Michigan Woodworks --- My Woodworking Shop and Activities at LumberJocks.com http://lumberjocks.com/DonFaulk0517/blog Sun, 13 Dec 2009 00:37:43 GMT My woodworking adventures... from my shop to my projects General Comments #1: Festool Envy http://lumberjocks.com/DonFaulk0517/blog/12339 I was at my local Woodcraft store today watching various demos of Festool projects. I am amazed at the reliability and feel of the tools. Their performance seems unmatched… the only problem is having to take out a mortgage to pay for them. Since I am in the process of putting heat into my garage workshop, I can not afford these tools… yet! The heat is important since the first snow/freeze of the season here in Michigan hit this week, at 14 degrees F… reminding us that winter is here! Better to get a warm workable shop so I can create some projects, instead of buying more tools. Well it sounds good anyway!

Enjoy!

]]> Sun, 13 Dec 2009 00:37:43 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/DonFaulk0517/blog/12339 DonFaulk0517 DonFaulk0517 Woodworking Journal #7: New addition to Workshop http://lumberjocks.com/DonFaulk0517/blog/8641 For my birthday (a few days in advance due to a sale at Home Depot) my family purchased a Ridgid Oscillating Edge Belt/Spindle Sander for me… which will be a great addition to my workshop. I fell in love with this sander at a woodworking show last Fall when I used it to build a Band Saw box. The oscillating action with the belt sander worked perfect for fine-tuning the shape of the box (a kidney shaped box). I look forward to building more boxes… and am once again indebted to my wonderful family… Thanks!

]]> Wed, 06 May 2009 01:11:51 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/DonFaulk0517/blog/8641 DonFaulk0517 DonFaulk0517 Woodworking Journal #6: New Web Site http://lumberjocks.com/DonFaulk0517/blog/7997 In continuing to learn more about using web sites I decided to develop one of my own. A simple one that I could add other items which I wouldn’t add to the Lumberjock’s site. The site is MichiganWoodshop. If you would like, go a head and visit it and let me know thru this site what you thought and if you have any improvment ideas.

Enjoy!

]]> Sun, 22 Mar 2009 14:44:16 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/DonFaulk0517/blog/7997 DonFaulk0517 DonFaulk0517 Woodworking Journal #5: Woodworking Show - The Woodworking Shows - Detroit MI Dec 5th thru 7th http://lumberjocks.com/DonFaulk0517/blog/6641 I went to the The Woodworking Shows this weekend and was pleased that the show had the familiar top suppliers that it had in past years. Although smaller than ones in the past, it was very good. Jim Heavey of WOOD Magazine, was there and offered three very good free classes. I look forward to his instruction each year. Detroit had the Woodworks Events woodworking show a couple of weeks ago (see previous blog entry), which was much smaller and had a poor turn-out of suppliers (with few bargains). At this weekend’s woodworking show (The Woodworking Shows) there were top suppliers, great bargains, and good free educational seminars. The only thing missing was the paid hands-on classes that were at the Woodworks Events show. Due to the bargains, I was able to purchase the Carter Band Saw bearing upgrade kit for my 14” Rikon and the Bosch Lithium pocket driver… both I’ve wanted for quite a while.

Just thought I’d spread the word about the show!

]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2008 02:56:01 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/DonFaulk0517/blog/6641 DonFaulk0517 DonFaulk0517 Workshop Tips #1: Safety Note - Oily Rags http://lumberjocks.com/DonFaulk0517/blog/6554 Oily Rag Safety Tip

Most people know that spontaneous combustion can occur when oily rags are left in a bunch or thrown together in a trash can. A friend of mine didn’t realize this and had a small fire in his basement shop. Based on this, I thought it would be a good idea to pass along a tip that is easy to use and can prevent this from occurring to others.

I use oil for finishing and use a simple device that takes away the worry of spontaneous combustion. I drape my rags and brushes on a standard drying rack that is commonly used for drying fine linens and sweaters. By draping the rags on the many available rungs of the rack I prevent them from contacting each other and themselves, thus preventing spontaneous combustion. Drying racks are made of wood or metal and fold up to a compact size. Mine is a wood rack with plastic sleeves on the dry rack to prevent materials sticking to the wood. The ability to have a compact drying rack available instantly makes me use it each and every time. I hang mine on a wall in my shop ready for instant use!

Attached is a picture of my drying rack where I have “put it to use” in my garage shop, a picture of an empty rack, and a picture of the empty rack being folded.

