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#1 ·
"Upcoming Awards Event" --by RusticWoodArt

Upcoming Awards Event
"Twice a year, LumberJocks.com hosts a Woodworking Awards Event. Watch for more details about how to participate and what the Awards Recipients will receive in honor of their woodworking abilities."

Categories:
Not Just Any Box - There are boxes and then there are "boxes". Whether are you are a beginning woodworker or a skilled craftsman a box can provide a challenge to bring your woodworking skills to a new level by mixing technique with artistry. It's time to "step out of the box" and create "not just any box". Entries for this category are to be boxes created as a gift and the dimensions (height, width, depth) are not to exceed 18 inches / 45.72 centimeters.
Join the fun, challenge your abilities, and start building that special gift box today.

The Multi-Purposed 2×4 - One 2×4; One Project. Put your creativity and technical skills to the test by building a project from a single, eight foot long, 2×4. You can secure the pieces with glue, dowels, screws - whatever your heart desires; you can decorate it with paint, stain, or some other medium; you can add mechanical do-dads. What you can't do is add any other building material (wood, plexiglass, sheet metal, etc.) to it. One 2×4; One Project.

So I'm wondering….what if….and how to define….

How is a 2''x4'' defined for this category of "The Multi-Purposed 2×4", is this dimensioned lumber of 1-1/2'' x 3-1/2'' or are we talking about real wood….real dimensions of 2'' x 4'' ? One may wonder why I'm asking but then seldom do I use already boxed and store bought lumber for 'wood art'.

So do I need to cut that log into lengthwise by going 2'' x 4'' or 1-1/2'' x 3-1/2'' and 8' long?

And yes, many more questions and images to follow hereafter….actually from our discussion back in the summer I figured these two categories would be coming up….so I've all-ready been tossing images of what shall be, around within my head….

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood…."
 
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#33 ·
"Evolution and 'Wood Art' in the Process" --by RusticWoodArt

Evolution and 'Wood Art' in the Process

"Show me an artist, who has not had to hack his own way through the cluttered groundwork of those who came before and I will show you one who does not know yet their beginning to ending."

....and so I'm taking some time out,
to write some more notes and thoughts here,
as I sift through those cascading files within my mind,
looking for 'original idea'….for the "Upcoming Awards Event"

Category: Not Just Any Box ....ah yes, not just any box, but an 'Argaz'....

Notes: 1.) Wood used so far is; maple, cherry and red oak….more to come….
2.) glue up completed….
3.) machine work has been completed, and what follows now is hand work and joinery….
4.) lid design will be started soon, once legs are joined with the sides of the argaz….
5.) glue used will be prepared by myself and will be discussed at future stage of design….
6.) 'Argaz' is a one of a kind, so these 'story notes' will accompany the box to it's future home….

So now lets get on with some pictures….

....can you see the argaz from this image….as finished? Last evening out in the shop, I decided it was time to bring the legs forth and so I found some red oak I had ripped some 7-8 years ago calling out to me. After running my hands across the wood I knew this one was meant to be, so after scribing my lines, I picked up my dozuki and made the first of (4) crosscuts. When working like this I use the eastern way of thought in woodworking and cut right on that scribed line. Not to the left or right, and also no cleanup….what this means when I'm doing some cutting or chiseling for a joint also is that all my work is right on the line. No-second chance, get it right the first time. And yes, now the explanation for my title on this story, as my argaz has now developed some legs to stand on….



....and I will ask forgiveness here for the upside down-side of my argaz at this point. I tried to use double sided tape to get the legs attached to the main body, but the tape just was not going to co-operate with me, therefore what you see is the box up-side-down….



....one more without my scribbing and paring tool….



....next I am showing a shot of the corner view with the legs again and how they will eventually fit into the sides. Next will come the hand cutting of the 'wood joinery' and also the work on the lid….



....now this ones for RobS, who had asked about the trivet in my earlier post. No, this is not one of my creations, but has been in the family here for all so long….and so it 'just is'. RobS; you asked about construction, well just some simple maple (can maple ever be simple….?), with a piece of tile implanted in the center, where the tile sets on a rabbit joint along with the staggered butt joints on the (4) end pieces….



Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood…."
 
