tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89046301259716758802024-03-13T15:59:41.431-04:00The Daily DovetailRamblings on the nature of woodworking and craftsmanshipUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8904630125971675880.post-61345753633391319172013-09-23T21:33:00.001-04:002013-09-23T21:38:35.483-04:00ProtectionI've experimented quite a bit the last two years with removing and preventing rust on machine tables. In the next few weeks I'll detail what I've found to work and what's a waste of time.<br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="710" scrolling="no" src="//instagram.com/p/ehwWWcq_Vs/embed/" width="612"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8904630125971675880.post-14302005256657073942013-09-23T21:22:00.000-04:002013-09-23T21:37:43.001-04:00Summer workshops coming to a closeIt's been a busy summer season here at the Center. Here are a few pictures from the past few months of workshops. Enjoy!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEuJRmHuRKA-bC9CulWm6b9h1FXOWsAzGSKIgsZHvpSHAovfaC6EdxT1GF1L7BjMPTY34ILjPQtQuKX7DgxLtC8FfXplw1TrHpz5ETkzaVFrjJU_FN1PrX16YplUfuEhJ8z74JN5uTZ54/s1600/DSC00532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEuJRmHuRKA-bC9CulWm6b9h1FXOWsAzGSKIgsZHvpSHAovfaC6EdxT1GF1L7BjMPTY34ILjPQtQuKX7DgxLtC8FfXplw1TrHpz5ETkzaVFrjJU_FN1PrX16YplUfuEhJ8z74JN5uTZ54/s640/DSC00532.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Introduction to Woodworking student, Arianna Petrich, working <br />
on her dovetails</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnZimvJCDcsHzi9Gm_Hv0wBXAAnRJu3sihjcjQRMUWNdpTbZDlBBxwI5e3KokdoFXDNEiAA1_V6o5wtJF0OWZ1XOhmz-PDKpdZ3Hfv043zEnB6t2nP1p6Ykaku1Cdd5bcRamr0Y-sTnX0/s1600/IMG_0856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnZimvJCDcsHzi9Gm_Hv0wBXAAnRJu3sihjcjQRMUWNdpTbZDlBBxwI5e3KokdoFXDNEiAA1_V6o5wtJF0OWZ1XOhmz-PDKpdZ3Hfv043zEnB6t2nP1p6Ykaku1Cdd5bcRamr0Y-sTnX0/s640/IMG_0856.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Satterlee building with the benches moved out<br />
in preparation to paint the floors</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyNoqeYbvJQfdPqfD3jhfZvmGuZCOT1h65jEFzwXJH6aYr0z9e29-CCLPlaet65Q8WWwQZlOaASjWPd3aDv41yQOKJmC020cnMvowhzZEMmQRxTu7F2jdphQKwM0znZtK7nibWQv-8Sdl/s1600/IMG_0882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyNoqeYbvJQfdPqfD3jhfZvmGuZCOT1h65jEFzwXJH6aYr0z9e29-CCLPlaet65Q8WWwQZlOaASjWPd3aDv41yQOKJmC020cnMvowhzZEMmQRxTu7F2jdphQKwM0znZtK7nibWQv-8Sdl/s640/IMG_0882.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super assistant, Simon McKoy sawing bowl<br />
blanks in the rain</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHRi1YTo-b9LegE3SiLBEzW0jL6_YwxT9pBCDz9ZX2BlFceAvY0cvSjuxjtWGO_JHfO5yQkCUPymyaSyfEi13ktM3uccYROKWZD-7Iq7rjbQm1BF_Rf0B4p-FEwd8N5wq6ruTca5TadTQ/s1600/IMG_0911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHRi1YTo-b9LegE3SiLBEzW0jL6_YwxT9pBCDz9ZX2BlFceAvY0cvSjuxjtWGO_JHfO5yQkCUPymyaSyfEi13ktM3uccYROKWZD-7Iq7rjbQm1BF_Rf0B4p-FEwd8N5wq6ruTca5TadTQ/s640/IMG_0911.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The CNC class was huge success</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8X3LrsNbfDbz12l8jiF1DCYabT_7rptlIHtRU9kfwJatW7Alg9GOPHFmLByVehtH9yQ_NRxpaF73hjwlsPLjU5s_HBtNOMG4okXiUGtfNVmrE-Wkwntn1Ta176apUk0rTIk_kILmc0Uh/s1600/IMG_0941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8X3LrsNbfDbz12l8jiF1DCYabT_7rptlIHtRU9kfwJatW7Alg9GOPHFmLByVehtH9yQ_NRxpaF73hjwlsPLjU5s_HBtNOMG4okXiUGtfNVmrE-Wkwntn1Ta176apUk0rTIk_kILmc0Uh/s640/IMG_0941.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peter Korn demonstrates edge gluing<br />
two boards</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOCjQJ4_dyr3JWWsSplUuhwiwTzXHeN0iqDZRtMqXH_g4ekpinHOLRr7n4ogQISBVhMJQSSTBVfNV4fKwFALIrqlDcn9hELHZ7GKEvuXmzg-rxGKdqT_rLfZVNp0ar1rJVkK08OAPhSomP/s1600/IMG_0953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOCjQJ4_dyr3JWWsSplUuhwiwTzXHeN0iqDZRtMqXH_g4ekpinHOLRr7n4ogQISBVhMJQSSTBVfNV4fKwFALIrqlDcn9hELHZ7GKEvuXmzg-rxGKdqT_rLfZVNp0ar1rJVkK08OAPhSomP/s640/IMG_0953.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peter discusses project options with Arianna Petrich</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8904630125971675880.post-54718985552800646112013-02-18T19:36:00.001-05:002013-02-18T19:43:36.853-05:00Oh dovetail, my dovetail<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I recently recited this original poem at the annual CFC talent show. I share it here in all its corny glory for your enjoyment.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">Oh dovetail my dovetail, you're so strenghthy and good</span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">you're my absolute favorite, to cut in to wood</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'll cut out the tails, and then on to the pins</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">for the other way round, 'tis a capital sin</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The tails are all cut, but some are not square</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'll fix them right up, with a chisel I'll pare</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">they're now mostly square, I’ll call good enough</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This dovetail joint thing, who said it's so tough</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When sawing the pins, the line do preserve</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">good golly I'm sunk, my saw it did swerve</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the line is all gone, it's a