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Showing posts with label of. Show all posts
Showing posts with label of. Show all posts

Saturday, February 22, 2014

From Cradle Of Wood To Coffin Of Wood



"That century of magnificent awareness preceding the Civil War was the age of wood. Wood was not accepted simply as the material for building a new nation - it was an inspiration. Gentle to the touch, exquisite to contemplate, tractable in creative hands, stronger by weight than iron, wood was, as William Penn had said, "a substance with a soul." It spanned rivers for man; it built his home and heated it in the winter; man walked on wood, slept in it, sat on wooden chairs at wooden tables, drank and ate the fruits of trees from wooden cups and dishes. From cradle of wood to coffin of wood, the life of man was encircled by it. 


One of the remarkable things about wood is its self expression. Whether as the handle of a tool, as a dead stump, or alive in a forest where every branch is a record of the winds that blew, it is always telling something about itself. This is why man has an affinity with wood not only as a mere material, but also as a kindred spirit to live with and to know. The children of a century ago were expert at knowing trees and their characteristics; they grew up thinking of trees as having human qualities and, almost Druidlike, they tried to acquire the qualities of trees. A man might be as "strong as an oak," or "bend like a willow"; if he had proper "timber," hed be one all the stronger from the winds of adversity. 


Eric Sloane "A Reverence For Wood"


---

Ive been reading this great book lately, I highly recommend you go find a copy, there are a lot of cheep copies out there online. "A Reverence For Wood" is a short book, I read it the first time through in an afternoon. Im re-reading it over again now, taking it slower, digesting it more thoroughly.

It makes me think a lot of my journey from childhood up to where I am in supposed maturity. My current affair with timber is obvious, but its a love affair Ive carried with me a long time. In my young years I grew up in very rural, very northern Minnesota. I spent many hours in the woods, around one set of grandparents farm or the other sets cabin.

We moved from Minnesota to Nebraska and the farm house we rented had a small, scrubby, copse of brush / trees behind the house. I spent innumerable hours hiding from the summer heat in the shade of those leaves. Fallen branches were swords and guns as I rambled through the brush as the second incarnation of Indiana Jones.

We moved to Wisconsin as I started high school. Even though my thoughts were turning increasingly towards girls and cars, I spent a significant amount of time hanging out in a couple acres of trees covering the hill across the road. The area has since been developed into a manicured golf course, complete with surrounding McMansions. The sacrilege of this occurring on grounds that were once so very sacred to me makes me shake my head every time Im forced to drive past.

I dont enter into relationships lightly. My wife and I have been together since high school and were married before either of us could legally drink at our reception. Everyone assumed she was pregnant, everyone was wrong. Everyone assumed wed be divorced in a year or two, this October we will be eighteen years strong. My best friend and I have been in each others lives since the early nineties. I drive and repair the cars I own until theyre way past the point of saving. Ive owned many cars and Ive only sold one to someone other than the junkyard for scrap.

If I think about it, one of the the longest relationships Ive had in my life is with trees and wood. It makes sense that I would find my way to an avocation that surrounds me with it.

Ratione et Passionis
Oldwolf
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Friday, February 21, 2014

! Gifts Made Out Of Wood Woodworking Plans

Gifts Made Out Of Wood

Woodworking Plans

Do-it-Yourself Patterns and Crafts, Woodworking kits, Furniture Plans Plus Much, Much More. Will Show You How to Make 16,000 Different Woodworking Plans. Use The Plans For Fun, Functionality or Profit!

Gifts Made Out Of Wood. Wood is one of the most beautiful, sturdy and versatile components that you can function with even though on a do it yourself project. The beauty of a cabinet door that is finished in wood cannot be matched by any other material whether natural or man made. As with any project, you would need a detailed set of plans while you perform with wood and wood based materials. This is why it is recommended that you use a detailed set of woodworking plans as soon as you plan to extensively use wood based components to full the project that you have embarked on.

Now let us examine why woodworking plans are important in any wood primarily based do it oneself project. To commence with, these plans assistance you eliminate waste. If you commence a woodworking project with out a firm strategy, the probabilities are that you would end up working with more wood that you originally intended to. Most of the wood primarily based projects would call for in depth assemblies and sub assemblies.

When you begin your project, you would be ideally operating with person members of wood and finishing them individually prior to assembling them. If you do not have the appropriate woodwork plans, you could finish up with mismatching wood members at the time of assembly. This could trigger high priced expense and time overruns in the project. All these problems can be avoided by utilizing a effectively laid out set of wood plans.

