sharpening done simply for me

I’m trying to keep things simple.  Wood working has hotly debated topics much like all other hobbies (have an idea for a future blog I’m really looking forward to writing that addresses this topic in deail).  After using the tools for 6 months, I felt that I needed to sharpen the blades.  There are a million options on how to sharpen woodworking tools.  Some of these are quite complex.  With my other hobbies, I dislike complex.  I wanted to keep it simples.  Well, this is where I really like Paul Sellers.  He has been woodworking for 50 years as a profession.  In his videos and in his book, he basically has tried all of the systems.  He settled on diamond stones and created a simple gig to hold them which I copied.  I used birtic balch plywood and double sided tape then little wood strips I nailed in.  I set the offsets of the strips of wood so that I have predefined distances I can use to set my sharpening gig to so I can get either 25 or 30 C grind angles.  I eventually want to get away from using any The strope was just as easy to make.  What I really like about Paul Sellers in general is that he has done this for 50 years as a full time job and can attest to what is practical and quick.  I trust him.  Others may want to sharpen a different way and that is fine by me.  I’ve made a decision on the topic, spent the money, and built the sharpening station so I no longer need to think about it.  It felt nice to build this.  The first sharpening went well.

Found a use for old wood from my backyard fence

At a recent fair we went to, I saw this potting stand.  My wife has been asking me to build one for her.  We needed to have the fence in the backyard rebuilt and  we saved the rustic weathered wood.  I’ve had a few ideas for which using rustic wood would be great.  Seeing this potting stand has sealed the deal.  Not only will my wife get something that she wants, I will be repurposing/recycling what have would have been considered junk wood and likely destined for land fill or compost.  Everyone wins.  I don’t need to build a replica of this.  This inspired the idea though.

More work on Paul Sellers style wall clock

I was able to spend some more time in the workshop.  This week I was able to put the grooves in the stiles and rails (front and side pieces of the clock face).  For this, I used a handy little Veritas plough plane.  The same one I had used to make the grooves.  All I needed to do was swap out the ¼” plough blade and put in the 3/8” groove blade.  In the span of the four pieces of wood I needed to groove, I really felt like I came to a much better understanding of how much depth the blade needs to have in order get thin shavings.  There was still a bit of tear out but it isn’t that bad.  For my first time doing this, I am quite happy with the results. Used a little sandpaper afterwards to smooth some things out.

 

 

The other thing I did was cut the little stubby tennons.  It went reasonably well and I learned where to have the beaded part of the wood located in order to avoid some tearout.  I then tried to assemble everything.  The tennons seem to be thin enough.  However, I can get everything reassembled.  I was a bit frustrated and put everything down.  I will go back to it when I feel a bit more calm so I don’t muscle or force things.  If I had to guess, I think that the front side might be a wee bit too long (tennon seems shallow enough to fit the groove).  I will be able to test this by holding this piece and the other up to each other and see if both front faces or flush or if one is long.  Not sure in the moment of frustration I would have thought to do that.  I will get this fixed.  Hopefully everything will look snug when I am done.

 

I quite like poplar

Being new to woodworking, planeing (yet another word I am not certain to spell) things square is still a challenge.  I’m just starting to build my confidence on getting edges square (still need to concentrate hard on this).  For twists, cups, and other warped wood, it is beyond me for now.  As such I buy a lot of S4S wood at a decent local lumber yard.  Poplar costs nearly half as much as most of the S4S woods.  Often I buy it.  I gotta say that I really liking the wood.  It’s fun to work with hand tools and some of the boards can be absolutely stunning.

 

For example, look at this beautiful piece of poplar I found.  I wanted to put a simple shelf under my bench.  I found this one board with just stunning colors and perfect for the application (or maybe its like the proverbial baby that only a mother can love).  I kept things simple and just put some bees wax on it.  Every time I see that splash of color under my bench I smile.  I was also happy that I found an easy way to make a shelf that didn’t require any permanent alterations to the bench.  Of course, the one small piece all that way at the right end has a horrible twist it in.  That will get fixed at a future date which I have the skill to fix it.  Or, I will just put in a piece when I have some leftover poplar from another project that doesn’t have any twist.