major mishap</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">perhaps now some sawdust, to fill in the gap</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is taking too long, to Lie Nielsen I go (1)</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">to by lots of tools, to banish the slow</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">these tools are not ready? I'm so mad I'll spit</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">don't give me that line, they're only a kit (2)</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've finished the thing, it's time to glue up</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">dry clamping's for kids, I never screw up</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm only half clamped, there's tons to do yet</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">but it's 8 minutes later, and the glue it has set</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I need the persuader, to get this joint sweet</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ten mallet whacks later, both sides of it meet</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">but a fissure has formed, some call it a crack</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">of course the solution, is to paint the thing black!</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 17px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Oh dovetail my dovetail, your depths have I plumbed</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">you've kicked my behind, and you’ve made me look dumb</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've struggled the struggle, I've seen highs and lows</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">but next time for sure, I'll use dominoes</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><<A few notes that might clarify things for the non-CFC crowd>></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">(1) The Center for Furniture Craftsmanship is just down the road from Lie-Neilsen Toolworks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">(2) Peter Korn has a saying that when you buy a tool it's not really a tool but more of tool kit--it must be tuned up before it's a tool</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8904630125971675880.post-14198490775368851442013-02-03T22:47:00.000-05:002013-02-08T22:30:29.750-05:00Machine tuning weekend community classThis past weekend (Feb 2 & 3), we ran our first weekend long, <i>Machine Setup, Maintenance, Repair and Tuning</i> class here at the <a href="http://www.woodschool.org/" target="_blank">Center for Furniture Craftsmanship</a>. We packed a lot into 2 days and managed to cover most aspects of setting up and tuning the major machines found in most shops (table saw, bandsaw, jointer, and planer) as well as presented a few nice jigs for aiding in setups.<br />
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Below are a few pictures from the class.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-9MUa-PBlt8L2DVHnXkk8HOkbuTVNaPDy7k840WtkO9nG5zqJccW0LfKQBHT1UtmQHJl1z-Sl0n_VcAGHzqsGEZZRGQf_yKcyegl7Mes-4mDvaJBuoWrY0aO1PTARy6wyYPFV2XELg-H/s1600/DSC00206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-9MUa-PBlt8L2DVHnXkk8HOkbuTVNaPDy7k840WtkO9nG5zqJccW0LfKQBHT1UtmQHJl1z-Sl0n_VcAGHzqsGEZZRGQf_yKcyegl7Mes-4mDvaJBuoWrY0aO1PTARy6wyYPFV2XELg-H/s640/DSC00206.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Calibrating the knife height on the jointer</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvKlqligG9G8MyUD3OX3y9b9j4fOglsiNdyVPsqetVijKlCp6ghrqxcCIWyzhBeSOIlrraE-QghOKx9f1Enevxjdc6kZdgRThI7IG1DEMWrlqWxuZMSTsrdlZepZluv-kxR8gSbvsD5xI/s1600/DSC00207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvKlqligG9G8MyUD3OX3y9b9j4fOglsiNdyVPsqetVijKlCp6ghrqxcCIWyzhBeSOIlrraE-QghOKx9f1Enevxjdc6kZdgRThI7IG1DEMWrlqWxuZMSTsrdlZepZluv-kxR8gSbvsD5xI/s640/DSC00207.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Wayne turning the carbide<br />teeth on the 12in jointer</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07PcLtNU5V9gnAE_nLA_DMzmf3r_V8A4HcIimahKS-T61RotIet9gPKHGHq3ttIxzw5UIGTlsnrrStSyiuwpfk_EUap_2-NwKTWGmOKkh5kF6JcXTTB3bUGJ9LMjOB207Urp0mIpFWSfh/s1600/DSC00204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07PcLtNU5V9gnAE_nLA_DMzmf3r_V8A4HcIimahKS-T61RotIet9gPKHGHq3ttIxzw5UIGTlsnrrStSyiuwpfk_EUap_2-NwKTWGmOKkh5kF6JcXTTB3bUGJ9LMjOB207Urp0mIpFWSfh/s640/DSC00204.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Gary changing the jointer knives</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTrsZOMsZV4yWa93SHXAAVpuuW-tQ0EPaV8b3G3YDpf3kXIeDaqwIy5nCixdn2R53MDtbTZjXG0ZXDmqAt-9A53QBKY-u_SgQNVVUPfMnhMh8MobQsM99jcEIyXPqPPL2Io9SSV6s_7aN/s1600/DSC00211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTrsZOMsZV4yWa93SHXAAVpuuW-tQ0EPaV8b3G3YDpf3kXIeDaqwIy5nCixdn2R53MDtbTZjXG0ZXDmqAt-9A53QBKY-u_SgQNVVUPfMnhMh8MobQsM99jcEIyXPqPPL2Io9SSV6s_7aN/s640/DSC00211.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Andrea setting the knives on the 8in jointer</span></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8904630125971675880.post-10888058538995884512011-11-14T00:09:00.000-05:002013-02-08T22:37:17.564-05:00Home built CNC Router (part 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-G5Fj-J3GYaVv1aSmFdX0FFYBLOvjqeqPyWsu3v3wOcJXeMtzEgOFt6ZstWa_MeaRFqqeKFVfPOcA2FgRmBPjarghJq1ME7WCKbMOcIuiEOMtKmOwQgo-_pshrI6STCT5Bcrrk1pbBSZ/s1600/DSC_0228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-G5Fj-J3GYaVv1aSmFdX0FFYBLOvjqeqPyWsu3v3wOcJXeMtzEgOFt6ZstWa_MeaRFqqeKFVfPOcA2FgRmBPjarghJq1ME7WCKbMOcIuiEOMtKmOwQgo-_pshrI6STCT5Bcrrk1pbBSZ/s320/DSC_0228.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
