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745K views 2K replies 162 participants last post by  Ecocandle 
#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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#1,547 ·
My First Commission

Hello All,

Yesterday I was asked to build a tiny box. This is fortunate, because I only know how to do one thing…build tiny boxes. The request, from a reader, was to build a box similar to my first successful tiny walnut box. It is interesting to note that the entire conversation took place on Twitter. He asked me if I planned to build any more like the first one, because it was his favorite. I said I would build him one, and the deal was done.

I have been having trouble sleeping lately. I didn't have much work to do today, and I woke up at 3 am. When I can't sleep, I head to the shop. My first completed tiny box took 3 weeks. I finished the commission in one. It is, without question, my best box yet. More importantly, I got some ideas, while I was working on it, for another box.

http://su.pr/27EMrK

Brian
 
#1,552 ·
Rivergirl,

Several people have mentioned that I am doing a really good job of marketing my tiny boxes. When I started building them, I only had one goal…make a 45 degree cut accurately. I had planned on keeping all the boxes, but a few people said they would like to buy them. So I put up an Etsy store, and I will add more to it.

Now that I have had one sale, and one commission, I am thinking it might be fun to try to make some 'tool' money, through selling my creations.

Your ideas are great. In fact, I have an idea for a future project, which I think you will find to be VERY zen. I am going to start on it next week.

I don't know how many woodworking things I can sell, and ultimately I won't be too disappointed if I don't sell too many. The important thing for me to remember is that the point is to get better and continue to learn woodworking.

Brian
 
#1,558 ·
Gappy the Dado Jig

Hello All,

I busted out an old friend, the Dado Jig. I created him way back in the first couple of months I was doing woodworking. He didn't have a name until today. I also received a very nice comment from the gentleman who commissioned Henry the tiny walnut box. It was a good day.

http://su.pr/1FkGoX

Brian
 
#1,562 ·
Inlay Boxes

Hello All,

I took advantage of Labor Day to work on my tiny inlay boxes. I am almost done and they look like tiny boxes. I still have some sanding and finishing to do, but that can be done tomorrow. Tonight, I am going to watch the rest of the Boise St. vs. VA Tech game.

http://su.pr/66ZjBl

Brian
 
#1,563 ·
I hope you enjoyed the game more than me. Hokies were one 1st down away from a win. I'm pretty sure Boise will go on to the national championship. A precedent has been set when the Hokies lose to a major opponent early in the last 10 yrs (USC, LSU, Alabama). I'll try and take a look at your post tomorrow. Right now I'm kinda depressed for my guys. I think tonight shoulda been our turn after 10 yrs of this.
 
#1,568 ·
These box stories are great. What I like is "your tools and boxes all offer praise and encouragement for each other".
If we could get the "REAL WORLD " to get along this way--Life would be great wouldn't it ?
(Maybe I just live in a dream world)
 
#1,572 ·
No More Fuzzy Feeling

Hello All,

I wrote a bit of a different blog piece today. I needed to vent a little, so I did. I learned something when I hit publish. I felt much better. I am someone who rarely needs to vent, and when I do, I usually just ignore the impulse and move on. But having a blog to use for this, is actually quite a wonderful thing. When I was done, I didn't feel I needed to vent anymore. So I guess I will sand a tiny box lid! Fun. And watch more football.

http://su.pr/ASH7AW

Brian
 
#1,573 ·
Unfortunatly some compaies still think they can operate that way.they use the OPM (other people money)as well as OPT. (other people time).
When you look closely at the CEO's and Board of Directiors (none of them contribute their money or their time for FREE, they expect every one else to.(especially small shareholders that work for them)
It cost me a lot of money and time to learn this lesson !
 
#1,577 ·
Great SPM. (standard procedure manual)
Step 5, I literally went to kitchen and got a doughnut (thought it would be better if I was in character while reading )
STEP 14: Does it matter what kind of pizza ? I am not a pizza eater,(something to do with one fateful weekend when I was 17, party in the BIG CITY, don't drink whiskey anymore either !!). I won't let step 14 hinder me from building a box one day.
I never think of taking pictures whilwe building my things. I get so wrapped up in creating, cutting, shaping etc. Last thing I think of is picture. Then Crap, half the time by batteries are dead.
I do appreciate when people do take pics and can write about how the project went.
Thanks.
 
