Upcoming Event: Sturt Handtool Weekend

Tools & Techniques Weekend 18-19 February 2012 Sturt School for Wood will host a weekend of TOOLS & TECHNIQUES featuring many of Australia's finest tool makers: HNT Gordon Classic Plane Maker, Colen Clenton, Harold & Saxon Chisels, Micheal Connor Woodwork, Paul Nicholson, Jim Davey, Japanese Tools and more offering you the opportunity to discuss, try and buy their beautifully crafted tools. Plus specialist demonstrations on a range of woodworking techniques presented by Sturt's experienced teachers. FREE Admission and Parking. 10:00am - 4:00pm both days. Food & drinks available on site.
Demonstrations On Saturday: 10.30 David Upfill-Brown - sharpening carving tools and relief carving 12.00 Jeff Phillips - mortise & tenon joints 2.30 Phoebe Everill - steambending for Shaker boxes
On Sunday: 10.30 Daryl Ingate - sharpening chisels and plane blades 12.00 Stuart Faulkner - selecting, joining and pressing veneers 2.30 Paul Nicholson - cutting dovetail joints

The State of the Nation

It seems to be getting longer between blog post nowadays. Which sadly reflects longer time between woodworking endeavours.

I found myself today doing a little tidying. (What's scarier is that photos are post tidying.)

The lectern project still sits on the bench untouched for 6 months. The bunk to match the pine bed is stacked against the wall. The tools boxes are overflowing and in need of re-organisation. The timber unsorted. The planner blades need sharpening (but at least now they are removed and ready.) The dusty now containing shavings from projects I made for Christmas 2009. The steel bins full but scraps still on the floor. 

The Little Ted Approval

This morning I was able to install the finished bed restoration project. It was a simple but time time-consuming project. I took the simple pine bed that I had as a child and refined it slightly for my own child. 

With the three coats of varnish dry it was time to install - with resulting clapping and 'hoorays' from the receiving toddler. The details for those interested. Sanded to 320 with ROS and hand. Then thinned dewaxed shellac. Then feast watson liming solution. Then feast watson satin proof x 3. 

The room re-arranged and the bed installed.

An approving little ted.

Sanding, Liming, Finishing.

A quick update on the Bed Restoration Project. The simple radiata pine was sanded back 120, 180, 240, 300 with random orbit and the round over by hand. The timber then sealed with shellac and sanded again.

I chose a finish to match the Shaker Toy Chests. I'm using the same liming agent which is applied then wiped off the make the white shade. Then I'm using the thicker/ tougher feast watson satin varnish rather than the minwax poly which although nice to apply dented easily on the toy chest.

One day I'll clean up the shed...

Boxing Day Salad on a Lazy Larry Board

This Christmas I gave away a custom made end grain chopping board from Larry at Lazy Larry Woodworks. This is the fourth board I've purchased from Larry. It is a solid Australian made product and once again delivery was on time.

The board is 400 x 460 x ~30mm in size. Formed from Australian timbers Melaluca, Acacia, and Mango. And made in the 'Double Step' design. The wood fibres are arranged vertically resulting in the 'end grain' surface. Not only is this more decorative and stable, but it is also gentler on the knifes as the fibres will split around the blade.

For more information check out Larry's website or email him directly.

Merry Christmas

Christmas in Australia is a great celebration. It’s a time to remember the year gone by, a time of rest, a time to eat lavishly, a time to decorate the office and home, and a time for friends and family.

Christmas traditions have a rich and eclectic history. Our modern plump and generous Santa stems from legends of Saint Nicholas, the fourth century Turkish bishop. The plastic Christmas tree that fills our lounge room is inspired by a sixteenth century German tradition. And elves… actually I don’t know how elves fit into it.

In our family, at Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus. We remember that God entrusted a young faithful mother with bringing Him into the world. And we are mindful that He did not remain a baby in a manger, but grew up to teach of God’s love and purpose, and to fulfil His mission as the one who would bear the punishment for humanity’s rejection of God.

 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. – Isaiah 9:6.

Henry Eckert: New Australian based Tool Merchant

Just a quick heads up on a new Australian Tool Company. Henry Eckert: Merchant is based in South Australia as a sister company to the Australian distributors of Lie Nielson Toolworks. Worth checking out. 

I managed to pick up two Lost Art Press books, and now just have to wait for the posty.

A cracking bad time...

When people see my anniversary table the curved trestle legs attract the most questions and comments. Based on old Shaker design its slender form allows foot room for people sitting on the ends.

The first table I built of this design had a heavier set form made of a single piece of blackbutt. Other woodworkers often commented that it would be weak in the ankles. Pivoting forces applied across a relatively short piece of horizontal grain would cause fracture. (Btw. it never has.)

To correct this problem the new design is made of two pieces of timber angled such that the long grain is parallel to the ankles making the ankles much stronger. The two pieces are joined by a sliding dovetail and then two through tenons from the centre piece. (Details here.)

However, as you can see there are some cracks forming. The sliding dovetail edges are short grain and relatively thin. To fix this I'll pry it gently open and fill with epoxy. However, next time we'll need a better design. Ultimately bent laminations later shaped will replace this design.

Shaker Box #2

The toy box itself was completed prior to Christmas 2010. However, it wasn’t until last week that the soft down flap stay was installed completing the project and making it toddler safe.

There’s a few differences between Box #1 and #2. 1# has a variable resistance gas strut rather than the soft down flap. 2# has dovetailed skirting boards and has been limed.

Timber: Radiata Pine. Dimensions: 800×400×480mm. Glue: Titebond III Joinery: Various, Dovetailed, Tongue & Groove, Stepped Panel and Frame. Finish: Feast Watson Liming Agent, Minwax Wipe on Poly Matte, Ubeaut Natural Wax. Hardware: Zinc piano hinge (sourced from Bunnings), and soft down flap stay. (sourced from Lee Valley.)

Tasmanian Timbers Clock Complete

Tasmanian Timbers Clock

Timbers: Panels Huon Pine, Case Blackheart Sassafras, Inlay Sassafras and Ebony.

Joinery: Mitred Hand Cut Dovetails. Glue: Epoxy for the case. Hide for the panel.
Movement: Continuous Sweep from Let's Make Time Clock Company
Finish: ROS Sanded to 240. Shellac. Organoil (Tung Oil).