Count on it...

The more I do woodworking the more I realize I’ve developed a kind of compulsive obsession to count…I mean I count almost everything!
Maybe it started at a young age first learning to play music? Of course you have to count. Count in a tune, count how many measures etc… But here I am, 40 years old and I find it occurs with almost every aspect of my wood working. For instance when I sharpen an iron or blade I count each stroke so I don’t put the cutting edge out of square.
When I’m boring a hole using a brace and bit I never use a depth stop so instead I count. I count the turns for the first hole and then I know how many revolutions I need to make the rest the same depth. I catch myself counting when I’m hand planing-especially smoothing. Two passes on this side, two more on that. Even sawing I find myself counting. I think I may need a therapist!
Do you count while you work?
or is it just me~; )
I wonder…

The Soundtrack of Life

Fine Homebuilding


When people ask me what I do for a living I tell them I’m a wood worker…sometimes. Sometimes I say I’m a musician. Sometimes I say I’m a Dad. Sometimes worlds collide and I’m able to do a project that mixes mediums and over the last few months that is sort of what occurred.
I was asked by the fine folks at Fine Homebuilding.com to write six original scores for some new online video features they’ve recently produced. In between chapters for my new book and wood working classes, I managed to write and record the pieces and I’m thrilled to be able to share them with you. The video’s are available here, at the Fine Homebuilding website and represent the 2012, Fine Homebuilding HOUSES Award Winners. Jump over to the link and take a look at some incredible home designs and architecture.
Ranging from remodels to new homes,  best-energy smart homes and retirement there is something there for everyone.
Colin Russell has produced some fine video’s and the back ground music isn’t that bad either!
Check it out when you get a few minutes.
Cheers!

The English Woodworker

A new Blog from Maguire Workbenches


I just received a letter from Richard Maguire in the UK and thrilled to report he has joined the online blogging community with his new blog The English Woodworker.
You may remember seeing a guest blog here last year about one of Richards incredible workbenches. Richard is also a hand tool ‘connoisseur’  and if you haven’t been to his main work bench site I recommend you check it out.
It’s a website I frequent for inspiration so I’m happy he’ll be blogging away on a regular basis to share more of his work with us.
If I was any closer I think I’d have a Maguire bench of my own!
Cheers~

Not to be Outdone

Another day of magic.
 
After seeing her big brothers magic wand we made last week, my 5 year old daughter Piper decided she needed a little magic of her own.
We followed the same basic steps, from spokeshave to sandpaper, saw to finish.
She chose an off-cut of aromatic cedar for her wand due to the ‘pink’ tones of the wood.
Another fantastic day in the wood shop~; )
Avada Kadavra!

New SketchUp Guide

The Basics with Dave Richards
 


As you probably already know I’m a huge fan of sketching…by sketching I mean with a pencil on paper! But that is only the first step I take when designing custom furniture. I find that once ideas are quickly captured on paper, it can be helpful (and fun) to refine those ideas in a program like SketchUp.
If you’ve been living in a cave for the past decade and have never heard of SketchUp, then let me say that it’s a free product from Google that offers users the ability to design and create on their computer. ’3D modeling for everyone’…
Now being the neanderthal that I am, I’ve had a hard time using it and my learning curve has been, shall we say, longer than the average. ; )  I was convinced I had some disposition or mental block because I know dozens of wood workers who use this valuable tool day in and day out without any problem. So that said- I received a promo copy of the new  guide for woodworkers by David Richards and after watching the online video content, I immediately felt like a veil had been lifted from my laptop. I can see the light! Dave takes the viewer through a series of video clips and with easy to follow instruction, he walks the user through the process of using SketchUp. Geared towards the woodworking community, it demonstrates the steps needed to design and ‘build’ a small cabinet from start to finish with lots of extras along the way.
If you’re like me and have some shortcomings with the program, or if you’d like to start with a great foundation course on it, then check out this new release from the Taunton Press. You can do a video download for only $12.95 or purchase a DVD for $16.95. That’s about the price you’d pay to go see a movie and instead you’ll be getting an invaluable learning aid for this helpful design tool.
Cheers!

Making Magic

Potter Style
 

My seven year old son Nelson, recently watched the final part of the Harry Potter movies. He’s a bit of a book worm to say the least and ever since watching the series, he has been determined to make a magic wand. Yesterday, we spent some time together in the wood shop and now young Nelson has his wand.The experience from my point of view, was magical to say the least.
To begin, he shaped a piece of curly maple using a spokeshave and then smoothed the form with some sandpaper. We held the thin piece of maple in place with some elevated bench dogs I recently made for holding work up off the bench top. He then cross cut the stock to length using a fine razor saw and after a quick rub of oil/varnish he was ready to make some magic.
Another young wizard is ready to take on the world~ Expecto Patronum !

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.” – Albert Einstein

A spokeshave forms the curly maple.

Sanding blends the shape.

Cross cut to length.

 

  Expecto Patronum !

HAND TOOL EVENTS

Here, there and everywhere.
 
Well it seems the heat wave we’ve been having here in Ontario is finally ending and temperatures are going back to the normal seasonal range. Winter to summer is starting to feel like the norm around here. I took this picture in the back yard yesterday while my daughter, Piper and I had our lunch outside. Spring has definitely sprung! To be honest, we’ve already had smog warnings here in the down town area. Gotta love this city living eh? It makes me want to get to the Coast that much sooner.

Yesterday in my backyard.

I meant to post this earlier but the weeks are flying by-

For Ontario readers, you have a few opportunities to get your hands on some of your favorite hand tools-
First is the Lee Valley Tools, in Store Hand Saw Event taking place today and tomorrow. 23rd and 24th. It actually started yesterday but as mentioned, I’m late in posting~sorry.
The second is the Lie Nielsen Hand Tool Event on March 30-31. This time around they’ll be in Stouffville, Ontario at Century Mill Lumber. Another great opportunity to get some of those tools you’ve been thinking about purchasing and trying them out beforehand.
Around the web, today is the day when Tools for Working Wood will be launching a new/old magazine.Work Magazine – An Illustrated Magazine of Practice and Theory was originally published on March 23,  1889. To celebrate the anniversary, Joel at TFWW is making these classic prints available online. I’m looking forward to checking it out and if you’d like to do the same go here to download.
Well, that’s the news for this Friday, March 23 and I’m off to the wood shop to make some shavings. Cheers!