Friday, December 31, 2010
A Tip for the New Year
Friday, December 24, 2010
Holiday Wishes to All
Monday, December 20, 2010
Model number for the elusive pad sander
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Back to the drawing board
Friday, December 3, 2010
Please read the instructions
The current Holiday supplement that Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts magazine sends with a 2-year subscription (and is also available separately) contains plans for a collapsible basket similar to the one pictured. I wanted to make the entire basket from a single 8" x 8" piece of wood, and used scrap left over from the main cutting for the base strips. So far, so good.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
All packed and ready to go!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Old items, new uses
Sunday, November 14, 2010
LI Woodworking Show
I spent yesterday at the LI Woodworkers Show, talking to people, and showing bowl construction to anyone not familiar with the technique. As always, it was a lovely show, and highlighted the projects made by the many talented members of the club.
Monday, November 8, 2010
LI Woodworking Show
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Tight, but it fits!
With colder weather, and in accordance with my condo's rules, the car has to be garaged overnight in our one-car garage. We put all the tools on mobile bases, and although it's a tight fit, it works. Shows what you can do when you're really desperate for your own shop.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Professional photo shoot
Monday, October 18, 2010
Bowl class at Norwalk, CT Woodcraft store
Well, yesterday was my all-day bowl class. Of my four students, one had never used a scroll saw, one had a little experience, and two were beginners. I am pleased to say that by 4PM, everyone had completed and sanded a decent looking bowl, including the brand new scroller.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Preparing for class
Friday, October 8, 2010
Watching the grain
When you make bowls that use two, or even three sets of rings, be sure to keep the grains in alignment. This is particularly important if there are differences in color from one side of the board to the other. This piece of padauk was used for the second try at a stacked ring box. For the first attempt, I accidentally switched sides on one of the pieces. This resulted in a box that was darker on top on one side, and lighter on top on the other side. It was an interesting effect, but not at all what I had in mind, so I bought some more padauk and did it right this time.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
How do you price your work?
Monday, September 27, 2010
A good product for sanding
After trying various kinds of sandpaper for the final sanding of my projects, I've determined that these foam backed gold sheets that come on a roll are the most effective. They come in grits from coarse to very fine, and the foam backing gives the control and flexibility that you need for tight places. They are also ideal for that final sanding of curves, where you want a smooth flowing line that is difficult to achieve with mechanical sanders alone. Not cheap--runs about $.50 per sheet after shipping for small quantities--but well worth the money.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Why you need a bowl press
I had to glue up a tiny lamination, about 3" x 3", so I put it in my bowl press to dry. By using a piece of wood under the lamination and spacers, it worked pretty well. I wanted to do another one, and didn't want to wait until the first was dry, so I tried to do it conventionally, by using various clamps. What a nightmare! And even worse, the glue-up wasn't as tight as I wanted.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
A Cautionary Tale
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Dealing with glue spots
Some of my projects involve a lot of fidgety gluing and glue spots have an annoying way of showing up despite all my efforts to remove excess glue. To find the spots, I give the project a sealer coat of shellac, which causes the glue spots to stand out very visibly. I mark them with chalk as soon as the shellac is dry enough for the chalk to adhere. Once the shellac is thoroughly dry, the glue spots become harder to see. I find that shellac works better for me than mineral spirits, and gives a good base for additional coats of shellac or spray lacquer.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Sanding tip for bowlmakers
After several years of making bowls, I've developed some techniques that really make a difference. This one is helpful for getting a nicely rounded lower edge on a ring before you glue it to the base. Turning the ring upside-down makes it much easier to see irregularities. You can also see how much wood you have to work with, so you don't risk having too little wood for gluing.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
The versatile inflatables
I resisted buying an inflatable sander for the longest time, primarily because of price. However, I found that the flexi-pad sander was really not suited for sanding inside curves, and I wasn't about to fabricate my own sanding ball. I've never regretted my decision.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
A neat little detail sander
I am far from the neatest gluer, and usually put too much glue on my pieces. This means a major clean-up while the glue is still soft, and some tricky sanding once the glue has dried. To get into tight or hard to reach places, I use a small piece of adhesive backed sandpaper stuck around the end of a very thin flat file. This gives me more control and greater pressure than finger strength alone. If you don't have a small file, a flat blade screwdriver will also work.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Bowl presses are really worth making
Friday, August 13, 2010
Sanding tool hints
I find the flexible pad sander to be a useful and versatile tool, but the velcro on its face tends to wear out over time. A small and inexpensive pad that attaches to the face with hooks and loops helps preserve its life, and provides extra cushioning for the discs.
