Hand Tools

Hmm......Hand tools. I love 'em, buy 'em, hoard 'em. Even use 'em. And the more I work wood the more I use, enjoy and (amazingly) get better with them. Indeed, they are the reason that my woodwork has reached such heady (hah!) heights. If I had to rely on power tools alone my projects would be nowhere near as well made and finished.
Am I giving up power tools? You are joking! Deep sawing, ripping, thicknessing-these are hard, physical tasks that machines make easy. The age of apprentices is over-power tools are the new apprentices! But, (taking this analogy further) the Master craftsman would then take the boards that had been produced via a lot of sweat and would carry out the fine joinery work himself. And this, my friends, is where hand tools come in. They bring precision and finese to the bench. A swipe from a smoothing plane and the wood shines-no belt sander needed here! Joinery planes, chisels and fine saws to cut joints. And as well as performing so exquisitely they feel wonderful in the hand. You can FEEL what is happening, building an intimate relationship with your tools and also your chosen material, wood.
So I reside somewhere between Galootsville and Normtown. The best of both worlds? Maybe...

Tool rant over-the cabinet is so nearly, nearly finished. The cutouts for the wine bottles need to be made and I've started pre-finishing some of the components before glue-up. Don't start me off on glue-ups.......;)

Good Wood

Managed to fit the base to the cabinet today. It now looks complete-will fit the rails on the weekend and then I can glue it up.
Also receieved my copy of Good Woodworking today-the Maloof chair got 10 pages! I'm pleased, although a little disapointed with the pics. Dark green background, dark brown chair..,:( My pics came out o.k., but you can't mess up with workshop pics too much. Guess it is difficult to really show a piece of furniture off in a picture-it is something that needs to be seen in person. Nevermind, can't moan. Much ;)
Also placed a little hand saw order today-sorry Mike, I've gone for the Canuck!

Chillin'

The website problem has been resolved, a little progress made on the cabinet and it's COLD!
Funny how a bit of frost puts you off venturing into the workshop. It's not THAT cold in there, but it's not exactly sweltering either....
Just heard that the "Maloof" chair is in the new Good Woodworking magazine. 10 pages!! Nice!
I've spent some time thinking about stackable tool cases to store the hand tools in. My current wall-mounted set-up is fine but if I need to move the tools, say to a new workshop, it will be a hassle packing them away. So some quality time has been spent in Sketchup coming up with suitable (read "capable of being picked up by one person when full") design. Watch this space ;)

Doh! DOH!

Doh!
Yes, the sound of Homer style progress......
Haven't been able to update my website all week. Problems at "their" end thought I. Seems I've been entering the FTP address slightly wrong. DOH! :{
Finished the back of the cabinet off today. Well nearly. Yes, another "Doh" moment. Was cutting the final shoulder on the final panel. Job done. Well it would of been if I had registered the piece FULLY against the fence instead of 10mm off it..........Needless to say, the glue is now setting on the replacement edge of the panel. Amazing how its always the last cut.
Regular service should be returning soon;)

Back To It

So it's Wednesday. That means three days of work to sap the mind and body.
Well that's my excuse for not doing too much on the drinks cabinet;)
Seriously, I've pretty much completed the back. Fitted two rails top and bottom to hold the panels (its another panel back), raised three panels of London Plane on the RT and fitted them. A couple of cherry stiles to finish and that's the back. I think a panel back gives a real "quality" feel to a cabinet and doesn't take that much work. Although a piece of ply nailed on works just as well......;)
Just got to work out what to do with the "floor". Grain "front to back" or "left to right". Not got a lot of cherry left, that's all.
And I'm still thinking about the handles. So you lot weren't joking when you said I had to work it out myself?

Sliding Doors

Here's a woodworking hint-if you have a delicate operation to perform don't go out for a heavy drinking session the night before! ;)
Yeah, the band played a Motorbike Rally Saturday night and the bar was free. I had one or two......
Made some great progress withthe doors though, today.(as promised, Mike) Mortise and tenons cut, grooves routed, panels sized, rasied and fitted. AND I cut the grooves to guide the sliding door and cut the matching tongues in the doors. And fitted them too! So have a look and see what you think......
Did I mention I shaped the legs?? A kind of cabriole shape, I think it's gonna work out nice.
I am really enjoying this project, the cherry is so nice to work. And I even got to use a plane on the curved legs, too! (compass plane, doesn't get out of the case often!)
So I need ideas for handles for the doors. Always get stuck on the handles........