The other benefit that you could have if you use woodworking plans are that you would be ready with all the tools and implements that you would need for completing the wood based project. Often we discover that we do not have access to a certain tool in the middle of a woodworking project. This circumstance could lead to a loss of time and at times you may well even have to abandon the project in case a particular tool is not offered. All these difficulties can be avoided if you have a detailed strategy at the onset. Gifts Made Out Of Wood




Gifts Made Out Of Wood Remedies

Consistent Advertising - The romance of woodworking will need to be balanced with the consistent promoting and advertising crucial to retain the operate coming in. In time, phrase of mouth brings in a lot of operate if you develop a fantastic recognition. Till finally then, you will have to have to get the phrase out routinely. Right after the operate arrives in you have to have exceptional manufacturing systems so you can comprehensive the tasks promptly and continue to retain the money flowing. If jobs look at also really long and the dollars movement stops, it can turn into difficult to shell out the expenses. Talking of cash flow, you really should create and adhere to regular assortment tactics. This is 1 region exactly where by various woodworkers fail. The payment for the perform will will need to be as significant as the execute by itself. If you are lax in accumulating, you will run into prospects who fall short to shell out you and this will cause seriously severe revenue movement issues.

The Smaller enterprise - Even nonetheless you like woodworking, you will will need to do the home company if you are to make a dwelling at it. Fantastic results normally demands an in-depth data of both woodworking and enterprise management. If you never ever have each and every, I recommend you hesitate to leap in till you have honed your enterprise expertise.

Hunting back once again I recognize that my lack of expertise in the course of my startup quite a few decades back could have been offset with some frequent details and a different individual to advise me.Sadly I had to understand most components by trial and error.

Just about each and every and every and each and every week, I take the time to go by way of the comments that my viewers make about my woodworking web page. 1st of all I want to them for taking the time to comment, I definitely worth all of the comments and recommendations. This earlier week there was a comment from a gentleman, who expressed a have to have to get into woodworking. As a man who is passionate about woodworking, I want to welcome him to the fold. And I want to offer you him all of the recommendations and encouragement probable in his endeavors.Gifts Made Out Of Wood


More Gifts Made Out Of Wood :



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Gifts Made Out Of Wood Reviewed by Karen Eisner on Rating: 5
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Thursday, February 13, 2014

The Soundtrack of Life




When people ask me what I do for a living I tell them I’m a wood worker…sometimes. Sometimes I say I’m a musician. Sometimes I say I’m a Dad. Sometimes worlds collide and I’m able to do a project that mixes mediums and over the last few months that is sort of what occurred.
I was asked by the fine folks at Fine Homebuilding.com to write six original scores for some new online video features they’ve recently produced. In between chapters for my new book and wood working classes, I managed to write and record the pieces and I’m thrilled to be able to share them with you. The video’s are available here, at the Fine Homebuilding website and represent the 2012, Fine Homebuilding HOUSES Award Winners. Jump over to the link and take a look at some incredible home designs and architecture.
Ranging from remodels to new homes,  best-energy smart homes and retirement there is something there for everyone.
Colin Russell has produced some fine video’s and the back ground music isn’t that bad either!
Check it out when you get a few minutes.
Cheers!
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Wednesday, February 12, 2014

im back sort of spring in vermont

well, when its springtime in vermont, you cant expect tooooo  much writing from me ... i do have a couple of good posts coming up, but i havent quite gotten around to getting them together just yet.  soon, i suspect, like maybe tomorrow.  maybe.  if it rains or something.  maybe ... heres a sampler of what its like outside here now ... like i said.  spring.  click the pictures to enlarge them ...
 you got your grass to mow ... nice change from the snow ...
 you got your hoseshoes to set up
 you got your magnolias ..
 and your phoebe nest ...
 and your fishin...  sam with a big one from the mettawee ..
 your tulips  ...
and your wood to stack ... all done now ..
your big fat 800+ page book to read ... 400 years of natural history, well written.
your golf to play ... been out a bunch of times ... 
and so much more.
and oh yeah,  we still have to work ... weve been working on the new designs.  heading into it big time on monday ... more soon ... dan

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Tuesday, February 11, 2014

A Bunch Of This And That

Black Friday/Cyber Monday


I hope you all found the fantastic deals you couldn’t refuse on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Strange, isn’t it, how terminology is adapted from one application to another, resulting in completely opposite meanings.