#37 ·
"Upcoming Awards Event and Multipurposing Some Wood" -- by RusticWoodArt

Upcoming Awards Event and Multipurposing Some Wood

First of all if you've not been reading my series on the upcoming and ongoing "LJ Woodworking Awards - Winter 2008" then you might want to click here and read what a lot of LJ's have all-ready been reading about now and discussing since Debbie announced the "Upcoming Awards Event" in the November eMag.

Having said all that I thought I would get my series ongoing some more and post some more pictures of where the wood will be coming from for my "Multi-Purposed 2×4 entry.

Notes to my-self so far:
1.) starting point is a 2'' x 4'' x 8',
2.) 'I' may also want to do some lamenting or bending of the wood,
3.) The Multi-Purposed 2×4 is only where the wood project starts, what comes next is open to the designer…,
--and then Dan also added two points which I had also been thinking upon….
4.) "before I make a cut I'll take a photo of the lumber with a scale so there will be no question",
5.) " it will be fun to figure the volume of the project and project it into a finished item, minus the width of the saw blade", and yes, I just could not let that one slip by about what Dan is saying…." it will be fun",
6.) using a log or timber beam which I will saw//re-saw into the original 2'' x 4'' x 8' and yes, the reason I will record this size and dimensions with photos is not so much because of a trust factor, but because this will also become part of the history and story of the wood project,
7.) I'm thinking of doing some thin slicing and bending for some of the project….so I will also do some laminating of the wood,
8.) ....more yet to come….and these notes were taken from my second series here.

Now I've all-ready mentioned that I will be cutting my 2''x 4''x 8' board out of a larger piece of timber, therefore the question that comes up is; from where and what wood species….to be used? The other day I posted the following pictures on an-other forum here at LJ as to where I could get some wood….



....and then there is some chestnut at the bottom of the stack that dates back to an early 1700's barn I took down some years ago….



....but then that chestnut is on the bottom and that's a lot of timber moving. So I am thinking that I will go to my in-boxed barn cellar (other-wise known as the 'English Barn Cellar Depot').....were all my wood is paid for by the sweat of my hands and the toil of my back, but life is sweet and wood is great….



....now heres an inside shot of the English Barn Cellar Depot and one or two of the isle's of boxed wood timber I carry. In these particular isle's we have tongue and groove hemlock which came from an old late 1800's-early 1900's theater and some oak slabs plus more hemlock out of a late 1800's home cellar, plus assorted timber's out of old barns and such. As you may see, most all of my wood has been aged over the years like a glass of fine wine and also has a story to tell. Yes, I found the massage sign back against the wall while rooting around in an old barn cellar some years age….wonder what that stories all about….?



So this morning I'm headed out to the cellar of the Barn Depot and start moving timbers and measuring, while also listening for that sound that comes forth when a special timber decides it's time and so speaks forth; "here am I, so send me…."

From there I will proceed to take the wood upstairs to my shop or outside on some sawhorses, and start laying out my lines to cut the wood to the dimensions for this contest entry. Hand working wood and hand cutting wood is not the fastest way of getting the job done, but there's nothing better to my way of thinking when it's all over and done….then to be able to say, "I did that by hand….and if you've got the time, well pull up a stump, and take a load off your feet, have a cup of tea, while I tell you a story….!

Now moving on I thought I would toss a few more pictures into todays blog salad or story and so feel free to come with me as we walk around at closing time, last Friday evening inside the barn. I often play with light settings on the camera as I'm taking photos so after turning off the inside lights, I thought I would see what I could gather in the way of photos from light coming in. This one is taken from bay #2 looking through and up into the thrid floor area of bay #4….



....and then I went to 'night mode' on the camera. The strength of this barn and all early barns was in the hand hewn and hand pegged art of timber framing, no nails or screws here and close to 250 years old….



....I'm stepping back inside bay #2 and looking out a set of windows and down, while again going to 'night mode'....does any-one care to take a guess as to what three types of vegetables we have growing down there? One hint here, two are green and one is off white….



....stepping outside the barn now we met snow, yes it was falling some on Friday night….



....snow 'just is' and then there sits a maple sugar house, waiting the winter through, with high hopes for coming days and night of late winter and early spring….ah yes, I can taste the drink that the gods brewed up when they came to NH and gave us maple syrup….



Well that's all for the moment, but more to come and so I offer a great day to all and….,

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood…."
 