Now That Was Fun!

The Axminster show was a blast! It was great to meet up with friends new and old (and to put faces to names). Spent most of the day chatting instead of shopping........ Bought a few nik-naks for the workshop-saw, chisel, beading tool, etc. Nothing crazy (or too expensive)
Spent some quality time in the shop this weekend. Legs are carved, doors almost finished, stock for the back ready. Just the "floor" to work out and this piece is going to be finished. Maybe.......

Here's a link to my Tool Show Report. Enjoy!

http://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7250

Christmas comes early......

Tomorrow is the big day!!!!!!
Yes-the Axminster Tools 2005 show at Exeter. I am REALLY looking forward to this. Ticket is bought and in my wallet, some cash has been withdrawn and is safely stowed and credit cards primed and ready.
It will be great to meet up with my internet Chums-certainly is easier in person ;) Looking forward to seeing the "Overseas Contingent", too (Rob Lee and TLN especially).
On the drinks cabinet front progress is slow but steady. Had to re-do some panels for the doors as I didn't like the grain pattern. It's easier to do this know than tear my hair out every time I see the completed project..........
Anyway, fitted the side panels today. Need to fit the back and floor then I can make the doors. I'm enjoying this one!
I'll report back on the show tomorrow night.

Sleep On It

How come when you WANT to get in the workshop the world comspires to keep you out?
Yes, its been one of those weeks......
Zero progress has been made since the weekend, my daughter has been ill (can you say "sleepless nights") and work has been busy, sending me around the country......
So not a lot has to update. Mind you, I thought this project was coming along a little too quickly....
On a different topic, don't you love Windows?? The most recent MS updates have now made certain websites impossible to access. Wasted plenty of time trying every possible tweak but my web-mail and certain secure sites (can you say Paypal and my bank) are now totally out of reach. Any ideas?? (bar buying a Mac.....)

A Week Excuse

Ouch! A whole week has gone by without a blog update. Sorry.......
Been having a lot of fun in the workshop though. Have finished the mortises, tenons cut and fitted on the side rails, top glued up and planed flat and the tenons cut on the front and back rails. The Lacewood for the panels has been ripped down on the band saw, thicknessed and is awaiting jointing and gluing up into panels. Yup, been a busy boy-and enjoying every minute. Sure is nice to be doing something you're familiar with.
Thought I would just have enough cherry to complete this project. In reality this was not quite so.....A visit to yandles yesterday has righted that though with two beautiful, clear boards of American cherry. Had to sort through 30 boards to find sap and mineral stain free boards, though.
I am amazed how much progress you can make when you are familiar with the techniques and have the correct (sharp) tools. Also, "friendly" timbers that don't tearout when you try to work them make the process even more pleasurable!
I'll post some w-i-p pics tomorrow.

It's Like This....

Well it's been a good weekend!
Spent some quality time with the family, painted the garage doors (yawn!) and spent a lot of time musing over construction details for the new cabinet. An hour on Sketchup has got the design 95% of the way there. Have a look....
There are still some details to finalise but at least I can start breaking down the timber into smaller pieces and making some shavings! Obviously I will keep you informed.....
I'm loving the cherry-such a nice timber to work. The pile of shavings on the floor is quite impressive. Also enjoy the "rose" smell when cutting it down on the table saw. Yum!
I even spent an hour this evening sharpening-man and tools in perfect harmony. I do enjoy using 'dem planes ;)

Off We Go Again

Hoorah! I started a new project-and it doesn't involve sanding........;)
Seriously though, it's nice to be making something planable again. I missed using the ol' handplanes.
New project is a drinks cabinet in cherry and lacewood. I'll post some pictures soon.
Started breaking down the cherry today, been hoarding it for a couple of years. A nice timber to work, it really shines when you swipe the plane over it. Yum!
Missus is really happy. I quote....
"Where we gonna put another cabinet!!"
Heh-where indeed!