Monday, August 2, 2010
What is it?
I've been having a good time creating projects for my new book. My goal is to have the book filled with things that will be fun to do, different, and within the capabilities of the typical scroller. I wish I could share more of what I'm doing, but that would spoil the surprise when the book is finally published, late next year.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Working in the summer heat
Monday, July 19, 2010
My Hegner scroll saw
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Dust collection system for the drill press
In addition to making dust while sanding, I also create quite a mess with Forstner bits. So, I needed to supplement my box fan and filters with something that could handle coarser material. I considered making a device which would hold the shop vac hose in place, but found a commercial product that seems to work quite well. Several different nozzles are available, and this wide one gathers dust and debris from a large area. Other nozzles can be placed closer to the drill bit.
Monday, July 12, 2010
The Wedding Cake
Well, the wedding was a huge success. The weather cooperated, and everything went off without any major problems. And the cake was delivered safely, securely wedged in the front seat, in its packing box. My son and new daughter-in-law were very pleased, and the feedback was terrific, both on looks and taste. Most wedding cakes are afterthoughts, and commercial, and not very tasty. I was amazed that people had room for cake after all the food, but they did. And the top layer is a dummy, which will keep indefinitely if protected from moisture, rodents, and insects.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Cake update
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Another use for my scrollsaw and for Weldbond glue
I used the scrollsaw to cut down the cake drum to just under 18", so it will fit in the packing box for transport to the wedding. The board is covered with satin, for an attractive presentation and another board is glued to the underside to make it easier to move the cake. This picture shows the glue-up on the underside of the board. And tomorrow I bake!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
One for the cake, one for the box
I often use scans of pictures, printed in miniature, and framed, to personalize cakes. So, it was only natural that I'd incorporate this approach into my woodworking. The picture on the left, of my son and his fiancee, in a frame of royal icing, is one of several which will be incorporated into the wedding cake. The picture on the right, of Joe and me, is mounted on wood, and a decoration for one of the less conventional projects in my upcoming box book. I'll post pictures of the wedding cake next week--Friday is baking day, Saturday decorating, and Sunday I become a mother-in-law (gasp!).
Friday, July 2, 2010
A small break from woodworking
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Really good hearing protection
I bought this hearing protector, Peltor H10A Optime 105 Over-the Head Earmuff, based on customer reviews and a reasonable price (under $20). It is really effective at muffling sound without resorting to fancy electronics. It's nice when a product does just what it's supposed to do.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
How to Make a Box Fan Dust Collector
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Capturing dust from the drill press
Since I use the drill press for sanding, as well as drilling, I needed a way to capture the dust that goes flying all over the place. Although we may eventually construct a holder for a shop vac hose, this quick fix--one box fan and two filters--does a surprisingly good job on fine dust. I place it at the end of my work table about a foot away from the drill press, then just put it on the floor when I'm finished. The sawdust on the filter is from walnut, which is why it's so dark, but it's positive proof that this simple device is really working. And yes, it's time to change the filter!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Dust collection for the combination sander
Since space is an issue, we decided that the shop vac would do double duty as a dust collector for the combination sander. The problem was to figure out the best way to connect the vac to the 4" dust port. The answer was a deli container that fit into the dust port, a piece of wood cut at an angle to fit the deli container, a hole cut in the wood for the shop vac hose, some rubber roofing membrane to stabilize the lip of the deli container, and a hose clamp to hold everything in place. And the best part of it is that it works really well!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Low tech is often very effective
As I flattened out the side of a strip for a glue-up, I was reminded of how much use I make of this simple sanding device. It consists of a granite tile with a sheet of sandpaper, about 150 grit, glued on with repositionable adhesive. I use it to prepare the faces of bowl rings before gluing them up, and for final "tweaking" of cut surfaces that need to be glue-line flat. When the paper is used up, I just remove the old paper, clean up the granite with mineral spirits, then fasten on a new sheet. If you've never tried doing this, you're in for a pleasant surprise.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Shop is up and running
Well, the tools are finally in place and I've started living in my new "home". Only the bandsaw remains to be assembled, but all my basic tools are up and running. The space we're using is a one car garage which must still be usable to park a car (condo rules), so we put all the heavier stuff on mobile bases and can get the car in without difficulty. We rigged up an adapter for the sanders so we can use the shop vac for dust collection, and we're using a box fan with two filters for the drill press. Here are some pictures of the main wall.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Scroll Saw Arrived!