One of the many great things about building your own CNC router, is that you can design it to suit your needs. A few of the things I had in mind when I started down this path were:<br />
<ol>
<li>It had to be small enough that I could fit it on a rolling cart that could fit through the shop doors here at the school.</li>
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<li>I'd like to be able to cut useful templates and jigs with it.</li>
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<li>I'd like to be able to make a Banjo head on it (8-11 inches in diameter).</li>
</ol>
With those few things in mind, I poured over various websites looking at possible designs for making a CNC that was about 3-4 feet long by 12-18 inches wide with a Z axis travel of at least 3 inches. I found the <a href="http://buildyourcnc.com/blueChickVersion42CNCMachineKit.aspx">blueChick</a> design on <a href="http://buildyourcnc.com/blueChickVersion42CNCMachineKit.aspx">buildYourCNC.com</a> and it seemed to have everything I needed and not much beyond so I decided to go with it.<br />
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They have two purchase options:<br />
<ul>
<li>$1739 for the complete kit which includes: Structure, hardware, mechanical components, and electronics, you supply computer, cable/wires, and router.</li>
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<li>$1360 for the structure kit which includes: Structure, hardware, and mechanical components, you supply electronics, computer, cable/wires, and router .</li>
</ul>
I went for the structure only kit as I had some stepper motors and was going to try to use them when building my CNC.<br />
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The kit arrived within a week of ordering it and using the online videos it took about 8 hours to put the structure and mechanical bits of it together. The kit I received had several missing nuts and bolts and I spent another 2-3 hours chasing them down locally rather than have them shipped by the Mfg. There were also 3 missing V bearings and I did end up calling the Mfg to have those shipped out as it wasn't possible to get them locally and they were going to be expensive so it was worth it to get them sent from the kit maker. They were very responisve and sent them the next day.<br />
<h2>
Electronics</h2>
After doing a bit of research, I did end up ordering the stepper controllers and parallel breakout board from buildYourCNC.com and then went looking for the cheapest PC I could find with a parallel port. Turns out there aren't many options when it comes to buying a modern PC with a parallel port. In fact there are none that I coule find other than "roll your own" brands. I opted for a cheap HP desktop into which I planned to install a PCIe parallel port card. And that's when I started running into all kinds of headaches.<br />
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The PC I bought came with Windows 7--The first parallel port I bought didn't have drivers for W7. I ordered a different port that claimed to have said drivers--it didn't. I order a third port and was able to install it, but never got the CNC driver software (Mach 3) working with that port.<br />
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After somewhere north of 10 hours of trying different things to get it to work and combing through the various online resources, I gave up and decided to look for a USB based solution. I found one at <a href="http://www.planet-cnc.com/">http://www.planet-cnc.com/</a> and ordered their 3 axis controller along with their CNC driving software. It arrived within days (no small feat as it shipped from Slovakia) and I began wiring it that evening. After several hours spent trying to get the PC to talk to a single motor, a search on the obscure planet-cnc user forum turned up the information that the silk screen on the screw terminals switch the step and direction pins for all the motors. Swapping those connections solved my problem and my first stepper motor was turning under the control of the PC.<br />
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<continued in part 3><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8904630125971675880.post-72417814434413351832011-10-28T23:10:00.000-04:002013-02-08T22:44:39.112-05:00Home built CNC Router (part 1)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZhi_PPAeGJbDMHeG0C-Zai4XFsWjrrDAU_4IvIeK5AkyPrjohgIlpcie3PUc8OFztRMszkMvBaiZyNL6VJq-0BgeoPVj6TROycF2bYuWhWLSM45fZsS7STvGZfvGH-YPEe-kOVzz92h1/s1600/ghost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZhi_PPAeGJbDMHeG0C-Zai4XFsWjrrDAU_4IvIeK5AkyPrjohgIlpcie3PUc8OFztRMszkMvBaiZyNL6VJq-0BgeoPVj6TROycF2bYuWhWLSM45fZsS7STvGZfvGH-YPEe-kOVzz92h1/s1600/ghost.jpg" /></a></div>
<span class="thumbnail-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span class="thumbnail-image-float-left ssNonEditable">Monster Ghost and a CNC machine. Yeah, they are related!</span></span>For as long as I can remember, I've been fascinated by the concept of remote control. Not the sit on the couch and flip through the channel kind, the make something move over there by controlling it from here kind.<br />
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Even the early disappointment of the "Scary, Life Size FLYING ghost" didn't dim my desire to operate things from afar. The ghost in question was purchased from the back of a comic book in the '70's for about a dollar and a half. Turns out a buck fifty didn't buy much in the way of 70's remote control technology--Basically a balloon that you draped a white plastic sheet over and tied a thread to so you could "remotely" control it. Yeah, ok, technically that is remote control...<br />
