From The Gravedigger's Shop at LumberJocks.com http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog Fri, 23 Sep 2011 23:15:13 GMT Projects, ideas, & general musings as I juggle time between setting up shop and building projects. New Little Good Pieces blog post: Blanket Chest Design – Lumber Calculations http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/25608 There’s a new Little Good Pieces blog post: Blanket Chest Design – Lumber Calculations. I walk my readers through the process of calculating the lumber necessary for the body of the blanket chest. Not exactly by the book, but a lot more practical. Check it out!

http://littlegoodpieces.wordpress.com/2011/09/23/blanket-chest-design-lumber-calculations/

]]> Fri, 23 Sep 2011 23:15:13 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/25608 TheGravedigger TheGravedigger New Little Good Pieces blog post: Blanket Chest Design – Panel Raising http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/25330 There’s a new Little Good Pieces blog post: Blanket Chest Design – Panel Raising. I explore various permutations in tablesaw-cut raised panel proportions. Check it out!

http://littlegoodpieces.wordpress.com/2011/09/06/blanket-chest-design-panel-raising/

]]> Wed, 07 Sep 2011 01:24:09 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/25330 TheGravedigger TheGravedigger From the "Little Good Pieces" Blog Archives #9: The Right Tool for the Right Job http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/25291 This article was originally posted on the Little Good Pieces blog on Oct 3, 2010.

The Right Tool for the Right Job

Anybody see anything wrong with this picture? Show of hands…thought so. Nobody in their right mind would try this. Putting a large irregularly shaped object through a tablesaw as-is is a surefire recipe for disaster.

Why do it, then? To make a point. Power tools, by and large, are designed to do their best work with relatively straight wood. Also, with the exception of the lathe, stationary power tools are downright dangerous to use with irregularly shaped wood.

I can hear you now, “Hold on, man. All I have to do is set up a jig or sled, and I can work that log just fine! After all, that’s how the sawmills do it.” Absolutely right, but tell me, what is your jig or sled made with? Relatively straight pieces of wood (or metal in the case of sawmills). Power tools by their very nature place certain starting requirements on materials that cannot be ignored. Even tools for flattening stock, like jointers, require pieces to be within certain limits before they can be used effectively.

Right Tool for the Right Job 2

This is the area where hand tools come into their own. They excel at, and are indeed designed for, taking irregular pieces straight from the tree, and converting them into usable stock. Using froe, hewing axe, and drawknife, a log section can be converted into usable stock in a surprisingly short period of time.
Boring can be accomplished with a brace and auger bit on surprisingly uneven wood. Another neat point – the wetter the wood, the easier it is to rough it down!

If you’re interested in heading in this direction, check out the blogs by Pete Follansbee, Kari Hultman, and Jennie Alexander. All are excellent resources in their own right, and can in turn provide links to other sources to get you started.

So, there’s nothing wrong with starting with green wood straight from the stump. For the right sort of projects, with the right hand tools, can be the start of a beautiful friendship.

_I hope you enjoyed this article. If you liked what you read, visit my blog: http://littlegoodpieces.wordpress.com/_

]]> Sun, 04 Sep 2011 21:33:01 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/25291 TheGravedigger TheGravedigger New Little Good Pieces blog post: Blanket Chest Design – Panel Proportions http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/25078 There’s a new post on the Little Good Pieces blog: Blanket Chest Design – Panel Proportions. I go through the process of dividing the front of the chest into panels, and make some interesting insights along the way. Check it out!

http://littlegoodpieces.wordpress.com/2011/08/22/blanket-chest-design-panel-proportions/

]]> Mon, 22 Aug 2011 21:49:39 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/25078 TheGravedigger TheGravedigger New Little Good Pieces blog post: Proto-Jig: Imagine the Possibilities http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/24956 There’s a new Little Good Pieces blog post: Proto-Jig: Imagine the Possibilities. What could you make with this basic jig shape? Check it out!

http://littlegoodpieces.wordpress.com/2011/08/15/proto-jig-imagine-the-possibilities/

]]> Mon, 15 Aug 2011 22:00:13 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/24956 TheGravedigger TheGravedigger New Little Good Pieces blog post: Blanket Chest Design – Turning the Corner http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/24810 There’s a new Little Good Pieces blog post: Blanket Chest Design – Turning the Corner. I explore different options for joining the sides together into a box. Check it out!

http://littlegoodpieces.wordpress.com/2011/08/08/blanket-chest-design-turning-the-corner/

]]> Mon, 08 Aug 2011 17:15:29 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/24810 TheGravedigger TheGravedigger New Little Good Pieces blog post - Blanket Chest Design – Starting Point http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/24681 There’s a new Little Good Pieces blog post – Blanket Chest Design – Starting Point. I give the reader a look into my approach to furniture design as I start the process of designing and building a blanket chest. Check it out!

http://littlegoodpieces.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/blanket-chest-design-starting-point/

]]> Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:01:08 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/24681 TheGravedigger TheGravedigger New Little Good Pieces blog post: Bad Axe Toolworks – Home of Fine Saws AND Service http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/24494 There’s a new Little Good Pieces blog post: Bad Axe Toolworks – Home of Fine Saws AND Service. It chronicles my recent experience with Bad Axe Toolworks. Check it out!

http://littlegoodpieces.wordpress.com/2011/07/22/bad-axe-toolworks-home-of-fine-saws-and-service/

