnic table I built as a project for the show and the two Adirondack style chairs I built using the wood I got from an old bookcase I took apart.  The barn style doors on the shed in the background I made out of wood I got from some large pallets I took apart.  The wooden planter box on the left side of the deck I made as a project for the show.

Material Needs Exhibition

I'm involved in a group exhibition that will be held at Arts Worcester's Aurora gallery in September.

Last year I was one of eight people who received a material needs grant from Arts Worcester.  The grant is used to purchase materials for a project.  Each of us will then exhibit these pieces at the upcoming exhibition.

I am creating two round end tables.  The tables will taper, being larger at the top and narrower at the bottom.  The tables will be cladded in scrap metal pieces and then torched to create a beautiful patina.  The tops will be made out of mahogany.  I am re purposing two swivel bases I took off of a couple of old chairs that were thrown out and sitting on the roadside in New Jersey. The legs on the bases remind me of insects.  The metal cladding will look beetle like.  

Below are the swivel bases I'll be using.
The exhibition opens on September 12.
Please visit arts wocester to learn more about the exhibition and Arts Worcester.

      

Pony / Jorgensen tools has volunteered to help with the show by generously donating some product.

I can't thank these folks enough.  They will be sending some much needed clamps.

Thank you

Please check out their website at pony tools

for a list of great products

A television show such as 'The Garage wit Steve Butler' is costly to produce.

Materials need to be purchased for projects, equipment needs to be maintained.  All of these things add up.

Rikon power tools has generously donated some product for the show to help with our equipment needs.

Thank you
Visit rikon tools to see all of their great product

WSBE RHODE ISLAND PBS

wow'''''

Today I received some fantastic news.  My Television show ' The Garage with Steve Butler' will be carried on WSBE, Rhode Island PBS.  Awesome.  I've worked very hard to get the show out there.  I believe it's a good product and now I can share it with an even larger audience.  Thank you Kathryn Larsen at WSBE for believing in it as well.

The next generation

It's easy to get caught up with the pressures of daily life.  Paying the bills, getting the kids off to school, etc, etc, but now and then we should stop and really smell the coffee.  We influence our children all of the time.  They watch us, listen to what we are saying and mimic us.  It is important to be a positive role model and take the time to listen to and watch what our children are doing. My son has a pair of work boots as do I.  The other day I had taken mine off after shoveling some snow.  Later that evening I went to put them on and they weren't where I had left them.  My son had moved them next to his.  Our children want to be like us so please take the time to influence them positively.  Take a moment and make a simple project with them, it'll go a long way and mean so much to them.

Rustic Reunion

I made this rustic chair three years ago.  I made the chair as a project for an episode of the show 'The Garage with Steve Butler'.  The chair is made out of red maple sticks. The mortise holes were drilled out using a forstner bit and the round tenons were cut using a tenoning cutter, which works much like a very large pencil sharpener.  I pegged the tenons using small panel nails.  The nails are available in different colors.  I used brown nails.  I used one inch wide black and red shaker tape to weave the seat.  This was the first chair of this type I had ever made and I'm really happy with it.  The chair has been storage for the past three years .  The storage isn't heated.  The chair has survived high heat and humidity and below freezing temperatures and it is as solid as the day I made it. It now sits by the wood stove in my wife's studio. 

Arrowmont Workshop

I'm teaching a weeklong workshop at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gattlinburg, TN this fall.

The workshop runs from Sept 28 to Oct 4.  For more information or to sign up for the workshop visit
arrowmont

   Below is the description of the workshop.

4 x 8 CONTEMPORARY 

PLYWOOD FURNITURE

STEVEN BUTLER

The resurgence of plywood furniture in recent 

years attests to the material’s enduring appeal. 

In this workshop we will channel the spirits 

of Thonet, Aalto and the Eamses to design 

and create beautiful furniture out of a single 

sheet of plywood. Learn how to manipulate 

the material into a fantastic finished piece. 

The class will cover the essential technical 

aspects of plywood furniture making; the 

tools, techniques, machine safety, and joinery 

involved in the process of creating such items 

as chairs, tables, desks and more. For beginner 

to intermediate students.

COURSE FEE: $575

Walnut Bench

I made  this bench a few years ago when I worked at Peters Valley.  I recently cleared out my storage space

and moved the bench to our home.  The bench is made out of walnut which has some nice curly grain.  The bench is 54 inches long, 14 inches wide and 3 inches thick. The legs are made out of aluminum

I used a template to rout some vein lines into the bench to mimic where one would sit.