#1,578 ·
A bit of planning

Hello All,

Today, since I was at my parents, I couldn't do any woodworking. But I could plan my next project. I have some graph paper and proper drawing tools, so I went to it. I am very excited about my next project. I included a scanned picture of my drawing in tonight's blog.

http://extremelyaverage.com/2010/09/the-plan-is-a-winner/

Brian

Ohio State 36 - Miami 24. Go Buckeyes!
 
#1,586 ·
well I see two drills in the future for you , and none of them is with cable nor batteries
and they work everytime with out you have to wait unnessery :)
thats an eggbeaterdrill and a brace the eggbeater for all the small holes
and a brace for the bigger ones , and I garantie you that the brace will have more
force than any other powered handdrill, and the best part with both of them no noise

take care
Dennis
 
#1,590 ·
hello Brian
I´m sorry that you cracked the piece
but may I give you a little advise (if you will take it from one who had cut toooo many corners)
when you drill thrugh a piece of wood with bracebits ,holesaws and the small plugbits
there is a centerpoint that comes trugh first , just let that center be shown with a fraktion
of a millimeter and then turn the wood around and drill from the other side thrugh the hole
the center had made
that will prevent both small and big nasty tearouts and leave a clear cut on both sides

take care
Dennis
 
#1,594 ·
Ugh...wrote blog...lost it...ugh.

Hello All,

Often I look at the clock and realize that it is 9:00 and I need to write my blog. This was the case tonight. I already had the photos, so I wrote my blog piece, added the photos and hit save on wordpress. It then disappeared!

This is the angry and bitter 2nd attempt.

http://su.pr/1CJpJD

Brian
 
#1,601 ·
I have been Attacked!



Yesterday I started to get messages that my sight was considered a threat to all of humanity. There were scary red letters and I feared the worst.

Apparently somebody, likely a middle aged, socially awkward, virgin, had found my blog and after eating some hot pockets, his chain smoking, raging alcoholic mother had brought down to him in the basement ('Apartment'),and had decided to hack into my blog.

In doing so he has stuck fear into the hearts of my readers. I apologize for the scare and I assure you that I am working diligently to fix the problem. In fact, I have done nothing else since last night. I have a bit of a headache.

My friends on twitter were the ones who helped me figure out what was going on. For at least two hours I searched my computer looking for an answer, as I thought the problem was local. The twitter folks explained that I would need to take down my my blog, back up the data base, delete word press, install word press, and then FTP the data back into the new database. Sounds easy eh?

Actually it didn't sound easy to me at all. There were instructions which the fine folks at Godaddy.com provided and they helped a little. The real help came from the customer service people. They have been great and already spent several hours with me on the phone. If it weren't for them, I would like have taken my own life, so that I might come back as a ghost and haunt the hacker who ruined my life.

So if you tried the blog last night, there was a post, without pictures, as I couldn't upload them. This is the 'Official' post for tonight! I will not let some slovenly loser with questionable personal hygiene ruin my streak of consecutive days of blogging! Ha! Double Ha, Mr. Hacker!

When I get the blog back up, I will fix yesterday's post and add this rant to the mix. Then I will dance…and possibly eat a hot pocket. (I am not sure why I had to drag Hot Pockets into this mess. The fine people at Hot Pockets didn't do anything wrong, and in fact, make a lovely food item.)

If you are a blogger and use WordPress, then you will know that this picture, is NOT how it is supposed to look when an admin logs in. If you ever run into this problem, know this, it can be fixed, it just takes a bit of effort. (Note: I haven't actually completed fixing it yet, so perhaps I am jumping the gun, but I feel confident that the GoDaddy people will be able to help me get the rest of it done.)

 
#1,615 ·
Calm and Focus

Hello All,

Today the blog is back to normal (for almost everyone). There was an issue for one of my readers, who has a router which flagged my site last week during the hacking debacle. She has had trouble getting back to my site ans her router continues to block it. If any of you fine LJ folks are having troubles, it may be something similar.

As for writing the blog, it was nice to not be railing against the evil hacker. I am moving on an continuing with my ikebana building. It is fun.

http://extremelyaverage.com/2010/09/calm-and-focus/

Thanks,

Brian
 
#1,629 ·
Sorry I forgot...

Hello All,

I just realized that I forgot to post last night's blog post. I am at my parents and got distracted by fun. So if you want to catch up, there are two posts at http://ExtremelyAverage.com

For those who follow the Henry Wood Detective Agency, tonight's post is another addition. It is easy to write Henry posts, when I am not at home and can't do woodworking. :)

Brian
 
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