A few boards

I have a small shop space. Most of my machines are on wheels so I can move them around and out of the way when I'm not using them. When I made the shaker bench I had a few pine boards that needed to be glued together. Instead of hauling out the jointer and running the edges over it I made a quick jig for the table saw. The boards I was using were 1" x 8" dimensioned pine boards. I simply used a scrap piece of plywood that I made sure was square and had two parallel edges. I then attached a straight edge so that when I place one of the boards against it the edge of the board hung over approximately 1/4". I attached two toggle clamps to the straight edge to hold the boards in place.

Simply butt the board against the straight edge ( it doesn't have to be perfectly flush against it ), clamp and then set your saw fence so the plywood jig rest against the fence and the blade.
Make a cut. Do the same thing for the other board. Because it's pine the fresh sawn edges are fine for a glue up.

It very efficient any doesn't get any easier.
As always - Thanks for
Be safe and be creative
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Steve

following

Saturdays ( Thursdays ) Tip

When you're not gardening

I haven't tried this one. I would try it on a dull knife but I don't think I'm ready to use my good chisels on it.
Apparently it works well.
This tip, like the others comes right off the pages of my old 1959 popular mechanics book.
If you don't have a whetstone to sharpen with you can always use the edge of a clay pot. A Terra cot-ta, unglazed one I assume.
This actually makes sense' I think I'll try it'. I'll let you know how it works.
If you tried this or have a tip you'd like to share please send it along.

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

Two Plank Chair

My son has flag football tomorrow morning. Every time I'm at one of his games I'm standing. I always think about buying a camp chair to bring to his games but forget until I'm standing there.

I was feeling a little restless after dinner. I wasn't in the shop all day.
Well - I made a two plank chair. A lot of people call these viking chairs. I'm sure every boy scout troop has made a bunch of these. I went out back to my pile of wood and pulled out a couple of old pressure treated boards. They've turned grey with weather and look awesome.
All you need is a couple of boards approximately four feet long and a jig saw. These chairs take about an hour to make and work.
Nothing can be easier.
I attached a couple of pieces of foam rubber and gave it a coat of wax.
If you have a couple of boards left over from a project, make one of these chairs. Perfect for outdoors by the fire or indoors by the wood stove. Also perfect for that fall football game.

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Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve

Historical Uxbridge

Yesterday we shot the opening of a new episode at the historical Coronet John Farnum House. I want to thank Francis Cove of the Uxbridge Historical Society for letting us shoot at the house. The house is beautiful. It dates back to the 1700's and is on its original site. 

It originally overlooked an apple orchard, a grist mill, a gun factory and livery stables. It was purchased by the town in 1968.
John Farnum was a constable in 1703 and died in 1750 at the age age 78. It's unfortunate there isn't enough volunteers to open the house to visitors on the weekends, it's awesome. If you love history and old buildings contact Francis Cove at the historical society and pay a visit to these awesome places. Better yet, Volunteer. I'm sure they would appreciate the help.

I think I'll pay another visit to the site. There a few pieces of furniture I'd like to replicate. After shooting at the house it was back to business, in the garage.

As always - Thanks for following
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Best
Steve

Coggeshall

This past weekend we went to the Coggeshall Farm Museum in Bristol, Rhode island. Coggeshall is a living historical farm set on 48 acres. The museum depicts Bristol's agrarian life in 1799 through live interpretation, historic structures, and heirloom plants and animals. It was the farms 42 annual harvest fair.

I love living history museums. I love seeing the trades as they were back then. People worked hard, very hard, but what satisfaction they must have felt when you can see first hand the fruits of your labor. The farm is situated on beautiful Narragansett Bay. I always feel inspired to get back in the shop and make after visiting a place like this. We had a lot of fun. It was nice to see my son play traditional games from the era and spend so much time outdoors just being. We unplugged and left our devices at home.
Perfect'

We had a lot of fun.  My wife even came second in an apple pie baking contest'

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Best
Steve

Lap desk

Lap desk

When i was the department head of woodworking at Peters valley craft Center I had the pleasure of working alongside many talented and renown woodworkers. One of them was Christian Becksvoort. Chris is a furniture maker from New Gloucester, ME and is a contributing editor of fine woodworking magazine.
My position at Peters valley meant I had to teach workshops as well as hire guest artisans to teach woodworking workshops.