Limbo

Right-first things first. Here's the link for photo's of the completed chair.
http://www.philsville.co.uk/chair_gallery.htm
Hope you like......
Got the photographers from Good Woodworking coming by this morning to photograph it for a future issue (hopefully). Spent last night dusting the workshop-yes, I am sad!
I am in the "between-projects-limbo" at the moment. Nice but frustrating at the same time. What next, what next.........
Sure is nice not to be sanding, though ;)

Yeah, I'm Done!

Right-that's it! I have reached the end. The wax has been applied and buffed, felt feet attached to the bottom of the legs and the chair brought into the house. It is Official! I have completed the Maloof style chair!
What's that?? Pictures of the finished item?? Ahh......
Having been caught out with the "mattress" incident the final photo's are going to have a little more time spent on them. So you'll have to wait 'til the weekend. Sadly work has me running around the country this week, so no chance.
Nice not to be sanding.......;)

I Think I'm Done

Well, another week of sanding, tweaking and a little bit more sanding. I must say that I will be glad never to see a bit of sandpaper again. With the temperature droppping slowly as the fierce Dorset Winter approaches the oil is taking too long to go off. So out comes my other fave finish, Shellac. I've applied a goodly few coats over the oil and it really is looking good. I keep finding small scratches and blemishes though. Every time I think "done" I see another one. Grrr.....
This is the week, though. Honest..........;)

Enter Sandman

I hate sanding.......
Yes, I really mean it. I am so sick of sanding this chair. Spent two hours working on some areas that needed work. Stand back and take a look-yup, another 10 hours to go, by the looks of it. This piece needs so much detail work. Now I remember why I like using hand planes......
On the up side, I do like the chair. It looks really good (IMHO)and that is only down to the hours put in. Really looking forward to saying "It's finished" though!

Well "Oil" Be!

Isn't sanding fun?? Eh? No, thats right, it isn't. Nevermind, nearly there. I have put the first coat of oil on the chair and it certainly brings out the colour of the walnut. Can see how its going to be, now. Still some more sanding left (funny how a finish shows up scratches on previously flawless looking surfaces....) and plenty of coats of oil. But the end is in sight!
Spent the weekend painting and DIY'ing it around the house (when not sanding!). Almost a pleasure to be sat around the office "hard at work" today.........

Cough, Snort!

Oh Dear.......
Sanding on the chair has started in earnest. I don't like sanding-it's smelly, dirty hand-aching work. I have a fine air filter that cleans the air in the workshop and am wearing a powered respirator. Still I have been coughing my guts up the last three days. I won't go as far as to say "I'm alergic" to black walnut dust but it certainly doesn't agree with me. Running nose, aching ears and eyes (?) loose chest. Not good. Thank goodness I only have a couple more hours of sanding left.
On the good side the chair looks great-I am so close to finishing it I just want to get oiling. But every time I return to look at the chair I see something else to tweak. Real close though!

Busy, Busy

Chair is now all glued up, all holes plugged and final shaping is underway. I have a fair amount of walnut sawdust if anyone needs it? ;) Really looking forward to getting the chair finished now-if only to be able to use it.
Had a busy weekend-Friday night in London seeing The Offspring. You certainly see it all in the City! Spent most of Sat and Sunday re-tiling the kitchen. Not the most fun job but it does look good now its done. Why didn't we do this years ago??
The Racket played in Christchurch Saturday night and a lot of fun it was too! I certainly feel happier when the band is so loud the lights keep going out........

Kinda getting there

So-does it look a bit like a Maloof chair or what??
Yes, progress is happening on the chair, all legs are glued, screwed and plugged. A bit more shaping before the arms are glued on-its easier to shape them at the bench than glued into the chair.Final fitting of the back and then its sandpaper time. Certainly can't wait to apply the first coat of BLO!
Work has been busy so time in the workshop has been seriously limited. Isn't that always the way? Off to London tomorrow to watch "The Offspring"-ear plugs at the ready!