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I think of that ghost--which lasted all of about 8 minutes in the garage hanging from a rafter while being "remotely controlled" by yours truly--almost every time I encounter some other (and likely, vastly superior) remotely control device.<br />
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Recently, I embarked on the "Build your CNC router" train--you can get your ticket online by Goggling "Build your own CNC router". The list is long and the choices are vast, but after a few weeks of carefully examining the different approaches used by others I decided to buy a kit of pre-cut parts, an electronics package, a router, and a cheap PC to see if I could overcome the curse of the flying ghost. My next few posts will detail the process.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8904630125971675880.post-29513841852729758172011-10-21T21:09:00.000-04:002013-02-08T17:17:42.969-05:00Sr. Studio Fellow Brian Reid working at his bench<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Senior Studio Fellow, Brian Reid, working at his bench in the Jackson building at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport Maine.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8904630125971675880.post-54294400781635372092011-10-18T18:55:00.000-04:002013-02-08T17:26:25.310-05:00Fall leaves and the end of the workshop season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This week is the final week of summer <a href="http://woodschool.org/furniture-making-courses-programs/workshops">workshops</a> at the <a href="http://www.woodschool.org/">school</a> and the beginning of the end of the fall leaves. The past few days we've had great weather and I've explored future fly fishing sites along the St. George river. With all of the leaf color and light from the setting sun, it's been a spectacular way to spend a couple of afternoons.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8904630125971675880.post-47641230758242659882011-10-04T20:43:00.000-04:002013-02-08T17:45:37.227-05:00Woodworking in America<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPacxKi9tRxoq4wPB5yeiuJP92jQnhntqYIYAEanNiFdtFLPdwk8hm5oDXATIgMYPrwIr9kUPQfVuxZxtL65c6CFKH8VHZhmURNsLqQv_HJygIuxkp49Oidssk_IsTzVNaJeF_xpTdar1/s1600/P1000229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPacxKi9tRxoq4wPB5yeiuJP92jQnhntqYIYAEanNiFdtFLPdwk8hm5oDXATIgMYPrwIr9kUPQfVuxZxtL65c6CFKH8VHZhmURNsLqQv_HJygIuxkp49Oidssk_IsTzVNaJeF_xpTdar1/s400/P1000229.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="thumbnail-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span class="thumbnail-image-float-left ssNonEditable">John Economaki demonstrates the JMP2 at WIA</span></span>I just got back from Cincinnatti where I attended the <a href="https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/index.php?eventid=23002">Woodworking in America</a> conference. It was great to see old friends and to discover a few new ones too.<br />
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The conference was well run and the classes they had scheduled were interesting and varied. They ran all the way from "Your first Dovetails" to "Using the Stanley 45/55 Multiplane" to "Veneer in Contemporary Furniture". They had a little bit for everyone.<br />
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One area where they could improve would be in the tech/video of the classes. The screens were in brightly lit rooms and the projectors just didn't have enough lumens to overcome the ambient light. Also, the skill of those filming was pretty hit and miss with some doing a fantasitc job and others moving and shifting so much that you were better off just ignoring the screen.<br />
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While I was there, I also passed out a few post cards for the <a href="http://www.woodschool.org/">school</a> to folks who asked me what I did. After telling them where I worked, most would want to know about the school so I had a stack of post cards from the school in my pack and I'd hand them out. I think we'll get a few students out of it!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8904630125971675880.post-46203636677811853462011-08-07T08:58:00.000-04:002013-02-08T17:11:49.739-05:00Hand planes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwn2IwJtUwSZNsDIBmASjHFt3st9CIdkq0GxK3ROm6S0cbV5ST3DHUkZfEwjGxYnSsryWBemkAiXlPrMx42A7W4q9OW_cgAzFCs-Uutq1uD8EF5QnJgg54ZDEb2CmH5RGnP2G2EC9bTJOR/s1600/L1000007-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwn2IwJtUwSZNsDIBmASjHFt3st9CIdkq0GxK3ROm6S0cbV5ST3DHUkZfEwjGxYnSsryWBemkAiXlPrMx42A7W4q9OW_cgAzFCs-Uutq1uD8EF5QnJgg54ZDEb2CmH5RGnP2G2EC9bTJOR/s400/L1000007-Edit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="thumbnail-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span class="thumbnail-image-float-left ssNonEditable">Hand made wooden hand planes</span></span>Spent a little time this past week making a new wooden hand plane. The one I just made is the closer of the two pictured here. It's a maple body with a Goncalo Alves sole. The blade is bedded at 55 degrees and should work well for difficult to plane woods. I was quite careful when I was tuning it and I'm really pleased with how small the mouth opening turned out--it's just enough to pass the thinnest of shavings and that too should really help reduce tear-out.