I finally got my own scroll saw! Hanns Derke of Advanced Machinery, distributor of Hegner scroll saws, was kind enough to set up my saw and show me how to use it. So far, I've mastered blade insertion, and tomorrow I'll graduate to actually cutting my first project. It's a sleek and elegant tool, and marks my transition from "yellow" to "orange".
Monday, May 17, 2010
my shop is actually happening!
Sorry I haven't been posting--I've been too busy cleaning out the garage to make room for my new "mini shop". So far, the drill press is up and running, spindle sander has to be returned because it was damaged, and scroll saw and combo sander should be here later this week. An old cabinet will do as a work surface, and we'll add storage as we go alone. Here's what it looks like so far--updates to come. Any ideas for small shops are welcome!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Demo at Woodcraft store, Norwalk
Had a good time at the Woodcraft store signing books and showing lathe turners and other woodworkers how to make bowls with the scroll saw.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Demo Saturday May 8th at Norwalk, CT Woodcraft store
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Here's a useful cutting tip
Sunday, April 25, 2010
A shop of my own, at last!
Friday, April 23, 2010
One more sanding tip
Monday, April 19, 2010
Need help?
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Ten Rules for Sanding Success
Ten Rules for Sanding Success
Unless you must remove a lot of wood quickly, sand in small increments and inspect your work frequently. Although sanding errors be used creatively, it’s better to go slowly and stay in control.
2. Match the grit to the wood
Coarse grits are too aggressive even for rough shaping of soft wood while harder wood needs the extra abrasiveness. Use the finest grit that will get the job done to avoid removing too much wood or leaving deep scratch marks.
3. Change grits gradually
Moving slowly through the grits lets you sand out scratches, not sand them smoother.
4. Keep it clean
Clogged sandpaper does not sand effectively and may burn the wood. Change paper frequently when hand sanding, and use a cleaning stick for mechanical sanders.
Too much pressure creates gouges and causes burn marks. Don’t make extra work in an effort to save time.
6. Defuse the disc
Disks rotate faster on their outer edges; the more aggressive sanding can quickly add unwanted curves. If you use the whole disc, hold work on the “up” side firmly to prevent flinging and its consequences.
Touch, as well as look, to catch irregularities. Use fingers to locate bumps and hands to check for symmetry.
When you think you’re done, put the work aside and look again when you’re fresh. You will always find something that you missed.
It’s better to live with a drill mark, a scratch, or a flaw in the wood than to ruin your project.
Machine sanding reduces stress on shoulders and arms, but there’s no substitute for a final hand sanding.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Finishing enclosed areas
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Northeastern Woodworkers Association Show
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Problems with Patterns
Monday, March 15, 2010
Proofreading errors
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Unconscious Competence
Monday, March 8, 2010
I did it again!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Confusing instructions: why does it happen?
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Layering to create interest
This is a close-up of a project I'm currently working on, which illustrates how to generate interest by layering. The center ring started out as a 20-segment lamination from my book--time consuming but not difficult. I added pieces of 1/8" oak on either side, then added 2 pieces of veneer to each side on top of the oak. This blank was already used for another project; the current project was sized to use the remainder. I still have enough left over for something small, and will probably add another layer of 1/8" wood for a different effect.