#38 ·
I don't have your wood resources Frank. I'm buying a cedar 2×4 and making another paddle. I'll be bending and laminating as well. It's funny but this contest fits perfectly with what I've been planning anyway. I build my paddles from cedar 2×4's. I usually use some other wood as well for the blade but this time I plan to take a couple of 1/8" x 3-1/2" x 8' slices 1st for blade material. This is going to be a paddle for my wife so the shaft will only be 1" wide anyway and I was planning on an 8" wide blade so this is perfect.

I envy you that barn Frank….great space and beautiful.

Brussel sprouts, kale and ?

Have a good one.
 
#52 ·
"Defining Design in Wood" --by RusticWoodArt

Defining Design in Wood

....and so I continue finding the numbers that can be assembled out of 2''x4''x96'', or as I have now come to see as (2) re-sawed wood pieces of 1''x4''x96''....

Designs are the dreams I write//draw on paper, after imagination has come back, from where she flies in the lofty clouded skies of inspiration. No-idea of where this one was going, when I started this one….just let my hands go and my finger's start sketching….



"Dream and so create
Translunar paradise."
-by William Butler Yeats

....and so I dream some more….



The Multi-Purposed 2×4
--Notes:
1.) 2''x4''x'8'....(2) 1''x4''x96''....
2.) ....so far I have used up (1) 1''x4''x96'', with (1''x4''x15'') still left….
3.) .... will re-saw on bandsaw or hand saw into a thickness of 1''
4.) ....some of these boards will be bookmatched….
5.) ....will use biscuits and glue for edge joining….
6.) ....'wood joinery' will be done as?....using?....
7.) ....more to come, after working this stage out of the wood, and all dimensions at this point are open//subject to change….

....now here's an interesting tool…..I keep and use often in my office….any-one care to guess the name and purpose….



I took these a couple of weeks ago on my last hike out before the snows came….



....just playing with color, which defines 'spice-of-life'....



Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood…."
 
#59 ·
"1 Sun-6.76 Bu x 3 Sun-3.52 Bu x 8 Shaku-4.69 Bu" --by RusticWoodArt

1 Sun-6.76 Bu x 3 Sun-3.52 Bu x 8 Shaku-4.69 Bu

The Multi-Purposed 2×4
--Notes
:
1.) ....hand sawing, (ripping) the species of wood, (white oak) out of a slab that was mill-cut from a tree some years ago….
2.) ....this piece of white oak is at the moment, still in 2''x6''x9' of it's original condition….after having previously hand sawed, (cross-cut) 1' in length from one end….
3.) ....there is a nice crack in the wood, running for 4' right in the middle, which I have been able to center, so as to retain this piece of character….
4.) ....am excited still in reference to the crack in the middle, and as too how far into the depth of the wood it goes….which I will possibly highlight with a colored two part polymer….
5.) ....lines have been marked out on the wood and I have started the hand sawing process on one side….
6.) ....I have been able to keep all the work on the wood at this point, without the use of electrical corded tools or machines….however, there still remains the need to re-saw the 2'' thickness into (2) 1'' boards and yes….I'm still considering using my bandsaw at that point….

I spent the other afternoon, (having some extra time….'what is extra time….' LOL,) starting the ripping for my length on one side of the board. Because I am wanting the 4' long crack to fall in the center of my 4'' width, I will have to hand rip the other side also. What a pleasant time this was….having turned off the music system and all power tools, so that the only sound coming forth was my saw which soon got in time with my breathing….

....having learned and decided long ago to waste not, I decided to cut this side and keep that extra over there on the right so as to have more length for a future need….yes, I will save that piece for a future project….



....and so after hand ripping for a distance of 14-1/2'', I am now entering into the heart of the wood that will be used for my project….



....one might notice here the wedges I have started placing in my cut, to keep the saw from binding and this also helps me maintain a gap in the wood, which I use to sight down and through so as to be able to judge how I am doing as to maintaining my edge joint….



....at this point I have now traveled another 24'' into the heart of the wood. The next section that I have marked out is for the 4' long piece that holds that crack in the wood. One may wonder about the time being spent here doing all this by hand….but then if one must account-able to time….time will in the end over-take that one….



In essence one might say that I have not even started working on my entry for the 'The Multi-Purposed 2×4', since at this point I am still working on getting a 2''x4'' at 8' in length….and yes that is true, but that day will come….and then I will post a picture of the starting point, which will be a 2×4x8 or as the Japanese carpenter of old would say….1 sun-6.76 bu x 3 sun-3.52 bu x 8 shaku-4.69 bu....