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8904630125971675880.post-2630466517880132102011-08-02T18:04:00.000-04:002013-02-08T17:52:46.187-05:00Carving seats<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCdazW0wLXwpuPfOBWcNY-QOsT3-p666USdcdJuEUc7Hzp1EDgtFMdbrKcIYu3Og9pwtefntXT2YUE6KF3EnXqMp0tCFSBT5H4F_FFJ2hz3x8qTVpVsgVe4uRIP-_CFcxbG5euASFL03W/s1600/Andy+Jack+and+Dave+discussing+chair+seat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCdazW0wLXwpuPfOBWcNY-QOsT3-p666USdcdJuEUc7Hzp1EDgtFMdbrKcIYu3Og9pwtefntXT2YUE6KF3EnXqMp0tCFSBT5H4F_FFJ2hz3x8qTVpVsgVe4uRIP-_CFcxbG5euASFL03W/s400/Andy+Jack+and+Dave+discussing+chair+seat.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Instructor, Andy Jack, working on a seat</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8904630125971675880.post-3289645927272394072011-08-02T17:36:00.000-04:002013-02-08T17:56:26.700-05:00Windsor chairs and studio fellows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Wow, it's been over a month since I posted an update! Sorry about the lag. I've been busy in the shop and took a week out of the fellowship to assist in the Windsor rocker class here at school. The class was amazing and most of the students left with fully assembled continuous arm Windsor rockers.<br />
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In the fellowship, I've completed the alternate box that I was working on in addition to the "membrane" box. I've put the membrane box aside and I'm working on a chair mock-up.<br />
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<a href="http://dailydovetail.com/2011/08/windsor-chairs-and-studio-fellows/img_0400/" rel="attachment wp-att-163" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The Studio Fellows - Aug 2011" class="size-medium wp-image-163" height="300" src="http://dailydovetail.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/IMG_0400-280x300.jpg" width="280" /></a><br />
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As a bit of mixed news, I'll be leaving the fellowship early (really early). They've offered me a job here at the school. In two weeks I'll start as the new assistant facilities manager. I'm really looking forward to it.<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8904630125971675880.post-84366874680603319462011-06-30T11:31:00.000-04:002013-02-08T22:14:51.990-05:00Inspiration<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUW4nIyfcNwDaZKBY3KGlSoLXIaGDSR-TopZpMjRcOXXej8SFMutSB1ODf64bJqNBLmZTZPh3a_0DvA0pVWRAOr57fCBXDu2FZzAPJrvXs6d90FrBDXhdQc9V6-xskfGL-dA89U12825_C/s1600/P1000833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUW4nIyfcNwDaZKBY3KGlSoLXIaGDSR-TopZpMjRcOXXej8SFMutSB1ODf64bJqNBLmZTZPh3a_0DvA0pVWRAOr57fCBXDu2FZzAPJrvXs6d90FrBDXhdQc9V6-xskfGL-dA89U12825_C/s320/P1000833.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">David Upfill-Brown applying finsih to chair legs</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For me, one of the best things about being here (the <a href="http://woodschool.org/furniture-making-courses-programs/studio-fellowships">Studio Fellowship</a> at the <a href="http://www.woodschool.org/">Center for Furniture Craftsmanship</a>) is taking inspiration from all of the incredible work produced by the faculty, staff, fellows and students. I was particularly inspired over the last month watching David Upfill-Brown produce 5 exquisite chairs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Although I wasn't here when he went through the design process for this chair, just watching him take rough cherry boards and turn them into beautiful chairs has been a rare treat.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8904630125971675880.post-79452211021039581462011-06-26T21:27:00.000-04:002013-02-08T18:02:18.553-05:00More work on the membrane box<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iiDd3uDOB0sBUwLEALoWV4JFJL4tLy-6kHcL0Q94Cw8sxnc-F5jyc3nGH77eo44RfusCo0Dg3Xt9-uWfpY_p675EAkhe8rR6SsIE10akgF4REPx7-uw91xYHEP3i2P4z09rRBlUDQSAT/s1600/P1000806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iiDd3uDOB0sBUwLEALoWV4JFJL4tLy-6kHcL0Q94Cw8sxnc-F5jyc3nGH77eo44RfusCo0Dg3Xt9-uWfpY_p675EAkhe8rR6SsIE10akgF4REPx7-uw91xYHEP3i2P4z09rRBlUDQSAT/s320/P1000806.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="thumbnail-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span class="thumbnail-image-float-left ssNonEditable">Box sides--veneer glued to an MDF core</span></span>I've had two weeks of various experiments trying to figure out the best way to configure the lid and membrane on my current project. At this point I'm getting tired of mucking around with it and I'm going to build the box and figure out the top later.<br />
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So next week I'll be focused on getting the box together. I've already glued up the veneer and core for the sides of the box and now need to figure out the bottom and the frame for the membrane on top.<br />
