Woodworking waste?

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Most woodworkers I know hoard wood for future projects.  They see the beauty in each board and won’t let them go as waste.  I, too, am guilty of this crime.  However, I take time to clean out my shop after ever finished project; sorting through the newly accumulated “waste”.  If it is something I think I can use later I store it but if not I declare it as waste.  But waste to me is not necessarily waste to another woodworker.  I am fortunate in that I have a couple of friends that live close to me that can use my offcuts to heat their shops.  I hope they sort through the material I give them and utilize what they can in their shop prior to fueling their stoves.  Also, the sawdust I collect in my cyclone is used as animal bedding, mulch around the flowers or to fill in some low spots in the pasture.   And I send some cutoffs to some friends that like to turn small objects on their lathes.  It gives me great pleasure to see their skills turn my “waste” into objects of art.  I am gathering some small materials from my shop now for a cutting board I am starting.  So I guess most woodworkers are “green” and don’t really create waste but utilize their leftovers in different ways.  How do you deal with your woodworking  “waste”?

Enjoy your shop time,

Jerill

Recharging your batteries – woodworking

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I use battery-powered tools in my shop frequently, so occasionally I have to recharge the batteries on these tools to continue on my projects.  From time to time I find my energy level and creative ideas waning.  When this happens I need to “recharge” my batteries.  By this I mean I need to get away from my shop and work and clear my thoughts.  My wife and I just returned from a trip to Country River Cabins in Pocahontas County, WV.  We were able slow down and “rethink” our goals.  A brisk hike in the national forest in February has a tendency to get your blood flowing and gets some new thoughts.  By evaluating my past work and accomplishments I am able to see the path I have traveled much clearer.  I prefer to reflect and set new goals periodically that determine the direction forward.  By doing so I “recharge” my batteries and manage to keep my woodworking moving forward!

Enjoy your shop time,

Jerill

Timed obsolesence – Woodworking

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Recently my refrigerator failed to maintain the cold temperature required to keep the milk from spoiling.  After trouble shooting the problem I considered my options and found a new appliance was in order.  While researching the repair parts I realized the refrigerator was 19 years old!  At least it lived beyond the life expectancy of the manufacturer.  I learned many years ago that this is called “timed obsolescence” – a predetermined life of a product to ensure future customers.  What if woodworkers lived by this creed?  How many antique pieces would there be if they were made to exist only for a specified time frame?  Any craftsman will tell you that his work will last for generations if done properly.  A uniquely designed, heirloom quality piece of furniture for a specific customer will be pleasing to the eye but also must last.  To function under constant use and still last for centuries is the expectation but not necessarily the norm.  That is why the design is critical and not just “eye candy”.  Perhaps this is why many customers prefer to buy custom-made items instead of mass-produced pieces.  So the next time you purchase an item ask yourself if it has a predetermined life expectancy or “timed obsolescence”.  Perhaps it will make you think about purchasing from an individual craftsman instead of a large manufacturer.

Enjoy your shop time!

Jerill

Shoulder or Tenoning plane? – Woodworking

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Recently, I obtained a new Wood River #92 Shoulder plane.  It is an elegant, precision instrument of quality craftsmanship at a very modest price.  The look, weight and comfort of this tool makes it the envy of any woodworker.  After spending a brief but enjoyable amount of time fine tuning and sharpening the iron in this plane, it created very fine shavings.  With the adjustable mouth and blade it can be set up to easily trim a misaligned shoulder on any tenon joint.  However, as I explained to a friend of mine, it is more than just a shoulder plane.  The blade can be set flush with one edge and used to pare away excess material on the cheeks of the tenon.  While I have the plane in my hand I also use it to chamfer the leading edge of the tenon.  So I wonder why is it not called a tenoning plane?  To me it seems more logical since I use it on every aspect of the tenon and not just the shoulder.  How many hand tools excel in versatility but are stigmatized with a name that implies only one use?  So if you don’t own a “tenoning” plane I suggest you consider one of these multiuse tools.  Those on a fixed woodworking budget will be surprised at the modest price.  So check out the Wood River #92 shoulder – I mean tenoning – plane.  I am sure will you find a great use of this tool.

Enjoy your shop time,

Jerill

Safety is a learned behavior – Woodworking

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Safety is a learned behavior.  Someone who approaches a problem with a negative attitude most likely will not solve the problem easily.  Approaching safety standards is the same way.  If you accept the fact that an incident can happen and then take the necessary precautions, you are minimizing the opportunity for injury.  Learning how to address these issues is not difficult but acknowledging you can suffer consequences is not easy.  Woodworking tools, mechanical or manual, don’t differentiate between experience or novice.  A mature, experienced woodworker will admit an incident can happen under certain conditions regardless of who is performing the task.   Learning you are not exempt from injuries is the first step to safe woodworking.  How you behave with this knowledge dictates your safe work habits.  Taking time to look at your surroundings and recognizing the potential areas is necessary to maintain a safe work environment.  With experience you learn what hazards exist in specific tasks and how to eliminate them.  As your craftsmanship increases so will your safety because it too is a learned behavior.

