| This blog is written by Betsy | 79 entries so far |
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My woodworing ideas and tips #7: The lowly butt joint
In my continuing effort to show that woodworking can be simple and easy I present my next “...
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My woodworing ideas and tips #6: Marking and cutting
OK – this is probably going to be very simplistic at best for most, if not all, of you. But...
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My woodworing ideas and tips #5: Measuring thoughts
Tonight’s tip runs along to something we all do, no matter if we are hand tools nuts, power...
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My woodworing ideas and tips #4: Plywood thoughts
sitting here thinking of things that I was taught when I first started woodworking took me to ply...
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My woodworing ideas and tips #3: Sand paper and cheapskates
So there I am in my little bedroom shop pondering the future and what projects I’d like to ...
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My woodworing ideas and tips #2: Fixing small opps....
OK—- so here’s my first tip. I was reminded of this little tip when I saw a similar l...
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My woodworing ideas and tips #1: What to do, what to do
OK you guys know by now that I am having to limit my woodworking to small hand tool stuff, if tha...
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Hand Tools doings #25: A box for Callie - a left handed experience
There are times when you have to put everything else aside and do something more important. I ...
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Hand Tools doings #24: Excellent customer service
Well——- as you know I’ve been collecting my toolbox full of hand tools. I recen...
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Woodworking vacation tidbits #3: Got my planes today!
Well, I finally have a really good tool gloat. I ordered these planes from Lie Nielson while I wa...
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Woodworking vacation #12: Full circle
I know that some of you have been following my “adventure” of a woodworking vacation ...
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Woodworking vacation tidbits #2: Making your own dowels
Well I’m still pretty tuckered out from my vacation drive home so I’m only puttering ...
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Hand Tools doings #23: Plane fun
I was digging around the garage earlier today and found a cutting board project that I did last C...
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Woodworking vacation tidbits #1: Setting up a hand plane
So here’s my first installment of some of the various tidbits I learned at Kelly MehlerR...
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Woodworking vacation #11: Final day - third, and final entry
Sorry for that second interruption. I’ve never been at a hotel with a timed system – ...
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Woodworking vacation #10: Final day - second entry
Sorry for the interruption – I’m on a timed system at the hotel. Back to the sprin...
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Woodworking vacation #9: Final day ---- always a sad day.....
Well guys today was the final day of our hand tools class. I must say this is the day I like the ...
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Woodworking vacation #8: It's been an expensive day!
Well, I came to this class to learn to sharpen my plane irons and chisels. I’m leaving with...
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Woodworking vacation #7: Day three -- 2nd entry.
A quick summary————FUN, FUN, FUN, FUN, FUN, FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Worked...
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Woodworking vacation #6: Day three ----- planes, chisels, sharpening..... lots of shavings
Having trouble staying on the net. But will try to load the few pictures that will explain a litt...
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Woodworking vacation #5: Day two ---- small shooting board with options and angle setting gizmo
Another good day in the shop. I’m still not 100%, but am feeling better and participated mo...
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Woodworking vacation #4: Day one of hand tool class
Two miracles have happened first thing in this class. Miracle one is that I am not the only woman...
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Woodworking vacation #3: Made it to Berea!
Well guys I’ve made it to the little town of Berea, Kentucky. The after effects of the acci...
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Woodworking vacation #2: Off to a rough start
Well day one of my grand adventure did not go so well. Just got past Hope, Arkansas (for those no...
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Woodworking vacation #1: Getting ready to go
I’m getting set to go to Kelly Mehler’s school. Plan to blog about the class and hope...
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Hand Tools doings #22: Trimming up with a plane
No pictures this time. Just wanted to share my success with my block plane. Finally got it sharp ...
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Hand Tools doings #21: Plane refurbishing job
I’ve had this e-bay plane for quite some time now. I’ve had it apart and left it on m...
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Hand Tools doings #20: Sharpening - from frustration to pretty close to elation
Still working on sharpening my tools on the way to making a dovetail project. I must say if you t...
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Hand Tools doings #19: Sharpening frustrations
OK——so last time I told you I was able to get a mirror finish on the backs of my chis...
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Hand Tools doings #18: Sharpening
I’ve decided that if I’m going to do a dovetail project using hard woods—- I ha...
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Hand Tools doings #17: Yet more questions about hand cut dovetails and fret saws
I’ve been using a coping saw to cut out the waste—- but found that it was difficult t...
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Hand Tools doings #16: Sharpening with questions, of course
My woeful dovetails, although getting better, sure could use some help from sharper tools. So tha...
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Hand Tools doings #15: Dovetails - Fit First Time!
OK – I know these are still not great—- but they fit the first time with NO paring. S...
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Hand Tools doings #14: Dovetails - not quite so ugly - but still not so good
Still trying to get the hang of these things. The joint is deceptively hard to do, but I’m ...
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Hand Tools doings #13: Dovetails - I'm getting there --- still kind of ugly
OK – please tell me these are right. I know they are ugly as sin—- I’ll work on...
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Small Cabinet #1: Prototype with questions - always questions!
Finally spending longer stretches in the shop. I have a friend who asked for a small cabinet to f...
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Hand Tools doings #12: Dovetails issue
OK – I can’t tell you how many “dovetails” I’ve tried to cut. Not g...
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Hand Tools doings #11: Finished box - with finishing question for you
Here is the completed box that I built using only hand tools. I finally have a lid that I actuall...