When I hear the term “Black Friday”, the first thing that pops to mind is that my already black and blue retirement plan just took another sh_t kicking. Instead, in this application it means that the retailers hope to be in the black part of the ledger by the end of this particular Friday, the traditional “lets get out and spend” day in the United States.

While not a thumper about it, I am quite strong on the idea of Canadians shopping in Canada, as Americans are about supporting their own economy. This year is a little different for me, though. This year I am advocating “Cross Border Shopping”. That’s right; all you Canucks should head over to your nearest state and shop your brains out.

Here’s why I say this…

I read an article in the paper the other day about a old guy who had to replace his clock radio so he went to the local Canadian Tire store, a chain that started life in automotive supply and over the past 100 years or so have spread out to carry just about everything, doing justice to none. The old man picked out a radio he could afford and went to pay for it. The price of the clock alarm was $9.95, Added to this price was the new Ontario Eco Fee, a fee for disposal at the time of sale, which added $2.75 to his bill. Then the standard “harmonized” sales tax (8% provincial and 5% federal) was added not only to the selling price of the radio, but to the eco fee as well, adding another $1.87 to his bill. This brought the total of that $10 radio to $14.56, almost 50% more than its purchase price.

All of this, to me, is just way over the top. Add it to all the other ridiculous ways our multi-levels of government here in Canada are reaching into our pockets and it becomes time to call a time-out.

Save the planet, please! I’m all for it and I’ll even help you. Doing so on the backs of some poor old guy on a fixed income, though, is beyond reasonable. I just think it is time the governments got taught a lesson.

Peace.


Interesting Site

I was sent a link this morning for http://www.thenewchinkyworkshop.com. Yes, the name is a little out there for this day and age, isn’t it, but as the site’s owner explains, it is a play on his name that his parents gave him years ago, so it is not used to cause offense.

Ray, the owner, is seriously into woodworking and creates some amazing projects. He has made everything from a carving knife holder to  tables, desks and cabinets. It is not the projects that amazed me with this site, nor the craftsmanship that he obviously applied to each. It is the pure number of things he has created that blew me away. I have no idea how many he has displayed on this site, but whatever the tally, the number will be incredible.

Take some time and have a look around. He is extremely talented and amazingly innovative. It is worth the click.

Here is an image I lifted from his site. It is just a simple fence, but to me shows this man’s creativity. How would you like to wake up one morning and find this running along your driveway? I know I would, and I don’t even have a driveway.




Peace.


Time To Make Some Sawdust

Things are slowing down for me considerably by the end of this week and I am going to have just over a month where there will be few demands on my time. To celebrate a slow work schedule for a change, I am going to get to work and enjoy myself. While the project at hand is not really my cup of tea, it will fit in with some of my wife’s other pieces and given it has been a while since I have really built anything, Im looking forward to it.

Early this year I tried to get my wife interested in growing orchids. Not only has she become enamored with them, she is starting to try her hand at herbs and other green things. To me this is great, and to give her even more incentive, I want to make her a plant stand with grow lights.

For those of you that are not familiar with orchids outside of what you see in the florist shop, without flowers, they can be the ugliest things God ever created. When they flower, their hot. When they arent, their not.

I should explain why the design of this thing is not something I would choose to build or buy. Shortly after my wife and I were married, my wife asked me to take her to an antique show which I agreed to do, but only if she agreed to leave her wallet at home. We attended that event as, surprisingly, she agreed to my terms, but what did I know at the time, I had just married the woman. Walking the aisles she came across a craftsmen styled sideboard which she wanted. Im huge on the Craftsman architectural style but not enamored at all with the furniture style. Knowing that she didnt have her wallet, I figured why upset the apple cart. I told her that if she could figure out a way to pay for it, she could buy it. Man, I was so naive back then. I went off to look around some more and left her to her quandary.

When we hooked up again, nothing was said and we wandered around the show some more and did a little window shopping afterwards, as well. When we pulled into the driveway that evening, there was a rather large truck parked in it. It was the dealer delivering her Craftsman styled sideboard. The way she settled the problem of not having her wallet was to tell the dealer that when he delivered it that evening, her husband would cut him a cheque.

So this almost-Craftsman styled, solid oak monstrosity will sit in the diningroom. Even though it stands 6 4" in height, there is only enough height for three shelves. This is because of the 4" facings along the underside of each shelf to hid the florescent grow lights. I will be 5 wide, though, so hopefully it will have enough shelf space to hold all her green-thumb endeavors. I included four doors across the bottom to give her some hidden storage for dirt, pots, watering cans and other sundry items.