Oily Rag Drying Rack - In Use

Oily Rag Drying Rack - Empty

Oily Rag Drying Rack - Folded

I hope this quick, easy, and cheap method is useful to some of you and that this small effort will prevent disaster from striking… like it did my friend.

Thanks!

]]> Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:16:06 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/DonFaulk0517/blog/6554 DonFaulk0517 DonFaulk0517 Woodworking Journal #4: Woodshow Day 2 http://lumberjocks.com/DonFaulk0517/blog/6496 I attended Day 2 of the Woodworks Event (Novi, Michigan; outside of Detriot). The show is very small, but I did encounter one vendor that was of great interest… Bill Bush of Bush Products Inc (along with Lakeshore Hardwoods). Bill gave a very good talk on the stages of sanding and then using oil to finish. I was amazed at the way the PSA (Pressure Sensative Adhesive) Aluminum Oxide paper sanded quickly and efficiently, with very little build up (could just brush away the saw dust). Bill stressed the need for the paper to be fixed to either a block, a profile block (if sanding a molded profile… he demonstarted how to make a sanding aid), or an ergonomic sanding block (cushioned block with firm base). He recommends one sanding block per grit size (80-120-180-220-400). The sanding block he sells can be purchased through Lakeshore Hardwoods at www.lakeshorehardwoods.com . This is one of the best, or possibly the best, sanding block I’ve ever used. Very little fatique when sanding… and in combination with the Aluminum Oxide PSA sanding paper (Carborundum) very few strokes are needed. Of everything at the show… I purchased the sanding blocks, sanding paper, and the Bill Bush’s oil finish (Bush Oil). The rest of the show was very small and very few bargains. I do not plan on attending Day 3 tomorrow. In two weeks another woodworking show will be in town… The Woodworking Shows will be at another location outside of Detroit in Mount Clemens, Michigan December 5, 6, and 7. I plan on attending that show to see if there are any new vendors or better bargains. I’ll let you know the results.

Enjoy!

]]> Sun, 23 Nov 2008 04:15:47 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/DonFaulk0517/blog/6496 DonFaulk0517 DonFaulk0517 Woodworking Journal #3: Woodshow Day 1 http://lumberjocks.com/DonFaulk0517/blog/6489 I attended Day 1 of the Woodworks Events woodworking show near Detriot Michigan today (FRI 11-21-08). Before the show I took a class on “Make Your Own Bandsaw Box”. The class was taught by Geoffrey Noden. The class was good and we made miniture boxes (when I finish sand it and put a finish on it, I’ll post it in my projects). The only shortfall in the class was that it was too short. in regards to the show, it was disappointing. It was about one-quarter of the size of previous woodshows that I have attended in the past. There are free seminars (in addition to the one I paid for) that are worth attending. I’ll be back there tomorrow and will let you know more after that.

Until then… Enjoy!

]]> Sat, 22 Nov 2008 05:09:06 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/DonFaulk0517/blog/6489 DonFaulk0517 DonFaulk0517 Woodworking Journal #2: Upcoming woodworking shows http://lumberjocks.com/DonFaulk0517/blog/6433 I have plans on attending two woodworking shows in the Detriot Michigan area… Woodworks Events and The Woodworking Shows. I have all weekend passes so that I do not miss any of the free classes that are held throughout the day. I have been coming to THe Woodworking Show for 6 years and have found the classes and talking with the Suppliers and other woodworkers invaluable.

I also plan on attending the “Make Your Own Bandsaw Box” at the Woodworks Events show.

I’ll let you know what I learn at the show or any new items I come accross.

]]> Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:24:13 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/DonFaulk0517/blog/6433 DonFaulk0517 DonFaulk0517 Woodworking Journal #1: Michigan Woodworks --- My Woodworking Shop and Story http://lumberjocks.com/DonFaulk0517/blog/6432 Welcome to my woodworking shop and story. This is my first blog and I hope to provide an ongoing status of my workshop and woodworking endeavors in this blog. This is “my story” of a hobby I enjoyed many years ago but became detached from due to my responsibilities at my full-time “real” job. I will update this whenever I can.

For me, this is my retreat… my workshop is in my garage on my three arces in the woods with a 1/4 acre pond. Wildlife heaven, with dear, turkeys, and many other animals roving about as they please. From my workshop I have great views, and at times, become distracted… then again, it’s my hobby to relax from the everyday stress!

I will add to this blog when new items of interest come up in my workshop, my projects, or special events that I encounter.

Enjoy!

—DonFaulk0517@gmail.com

]]> Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:19:04 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/DonFaulk0517/blog/6432 DonFaulk0517 DonFaulk0517