Sunday, November 28, 2010
oh such a week!
Ok so last thing I did was what? Glue up the bench? did that, put the final coats of finish on and it's just "curing" til I can take it home.
In the meantime we were assembled into groups of four and made a pair each of sawhorses so we'd learn how to use all the different joinery machines in the machine room. Some were easier to learn than others.
I'm getting the hang of the routers but prefer the stationary kind that you bring the wood to - rather than the ones you bring to the wood.
I've chosen my wood for project # 2 and have begun milling it to rough size. We wait a day or two (though a week or two is preferred) to see if it moves at all - shrinks or not. Then we mill it almost to finish size, save a fuzz for sanding. I've cut my dadoes (grooves) for my shelves and have made mortises for the joints. Now I have to cut the shelves and the tenons that fit inside and they will be tiny! Just 1/2" by 1/2"!
But I'm finding more and more I like it a lot and enjoy my time in the workshop - especially if I can find times when noone else is there - as in 6-8 am most mornings, especially Sundays!
I'm having a little trouble uploading photos this week so I haven't forgotten - hopefully I'll get it together soon!
In the meantime we were assembled into groups of four and made a pair each of sawhorses so we'd learn how to use all the different joinery machines in the machine room. Some were easier to learn than others.
I'm getting the hang of the routers but prefer the stationary kind that you bring the wood to - rather than the ones you bring to the wood.
I've chosen my wood for project # 2 and have begun milling it to rough size. We wait a day or two (though a week or two is preferred) to see if it moves at all - shrinks or not. Then we mill it almost to finish size, save a fuzz for sanding. I've cut my dadoes (grooves) for my shelves and have made mortises for the joints. Now I have to cut the shelves and the tenons that fit inside and they will be tiny! Just 1/2" by 1/2"!
But I'm finding more and more I like it a lot and enjoy my time in the workshop - especially if I can find times when noone else is there - as in 6-8 am most mornings, especially Sundays!
I'm having a little trouble uploading photos this week so I haven't forgotten - hopefully I'll get it together soon!
Monday, November 22, 2010
milling day!
So today I milled the boards for the two sides of the cabinet, the four shelves, and the top.
Things to consider when milling: orientation of grain, both in how you like it and how it might behave;
thickness, length, and width you want to achieve today but also how much might it shrink overnight or in the next week?
(we don't have the luxury of waiting two or three weeks to see how it will behave so we wait overnight , or two nights); then you want to make the most of the piece of wood so most parts come from the same board. Makes one's head spin to juggle all these considerations.
Also, I applied one more coat of tung oil to the bench. My wood has become a little tan. Some other folks used a product called Watco which is part oil and part varnish, and their benches - also cherry - turned out more pinkish. But who knows - in a year they could be the same color??
Tomorrow I'll try to mill the rest of the boards for the drawers etc.
Things to consider when milling: orientation of grain, both in how you like it and how it might behave;
thickness, length, and width you want to achieve today but also how much might it shrink overnight or in the next week?
(we don't have the luxury of waiting two or three weeks to see how it will behave so we wait overnight , or two nights); then you want to make the most of the piece of wood so most parts come from the same board. Makes one's head spin to juggle all these considerations.
Also, I applied one more coat of tung oil to the bench. My wood has become a little tan. Some other folks used a product called Watco which is part oil and part varnish, and their benches - also cherry - turned out more pinkish. But who knows - in a year they could be the same color??
Tomorrow I'll try to mill the rest of the boards for the drawers etc.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Exploring Maine
Yesterday I put the finishing touches on my design for a little cabinet. It will be 25 inches tall, 7wide, and about 6 deep, with one door and two drawers. I have chosen maple for the material. I have to use one big slab for the top because it will be curved/rounded and so the depth is increased. I found a nice piece with interesting markings for the body. (pictures to follow, maybe tomorrow).
Today I took the day off from woodworking. I am slightly ahead of schedule so I figured I'd slack before the pressure rises again. I went for a lovely trail run on the back side of Camden State Park and met three other trail runners and two dogs. We all are giddy that there's no hunting allowed on Sundays. Then I treated myself to a little tour of the coast, complete with coffee and views. This most recent photo is of a large piece of property that my friend Becky's grandfather donated to the city of Camden. They have community programs year round. I did not see one belted cow.
My landlord is out of town for the week so I offered to watch the cat while he's gone. She hasn't shown any interest in coming to my side of the house. So I'm off to fetch her!
Happy Sunday!
Just for the record, I just talked to Joanna in Seattle who said it was snowing! We were at 27 degrees this morning but clear skies. I keep hoping...
Today I took the day off from woodworking. I am slightly ahead of schedule so I figured I'd slack before the pressure rises again. I went for a lovely trail run on the back side of Camden State Park and met three other trail runners and two dogs. We all are giddy that there's no hunting allowed on Sundays. Then I treated myself to a little tour of the coast, complete with coffee and views. This most recent photo is of a large piece of property that my friend Becky's grandfather donated to the city of Camden. They have community programs year round. I did not see one belted cow.
