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#1 ·
New Year...New Hobby

I have been known to take up a hobby or 37. At 42, on the cusp of 43, and well into the 'balding' years, I have decided that, in lieu of a midlife crisis, I would take up woodworking. Don't get me wrong, a new car and a 27 year old with huge, firm, hands would be wonderful; But I can't afford the 27 year old, and I am not into cars that much.

In the summer of 2009, I went to an arts festival in Des Moines. The gentleman, who won best of show, did so with some amazing etched clay bowls. I am not sure why those clay pots inspired me to take up wood working, or if they were the only inspiration, but shortly thereafter I found myself living in the thriving metropolis of Martelle Iowa. I had my first ever basement.

Without a lot of money to buy all that one needs to build furniture, I started with magazines. The first one was called, "Start Woodworking", from the editors of Fine WoodWorking. I read tips on tools, ideas for projects, stories about great woodworkers, and I began to formulate a plan. I would start with a workbench, the workbench on page 24. The editors of the magazine did a good job of designing a project with the beginner in mind. They even provided a DVD with instructions that were really helpful.

The bench took several months to complete, though the plans were designed so that one could complete it is a weekend. I would guess that I spent 5 hours of thinking about building the bench, for every hour of actual working on it. I thought about what I needed to complete each step, but I was always only focused on the next step. The first step was to buy the 2×4s, 4×4s, 3/8" threaded rod, and a miter saw. Not an electric miter saw, a cheap manual one. I could afford it, it would cut, and I didn't at all care about how long it would take to make each cut. I also discovered in the garage and old hack saw that I could use for cutting the threaded rod.

With the wood cut, I decided I wanted to sand my lumber. The next purchase was a small Black and Decker 'Mouse' sander, some 80, 120, 180 grit sandpaper, and a cool looking level that I didn't need but it was shiny and I was powerless to NOT buy it. The next few weeks found me sanding each piece a bit each day. Barely into my first project I was already getting addicted to the process. The feeling of the construction grade lumber in my hand, after it had been sanded, gave me the slightest glimpse into the beauty of working with wood. I thought about how it must be to run my fingers across a piece of glass smooth mahogany or birds eye maple.

The plans required that I route a 3/8 inch groove into the stretchers. Before I read this magazine I didn't even know what a router or a stretcher was. Each new term learned, each skill set explored, opened up the possibilities that developing woodworking skills offers. And each discovery brought the reality home that care needs to be taken to master each aspect of woodworking. So before I could move on to routing I needed to do a bit of research. This is how one turns a 2 day project into a 2 month quest.

I read reviews and comments. There are many good routers to choose from and I decided to go with the Bosch 2.25 hp router with both the plunge base and the fixed base. I bought 3 bits. A 2" Spiral Downcut CL 2BB and a straight 3/8" by Amana Tools, and a 3/8" Up Spiral bit by Freud. I have come to the conclusion that Freud and Amana Tools are the two best out there. Admittedly Amana makes 2 levels of router bits, and I can't speak to their low end line, but the high end bits have been a joy.

With the router in hand, I had all the tools required to build my workbench. Each step was approached with a sense of confusion and fear. The first time I used the router I was filled with trepidation and pizza, as it was after dinner when I gave it a try. I spent close to 40 minutes setting up a guide for my router. Pieces of 2×4 clamped with 2 24" and 2 36" Jet clamps on my make shift workbench, allowed me to position the router to route. I had read that it is best to take several small passes for safety. Since I was already a bit scared that the router would spin wildly out of control and drive itself into my spleen, leaving me bleeding and generally disappointed, I decided that small passes were a good idea.

It worked as advertised. My first 2 passes made a wonderful 3/8" grove in my wood. I was filled with pride and sure that I was well on my way to being one of the greatest woodworkers of the last 700 years. My second board didn't go as well. I had tightened the collet on the router, though apparently not enough and it had slid up slightly. This had produced a slight up ramp for the groove. My ego needed this set back and I retightened it and decided that I was the greatest woodworker in my basement at that moment. This was good enough for me.

The rest of the project required gluing 2 pieces of ¾ " ODF together to form the top, drilling some holes in the 4×4 legs, and attaching the 9" Jet vice. The only difficult part was installing the vice as it didn't come with instructions, but my own insecurity about getting it right, made me take it at a glacial pace. When I flipped the bench back over and put a piece of wood in the vice, I almost wept with joy.