....and so I will leave you with this photo I took this morning around 4:00am from our front porch…..and yes, there is a mixture of sleet//freezing rain coming down….



....to be continued in time….

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood…."
 
#63 ·
"Expressions of Wood Milieu" --by RusticWoodArt

Expressions of Wood Milieu

....continuing on the journey here with wood ripping gusto, is soon found to be a harmony of the joys of hand to wood, only separated by the fine steel blade of my 13" 9TPI pull handsaw.

No-dust collection system needed here, no-dangers of kickback, no-need to break my bank savings, no-need for ear protection, (although one would want to wear eye protection) no-wondering about the what if's when certain thoughts cross the mind of the male population here concerning the crotch area, ( be honest now….how many times have you thought of living out the rest of your life as an eunuch after a circular saw mishap….?) no-set up time concerning blade alinement and square, and if you are successful in keeping your wife out of the workshop….no-need to answer her question that starts like this; "don't you have a machine that will do this faster", while then comes the next declaration of a finely in-grafted question; "this ones going to be worth a lot of money"....LOL.

But then you see I'm used to these and many other questions concerning the why's --how's --when's --where's of working wood and making 'wood art' this way. I work the wood by hand, (as much as is possible) because this is the style that I have so chosen. In this arena of woodworking, one can join the many or strike out on their own and develop their own character of expressing wood milieu. While we are at it here concerning that phrase 'strike out on their own', I probably should go on and really confuse the issue by stating….once one has chosen this path, you will never stop be able to stop discovering a-new. I could also go on and say that even if this were possible to stop seeking new, that therein would be found the death of the artisan, as the fire in his//her spirit would soon go out! Well there you have it, just some free words thrown in there….opinions about the who I am and all those other questions that we must ask our-selves as we complete our life circle before the eyes of the universe….

....and so I ended up Saturday afternoon out in the barn, completing the ripping on the one side of the white oak board. And here's a better view of the 4' long crack in the oak that I was talking about yesterday. I won't know more about the depth till I get around to slicing the thickness of the wood in half….



....here is the next section which I rip cut by hand….



....this crack I have centered in the wood as to length and width, so today I will start drawing some more lines on the left side and then I will remove the excess wood for my Multi Purposed 2×4....



....again the wood wedges and yes, I am pleased with how the cut is running true….



....finishing up here on this side which completes the length for 8'....



....snapped this last one last night of the completed cut….



I should add here that the way I love to work wood is by hand and yet I also do use machines….and so this method of using my hands and decreasing with machines, is not meant to be a sign of dis-respect to any-other's who choose to differ from my way. This is what makes woodworking so great and increases the field of how one can work the wood….and all I can add is that in the end, the way of wood should be your own unique way.

....to be continued in time….

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood…."
 
#68 ·
"Prepping the Wood" --by RusticWodArt

....furthering my ganders, as one would take on examining their progress in the principles of what it take to work the wood by hand! Some-times it does my soul best to just stop and take an inventory of what is happening here with the tools and the wood. Many are the stages of phases that go into the making of a piece of 'wood art'....design, working the wood by hand, but there all-ways is the need to pay attention to the care and detail of my tools and wood.

Further Notes on:
Prepping the wood for entry into The Multi-Purposed 2×4.
1.) ....I have finished hand sawing, (ripping) one side of a white oak board and….
2.) ....stopping to take a look at my pull saw….
3.) ....drawing out the lines for the rip cut on the other side of the wood….
4.) ....placing a notch into the end of the wood, for as to get an accurite cut start….

I have taken the time again on this side of the white oak, to first of all draw out my lines into//on top of the board and having finished that, I next move on to examining my saw. One note that I will pass on here about the Japanese pull saw is that this saw cuts on the pull stroke, unlike the saws of the western tradition that cut on the push stroke. An explanation that I have heard on this by John Reed Fox is that " the zen explanation is given that if you push a blade of grass between your fingers of course it buckles, but if you pull it, it becomes straight by itself." What makes the Japanese pull saw so unique and fit for sawing such as I am doing here in the white oak, is the ease of which the straightness of the cut can be made and maintained for the length of the cut.