I've admired Chris's work for some time so it was exciting news when Chris agreed to teach a week long workshop . The project for the five day workshop was a shaker style lap desk. It was a pleasure to work alongside Chris, he was a gentleman and joy to watch work.

My copy of fine woodworking came in the mail recently and on the cover was Chris's lap desk. Inside the issue is detail instructions on how to construct the desk. I'm glad Chris's desk made it to print, it should be shared. It's an awesome project. My brother recently retired. I wanted to make him something special for his retirement. My brother is an avid reader and writer. Chris's lap desk project came to mind. I had sat in on Chris's class years ago so I simply had to go through some old notes, haul out the pine boards I had for this project, and then make it my own.

Thanks Chris- you taught a great class for me and my brother loves his lap desk.
Attached are images of the lap desk I made, and Chris's recent article in fine woodworking magazine.

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

Here;s another simple tip right off the pages of my old trustworthy popular mechanics book.

I do have a pneumatic brad nailer and compressor  but I'm also old school.  I have a collection of jars filled with all different sizes of nails and brads.  Sometimes it's just easier and quicker to grab a hammer and drive a nail home.  I can't believe I just called a hammer and nail 'old school' but it's getting that way.  The sound of a compressor and a nail gun has replace the rhythmic tapping of  a hammer.

I'm guilty as charged, I use my compressor and nail gun also but if I have just a few to tap in then it;s the hammer.  Attached is an image of a very simple yet effective way to avoid marring your work surface when driving a nail home with a hammer.

Use a small piece of sheet metal to create a shield.   Notch one end of a metal strip, then bend the other end for a handle.  Finish driving the nails the rest of the way home with a nailset.

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

Maintenance

Nothing exciting to report I spent some time this weekend making fixtures and installing new lights in the garage. I've been lugging these lights around with me for quite some time. One of my hanging barn lights blew so it forced me to install the new lights. I spent Saturday running around getting electrical parts but I'm glad I did, I think the lights look great.'We'll be shooting this week so I'll have images of the shoot to share shortly.

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Best
Steve

Check it out'

This is the coolest thing ever. The song I use as the intro for the show is a song titled 'Fugitive' made popular by the 1960's instrumental surf band The Ventures. I've been lucky enough to secure the rights for the song, but while doing some research for the show I stumbled upon this great band that does a fantastic rendition of 'Fugitive'.

The Real Gone are a surf vibe/rockabilly band out of the Chicago area that just wrote and recorded a song for the show, that oddly enough is titled The Garage.

I'll be using the music throughout the show for now on. What a pleasure to work with these guys. Please check out the song at the link below and check out the real Gone on Facebook as well as on you tube where you can hear that great rendition of 'Fugitive'
https://soundcloud.com/therealgone/the-garage

As always- Thanks for following
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Best
Steve

I want to thank DeWalt for their generous donation of a driver drill, impact driver kit
Thank you,  It is needed and  will get a lot of use

Tip

I work out side a lot. If it's nice out I'll do some sanding outside or some finishing. I have a set of sawhorses that I keep out back by the shed and I have another set in the shop. I need to make another set because I'm always in need of them.

This tip comes right off the pages of an old popular mechanics book I have from 1968. I love it' It's so simple yet genius.

" When you're working outdoors with a ladder and need a sawhorse to trim a board or two, remember this simple on - the -spot stunt: Place a scrap board on the second rung of the ladder in the manner shown so it rests at an angle to form a sawbuck.
In this position the slanting board will cradle the board to be cut when it is placed against the ladder. Saves looking around for something on which to rest the board."

As always - Thanks for following
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Best
Steve

Pouring liquids into small openings
I finish my pieces with an oil and wax finish mostly. I usually pour the oil product into a bowl or coffee can, it makes it easier to get to. I always end up with extra remaining in the bowl. Trying to pour the leftover back into the small opening of the container can be difficult and messy.

Here's a trick I read about years ago. Use a scratch awl or a screwdriver. Hold the awl or screwdriver against the can or bowl, and pour the liquid onto the tool as it is held over the hole of the container. The leftover oil will cling to the tool and flow into the small opening of the container. Steady hands and a little practice will enable you to return any oil to its container without a mess.
Simply wipe the tool dry and you're done.

If you have a tip or technique you'd like to share then I want to hear from you. Pleas send it along so I can share it. The shows contact info is on the website.

