Friday, January 27, 2006

The Boxer Returns


As promised, here's box number two. Made of English Elm and American Walnut it is a duplicate of box#1 (although made with the benefit of hindsight so less mistakes!). I've just got to cut the lid off and finish it. Pass the Danish oil.......
Other news-The Dorset Woodkateers are off to Axminster tomorrow! Hope they're ready for us (and Waka leaves his wallet at home)
Cheers
Phil
P.s. There's another Disston on the way off the 'Bay, hand saw fans.

Monday, January 23, 2006

The Boxer



The pep-up project is complete! Finished this little box on the weekend and as I had to make a couple of jigs to ease construction I'm firing into a second one. Might even make a few more....
Little boxes are a great way to use up those pretty little off-cuts that I seem to hoard all over the workshop. This one is made of birdseye maple and purpleheart, the next from elm and walnut. Now, what other combinations can I come up with??
Cheers
Philly

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Specialised Tool, Special Tool.....


Howdy Bloggerteers!
My Disston rip saw turned up at last (from the States). It's a "7" rip saw, 26 inches long and has been freshly sharpened (NOT by me). The saw is about a 100 years old, quite amazing really. It cuts superbly, almost too well. Obviously its only good for ripping but thats not necessarily a bad thing. Have you noticed how the tool that promise s"does the work of 10 different tools" never really does anything well. They are too compromised. But this is where specialised tools come into it.
A tool that is designed (successfully) to do one particular operation well is a delight. You may not use that tool every day (even every week) but when you need it, bang, the job is done. And done well. And that makes these special little tools worth the money in my opinion.

Monday, January 09, 2006

Pep-Up Project


Thought I would build an easy little project to get myself back into the swing of things. How about a box? Everyone loves a box and I just happen to have some suitable timber lying about (well, cluttering up the shop)
As I am a bit rusty I decided to use the Littlerat to cut the dovetails. Unfortunately, I had a few problems......The first router bit snapped off nearly immediately and the second one burnt the bejesus out of the timber. So, to plan B
The "Mitred Box"
I have some purpleheart that is going to set this one on fire!

Friday, January 06, 2006

A New Year

Sorry for the lag of blog, I've been busy. Well o.k., I've actually been doing nothing......
It's been nice to have a break. No woodwork at all (except for a winter workshop clean-up and re-arrange). I'm ready now to get stuck in. And as it's a new year I thought I'd give myself some small goals to get things moving

1: Keep the workshop clean.
2: Throw away offcuts I really cannot use.
3: Make a project (or two) using only hand tools.
4: Sell off un-used tools.
5: Have fun!

So how about you? What do you want to achieve this year?
Cheers
Philly