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One idea I've had is to just stretch the membrane in a frame and then build some sort of kinetic element that sits in a top tray. Maybe if could be triggered by sound or proximity to create movement under the membrane as someone approaches the box??? If anyone has any thoughts or ideas, please post a comment--I'd love to hear from you!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJFwAPA3HSOPrAoXpE9Yq_EOoJEWQfBuuveo2iDZMGgIdQdWoK3THHh3Eoe4QB9gM92xjaX3Eakw0fHRZeYL-hWr-6LlWsrOg7QAW8pHZfWMQBlmjGqFaslxMaNXtHzQxMRAWlfyGvM9y/s1600/P1000803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJFwAPA3HSOPrAoXpE9Yq_EOoJEWQfBuuveo2iDZMGgIdQdWoK3THHh3Eoe4QB9gM92xjaX3Eakw0fHRZeYL-hWr-6LlWsrOg7QAW8pHZfWMQBlmjGqFaslxMaNXtHzQxMRAWlfyGvM9y/s320/P1000803.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="thumbnail-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span class="thumbnail-image-float-left ssNonEditable">Grid used in a failed kinetic experiment for the box</span></span>This grid was used in one of the mock-ups that I didn't like. I like the grid, but the movement element for the box just didn't work out.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8904630125971675880.post-79960940308958198142011-06-16T00:47:00.000-04:002013-02-08T18:03:40.142-05:00Under the hood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="thumbnail-image-float-right ssNonEditable"><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 202px;">Several dozen bamboo skewers installed in the lid matrix</span></span>Here is peek under the membrane of my current box project. The idea is that items put in the tray of the box will telegraph through the membrane. As an experiment, I cut and mounted a hundred or so bamboo skewers between two pieces of MDF drilled to accept them. I found a nut that fit on them perfectly. It even cut threads as I screwed them on using a nut driver.<br />
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The mock-up of the top is working and I'm pleased with how the rubber dye worked on the latex top. It has a very organic look to it--kind of like frog's skin or some sort of granite.<br />
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I have a couple of other ideas and I'm hoping to get one of them sorted out tomorrow. I'll post that one when it's done.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8904630125971675880.post-58455279440642080812011-06-15T09:34:00.000-04:002013-02-08T18:06:32.533-05:00First fellowship project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbQ5_WLRO1R4seDmeIxqBwN7AF_yK2GbXrS3Jfdo3IbPk6Xn9YG95quAzNlAwGGZuQZfuqXGFZe7baXPqUH-4VDqfOAKd5J0S0cgwLys-G6YHH0BVHHAzxZsIWe7gIT6NpIyDmkl0dEDr/s1600/P1000794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbQ5_WLRO1R4seDmeIxqBwN7AF_yK2GbXrS3Jfdo3IbPk6Xn9YG95quAzNlAwGGZuQZfuqXGFZe7baXPqUH-4VDqfOAKd5J0S0cgwLys-G6YHH0BVHHAzxZsIWe7gIT6NpIyDmkl0dEDr/s320/P1000794.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="thumbnail-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 202px;">Top membrane (dyed latex)</span></span>It's day 11 of my fellowship and I've starting working on a small box. The lid of the box will have a flexible membrane that will distort to telegraph small items left in the top tray of the box. I've just applied dye to the latex membrane and I'm pleased with how it's come out.<br />
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I'm still working on the dimensions of the box and I'll need to cut down the lid as it's much too thick and this point. Another thing still to determine is the outside treatment of the box.<br />
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In addition to working on my first project, I've been making lots of small things for my bench--a shooting board, bench hook, and shelf for the back of the bench. In the evenings, I've been resurecting an old handsaw that I picked up at a garage sale for $3. It's a Disston D-23 from sometime after 1928 and before 1955.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8904630125971675880.post-23684249005314217532011-04-04T13:09:00.000-04:002013-02-08T18:09:33.081-05:00CFC Fellowship<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpc_eaChhuX41DwSOqL67VGN2BCJGaaLSoynpEZf-9jYqoxGet0n5BXFsHETE0fLQC2lfC_lOTS_gLPBhnOGQ8NZtaJxNVHCKSfnKNUBnPq-_wRH83eeandj01E9N-3vvFIE8HWpJwjfk/s1600/P1000222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpc_eaChhuX41DwSOqL67VGN2BCJGaaLSoynpEZf-9jYqoxGet0n5BXFsHETE0fLQC2lfC_lOTS_gLPBhnOGQ8NZtaJxNVHCKSfnKNUBnPq-_wRH83eeandj01E9N-3vvFIE8HWpJwjfk/s320/P1000222.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="thumbnail-image-float-right ssNonEditable">In addition to co-teaching a two week course this summer, I'm also going to start a 12 month fellowship in June.</span><br />
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<strong>From the CFC website:</strong><br />The Studio Fellowship Program provides emerging and established furniture makers, carvers, and turners with a stimulating environment for the exploration of new work. The program offers free studio space and other benefits to individuals who are willing to commit anywhere from a month to a year to expanding their creative abilities.<br />
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So if you happen to be in Maine this summer or anytime during the next year, stop by and say hello.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8904630125971675880.post-4980019541619277902011-01-19T14:54:00.000-05:002013-02-08T16:21:09.969-05:00Slideshow of my Summer Workshops Assistantship<p>I made a short slideshow with a few of the highlights from the summer workshop assistantship I did this past summer (2010) at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship. I spent 10 weeks having fun, learning a lot, and working long hours. If you haven't checked out the workshops available at the CFC, I highly recommend it.