tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8159185612355982312011-04-21T15:49:58.514-06:00the sad and sordid tales of the struggles of a non-professional woodworker, and his battles against the accumulation of rust on old tools.messiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00877492628206201961noreply@blogger.comBlogger131100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815918561235598231.post-75648474918743611772009-01-03T16:36:00.007-07:002009-01-03T17:27:59.633-07:00

It's been longer than I've meant to post any content. Things have been busy in other areas of my life, but every year the members of the OldTools list holds a gift exchange match-up known as Galootaclaus.Whoo-Hoo! It's here.... It's here! The Galootaclaus package has been released by the border elves known as customs agents. (Insert little Galootaclaus song here). I wonder what's in it......

messiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00877492628206201961noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815918561235598231.post-78608420431683797122008-10-13T22:10:00.005-06:002008-10-14T12:23:49.608-06:00

It's been a long time since i've posted, and a fair amount of time since i've done a large project.A lot of small projects have gotten accomplished, but i haven't had time to document or blog - and let's face it, a lot of the small stuff is boring. No one wants to read about gluing up broken Thomas The Tank Engine tracks (I use thick CA glue and an accelerator btw - no 4 year old wants to wait

messiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00877492628206201961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815918561235598231.post-87941913796240426442007-12-26T17:34:00.001-07:002007-12-26T17:53:49.293-07:00

I know Santa delivers a lump of coal when you've been bad, and gifts when you've been good, but there's no way I've been 'that' good this year. The package arrived safe and sound over a week ago, and the delivery man was met by SWMBO. Said package was whisked away and all of the cross border shipping documents were removed. I got to look at the box for about 5 seconds. The box was then hidden

messiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00877492628206201961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815918561235598231.post-15211719546304753802007-08-12T22:44:00.001-06:002008-03-13T22:16:52.474-06:00

Why do we sometimes choose to make things so difficult? I would like to think that sometimes that is the correct way. The necessary way. In fact, the only way. Here is a case in point.I recently purchased a scroll saw. A Beaver JS-3100 24" scroll jig saw. Not a new tool by any stretch - I believe it was manufactured in the 40's, by The Callendar Foundry & MFG. Co. LTD. in Guelph, Canada. A

messiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00877492628206201961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815918561235598231.post-19979545650666411472007-07-30T22:02:00.002-06:002008-03-13T22:17:20.105-06:00

today's lesson: A bead looks intentional - a subtle cove need to be part of an overall design. A subtle cove on an otherwise straight section doesn't look like a cove - it looks like an accident.The other day I turned a pen - an El Grande Fountain Pen (Berea Hardwoods kit, from Lee Valley). I have turned my previous pens with a pretty straight barrel - or an extremely subtle 'swell' in the

messiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00877492628206201961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815918561235598231.post-79910674514408165352007-07-21T20:48:00.001-06:002008-03-13T22:17:50.234-06:00

My first pen, an Extra-Large Twist (Cigar),pen kit from Lee Valley (Berea Hardwoods).The blank was a Rust & Black Acrylic Acetate, from Lee Valley (not sure who their supplier is).The second course I took from Lee Valley was a Pen Turning course. Always wanted to try, but didn't have everything required. I also didn't want to purchase everything required (bits, mandrels, bushings, etc.) only to

messiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00877492628206201961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815918561235598231.post-12508646327842639912007-07-11T21:20:00.001-06:002008-03-13T22:18:17.731-06:00

With the job the way it's been, I've been having trouble getting to the shop. There are so many other things to do. But I keep an eye out on the Lee Valley seminars - they often have courses of interest (made my first spokeshave in one.) Not only are the courses interesting, an opportunity to meet like minded folk, develop new skills with assistance, have good instructors, and include all

messiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00877492628206201961noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815918561235598231.post-9194533492657619982007-07-03T23:45:00.000-06:002007-07-12T00:33:30.100-06:00

A Mother's Day gift. Design was based off a graphic I had seen on a car year's previously and roughly sketched on a napkin. Frame is made from Ash. The background is crushed red velvet. The work is done in 1/8" Baltic Birch plywood that was stained with MinWax Ebony stain after scrolling.Standard learning curve (vertical) and planning ahead (mounted into the frame half an hour before delivery

messiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00877492628206201961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815918561235598231.post-26313912396458039482007-07-02T22:36:00.001-06:002007-07-02T22:42:53.397-06:00

sometimes as simple as the arrival of my new "GALOOT" key fob.

messiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00877492628206201961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815918561235598231.post-38499475498558922172007-05-31T23:31:00.001-06:002007-07-12T23:41:23.306-06:00

Life has been funny of late. Some health issues have slowed me down, and things have been busy at work and at home.Recently though, I received a call from an instructor I had taken a set of furniture building courses from. He's taught for a continuing education program for 10 years andrecently decided to cease the cont-ed teaching in order to pursue other interests - namely his own woodworking.

messiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00877492628206201961noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815918561235598231.post-5328626342304217822007-04-05T22:00:00.001-06:002008-03-13T22:19:21.458-06:00

When you're better half says she wants to buy you a new lathe, and gives you a price range that has a large number fall within it.... who's to say no? especially when she tells you she wants you to have it right away so you can use it as much as possible :)I have an older Beaver/Rockwell lathe, that I've been using - but the lack of a morse taper in the headstock has become extremely annoying.

messiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00877492628206201961noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815918561235598231.post-16898654841574283482007-03-14T22:30:00.000-06:002007-03-14T22:17:05.823-06:00

I've been off work this week, due to a health issue. The unfortunate part is that it prevents me from doing any woodworking, or it would be a good week.So I've been spending the time doing some work and updating my web areas. Something I never seem to have time for these day.You can imagine my amusement when I read my horrorscope today:Aquarius: The idea of a website takes hold and you are

messiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00877492628206201961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815918561235598231.post-38452222312217320162007-03-14T22:10:00.000-06:002007-03-14T22:12:18.588-06:00

I recently had the pleasure during a day off, of being able to head down to a small town in the area that has an "antique walk" - a collection of small antique stores scattered throughout its streets. Like the usual antique "mauls", condition and pricing don't seem to have much to do with each other. But amongst the overpriced, completely rusted metal planes, and wooden planes with blown

messiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00877492628206201961noreply@blogger.com2