At the end of the quest I learned several things. 1) When marking wood to be cut or drilled, avoid doing it while watching college football. My bench still bears the scars of several errant holes. 2) Drilling holes with a hand drill, so that they are straight, requires a bit of practice. 3) High quality drill bits are much easier to use than really old, worn out, dull, bits. This likely applies to all tools, the better the quality, the better the results. 4) Fostner bits are cool. 5) I love my workbench, with its shiny red Jet 9" vice. 6) The journey before me is perhaps the most exciting one I have undertaken in my lifetime.
 
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#1,264 ·
Ooops.

Hello LJs,

I promised to get back to woodworking in my blog, but alas I got sidetracked by Josephine. She is the woman who wrote the 1st piece in the Camel story from a few weeks back. It was so well received that we have decided to continue with the story, her writing the human parts, and me writing the same story from the point of view of the camel named Winston. I am very pleased with how tonight's bit came together, and I would proudly recommend it to all.

If you haven't read the first part of the story, it is probably best to go in this order…if you want it to makes sense.

http://slummysinglemummy.wordpress.com/2010/06/16/further-camel-adventures/

http://extremelyaverage.com/2010/05/camel-fears-after-the-long-quiet/

http://extremelyaverage.com/2010/06/camel-musings/

Josephine is a brilliant writer, and I am just struggling to try to keep from messing the story up. Now I am going to go play around in the workshop, so there will be something for tomorrows blog.

Thanks all,

Brian
 
#1,265 ·
Crazy About Woodworking

Hello LJ,

As you know, the last few days I have been distracted by StumbleUpon and writing Winston the Camel stories. Tonight I got back into the shop and bent a piece of wood. This was very exciting for me, as I have been wanting to try it for some time, but I was chicken. It was just a small piece, and only a test. But I had success and it was fun.

http://su.pr/2hvPPK

Brian
 
#1,268 ·
#1,269 ·
congrat´s with your bargain Brian
I do hope you and others find many more
magazines in the second stores

I have a little fetch of trying to collect old
books/magazines from before 1970 the older the better
as long as I can learn things from them
it goes from woodworking over tractores/steamengines
to how to do things in a maschineshop dealing with Iron
I even got an old math book
have nearly the hole serie of popolar mechanic that has come in Danish
between 1950-1970
have a lot that cover photho as well

it´s funny to read about how things was done before
and compare it with todays plastic junk

just take the radio branch what we know as goood sound
and see what they try to sell as good sound after the cd had arieved

thats for now I´m on Duty….later

take care
Dennis
 
#1,275 ·
Building Two Boxes

Hello Lumberjocks,

I decided to make two tiny boxes, instead of one, mostly because after I cut the first strip of wood, it turned out so nice. I love the jig I built for ripping with my circular saw. The walnut is from the practice piece, which I was using to build my hand planing skills. Once I got it flat, it just seemed like I should turn it into something, so I decided on boxes. I included a picture to show how much I had shaved off while practicing.

Woodworking is fun! http://su.pr/2JaN93

Brian
 
#1,276 ·
Hand Plane Tribe

Hello LJ's,

What a day! I got a present from a LJ reader of my blog. I didn't know it was coming, he just sent it. The best part is that he just labeled the box Brian Meeks, Martelle, Iowa. No address or p.o. box, but since I live in a town of 280, where everyone knows everyone else, that was plenty. It made me and the post master chuckle.
I received 3 hand planes and a spokeshave, in great condition. So tonight's blog is about my new hand planes that have joined my collection, and of course, there are pictures.

http://su.pr/8iS8CR

Thanks Fellow LJ ( I am not sure if he wants his identity revealed, so for now, I will just say he is one of the great folks who hangs out at LJ)

Brian
 
#1,288 ·
A Day To Remember

Hello LJ's,

I did a lot of work on my little walnut box I am building. When it finally came time to write my blog, I had lots of ideas for ways to go about telling the story. I also considered talking about the stuff I got from Lie-Nielson today, or some more about my hand planes. There was even a purchase of a new 45 degree Freud Chamfer bit. I thought about pointing out that I had some factual errors in my piece from two days ago, I cut a goove, not a dado. A clever reader pointed out my error. This was great, because I didn't know the difference, but now I do. This always makes me happy.

But when I started to type, my fingers wrote a blog piece that didn't include any of the topics above. For today was a truly remarkable day. Sometimes I just need to go where my fingers lead me. It is a very good piece. I hope you like it.

http://su.pr/1Zkuyc

Brian
 
#1,292 ·
I wrote a guest blog piece...