Update 12July2023:

Not worthy of a new blog so I will just update this one.  Still have these poplar boards under the bench.  They have lost the pretty purple and green colors in them but still have nice dark shades.  I still have that twisted board and it hasn't caused any issues so I haven't bothered to replace it.  Given the length of service of it at this point, it's kind of like the runt of the litter and I am too fond of it to change it.  The boards have nice patina from use.  Nothing excessive in terms of scrapes and scratches.  Nothing has fallen off.  The system has worked well.

got some woodworking done

This weekend was productive in the garage.  I am making Paul Sellers wall clock.  I bought a nice pine board at a big box store that is good enough to make two of them.  Where possible I’m making at least two, if not three items in a row.  It allows me to practice the techniques and provides Christmas items for family and friends.  I have some observations:

1.       After 6 months, I am getting pretty good a sawing to or slightly proud of a line.  My first few saw cuttings 6 months ago were crooked.  I guess it was just a matter of practice.

2.      I still can’t plane an edge square but at least I have gotten good at the last 5 strokes at making it square.  I suspect this will get easier over time. 

3.      I am noticeable more comfortable at making dados.  My first project making a hand tool carrying tote really helped as I made three of those.

4.      I will have to watch my rabbit planning and grain direction as I had some tear out.  Using a knife in the newly formed groove helped but not after some noticeable side tear out. 

 

Next weekend I move onto cutting the tennons, rounding over the top and bottom and fitting the panel.  Working with wood and hand tools is fun and is better than sitting on the couch watching TV.

Ahhhh, now I understand what is driving my desire to work with hand tools

There are the obvious reason’s such as wanting a hobby when I retire, need furniture for the home and hate the quality of most the common stuff I can buy, my father and grandfather did some woodworking as a hobby so I grew up around it.

 
I am a chemist by training (organic chemist to be specific).  I was in school studying to be a chemist from age 18-30.  During those years, I developed really good hand (and mind) skills for working in a lab and doing research.  I really liked doing lab work and making molecules.  For the first 6 years of my career I worked in the lab.  About 12 years ago, I transitioned from working in the lab to managing folks who work in labs (that’s the simple explanation, it’s a bit more complicated but not worth the digression). 

 

I have a good job/career and look forward to work most days.  Unfortunately, I felt something nagging at me for quite a long time that I couldn’t put my finger on.  I felt a pull to woodworking I didn’t fully understand.  Reading aPaul Sellers blog made it all apparent (thank you Paul!).  I missed using my hands and those finely developed skills when I was in the lab making molecules.  I didn’t go into chemistry to manage others.  I got into it because I couldn’t imagine being anything else other than a scientist working in a lab.  I do get to live vicariously through my colleagues in the lab but it isn’t the same.

Wood working, especially with hand tools, is a way for me to develop refined skills and work with my hands again.  Now I get what was gnawing at me.  At least for me, I now understand my driver.  And that is comforting.

Why I decided to buy rather than build a bench

I was thinking of making my own bench.  In fact, I bought Chris Schwartz’s book on the topic and spent a fair bit of time reading it.  Ultimately I ended up buying one.  Mostly this came down to the fact that I am an absolute beginner (couldn’t even cut a straight line) and just didn’t feel confident enough to be able to do it.  Now, six months or so into woodworking, I have that confidence and could do it.  The good news is that I have used my bench and hands tools I purchased a lot.  I did have some concern that I was going to buy this initial stuff and it would sit around unused gather dust.  Who hasn’t at some point bought something on the pricy side with the best intentions and watch it gather dust (like the treadmill we got recently so we could walk while watching tv)?  Oh, the good and bad/sad news.  I know someone close to me who had a huge tree topple over in a big storm and completely demolish their garage and workbench.  Looks like I may have an opportunity yet to build a workbench.

 

In terms of what I bought, it was the Lie Nielsen one.  Why that one?  Well, it met Chris Schwartz's criteria for a bench in terms of sturdiness, etc.  I did get to see one in person and try it out at one of their travel tool shows.  Yes, it was expensive.  However, it's done and I have it and in theory I never need to worry about this topic again.  It works well and I have been happy with it.  I debate now 6 months into it whether a tool well would be handy or a quick release vice.  Both of these are good problems to have and in all likelihood I will leave it as is and spend my energy on wood working projects.