I hope she will enjoy using it as much as I am going to enjoy building it. I started doing the glue-ups today, and here is what the end result should look like…



Peace,

Mitchell
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Sunday, January 26, 2014

angle of repose

i read a book by wallace stegner a few years back called angle of repose ... everytime i see a pile of dirt or sawdust like this one, i enjoy thinking about the term ...

from wikipedia "Explanation of the Novels Title

The title is an engineering term for the angle at which soil finally settles after, for example, being dumped from a mine as tailings. It seems to describe the loose wandering of the Ward family as they try to carve out a civilized existence in the West and, Susan hopes, to return to the East as successes. The story details Olivers struggles on various mining, hydrology, and construction engineering jobs, and Susans adaptation to a hard life."

a good read, and an enjoyable, thought provoking, though only very occasionally, useful term ....

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Saturday, January 25, 2014

A FEW EXAMPLES OF RELEVANT WOODWORKING OPERATIONS IN THE VANCOUVER AREA

These are some of the wood related businesses that are making a larger impact on the local scene at this time.

BRENT COMBER:
The web site gives you a pretty good idea of the history of this business, a profile of its founder and the products they make. In many ways this is an ingenious woodworking business in that they have overcome or avoided many of the challenges and pitfalls that many woodworking businesses face. The most significant of these would be joinery. Joinery, to a large extent is what defines furniture making, thus the term “Joinery”. Generally speaking, making the parts is the easy part of woodworking, especially if you are taking advantage of CNC technology. The hard part is putting those parts together. For that you need skilled trades people and or a highly sophisticated manufacturing facility. IKEA gets around this problem by passing on the job of putting the parts together to the consumer. Brent Comber takes it a step further and eliminates the need to put parts together by designing most of the pieces to consist of only a single part. Some of the pieces such as the Alder tables do consist of numerous pieces but do not involve complex joinery; rather the parts are fused together with a gob of construction adhesive.
Although brilliant in its simplicity, this method has its limitations, as we can see the Brent Comber product line is limited to objects providing horizontal surfaces to be used as tables or something to sit on and decorative wall pieces. There are no case goods.
Another great thing about this business is the material they use, commercially worthless cast off material.
With support from organizations such as BC WOOD Brent Comber markets their products internationally, this has been critical to their success.
One of the major, ongoing challenges they face is protecting their products from plagiarism, obviously, if the designs are cheap and easy to make for them, they would be for many others.

THE WOOD CO-OP GALLERY:
The Wood Co-op Gallery was established on Granville Island in Vancouver circa 2000. In January 2008 after part of the roof collapsed in a snow storm the gallery was given two weeks to move. As an interim measure the landlord provided the gallery with a temporary space in The Netloft building also on Granville Island. This space is approximately 1/10 the size of the original. This severely limited the ability of the gallery to show the work of many of its artists. After about ten months of searching, finding and renovating a new space the gallery has re-opened at 1554 West 6th Avenue in Vancouver, a short walk south of Granville Island. The Co-op has also retained the Netloft space. The Wood Co-op gallery carries an eclectic collection of work reflecting the diversity of the artisan / artist woodworking community in British Columbia and provides an indispensible venue for artists and the public to come together.

KOZAI:
Kozai is an importer / retailer of Japanese artisan furniture. As you can see from the website the work is fantastic. Obviously there is something good going on in Japan as far as woodworking is concerned. Ironically, if I am not mistaken, much of the choice hardwood we see used in these designs comes from North America. Kozai is located almost directly across the street from The Wood Co-op Gallery, each benefit from their close proximately to each other.

BOMBAST:
This company has been around in different forms since the early “80’s. They design and produce mostly upholstery with a few wood pieces such as side tables. A few years ago they opened a new showroom in Chinatown. This is a great Vancouver success story and Russell Baker, the founder has a good understanding of the local scene over the past several decades.

BENSEN:
This company was founded by its owner Niels Bendtsen and has grown enormously since its humble origin at 1000 Parker in the early ‘90’s. One of their first projects was to supply seating for the huge expansion of Starbucks into Canada. Mr Bendtsen is also the owner of INFORM INTERIORS and a large inventory of commercial real estate in Vancouver.
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Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Looking into the Face of Reason



























A shot of my new glue bottle...
Glue Bear
I finally have a mascot-
Just thought Id share that.
Cheers!
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