Hello LJ's,

Today I wrote a guest blog post. Sometimes I get requests to write some drivel for someone else, and I usually agree. The problem is that on those days, when I use my best stuff for another blog, I am left with just dreck for my own blog. I decided to give an update on StumbleUpon and how it had done since I wrote those pieces. If you are curious about SU, check it out.

http://extremelyaverage.com/2010/06/a-traditional-post-about-stumbleupon/

Brian
 
#1,295 ·
Paying it Forward

Hello All,

Today has been busy. I just got home. If you read my blog on a regular basis, then you will know that I was given a gift of hand planes, with the only request, that I 'pay it forward'. This seem like a bargain to me. So tonight I went into Des Moines and volunteered to help feed those who are hungry. This church has been doing this for 40 years. My parent's church does one day per month and there are 35 other churches that have their days and times, so that the place always has food. I wanted to write about the experience, and maybe I will tomorrow, but tonight it is late and I am worn out. Fortunately I had written the next chapter in the 'Camel Musings' story and it was just sitting there waiting to be posted. This was good, because I doubt I could have gotten a decent post about the volunteering done in a reasonable amount of time. I hope you enjoy it. And thanks again Perry for the planes. They are greatly loved.

http://bit.ly/cyEiJi

Brian
 
#1,302 ·
Chatting With Some Pros

Hello All,

Tonight's blog post is GREAT! Lots of pictures of beautiful furniture. I went to the Des Moines Arts Festival and got to chat with some of the artists. I thought it would make a good post and it did. It is nice to mingle with people who make their living doing what we all love.

http://su.pr/3vO36y

Brian
 
#1,303 ·
nice little blog about the show
but it wooooooood realy have been niiiiiiiiiiiice to see a lot more pictures from there
I know it´s not your stile Brian but if those you show is the standard on the show
you cuold easely have shown more without boring people
glad to hear you had a good weekend in Des moine

take care
Dennis
 
#1,315 ·
Tiny Box Progress

Hello All,

Tonight I continued on my quest to build a tiny box. This probably seems like a trival matter to the seasoned folks here at LJ, but for a novice, it can be a bit challenging. My first two attempts ended with slight misalignment. So I am into my 3rd shot and having learned from the 1st two, seem to be doing better. I am almost up to the point where I went awry last time and I think the wood is in better shape and should be ok after I cut the pieces.

http://bit.ly/9sbeJ7

Brian

p.s. For a couple of hours I had up the same picture twice. Sorry about that. It is fixed now.
 
#1,316 ·
An Update...

Hello LJ Bloggers,

Tonight's post is an update about using StumbleUpon to drive traffic to one's blog. I have been using it steadily for a few weeks now and decided to publish the results. I hope you find it interesting.

My weekly update about Stumble Upon and it's impact on Traffic. Exciting Graphs. http://su.pr/1vKTi9

Brian
 
#1,320 ·
Which is Better?

Hello All,

There was a recent debate on Twitter, among woodworkers, about which was better. The Festool Track plunge saw and table system vs. the Saw Stop table saw. After much discussion about which I should consider for my next purchase, someone said neither. I gasped. They suggested a bandsaw. This changed the direction of the conversation considerably. I had not been even thinking of getting a bandsaw.

Tonight I did some investigating of my own and even went to ACME tools to talk to Del.

http://extremelyaverage.com/2010/07/a-trip-to-acme-tools/

Brian
 
#1,331 ·
Happy Birthday USA

Hello All,

I had a great 4th of July. I did some woodworking, at some hot dogs, and then did some more woodworking. I have made it past the point where I goofed up the last attempt at making a tiny walnut box. This was exciting for me. I am on to the lid. There is still one major opportunity to screw this attempt up, but I am not going to worry about that right now, I am going to revel in my tiny victory.

Happy Birthday USA http://su.pr/1EpqDz

Brian

p.s. Thanks for all the helpful comments from yesterday.
 
#1,347 ·
Five Stages of Tool Assembly Disaster

Hello LJ's,

Tonight I give a better account of my trials and tribulations with getting Jeff, the Powermatic 14" bandsaw, up and running.

The Five Stages of Tool Assembly Disaster http://su.pr/7o2dmQ Enjoy. :)

I hope you enjoy. (Please don't try this at home…I am not endorsing my methodology at all!!!!)

Brian
 
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