</p><p>Enjoy. -mj</p><p> </p><p></p><br/><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/a-c6AbqkMAs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8904630125971675880.post-18997551390353013802011-01-05T18:56:00.000-05:002013-02-08T19:36:02.788-05:00Heading back to CFC -- this time as an Instructor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7Ma0MZ7LvXdS188hh_lLVRv0cn2QxvV2pfgFJXCSpdVFJlYzQGRDM61a2uaev-lM277lA1KwyezNP5t61E58CtoUhhdN_FEeuRWod_-iR6n4rMwhIduWTeZr5YiccO6lo39AJtNeN8Rd/s1600/P1000853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7Ma0MZ7LvXdS188hh_lLVRv0cn2QxvV2pfgFJXCSpdVFJlYzQGRDM61a2uaev-lM277lA1KwyezNP5t61E58CtoUhhdN_FEeuRWod_-iR6n4rMwhIduWTeZr5YiccO6lo39AJtNeN8Rd/s640/P1000853.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I'm thrilled to have been asked to co-teach a summer workshop at the <a href="http://www.woodschool.org/">Center for Furniture Craftsmanship</a>. I'll be out in Maine at the end of August and the beginning of September for the <a href="http://www.woodschool.org/2011/basic_2011.html">two week introduction to woodworking course</a>. I'm excited (and humbled) by the prospect and really look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones while I'm out there.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8904630125971675880.post-21823253871167186592011-01-05T18:51:00.000-05:002013-02-08T18:12:56.168-05:00The tiny shop make-over<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyqTNDxomsVyqrRCCmw6lXmIWFK4CswbK_jgn7XtuOXJSUbIf4F7OaLTYTL63X7fQI2ZZLhWScqCpmC3DzVo9WzwApn3GlCXQfceJLBJKY0-Fqe6tA4Pho4mCC70s4O-SBUJb-9xMk1XI2/s1600/Very+wide+angle+shot+of+the+shop+(aka+the+garage).+This+is+the+workbench+side+of+the+shop..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyqTNDxomsVyqrRCCmw6lXmIWFK4CswbK_jgn7XtuOXJSUbIf4F7OaLTYTL63X7fQI2ZZLhWScqCpmC3DzVo9WzwApn3GlCXQfceJLBJKY0-Fqe6tA4Pho4mCC70s4O-SBUJb-9xMk1XI2/s320/Very+wide+angle+shot+of+the+shop+(aka+the+garage).+This+is+the+workbench+side+of+the+shop..jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="full-image-float-right ssNonEditable">I've been working to declutter the shop in preparation to start some new projects. Here's what the shop looks like right now (it's quite a mess). I've been selling things on ebay and craigslist to make room for a used shopsmith that I'm planning to pick up this weekend up in Eugene.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8904630125971675880.post-82197776662835722892010-07-24T17:25:00.000-04:002013-02-08T16:21:09.882-05:00Michael Fortune working with students on chair design<p> </p><br/><div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px;"><a title="photo sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mark_juliana/4825079682/"><img style="border: solid 1px #000000; padding: 1px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4825079682_dac4f4e159_m.jpg" alt="" /></a> <br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mark_juliana/4825079682/">Michael fortune working with students on design</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/mark_juliana/">Mark Juliana</a>. </span></div><br/><p>This past week (and the one coming up), I'm assisting in the 2 week Michael Fortune chair design class here at the CFC. Michael is wonderful teacher who clearly loves sharing with students.</p><br/><p> </p><br/><p>As the class assistant I am absorbing a lot of great stuff watching him work with students on their designs, models and mock-ups.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8904630125971675880.post-77786763656611583432010-06-16T22:14:00.000-04:002013-02-08T19:56:07.834-05:00Workshop Bldg. at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mark_juliana/4708049448/" title="Workshop Bldg. at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship by Mark Juliana, on Flickr"><img alt="Workshop Bldg. at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship" height="480" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4027/4708049448_dca446870d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Here I am again at the<a href="http://www.woodschool.org/"> Center for Furniture Craftsmanship</a>--this time not as a student but as an assistant in the <a href="http://www.woodschool.org/workshops.fulllist.html">summer workshops</a>. I'll be here until mid-June working in the various classes offered during that time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXBdCTGOQNdjMYfo1HcsDskivlwpkTpK9DpSCExN5yGelpJ9ZJoNK2Pycp080g1boN2t2QI-StvujZSxeTId1XQYhgfUf74PzS6z3b_7A-KRxNtLmLza9z2mFTHf2lvtvdE06K_UjwNRw6/s1600/4708051102_fd61bd41b7_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXBdCTGOQNdjMYfo1HcsDskivlwpkTpK9DpSCExN5yGelpJ9ZJoNK2Pycp080g1boN2t2QI-StvujZSxeTId1XQYhgfUf74PzS6z3b_7A-KRxNtLmLza9z2mFTHf2lvtvdE06K_UjwNRw6/s320/4708051102_fd61bd41b7_b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
It's already the middle of the second week and I've been helping <a href="http://www.woodschool.org/staff.html">Peter Korn</a> and Craig Satterlee with the 2 week Basic Woodworking course.<br />
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The 12 students in the course are done with practice joints in poplar and have moved on to the final project of their own design (within reason--they only have about a week in which to build them) in the wood of their choice.<br />
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Right about now (10:20pm on Wednesday) the dedicated (or overly ambitious in project scope) are still in the shop working on dovetails. To the left is Barrie who came all the way from Wales to take the course. He's deviated a bit from the proposed bench project and instead is building a little bookcase with dovetailed corners.<br />