My landlord is out of town for the week so I offered to watch the cat while he's gone. She hasn't shown any interest in coming to my side of the house. So I'm off to fetch her!
Happy Sunday!
Just for the record, I just talked to Joanna in Seattle who said it was snowing! We were at 27 degrees this morning but clear skies. I keep hoping...
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Making some progress!
Here's the bench - ready to be glued together, shave off the "proud" ends, then finish with whatever product I choose. It's cherry, so I'm leaning towards a varnish/oil blend to show off the color, grain, and depth.
Today I did get to gluing it together, and tomorrow I will shave it. Probably won't get to the finish part til the weekend as we have already delved into a new topic....
Project #2! It has to be a case piece and we have a beautiful example by Peter Korn, the director of the school. His of course is beautiful. But we are also encouraged to do a little design work, so I'm trying to figure out what to make. I'm leaning towards a little "box" with one big door and two little drawers. We did get a little coaching from the instructors in the areas of ratio and balance; but I'm swimming in it, not even floating on it. And then there's the "wood moves" mantra that the lead instructor, Tim Rousseau, keeps coming back to. So we have to account for swelling and shrinking of wood. If you use solid pieces of wood, you have to make allowances for movement somewhere. oy AND the tolerance for space between pieces of wood in contemporary furniture is so slim that we have to order our hardware NOW and account for it in the design. Times like these I think I could knit a box cozy quicker than I could build this box!! And felt it to boot!
In an effort to keep things balanced in my life, I try to get out a little. I've been on two awesome trail runs with great views of the ocean, among other things. I've been to a movie and a play. I've hung out at the laundromat! This weekend I guess the clan is going bowling - candlepin bowling!
Stay tuned...
Today I did get to gluing it together, and tomorrow I will shave it. Probably won't get to the finish part til the weekend as we have already delved into a new topic....
Project #2! It has to be a case piece and we have a beautiful example by Peter Korn, the director of the school. His of course is beautiful. But we are also encouraged to do a little design work, so I'm trying to figure out what to make. I'm leaning towards a little "box" with one big door and two little drawers. We did get a little coaching from the instructors in the areas of ratio and balance; but I'm swimming in it, not even floating on it. And then there's the "wood moves" mantra that the lead instructor, Tim Rousseau, keeps coming back to. So we have to account for swelling and shrinking of wood. If you use solid pieces of wood, you have to make allowances for movement somewhere. oy AND the tolerance for space between pieces of wood in contemporary furniture is so slim that we have to order our hardware NOW and account for it in the design. Times like these I think I could knit a box cozy quicker than I could build this box!! And felt it to boot!
In an effort to keep things balanced in my life, I try to get out a little. I've been on two awesome trail runs with great views of the ocean, among other things. I've been to a movie and a play. I've hung out at the laundromat! This weekend I guess the clan is going bowling - candlepin bowling!
Stay tuned...
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Just give 'em the plastic and don't look back!
So Wednesday turned into a rough day. I thought the moose sighting would be a good omen but it turned out to be a not so good one. Just after lunch I pierced a chisel into my pinky enough so I needed three stitches. Let me just say I am not good with blood so it turned into an ordeal. I felt pathetic and wimpy for the next day and a half. But I got back on that horse and after I sharpened all my tools that I possibly could, I started working with the chisels again. The cherry that I was using to make a bench with does not behave the way the poplar that we practiced on does. So once again I needed to conjure up some patience to learn how the cherry likes to be dealt with and not injure myself again!
I am making some progress on the bench, but I won't likely finish it anytime soon. I have the top and legs cut, with dovetails, but I still have to cut the mortises and tenons for the stretcher, and then put a coat of whatever on top of it all. And next week we start talking about our second projects, which will be a casepiece (something with doors and drawers).
After working with the school tools for two weeks, I decided I knew enough about a few things to go buy my own. So today I bought a new dovetail saw and some little accessories that no woodworker worth their salt would be without. Lie Nielsen is the toolmakers down the road, high end stuff. We refer to it in class as the crack house! Whenever any one of us go, the rest of the class makes them show and tell what they bought. Much drooling, oohing, aahing. Gorgeous tools. The retail therapy worked.
I am making some progress on the bench, but I won't likely finish it anytime soon. I have the top and legs cut, with dovetails, but I still have to cut the mortises and tenons for the stretcher, and then put a coat of whatever on top of it all. And next week we start talking about our second projects, which will be a casepiece (something with doors and drawers).
