Nils's Blog at LumberJocks.com

Pen Turner's Swap #3: The giant box - with pictures

Nils — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:06:22 GMT

Actually, the box isn’t “giant” – but it’s jammed full, and pretty heavy.

The first thing I find when I open it is Tim’s extensive instructions to the swappers.

And then a sheet for each of us to fill in what we added and what we removed.

Finally, after the ream of paper at the top, here are the blanks!

The box started with five blanks, five pens, and five pen kits. By the time I got it, it still has five pen kits, but nine pens, and 42! blanks.

I’ll be adding two pens to the box – a red and black acrylic cigar pen, and a very pretty Zebrawood Euro style.

Pen Turner's Swap #2: The Box Has Arrived...

Nils — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:15:29 GMT

And it’s big. Still sitting on the kitchen table for now – I expect to be opening it (with lots of pictures) a bit later this evening. It’s very exciting!

Pen Turner's Swap #1: Getting excited - and getting prepared

Nils — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 01:42:31 GMT

Tim (itsme_timd) sent out the box for the pen turner's swap over the weekend. I’m the second to last out of eight participants, so I’ve probably got a few weeks to prepare. I have quite a few pen kits and blanks, and even a few made up pens, but I want to do one or two special things for the box. I’ve been looking at the CSUSA kits, which get great reviews from other LJ’s. I might spring for one of their more upscale styles to put in the box. I also got the WoodTurningz sale flyer in the email yesterday – some good looking blanks in there as well that, box or not, I feel I should buy “just in case.”

The other thing I did – it took me a long time to figure out I could do this – was to add all the other box recipients as my buddies. Those of you who are quicker than me know this means I get email notifications in my personal (yahoo) mailbox when my buddies make blog postings or add new projects. This will help me track the progress of the box around the country.

My woodturning station

Nils — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:01:12 GMT

I just posted my first pen on my project list, and I mentioned “setting up my turning station.” Here’s the steps I go through, just for everyone’s amusement. As you recall, my shop is quite small – to use my table saw I have to roll it into the driveway. Everything is stacked up on everything else when I’m not using it.

The first picture shows my workbench in its normal state of being a storage unit.The big blocky thing leaning up against it on the left is the lathe on its torsion box base.

Now I’ve cleared off the space where the lathe on its base will sit.

Here’s the turning station ready for action. I manhandle the lathe on its base up onto the workbench, and the clamp it down (probably not really needed, but you can’t be too safe, right?).

New toys from Woodworkers Expo in San Mateo

Nils — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:55:37 GMT

On Saturday I went to the Woodworkers Expo in San Mateo, California. I dragged along a friend who’s done some woodworking (he’s taking a class at the Palo Alto Adult Ed, which apparently has an awesome shop) but who didn’t want to buy anything. I made up for this by spending my entire budget. I had a list of things I “needed” – and I kept pretty close to the list, although my dollar didn’t stretch as far as I’d hoped it would. Anyway, here’s what I ended up with:

Incra Miter 1000SE miter gauge. An awesome piece of equipment, and the first step on the all Incra shop of my dreams.
Freud 9” LU84 combination blade (remember, I have that mini-Craftsman table saw – 9” blades are hard to find!)
Peachtree’s new digital angle gauge called a “Dixie”, which I got in a package deal with their new fractional digital caliper.

The picture shows my new toys except for the saw blade, which has to be shipped from Atlanta – I expect to get it this week (I hope I hope I hope). I’m so looking forward to being able to cut actual wood with my table saw.