....before I started hand sawing on the previous side, I noticed some teeth that were missing and broken off, as one will see in this picture. Most of the breakage that occurs in the teeth will be the result of too aggressive sawing, ( not understanding that the saw does all the work, no-pressure is needed and that the hand is there only to pull the saw and the saw walls will keep the saw straight for the cut) or finding buried steel, ( nails) in the wood, such as happened here….



....in this next photo you will see how I will notch the end of the board so as to get an accurate cut from the start. Just an old turning chiesel which I use for paring a v-notch into the wood….



....and one more photo. I can not say enough about getting off to a right cut start at this point, as this will insure a proper tracking of the blade for the length of your cut. Once one understands the pull saw and the ease of how it cuts, that same individual will often wonder why it took so long to come around to this way of working the wood….



....here I have finished my first cut into the wood. Notice how at the top of the board, the saw line seems to be straying a bit to the left….I will correct this by turning the board over and micro-sliver sawing again, which will get me back on track. To pay attention to these small details now, makes the rest of that 9' long stretch a work of ease….like slicing butter….



Well there you have it….and yes I'm trying to get this one ready and dimensioned out as a 2×4x8, (2''x4''x8') so as to start moving with my design for 'wood art'.

I wish all a very good new year….as I'm heading outside soon, since we have all-ready started snowing once again up here….

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood…."
 
#69 ·
It does take a while to get use to using the pull as opposed to the push stroke. I've started using the Japanese pull stroke saws more often over the past several months and at times I forget to let the saw do the work. Correcting a misguided cut is more difficult with these saws than the Western variety.

Have a great New Year and enjoy your wanderings in the snow.

Mark
 
#73 ·
"Polyporus betulinus" --by RusticWoodArt

Polyporus betulinus

....just thought I would post a shot of one of my keepers of the ideas that fungi around inside my head, before manifesting their molds of desire in the mind-full beauty of 'wood art'….

And so if any want to follow, then here's a short course in General Mycology….or as some may say,....WHO-ology and WHAT-ology….!

Walking the woods and gathering wood is not the only thing I gather, since what good is wood unless ones starts to understand the many types of 'genius of fungi' that also play such an important role in the make-up of my 'wood art'. So here we have one such piece that was rescued from this years fire-wood pile….un-damaged, but then again aged by time and weather.

The name of the fungi that is growing here is 'Polyporus betulinus', and is found on birch trees. Polyporus comes from the Greek word, (noun) 'a pore' and is a genius of fungi, which covers the underside with many pores. Betulinus comes from the Latin word Betulin and has to do with the wood species we woodworkers call Birch. So by putting Polyporus betulinus to-gether we have the fungis that is growing on my birch wood in the up-coming photo.

I thought I would share this one picture here, as a treat of feast, in the on-going work that is going into this white oak two by four by eight, (The Multi-Purposed 2×4)....and also at the time of this cutting here, this one was the taskmaster inspiring me to cut straight and true….



....and then again, never could keep my feet attached to those leather soles of my boots for too long, so I'm slipping the laces to be out of here and back to work in the fields of lofty inspiration….



Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood…."
 
#78 ·
"Where Are the Power Tools" --by RusticWoodArt

Where Are the Power Tools

....climbing up out of the saw pit, the worker of wood looked around and was under-stand-ably fathomed by the appearance of what he saw from up here on top. "Just like climbing out of a box"; he was heard to exhale as he shook the wide brimmed hat free from all the particles of saw chips that gravity had brought his way. Stomping off in the direction of the sap house and muttering to himself, I could not quite understand what the words were that he was making. Turning to the pit boss I asked if he had an explanation for what was being said…."not sure myself, but seems as if I caught a few words there, something about where were the power tools."

I all-ways said ole Hank was half mad, who-ever heard of power tools….seems as if he's been in the pit too long, I thought to myself as I got ready to go home for the day.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

-The Multi-Purposed 2×4….and....LJ Woodworking Awards - Winter 2008-

So here is my beginning….and since a picture is worth a 'thousand words', why say any-more….

....width….



....height….



....length….



....more on width….



....a study in height….



....the starting of length….



....and where it ends….



....and finally some white oak wood….



Now I can start making wood chips….

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood…."
 