]]> Fri, 22 Jul 2011 17:41:59 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/24494 TheGravedigger TheGravedigger New Little Good Pieces blog post: Outdoor Morris Chair 5 - Final Pieces http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/24384 There’s a new Little Good Pieces blog post: Outdoor Morris Chair 5 – Final Pieces. I attach the arms and do an initial assembly prior to painting. Check it out!

http://littlegoodpieces.wordpress.com/2011/07/15/morris-chair-5-final-pieces/

]]> Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:45:57 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/24384 TheGravedigger TheGravedigger New Little Good Pieces blog post: Outdoor Morris Chair 4 – Back ‘Er Up http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/24330 There’s a new Little Good Pieces blog post: Outdoor Morris Chair 4 – Back ‘Er Up. I assemble the back of the chair. The techniques are simple, but effective. Check it out!

http://littlegoodpieces.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/outdoor-morris-chair-4-back-er-up/

]]> Mon, 11 Jul 2011 23:11:36 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/24330 TheGravedigger TheGravedigger New Little Good Pieces blog post: Outdoor Morris Chair 3 – Finishing the Bottom http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/24210 There’s a new post on the Little Good Pieces blog: Outdoor Morris Chair 3 – Finishing the Bottom. I complete the frame of the chair and add the seat slats. Check it out!

http://littlegoodpieces.wordpress.com/2011/07/05/outdoor-morris-chair-3-finishing-the-bottom/

]]> Wed, 06 Jul 2011 13:21:21 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/24210 TheGravedigger TheGravedigger New Little Good Pieces blog post: Outdoor Morris Chair 2 – Making The Sides http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/24140 There’s a new post on the Little Good Pieces blog: Outdoor Morris Chair 2 – Making The Sides. I start construction of this simple but comfortable chair by making the sides. Check it out!

http://littlegoodpieces.wordpress.com/2011/07/01/outdoor-morris-chair-2-making-the-sides/

]]> Fri, 01 Jul 2011 21:09:35 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/24140 TheGravedigger TheGravedigger New Little Good Pieces blog post: Krenov Smoother 5 – All Together Now http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/24018 There’s a new Little Good Pieces blog post: Krenov Smoother 5 – All Together Now. I assemble the plane, fine tune it, and take it for a test drive. Check it out!

http://littlegoodpieces.wordpress.com/2011/06/24/krenov-smoother-5-all-together-now/

]]> Fri, 24 Jun 2011 17:49:39 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/24018 TheGravedigger TheGravedigger New Little Good Pieces blog post: Krenov Smoother 4 – The Pin and Reassembly http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/23955 There’s a new Little Good Pieces blog post: Krenov Smoother 4 – The Pin and Reassembly. I fabricate the crosspin and glue everything up. Check it out!

http://littlegoodpieces.wordpress.com/2011/06/20/krenov-smoother-4-the-pin-and-reassembly/

]]> Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:29:27 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/23955 TheGravedigger TheGravedigger New Little Good Pieces blog post: Outdoor Morris Chair 1 – Ready to Begin http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/23905 There’s a new Little Good Pieces blog post: Outdoor Morris Chair 1 – Ready to Begin. I bring home the wood to build an outdoor Morris chair. Check it out!

http://littlegoodpieces.wordpress.com/2011/06/17/outdoor-morris-chair-1-ready-to-begin/

]]> Fri, 17 Jun 2011 23:09:42 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/23905 TheGravedigger TheGravedigger New Little Good Pieces blog post: Krenov Smoother 3 – Bed and Ramp http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/23832 There’s a new post on the Little Good Pieces blog: Krenov Smoother 3 – Bed and Ramp. I shape and fit the most important components of the plane. Check it out!

http://littlegoodpieces.wordpress.com/2011/06/13/krenov-smoother-3-bed-and-ramp/

]]> Mon, 13 Jun 2011 21:28:33 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/23832 TheGravedigger TheGravedigger New Little Good Pieces blog post: Krenov Smoother 2 - From One Block to Four http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/23773 There’s a new Little Good Pieces blog post: .Krenov Smoother 2 – From One Block to Four. Turning the plane blank into recognizable parts. Check it out!

http://littlegoodpieces.wordpress.com/2011/06/10/krenov-smoother-2-from-one-block-to-four/

]]> Fri, 10 Jun 2011 20:12:58 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/23773 TheGravedigger TheGravedigger New Post on the Little Good Pieces Blog: Krenov Smoother 1 - Making the Blank http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/23696 There’s a new post on the Little Good Pieces blog: Krenov Smoother 1 – Making the Blank. This begins my first attempt at making my own Krenov-style plane. Check it out!

http://littlegoodpieces.wordpress.com/2011/06/06/krenov-smoother-1-making-the-blank/

]]> Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:59:21 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/23696 TheGravedigger TheGravedigger New Little Good Pieces blog post: Review - Hock Plane Irons http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/23587 There’s a new Little Good Pieces blog post: Review – Hock Plane Irons. My first Hock plane irons for my block plane and a Krenov smoother. Check it out!

http://littlegoodpieces.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/review-hock-plane-irons/ ‎

]]> Tue, 31 May 2011 19:19:57 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/23587 TheGravedigger TheGravedigger Happy Memorial Day http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/23556 They say that as long as one person remembers, you’re never really gone. Please take time today to remember those that fought and died for our freedom.

Gone but Not Forgotten.

]]> Mon, 30 May 2011 16:00:11 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/TheGravedigger/blog/23556 TheGravedigger TheGravedigger