Enjoy your shop time!

Jerill

Woodworking Mistakes

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If you are human you make mistakes and this includes mistakes in woodworking!  How you correct the mistakes demonstrates artistry in your craftsmanship.  Many people call these corrections design changes!  As you gain knowledge and skill you learn how to fix problems.  If I cannot repair an error then I prefer to accentuate it by making a radical change to the design, such as, incorporating a different species of wood to draw the eye to that area.  Therefore, it looks intentional and unique.  I had one friend tell me he spends more time showing his students how to correct errors than teaching the original lesson.  How you correct the errors not only affirms craftsmanship but personal character. Do you make quick, substandard repairs or do you turn your mistake into a quality design feature?  If your intent is to fix the problem only until the work is “out the door” or delivered then are your fixing the problem?  You are only passing the situation on to someone else.  When I do business with an individual or business I always pay attention to how they correct their mistakes.  This dictates if I continue to do business with them or seek other options.  So by permanently correcting your mistakes you are showing your craftsmanship but building your character!

Enjoy your shop time!

Jerill

Grandma’s cooking – woodworking

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I remember when Grandma and Mom first let me help peel potatoes.  I was given a knife and instructions on how to peel them.  Both Grandma and Mom watched me as they continued to work in the kitchen on other items.  Grandma told me I was doing good but my mom informed me I was cutting too deeply, therefore wasting much of the potato.  Please understand Grandma and Grandpa raised seven kids on a farm and wasting anything was a sin.  Now I can relate!  I am working on a piece using spalted maple and have just enough material.  Prior to each cut, I take time to ensure I am not wasting any valuable stock.  A mistake could mean completing the project would be  impossible without design changes.  This confirms the first stage of any project (the selection phase) is necessary.  So take a lesson from Grandma’s cooking – cut away the waste and only the waste.  Leave the rest for the precious design that will make a great woodworking statement.  Like Grandma’s cooking everyone will enjoy the effort.

Enjoy your shop time,

Jerill

Cold Woodworking?

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Most woodworkers have a small area they utilize for their woodworking ventures.  Some have a basement workshop while others have a garage or shed workshop.  I even know some that utilize a barn to house their tools.  The weather plays an important role in woodworking.  Many work wood during the winter because outdoor activities are limited due to the weather while others enjoy this endeavor year round.  As the temperatures plummet in the winter so does the comfort in many of these shops.  A lot of dedicated work areas have no heat or inadequate heat.  If you are one of the lucky ones to have a tempered shop (heated and air-conditioned) count yourself blessed.  If your shop is not comfortable this time of year, remember, it  will eventually warm up.  In the mean time, perhaps this is a good time to call a woodworking buddy that has a heated shop and invite yourself over for some shop talk!  For me, I truly enjoy working in my comfortable shop while a blanket of snow covers the ground and the birds flock to the bird feeders for their meals.

Enjoy your shop time!

Jerill

The mechanics of woodworking

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I don’t like doing mechanical work but since I live on a farm and maintain most of my  farm equipment I do know how.  However, when I have to perform mechanical work on my woodworking equipment I enjoy it.  It does not matter if you use only hand tools or motorized equipment you need to learn how to work on your equipment.  I am not referring to repairs only but also to fine tuning.  What good is a hand plane that has a newly sharpened blade if you don’t know how to adjust it for maximum performance?  How frustrating is a band saw when the blade does not track correctly?  When you become familiar with your equipment you learn to expect specific results.  Hearing odd sounds emanating from your machinery makes you cringe until you can identify the reason.  Taking the time to maintain your equipment not only enhances your knowledge of the tools but ensures you get the best possible cut.  So, if your owner’s manual recommends changing the oil in your prized planer perhaps you should schedule time for the task or after using your best dovetail hand saw you should take a few seconds to wipe it clean before putting it back in the tool chest.  If you take pride in your tools, as well as, your craftsmanship then most of this comes natural to you.

Enjoy your shop time!

Jerill

continual learning – seeking woodworking knowledge

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The fall semester is coming to a close but all my students want to continue their education.  I stated the quest for more woodworking skill and knowledge is never-ending!  Learning is not completed at a specific date or event on a calendar or after the final coat of finish on a time-consuming project.  I informed them that a good student will always learn more than the instructor because the student will also seek other avenues of information.  This is especially true in today’s environment of the internet.  For me personally, I enjoy listening to some of the “older” woodworkers and pick up small pieces of information that they learned the hard way many years ago.  Although I have been working with wood since the ’70s and have earned an AAS in fine woodworking, I still learn from a friendly, elderly gentleman I truly admire.  When he speaks I pay close attention because he has first hand knowledge that goes way back before my time.  Fortunately, my students will get to continue their education next semester and add to their collection of earned skills.  But, for the youth of today, who will be the elders who inspire and guide the ones thirsting for tidbits of woodworking knowledge?  The internet, although entertaining, is like an impersonal Wal-Mart but some people (like me) still prefer to shop at the local helpful “Mom and Pop” store.  See ya next semester!

Enjoy your shop time!

Jerill