#84 ·
"Found a Power Tool"

Found a Power Tool

....eeeh, eeeh, eeeh, eeeh, eeeh….was the sounding of rasping, vibrating, sonic, electronic, springboard, greeting that pulled me up from my earlier place of peace-full slumbering dream-scape, into the now of later remembering, that this is my inhabited world of 2008. So once again I hit the snooze button and told myself that just a few more minutes would not matter all that much as I felt the coldness of the early morning air, shifting around within the closure of this my likened bedroom space.

--"better to dwell within the reality of your dreams, then to allow one's dreams to be-come the thing of shattered, and shared airspace by the many who will never understand and therefore can only promise the torment of living out their days….waiting to retire, with hopes that when time has called their name, some-one will be around to remember their name…."

....wow, that dream of ole Hank, must have really loaded my memory up, for the download to still be swimming around my head I thought, as I lay transposed at breaking dawn, soaking in the re-counting of yesterdays entry….

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

....climbing up out of the saw pit, the worker of wood looked around and was under-stand-ably fathomed by the appearance of what he saw from up here on top. "Just like climbing out of a box"; he was heard to exhale as he shook the wide brimmed hat free from all the particles of saw chips that gravity had brought his way. Stomping off in the direction of the sap house and muttering to himself, I could not quite understand what the words were that he was making. Turning to the pit boss I asked if he had an explanation for what was being said…."not sure myself, but seems as if I caught a few words there, something about where were the power tools."

I all-ways said ole Hank was half mad, who-ever heard of power tools….seems as if he's been in the pit too long, I thought to myself as I got ready to go home for the day.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

And so there you have it, and yes, I would//will dream again, just as in my past, imagination be-comes the again of my future. This world that I live within, is a place of sharing only two ways of seeing with the oneness of my being, having no-use for grey matter or gradual shading, I see either with black and white, love and hate, time or no-time. I am a relic of mine own landscape, where I have also learned to use from both sides of the veil, just to live//survive in this place of time. I remember a place before time, when the kings of breaking dawn, ruled from the landscape of reality, having sat before the round table discussions of what comes next, where often what is seen, is as having all-ready been.

Hand tools, hand working of the wood….the joy of no-power corded tools is soon lost as I swing my feet over the edge of the bed and stand up to make my way downstairs, to feed the wood stoves some breakfast of wood. Ole Hank was one born too early in time and yet he taught me how to live as one born into this world too late. Shutting the door on the last of the stoves I soon caught my re-flection in the window of glass that hung there in front of me….likeness of image they had told me often enough….but to tell the truth, I have never seen my face except for in that image of glass. So who am I in this place of my living out an existence, where all that calls my name says worker of wood…..

....and time clicked on, never stopping to ask if I minded or not. And so soon in the early hours of latter morning, I found my-self out in the barn, working on a piece of hearty oaken white wood. Having placed my hand tools in a place of rest, I found the cords that link my tools, to their source of life….hmmm. Have you ever thought about that, corded power tools only have a source of life, by feeding on the energy of an outside force….no-energy--no-power tool. While hand tools have a life of their own, that gives vision to the hands of those who choose to use their wisdom.

....get back on track Frank….okay, okay….I was plugging in a cord for my bandsaw. Time to get at it here and mark some time, by doing some re-sawing on the bandsaw. I would say that the bandsaw is my favorite way of cutting wood, since it's very much easier on lesser waste, then the table saw….less waste due to smaller kerf. I also believe that the bandsaw is much safer, although one must still not take safety for granted, as even the bandsaw can produce kickback, binding and blade breakage. A well tuned bandsaw will produce excellent results in the wood and if one pays attention to the setting of proper blade guide spacing, blade tensioning, blade sharpness and blade tracking….one will not have to play as much, with all those other ways of adjusting blade drift.

So lets get on with some pictures here and see what's happening to that piece of two by four white oak board….

....cut some of the wood meat out and as to dimensions of length, well…..



....after the cut, length wise in half, I was pleased to see some great character in the book match….



....and….



....so after cutting one other piece also and then passing the four boards through the planner, I proceeded to carry them upstairs to the second floor where I will do my glue ups…..



....glue ups soon learn that they will be sharing space up here, with other pieces of wood waiting their time of coming out as 'wood art'....



....different view, same wood….



....and so I have a question, often when I go fishing at the ocean, I will take along my whale hooks….true or false?....and can any-one tell me the story names of these? And yes, I know the truth….



Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood…."
 
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