Jeff's Blog at LumberJocks.com http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog Wed, 18 Apr 2012 01:57:07 GMT A Woodworker's Journey Blog Posts #15: Flattening Your Tools http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/29563 How do you flatten your tools? Glass? A granite countertop? In this blog post I discuss the pros and cons of these surfaces, and suggest some others that might save you a lot of wasted effort.

]]> Wed, 18 Apr 2012 01:57:07 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/29563 JSZ JSZ Blog Posts #14: The Value of Time http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/28330 We spend good time with our tools, and with wood.

Here are my thoughts on using that time carefully and well.

]]> Sun, 19 Feb 2012 19:59:44 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/28330 JSZ JSZ Blog Posts #13: Secrets for Stress-Free Grinding http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/27013 After recieving several requests, I’ve just added a post to my blog with tips that should take some of the stress and worry out of grinding. Here’s the link: http://jszcbf.wordpress.com/2011/12/16/secrets-of-happy-grinding/

I hope readers find it useful!

Comments or questions are welcome, here or at my blog.

]]> Sat, 17 Dec 2011 06:46:41 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/27013 JSZ JSZ Blog Posts #12: Finishing for Non-Professionals, Part V http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/20086 After a lot of work getting the project ready for a final finish, it’s time to take the plunge. This post introduces readers to several useful applications for shellac, one of the longest-enduring finishes in a furniture maker’s arsenal.

Here's the link.

]]> Fri, 24 Dec 2010 00:29:28 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/20086 JSZ JSZ Blog Posts #11: Finishing for Non-Professionals, Part IV http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/19301 Here's the link for the fourth post in this series.

We’re at the point where the project needs to be assembled, and the care and deliberation you take in this process is going to pay big dividends when we start to apply the finish. With a project this close to completion there is a tendency to rush things – especially if a deadline (like Christmas) is looming. However, a slipup during the assembly process makes finishing much more difficult.

Comments and your own tips are welcome!!

]]> Sun, 14 Nov 2010 04:34:21 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/19301 JSZ JSZ Blog Posts #10: Finishing for Non-Professionals, Part III http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/18611 The third post in this series discusses some of the critical steps woodworkers need to complete as they prepare surfaces for finishing. The role of hand tools and sanding are discussed. Comments and your finishing tips and preferences are welcome

]]> Wed, 13 Oct 2010 06:45:29 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/18611 JSZ JSZ Blog Posts #9: Finishing for Non-Professionals, Part II http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/18383 In the second post in this series, we begin to think of finishing as a process rather than a discrete step in furniture making. Questions and comments gladly accepted and I’ll work them into subsequent posts in the series.

]]> Sat, 02 Oct 2010 06:44:41 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/18383 JSZ JSZ Blog Posts #8: Finishing for Non-Professionals http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/18266 Finishing a project can be one of the scariest phases of woodworking. Beginning with this post I will pass along some tips and tricks that will improve your finishing skills and take some of the worry out of the process. While I am NOT a professional finisher, I have worked with some of the best, and a lot of what they know we can easily apply in our own shops. If you have a question I will try to answer it in this series of posts.

]]> Mon, 27 Sep 2010 06:06:06 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/18266 JSZ JSZ Blog Posts #7: Hand Grinding - The Old-Fashioned Way http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/15040 Grinding hand tools doesn’t need to be a tool-burning, ear-splitting process. I just posted a blog entry (follow this link) that describes my shop built tool rest used with a hand-cranked wheel purchased on eBay.

Images and a link to obtain a SketchUp model of this setup are found on the blog post. Once you’ve had the chance to look things over, your comments and questions are welcome, either here or on the blog.

Happy grinding!!

Jeff

Hand-cranked grinder; Shop-built base and tool rest

]]> Thu, 08 Apr 2010 23:04:31 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/15040 JSZ JSZ Blog Posts #6: Book Review: The Perfect Edge, by Ron Hock http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/14344 Here's the link to a short book review of blade-maker Ron Hock’s new book The Perfect Edge.

If you’ve read this book I welcome comments and opinions either here or on my blog.

]]> Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:03:01 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/14344 JSZ JSZ Blog Posts #5: The Perfect Tool http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/13497 Every woodworker has a favorite tool. Maybe more than one. Can one of these be “perfect”? I think so. Here's mine.

]]> Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:07:20 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/13497 JSZ JSZ Blog Posts #4: Photo of Krenov Hand Plane http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/12996 In response to a large number of requests, I posted a photo of Krenov’s hand plane on my blog. I appologize in advance for the poor quality of the picture; I took it with my cell phone. In the next day or so I will re-shoot with a higher-quality camera and then re-post those images.

Sincere thanks to everyone who has reviewed and commented on the blog and via email.

One more time, here is the link to the post with the photo.

]]> Thu, 14 Jan 2010 07:19:43 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/12996 JSZ JSZ Blog Posts #3: Tuning a Krenov Wooden Hand Plane, Part II http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/12953 Just posted the second article about tuning up one of James Krenov’s wooden hand planes. Here's the link.

]]> Tue, 12 Jan 2010 06:14:06 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/12953 JSZ JSZ Blog Posts #2: Note by Note http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/12908 Just posted a short review of the film Note by Note. There’s a lot of hope for craft, and for craftsmanship, to be found in this documentary. Let me know what you think. Here's a link to the post on my blog.

]]> Sun, 10 Jan 2010 08:20:29 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/12908 JSZ JSZ Blog Posts #1: New Post: Tuning a Krenov Hand Plane http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/12882 Just posted a short article about tuning a wooden hand plane made by James Krenov. Here’s the link:

http://jszcbf.wordpress.com/2010/01/08/humility/

]]> Sat, 09 Jan 2010 07:55:18 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/JSZ/blog/12882 JSZ JSZ