| Blog series by Jim Bertelson | updated 1241 days ago | 9 parts | 12399 reads | 77 comments total |
Part 1: Lumberjocks - will I fit in?
Well, thanks for the great welcome. Found this forum searching for solutions to some issues as I started upgrading the shop, and thought it would be a good source of information and camaraderie. I checked out some of the threads, such as “You know you’re LumberJock if/when…”. That made me wonder…would I fit in. Am I … er, ah …. crazy enough, you know…obsessed? Then realizing that yesterday I dumped a whole quart ($15) of Watco into the bottomless pit of MDF that is my new radial arm tab...
Part 2: Situational Awareness - it's about Space and Time
I might be writing this to explain my choices while demonstrating my impeccable organizational skills and foresight. But in reality, I know, that at best, I have a hazy gestalt of what I am doing and why in this hobby, and forge ahead, in an adventurous mode, and am totally amazed at my situation when reflecting at any point in time. Kind of like a two year old rummaging through the kitchen cabinets, chewing off the can labels and scattering the contents of the boxes, sitting there on the flo...
Part 3: My SPACE in depth: Pictures and Ecology of the Man Cave
This purpose of this entry is to provide pictorial detail of my workshop space, and a little more personal background information relevant to the SPACE. My intention is to solicit comments and advice for short term utilization and the eventual long term redesign of the shop. GEOGRAPHY:Anchorage, Alaska. We live in the middle of town, Lowe’s and Home Depot 4 minutes away. The 3 major hospitals and two universities 4 minutes away. BP Alaska headquarters 2 minutes away. We are buried in t...
Part 4: Tuning up, and a tiny project done, with an outrageous time expenditure......, I'll never learn
I was hoping to be further along this weekend in my quest to become a real woodworker. You know, real woodworkers have real shops…..... And I was going to talk about my plans for the real shop…that’s what real woodworkers do…I know…I have learned that on Lumberjocks. Well, just like when I found out I needed a new radial arm saw table, shop maintenance took precedence. That project, where I was forced to retune the radial arm saw, brought to mind some basic need...
Part 5: Interim update. Wiring the Delta 50-760 Sawdust Collector for 220
The Delta 50-760 Sawdust Collector comes wired for 110 volts. Had some issues with lights dimming, especially when running the sawdust collector and one of the big saws. I have decided, therefore, to put the dust collector and the two saws on 220, and then put a line stabilizer on my wifes longarm quilter circuit. The dust collector, in particular, seems to be an amps hog. I had seen a post about the noise level and pitch changing and becoming obnoxious on 220. So I approached it wondering if...
Part 6: Putting together a benchtop downdraft table, and learning Sketchup
Worked this weekend. Isn’t there a federal law against that? And got the flu as well, isn’t there a federal law against that too? I have pretty well licked the flu with magic potions. So not very productive in the shop. Benchtop downdraft table, ala Rockler: Designed for Rockler’s downdraft table top sections, with their plans, except I am not using their downdraft table top sections. Will try a new finish that grips well. We’ll see if it holds up to abuse, and b...
Part 7: Prelude to a Project in b#
.....OR HOW DUSTY GOT A SUIT INSTEAD OF A DARK SPORT COAT AND LIGHT PANTS. OK, I admit this is not really a project, but is a significant addition to the shop, that I built with my own two hands. So I will try to BE SHARP[groan] and do it up right. This is about Dusty, my new benchtop (meaning clamp it to the bench) downdraft table. About the clothes….........well I tried to use dark Watco on the outside and clear on the inside because I was using some reclaimed and previously fin...
Part 8: Benchtop ClampDown Downdraft Table, real Dusty, errrr.....Dusty for real.........
DESCRIPTION Sanding downdraft table to be used on a bench or other. 3 perforated top plates, 2 of which can be exchanged out for non-perforated plates to use on smaller objects. TIMING AND GENERAL FORMATI cut this out about a month ago, all but the perforated top plates. Then was going to put it together with pocket screws for practice, but the 7/16 ply is just too thin for reliably placing pocket screws. While getting my Kreg jig set up on a board, I noted my RAS needed tuning, actuall...
Part 9: Long range planning - how to gain wall space and storage space.
I have reasonable workbench and floor space if you include my project tables. But I am really short of wall space and storage space. Mounting Systems I am going to do the french cleat thing on all walls that are available after removing any pegboard, the old cabinets from my first kitchen remodel in 1985, and some other cabinets as well. I will also put french cleats on the attached garage walls, and there may be room for some storage in the garage that way. Wiring The wiring will...