As always - Thanks for following
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Best
Steve

The Shakers

I built a couple of shaker benches lately. I really enjoy the clean lines of shaker furniture. The shaker style fits into any décor or aesthetic. I'm a big fan of modern and Danish modern furniture. The shaker style blends into these aesthetic nicely and the shakers influenced these other styles.

Attached is a vide from a Sunday morning news show that quickly tells the story of the shaker and their furniture. IT's not even five minutes long. I really suggest watching it. I think you'll enjoy it.

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Best
Steve

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roO0h7vJXTA

I want to thank Kharli Tylor of Milwaukee Tools for the generous donation of a fantastic 20V cordless driver/drill. This tool is awesome
Thanks Kharli

We have a new edition around our place
This is 'BIGS"  He's a great big friendly cat.  At only 8 months old he's a big fella.  The dog and he get along very well.  In fact, he chases the dog.  Now we have Rocco and Bigs, sounds like the cast from Goodfellows or The God father

The word must have got out that I needed a new miter saw.  I want to thank Chris Keffer at Dewalt tools for his very generous donation of a , new to the market, 20 volt cordless miter saw.  This miter saw is small in comparison to others, it's only 7 1/2 inch but it gets a greater cut because it's a sliding , compound miter saw.
Thanks so much Chris
This saw is a whole lotta fun to use.
As always - Thanks for following
Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve

Bernat
Yesterday we took a quick peruse through Bernat antiques.
I have yet to be let down or disappointed. I always find some cool stuff there. Check the images of the men's valet chair. This is the ultimate functional piece. What happened? Why don't we have furniture like this now? Hats have made a come back over the past few years and I've seen a few vests on people but gone are the days when folks would wear their best to a sporting game or a movie or event. Look a...t old footage of a hockey game from the fifties or sixties and most of the folks in the stands are in suits or dresses. Each industry influences another and this chair is a great example

I have to build my own version of this chair for the show, it's fantastic. You have a drawer below the seat that stores trinkets like rings, watches and other jewelry. You have a built in clothes hanger for the suit jacket with an attached metal hanger for the pants. There's even a trough for cuff links, etc. This is beautiful'
I can't afford it right now but if it's still available in a couple of weeks I have full intentions of buying this piece and making one as a project for the show. This chair definitely has a purpose. In it's own way it makes us slow down and think about the day, what we'll wear and where we are going. Life is too fast now. We throw clothes on, rush out the door, grab our cell phone and go on our way. What a shame' We need too slow down and think about things more. I love this chair'
I can imagine sitting in the chair after a day at work, pondering the day, taking my shoes off and placing them under the chair ready for service in the morning. Then loosening a tie and hanging it with my hat, suit jacket on the hanger, all ready again for the next tour of duty.
I have few more images of things I saw at Bernat but I've said enough for now. I'll save them for another day. In fact - go visit if you're in the area. You can't help but slow down, walk at a comfortable pace, maybe reminisce of a special time, and see some awesome stuff. You might even get inspired.
As always - Thanks for
Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve

following

Thursdays tip
This isn't really a tip but more of a reminder. The other day I had a few boards to clean up. They had been glued together and had some dried glued that had squeezed out onto the faces of the boards. Sanding doesn't really remove the glue, it only squeezes into the wood fibers making it a mess when it comes time to apply a finish.
I reached for the most valuable yet underutilized tool in the tool box, a card scraper. This six inch long piece of steel, when... sharpened correctly works miracles. Think of it as a very fine hand plane,. It doesn't cut the wood but, as the name applies, scraps it, producing fine shavings.

I hadn't used mine in a while so it needed a little sharpening. I put it in my vice, ran a small mil-bastard file over it. What you do then is normally run a burnisher over that same edge at a slight angle, this rolls the metal over slightly creating a small hook. I couldn't find my burnisher so I used a metal punch. It's made of hard steel so it worked.
Grab the scraper, hold it askew at a slight angle downward and scrap away. You'll be amazed at the results. The glue, and any small dents are removed quite easily. You'll have to re-sharpen it now and then but it's well worth it. The card scraper is perfect for removing glue and dents on veneer, when you need to remove a small amount.
You can normally purchase a scraper for around $10 at most mail order woodworking stores, a great deal for such an invaluable tool. You can also grind them into a certain shape you need.
As always - Thanks for following
Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve