The Nature of Woodworkers

(At the risk of sounding corny/naive/Gomer Pyle-ish): Just a quick comment on what I've found to be the nature of a vast majority of woodworkers (of course there are always exceptions, as in any group). They seem to be such a kind bunch of people, happy to share their woodworking knowledge. Without fail, every single famous woodworker to whom I have written—folks who write ww books, are contributing editors to ww magazines, and in one case, has his own ww show—have all written back, often within minutes of receiving my email, and have been eager to help.

I'm not sure if it's a particular personality type that is drawn to woodworking or if it's woodworking that brings out these traits in people. Nonetheless, it's a great community of which to be a part.

Progress Report

Two burly male friends came over yesterday to move the behemoth bookcase upstairs. Today, I installed the shiplapped and beaded back and moved it into its final position. Next, I'll build the crown molding and once that's added to the top, I can cross this one off my project list.

Incidentally, that flag hanging on the wall belonged to my great grandparents, immigrants from Sweden. It's a pre-1912 flag with 45 stars and I'm sure it meant a great deal to them.

What a View!

Here is one of the many reasons I live in my tiny town: a spectacular view of the capitol city! Rich in history, my town was the most northern point the Confederate army reached during the Civil War.

Queen Victoria

Would you believe that Queen Victoria was a woodturner? How cool is that? According to The Ornamental Turning Center (OTC), the Queen, and others of wealth and royalty, enjoyed turning decorative rosework and swashwork on a machine called an Ornamental Lathe (which is not the same as a regular lathe). According to the OTC website, the Ornamental Lathe was developed in Bavaria around 1525.

Paraphrased from Sandor Nagyszalancy's book "The Art of Fine Tools": In 1794, John Jacob Holtzapffel opened a lathe-making business in which he developed foot-powered lathes with an overhead drive system. A treadle-drive flywheel was coupled with a system of pulleys & drive belts which powered a revolving cutter. By fitting any of a wide variety of cutters, the user could create an unending profusion of surface decorations.

Beautiful, decorative pieces could be made with an ornamental lathe (of which only a few remain). No wonder it appealed to the Queen. Obviously, the creative spirit can be found in any group of people, including royalty.


Photos from "The Art of Fine Tools", Sandor Nagyszalanczy.

Shiplapped & Beaded

One of the best things about woodworking is that you have several choices of techniques and tools in making any given cut. And when you're a hobbyist, you have the luxury of choosing the technique that suits your safety needs and preference. My preference is to use hand tools, unless I'm in a hurry (which seems to be never). So in making the back for my partner's bookcase, I picked up one of my antique beading planes and my Stanley #78 antique rabbeting plane. Sharpened and honed, they are two very sweet tools.

Why use a beading plane when I could my router table? Several reasons: 1) sawdust makes me cough 2) by working with handtools, it seems more like you're shaping the wood rather than a power tool creating the shape 3) you don't waste wood making practice cuts 4) faster set up time 5) it's quiet 6) it's a great workout 7) it's safer 8) wood shaped with handtools seems to have more character (but my power tool buddies would beg to differ! : )

In fact, it took me only a little longer to bead the boards by hand than it would have taken me with a router. I averaged 2-3 minutes per each 7' long board with 11 passes with the molding plane.

Once the beaded edges were done, I started on the rabbets with the Stanley #78. The first board took 30 minutes to plane the rabbet to width and depth. I've got 12 boards to rabbet, front and back. That's 24 rabbets x 30 minutes. 12 hours!

Hmmmm....my table saw's looking pretty good right now....

The Queen of Half-Finished Projects

If you ever need advice on how to drag a project out as long as possible, I'm your Go-To Girl. I told LOML a year and a half ago that I would build a bookcase for her, and well...it's getting there. I still have to build the back, which will be ship-lapped & beaded walnut, and then build the crown molding. Good thing LOML is patient!

2 DP Dust Collecting System

Here is a photo of my 2DP (dog power) Dust Collecting System.
At 6-7 years old, it still collects sawdust remarkably well.
One time, Daisy (black) stuck her head in a pile of pine sawdust and emerged looking like a Nordic sailor.

Overzealous

I love to hand cut dovetails and I love boxes, so when I found a little piece of birds-eye maple in the basement (my former shop) I decided to make a miniature version of a box I made a few years ago, one with a sliding lid. The little one measures 4" long.

Fitting the lid in the grooves and obtaining a snug, but movable fit, is something I have yet to achieve. Not because I'm not careful or patient, but because I can't seem to stop myself once I start handplaning. I think it must mesmerize me to hear that swoosh swoosh and see those ribbons of shavings spill out of
the plane's mouth.

Once I realize that I should probably check the fit, it's too late. Both lids slide off way too easily. Guess it's just a reason to make another box...