Spring is around the corner! Time to get back to Woodworking!

Published on by Mike  (Leave a comment)

too_much_snowI know I have been a bit lax on my posts this month.  As many of you have had as well, we have had a pretty severe winter.  Since my shop is heated only with a kerosene heater, there is a limit to how cold it can get before its not worth trying to warm the shop.  The last few winters we had plenty of warmer days that I could get the shop to a temperature that is comfortable enough to work in.  This winter, that has only happened a couple times, but not enough to do my usual winter skill-building project.  I still have that planned, just not certain when I will do it, as I have other projects planned now.  I will, of course, write about those as I start them.

penThe good news, all hasn’t been lost this winter.  I did get a couple warm days that I was able to go out and turn some pens.  This past weekend I did manage to get some shop time, and actually built a quick weekend project.  This will likely be discussed in another post at some point in the future.  What I can say is, I was suffering sever shop withdraw, and the weekend was a big help getting over that!

chidwickI did also attend the Woodworking Show when it made its round in Columbus.  The deals were decent, though I didn’t buy too much to gloat about.  I bought mainly stuff for the router and router table, including replacing my dulled straight bits, a new power switch, and few other odds and ends from the show.  Woodwerks of Columbus also had an event in conjunction with the show.  That is a great store, and I hope to get back up there sometime soon.  The picture of the table was taken at The Woodworking Show, and was made by Andy Chidwick.  I watched his presentations, and learned a lot about his techniques.  I hope to attempt some of these at some point.

The good news is, that as it is starting to get warmer, I will be spending more time in the shop, which means there will be more frequent updates to my blog

Get Woodworking Week 2014

Published on by Mike  (Leave a comment)

GWW14

snowOnce again Tom Iovino of TomsWorkBench.com is hosting Get Woodworking Week.  My shop, as many others, is in an unheated garage that I will warm with a space heater when I am ready to use.  Unfortunately it has been so cold this winter that I have only had a few days that it has been warm enough outside for the heater to be effective.

So what can we as woodworkers, suffering from severe shop withdraws, do about it?  Well, there are a few things we can do while not in the shop.

1.  Go shopping!  The woodworking shows are currently running their circuit, if you have one coming near you, go, as there are lots of good deals, as well as some good seminars to help you expand your woodworking horizons.  Also go to your local Woodcraft/Rockler/Any store that sells tools and start researching (and even make) any tool purchase you are considering.  This is also a good time to stock up on supplies and consumables.

2.  Take a class!  The classrooms are usually nice and warm, and you will most definitely learn some new techniques to help you become a stronger woodworker.

3.  Join a woodworking club!  This is a great way to get with your local woodworking community.  A lot of opportunity to speak with other like minded people and compare projects and notes.

su4.  Design and Plan your next projects!  In fact this is what I am doing now.  I typically use sketch-up to design most of my projects.  I often use this also as an opportunity to expand my sketch-up skills to do something new, as well as go through the various iterations of a project design until I get it to a point I am happy with it.  From there I am able to develop a cut-list which helps me determine the amount of material I need to buy.  I can then start budgeting for it so that when the shop is warm I can start making dust right away.

5. Too cold?  Never!  Sometimes the call of the shop is stronger that dislike of being cold.  Get out there anyway and start making saw dust.

So there you have it!  You have absolutely NO excuse to say its too cold to be woodworking.  There is plenty you can do even if you are not in your shop!