The bench is unusual in that it has six legs.  It is easier to find purchase on the floor with only two but I like the look of the six legs.  The legs are adjustable if needed.  The legs have a tenon on the end of them that is mortised into the underside of the bench.  The end of the tenons are tapped to accept a one inch bolt.  The

 bottom of the mortise has an insert nut mortised into it to accept the bolt, making the legs adjustable and very sturdy.  I can't remember the exact angle that the legs are splayed at.  I think it is 8 or 10 degrees.   

I bought wooden torpedo legs from a home center and added tenons to the ends.  The tenons on the middle legs are a different leg than the other legs. The wooden legs are the template for the aluminum legs.  The legs are turned solid bar stock.

Here is the finished leg with a tapped hole in the tenon to accept the one inch bolt.

Across The Pond

Yesterday I shipped one of my Bread Side Tables to England.

I love making these quirky tables and I love it that they have found an audience.

The tables are made using vintage bread boxes and attaching vintage ottoman legs to a plywood base that is fitted into the bottom of the bread box. Sometimes I 'll paint the legs. I attach a chain so the door will remain open so a book or a morning cup of coffee can be placed on it.  The table going to England will be used as a telephone table.  I drilled a hole in the back of the box to accept the wires.

I sell these tables on line through my etsy store.

I recently received a comment about my bread box tables on my etsy page.  If anyone knows me they know that I love mid century modern design and aesthetic.  My bread side tables are inspired by my love of all things vintage and in know way would I call them mid century modern.  The bread box and ottomans I use for the table come from that era and are a product of that design aesthetic. Below is the comment that a woman from South Carolina posted on my etsy page.  What is the saying about bad press ?

Making these tables make me smile and for the few moments it takes too make a table I escape the seriousness of the world.  I'm not thinking about the money we owe or the bills but everyone is entitled to their opinion and I applaud this woman for speaking out.  So many people say things quietly without ever standing up for themselves.

"please stop ruining mid century furniture. The only reason I even saw this atrocity is because someone posted it in the "shame" section of a mid century club. it has over 50 comments, and not one is giving this mess praise. so please stop ruining things that can't be replaced. thanks."

The Garage Tee Shirts

We finally have tee shirts. The shirts will be available to purchase on the shows web site.  All proceeds go back into the show to keep it in production. When you add up the costs of materials, mailers and DVDs each episode cost approximately $350 or more to produce.  The shirts are black and available in med, Lg and Xlg.  If you would like to help support the show and purchase a shirt please go www.thegaragewithstevebutler.com and click on the 'merchandise' page.

Shop Dog

Every shop space needs a shop dog.

Last week we adopted a great dog from 'Dog Orphans Inc' out of Douglas, MA.

Rocco, a three year old male from South Carolina found his way into our hearts and our home.  He's a true Southern Gentleman.  He listens well and is great with our young son.  Rocco is a Lab/Collie mix.

You have to love vinyl

Anyone who knows me and my family know that we have a love of mid-century modern furniture and that retro vibe.  Last week we found this great stained maple and vinyl upholstered bed at the salvation army.  We were in need of a new bed frame, which I know sound crazy being that I'm a furniture maker but you know " The cobblers shoe-less kids" syndrome.  The bed is perfect for us.  The best part is, I got it for $19.

Pine Wood Derby Cars

Woodworkers love to keep their cutoffs and pieces of scrap wood.  You never when you might need them right?

My son and I have been making Match Box Cars using our pieces of scrap wood. The base of the cars are from some leg pieces I had from a previous project and the top of the cars are made out of pieces cut off from the coopered top of the pirates treasure chest we made.  The pieces are beveled on the sides.  I put to body pieces together and then use a forstner bit to create the wheel spots.

The cars couldn't be any easier too make but they go along way.  I love making these simple cars with him.  It gives us a chance to talk and learn about what's going on in his young life.

The wheels are store bought, costing around $2.00 for a bag of four. We attached them with some headed finishing nails.  You need the ones with a large head so the wheels don't slip off. We then bought some stickers and painted them. We sprayed painted a black line down the middle of a board and propped it up on a chair to create a race track.   He loves them and I had a blast making them with him.  We have a bunch of pieces left over, just waiting for that rainy day.

See you next spring

It always saddens me to have to put away the patio furniture for the winter season.

I love making outdoor furniture.  They get used more and it always gives me a sense of pride when I see friends and family sitting in the chairs I made or eating off of a table I made.

People just seem happier when they are relaxing outdoors.

I can't wait for spring.