Berg's Blog at LumberJocks.com http://lumberjocks.com/Berg/blog Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:23:24 GMT Don't you have to restart before you refinish? #1: Page 1 - The Restart, again. http://lumberjocks.com/Berg/blog/16277 I’ve done this before. I have been in limbo for almost a year. Project limbo, shop limbo, life limbo. I have discovered turning during that time so all is not lost but working out of a 6×10 trailer is barely bearable. Still, limbo. Things are changing. My wife lost her job this winter, outsourced by three people whose names we cannot pronounce, which has forced us to reevaluate our situation. I am still gainfully employed. She gets to have all the fun. All this sounds like whining but it is not… really.

We have been forced to accelerate our long term goals. They are now short term goals, slightly modified because I have to still work. Dang. Anyway, we are making a big move. My tag line will say Gulfport, FL not Central NH and Gulfport, FL. Something has to give and selling the house in NH seemed like the thing to do. So we have found a buyer (10 months in the making) and have started to pack.

Everyone we have talked to who has made a long distance move has said the same thing: “why did I move all this stuff?” So we have decided to NOT move all this stuff. Why am I telling you this? Because this is where all this becomes relevant to LJs everywhere: “all this stuff” includes my shop “stuff”. I am preparing to restart. I’m keeping most of the hand tools and clamps and hand power tools but gone is the cast iron table saw and the 16” floor standing cast iron and steel bohemouth of a drill press and the little, though heavy 12” planer, a three wheel band saw that I am not unhappy to see go, two benches, a blueprint chest of drawers, an old dentist’s cabinet (they have great cubies but weigh a ton) and (only) a decade of wood scraps (I’ve done this before, remember?). All of it sold on Craig’s List, given to the son-in-law or sold to friends at yard sale prices. OK, I’m moving the dust collector and the air filter, I’m not perfect. Heading south shortly. Soon I will get to refinish my new shop somewhere in the wilds of Gulfport. I’ll keep you posted.

]]> Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:23:24 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/Berg/blog/16277 Berg Berg Hollow Form Microwave Fun http://lumberjocks.com/Berg/blog/13508 I turned a hollow form from green Ficus, 6”dia x 9” h more or less. If you are not familiar with Ficus, it’s a very light, almost white wood, and holds a lot of water. Turning it is fun because it’s all chips and curls. No dust. When done the finish turned piece is surprisingly heavy. Dried, however, its like balsa. Light as ever. Being the impatient type and always looking to try new things, I decided to try the microwave technique to dry the piece. As I remember, 15 minutes on high, let it cool to room temp, microwave on high for another 15 minutes, let it cool, repeat until “done”. So Berg puts the piece in for 15 on high. Takes it out with steam pouring out the 1 5/8” opening. Cool! Hot! actually. A few hours later it is at room temp and quite a bit lighter. Ficus Hollow Form Guess I’ll put it in for another 15. Now the important thing to remember is NEVER leave ANYTHING in a microwave oven for 15 minutes on high and walk away. “Why” you might ask….
The “stains” you see are burn marks and burned sap leaching through. Notice the lip is a nice caramel color. The whole inside is a nice charcoal color.
Ficus after #1
Here is the base. That’s burned Ficus right there. My DW came into the kitchen.. where was I?.. and discovered the microwave smoking like a Southern BBQ. Great if it’s a southern BBQ. Not so great when it’s your hollow form in the family microwave. ;)
Focus after #2

That’s all. Well, no. I’ll add to this if I figure out some way to save the day. What would Trifern do?

Respectfully submitted for your entertainment.
Berg

WHAT WOULD TRIFERN DO?
I should retitle this “Fun With Microwaves and Torches”.
I sat on this for a while thinking I might find a use for it even if it was as a what-not-to-do-show-and-tell piece. Then it occurred to me that if it’s a little burned I might as well burn it “good”. I took a propane torch and charred the whole thing, rubbed it down, sealed it with lacquer, lightly sanded and put several more coats of lacquer and this is what I ended up with. In good light you can see some very subtle browns coming through the charcoal black. Everyone who sees it loves it. What’s that saying about lemons? :)
The End. Photobucket

]]> Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:37:19 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/Berg/blog/13508 Berg Berg