After working with the school tools for two weeks, I decided I knew enough about a few things to go buy my own. So today I bought a new dovetail saw and some little accessories that no woodworker worth their salt would be without. Lie Nielsen is the toolmakers down the road, high end stuff. We refer to it in class as the crack house! Whenever any one of us go, the rest of the class makes them show and tell what they bought. Much drooling, oohing, aahing. Gorgeous tools. The retail therapy worked.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Just a plane day
Ok so last week on Thursday I think, we had a lecture about planes and how they work and when to use which etc. But I've never used one so today I had to start more or less from scratch. First we drew up our plans - I'm making a bench - and then from those plans made a shopping list. We walked to the building next door where they house wood for us to choose. Now they get to handpick this wood from the local supplier, so we don't have to look too closely for ugly spots or check or burnout or whatever. So I picked out my beautiful piece of cherry, rough cut it to length, and started to plane it. I started with the scrub plane which takes out the biggest chips until the top was fairly flat but still had little valleys in it from the plane.
But soon I dropped it and the blade fell out and the chip breaker did too. Oy. Had to wait in line to get help to reassemble it. I soon moved on to the jack plane, which has a little bit wider blade so the valleys aren't so noticeable and the surface begins to look pretty uniform. But then of course you have to use little cheater sticks to check for bow and twist, and then work those out of the board. I should have timed all this because it felt like hours for one little board! And I've got two more to process! I think I finally got the hang of it but STAY TUNED!
But soon I dropped it and the blade fell out and the chip breaker did too. Oy. Had to wait in line to get help to reassemble it. I soon moved on to the jack plane, which has a little bit wider blade so the valleys aren't so noticeable and the surface begins to look pretty uniform. But then of course you have to use little cheater sticks to check for bow and twist, and then work those out of the board. I should have timed all this because it felt like hours for one little board! And I've got two more to process! I think I finally got the hang of it but STAY TUNED!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Day 3 of classes
Saw that flock of turkeys again this morning and a few in the back yard.
Today we made a second set of mortise and tenons. It's coming along but it's a good challenge.
No wounds today.
We learned how to make dovetails today but won't start that til tomorrow. We get to try them without and with a bandsaw. The instructor opened up the idea of what exactly is pure craftsmanship? No hand tools? then how far back do you take that? To two people cutting the tree down by hand? Carting it off by horse? Hand planing it ? Good question - I think we all will think on it for a while. His point was there might be a time and a place for machines and jigs. We each get to decide.
So far we've used either a hand saw or a circular (electric) saw, the jointer which gives you one flat side of the board, the planer which gives the first a parallel side, a side planer which gives you a true/90 degree flat side, and the table saw to give the fourth side and cuts to length. And those crazy sharp chisels! Oh and a drill press to help clear out the waste in the mortise.
Off to the laundromat to wash those new flannel sheets - not one more night of cold crisp sheets!
And unlike in Seattle, there is no wierdo magnet buried under the laundromat!
That's my day - how was yours??
Today we made a second set of mortise and tenons. It's coming along but it's a good challenge.
No wounds today.
We learned how to make dovetails today but won't start that til tomorrow. We get to try them without and with a bandsaw. The instructor opened up the idea of what exactly is pure craftsmanship? No hand tools? then how far back do you take that? To two people cutting the tree down by hand? Carting it off by horse? Hand planing it ? Good question - I think we all will think on it for a while. His point was there might be a time and a place for machines and jigs. We each get to decide.
So far we've used either a hand saw or a circular (electric) saw, the jointer which gives you one flat side of the board, the planer which gives the first a parallel side, a side planer which gives you a true/90 degree flat side, and the table saw to give the fourth side and cuts to length. And those crazy sharp chisels! Oh and a drill press to help clear out the waste in the mortise.
Off to the laundromat to wash those new flannel sheets - not one more night of cold crisp sheets!
And unlike in Seattle, there is no wierdo magnet buried under the laundromat!
That's my day - how was yours??
Monday, November 1, 2010
First day of school
Well! So much was crammed into day 1. Before classes even began, I had an adventure: I had to stop on the road to the school for a flock of turkeys! They were in no hurry at all and were a little like deer in that they crossed over and back and wanted to follow her, no him, no her. We are out there!
There are 12 students in my class and two main instructors, with some ancillary instructors and staff. We learned shop safety, first aid basics (have student lie down, call 911, apply moderate pressure). Then we talked about wood and sharpened our chisels which took a couple hours. I am not kidding - and at best we got three sharpened! Then we took turns taking one short board of wood and making it square and true and good and pretty. That's it - 7 hours over in a puff.
I loved it all and can't wait to go back tomorrow when we'll learn how to make a bench and get started.
Yahoo!
There are 12 students in my class and two main instructors, with some ancillary instructors and staff. We learned shop safety, first aid basics (have student lie down, call 911, apply moderate pressure). Then we talked about wood and sharpened our chisels which took a couple hours. I am not kidding - and at best we got three sharpened! Then we took turns taking one short board of wood and making it square and true and good and pretty. That's it - 7 hours over in a puff.
I loved it all and can't wait to go back tomorrow when we'll learn how to make a bench and get started.
Yahoo!
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