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When I left the workshop building around 9pm he was hard at work chopping out the waste of his tail boards. This was shot with a very wide angle lens so that giant chisel in the foreground that looks longer than Barrie's arm is a distortion (it's about the same size as the one he is holding).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7uoLFzczu8VIcpX_0vhweDVz2BR2ouGORDvT2b7OVkV_THir2VKT8cJZEjdCp4-wPj3AED7dYvW0tr34KQz47yilY0Q1wdemH1CYlw1OzOwAUMIqk06DeCogCsKPuJA_QxSWIjekxPD7/s1600/4712765975_edfa513fa1_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7uoLFzczu8VIcpX_0vhweDVz2BR2ouGORDvT2b7OVkV_THir2VKT8cJZEjdCp4-wPj3AED7dYvW0tr34KQz47yilY0Q1wdemH1CYlw1OzOwAUMIqk06DeCogCsKPuJA_QxSWIjekxPD7/s320/4712765975_edfa513fa1_b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This past weekend, <a href="http://www.woodwork-magazine.com/index.php/archives/70">David Upfill-Brown</a> and I went fly fishing on the St George river. He has a canoe so we paddled up the river a couple of miles and fished along the way. We caught (and released) a few really nice smallmouth bass and a pickerel. We also saw 5 or 6 beaver (a first for me), bald eagles, blue heron, and too much beauty to recount in text. The day was perfect at about 70 degrees with very little wind and few bugs of the human biting persuasion.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8904630125971675880.post-62832660837741855412010-03-24T16:14:00.000-04:002013-02-08T16:21:09.829-05:00Center for Furniture Craftsmanship summer workshop assistant<p>Just heard from Peter Korn! This summer I'll be in Rockport, Maine working as an assistant in the summer workshops at the <a href="http://www.woodschool.org/">Center for Furniture Craftsmanship</a>! I can't wait to get back to CFC (<a href="http://www.dailydovetail.com/journal/category/cfc9month">read about my time in the 9 month course 07/08</a>) and I hope to blog about the experience of being a summer assistant.</p><br/><p>Between now and then, I'll continue volunteering at the Ashland High School woodshop 2-3 days a week. There are a number of really talented students producing some great work in the class. One student is making a very nice hand-cut dovetailed box. He's been working on it for a few months now and it's looking great.</p><br/><p>I'll get some pictures of it next week and post them here.<br /><strong><br /></strong><br /><strong>Going on in my much reduced shop:</strong> Still setting things up post move. The new shop space is a tiny 1 car garage that also contains quite a bit of camping and other gear. I'll post some pictures of it soon (did I mention it's really small?). I've been working primarily with hand tools--including hand ripping with a panel saw. It's been fun, but it definitely slows down the pace of work. Although it has given me quite a bit of time to tryout <a href="http://www.lie-nielsen.com/catalog.php?sku=s-ps">Lie-Nielsen's new panel saws</a>. Here's a mini-review:</p><br/><p><strong>Review of Lie-Nielsen Panel Saws </strong><br />After using the crosscut (12ppi) and rip version (7ppi) of these new saws from Lie-Nielsen for about 6 months, I feel I have a fair understanding of how well they perform--in a word: They are FANTASTIC. Both saws track well and cut fast. They came from LN ready to work and have held their sharpness well working in domestic hardwoods.</p><br/><p>In use, I've ripped several 80 inch long 1/4 inch edge strips for cabinets out of red oak and had just a few minutes of work with a handplane to get the cut line up to finish quality. The tote fits nicely in my hand and the saws are light enough to use for extended periods of time. My only complaint, and it's really more of a product request, is that they would make a full size version of each saw. I've pulled the rip saw out of the kerf several times while I adjusted to its length.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8904630125971675880.post-27268364492277030942009-10-24T17:12:00.000-04:002013-02-08T18:18:16.327-05:00sketches from my nature journal (moleskine)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2zJDg0GHqNezawb6Zfl9I0apVXqZvG9jQuEOzGS219Xj9p4xwYKz_Cb_jcuyeMT3f2jXiGSviuV7Gls85X6Dd8RYMVFAxHrkf-mMgl_vxdX99zZh1rYPlnb6AkKpI5pDYVk4GUvY3dgw/s1600/nat_jour002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2zJDg0GHqNezawb6Zfl9I0apVXqZvG9jQuEOzGS219Xj9p4xwYKz_Cb_jcuyeMT3f2jXiGSviuV7Gls85X6Dd8RYMVFAxHrkf-mMgl_vxdX99zZh1rYPlnb6AkKpI5pDYVk4GUvY3dgw/s400/nat_jour002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
A sketch of the IOOF building in Ashland Oregon. From my nature journal.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8904630125971675880.post-3291927135410895212009-04-02T20:49:00.000-04:002013-02-08T16:21:09.815-05:00Helping out tomorrow's woodworkers<p>For the last couple of months, I've been volunteering 2-3 half-days a week at the Ashland High School woodshop. I've learned a lot working with the kids and I'm amazed at what they can get done in just 90 minutes 2-3 times a week.</p><br/><p>Of course they aren't all superstars churning out amazing work--some of them are just in woodshop because it's a great place to coast and an easy A. Hey, I remembering being that kid--although I coasted in technical theater production, not woodshop.</p><br/><p>It's sad to find out that most high schools no longer have a woodshop program and of those that do, many face the budget axe in the near future. I guess it's hard to justify woodshop when there is no woodshop section on the No child Left Behind tests.</p><br/><p>Anyway, it's been fun working in the high school shop. I only hope it's around for future generations of students.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com