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Adirondack Chair build how to - Betsy's version #10: Had to hurry up and get done - so here is the finished project
OK – the auction is coming up quick and they are supposed to be picking up my chairs this w...
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Hand Tools doings #10: Precision cutting
Well I’m putting a finish and flocking on my rabbett joint box. I decided tonight that I...
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Hand Tools doings #9: Rabbetted box
I’m still experimenting with these hand tools. So far I’ve twiddled with dovetails, b...
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Hand Tools doings #8: It's a start, first all hand tool project
I know this is really, really small, and it’s only butt joints. However, each piece was han...
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Hand Tools doings #7: ohhhhh I've really done it now!
I made a rectangle! With only hand tools! No power! No noise! And its pretty darn close to square...
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Adirondack Chair build how to - Betsy's version #9: Footstool
The church auction is coming up fast. I’ve been out of the power shop for a while. But the ...
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Hand Tools doings #6: home made "vise"
I’m just puttering around tonight. I thought I’d snap a couple of pictures of the hom...
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Hand Tools doings #5: Third try - hand cut dovetails ---- Sooooo much better
Well these are more like it. Still not very pretty, but better. I know I said I was done for the ...
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Hand Tools doings #4: Second try at hand cut dovetails --- picture heavy
OK – I failed my first attempt. This attempt at least is closer although the end product do...
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Hand Tools doings #3: My first dovetails - warning - kind of ugly
Well it’s taken several attempts but here is my first set of dovetails. I realize that it&#...
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Hand Tools doings #2: 2nd stab at hand cut box joint - a touch better
I tried the box joint again. I must say I did better this time. Blake was right – hand cutt...
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Hand Tools doings #1: Hand cut box joint
Since I am not able to be in the power tooled shop, I’m twiddling away in my spare bedroom ...
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Adirondack Chair build how to - Betsy's version #8: The chair assembly
Well it’s taken a while—- but I’ve managed to get one of my chairs assembled. T...
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Adirondack Chair build how to - Betsy's version #7: Armrest assembly #2
This is the tricky part. Getting the angled cut on the back armrest support. The idea is that yo...
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Adirondack Chair build how to - Betsy's version #6: Armrest Assembly - #1
Well I’m back from being sick and spent some time in the shop last night working on the arm...
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Adirondack Chair build how to - Betsy's version #5: The back rest
The back assembly is broken down into five slats, the foundation and one support piece. The cente...
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Adirondack Chair build how to - Betsy's version #4: Seat Assembly
This part will be kind of like watching paint dry. So really not much to see just a lot of repeti...
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Making a short fence #2: Used it and have some thoughts
Ok – I’ve made the short fence and have used it tonight to make my slats for my adiro...
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Adirondack Chair build how to - Betsy's version #3: Today is preping to make the seat assembly - chisel question -
On the first day of this blog I told you to avoid pitch when picking out your boards. I apparentl...
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Adirondack Chair build how to - Betsy's version #2: Adirondack chair - third day of build
Well today is a short evening in the shop. Just enough time to do the front legs and get the leg ...
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Making a short fence #1: A good safety feature for your table saw. Questions at the end
Well – here is my version of the short fence. I’d really appreciate your looking a...
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Day two - the leg supports
ok – day one was all about the prep. I spent Saturday doing three things, shopping for lumb...
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Adirondack Chair build how to - Betsy's version #1: Day one - prep day
Well – here starts the journey. I’m going to build a set of two chairs with footstool...
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My plane is a bit cleaner and "softer" now
Well I still don’t have this the cleanest of planes. But it is closer to being usable. I...
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Slowly starting on refurbishing an e-bay purchase - questions at the end.
OK – I’ve pulled out my Stanley that I bought off e-bay a few weeks ago. These are a ...
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I humbly submit my application for "Plane" Idiot of this small village of ours
Ok—- It’s been a while since I’ve blogged on my hand plane syndrome. I’ve...
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Fifth and LAST day of finger box build ---- learned some lessons
I think we left off with me gettng ready to do the bottom and the lid. The grooves were already c...
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Fourth day of finger box build - just set up time tonight
Didn’t get much done tonight – wasn’t feeling well so I did some set up and sho...
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Third day of finger box build - I'd like some confessions of LJ's to soothe my goof
So not going to get much done tonight, home late from work, dog needs attention, etc. So now on t...
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Seond day of Finger Box buid - Ran into a problem
ok – I’ve built my router table jig and have the materials milled and ready to go. No...
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First day building the pencil box
Ok – so now I’m on to making the box itself. I’ve not accomplished much today a...
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My first as you go project for your review
Ok – so I said that I was going to pick a project from one of my favorite books and then po...
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Project based learning
So I’ve been doing a lot of “twiddling” in the woodshop lately and have realize...
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finally think I have pictures to show of my planes from e-bay
Here are some pictures of the 5 1/4 I bought off of e-bay. I did clean it up a bit. Still long wa...
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A hand tool epiphany takes place
I have no idea if “epiphany” is spelled correctly. But oh well. Any who—R...
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Sure wish I were more mechanical
I just got my newest purchase from e-bay. It’s a 5 1/4 Stanley plane. The picture was not a...
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Unadvertised advantages to planes
Really getting into this plane thing. But I must admit, all of the articles and books I’ve ...
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What a gas!!
Decided to take some of your advice and buy a jig to hold my plane blades to sharpen them. WOW. G...
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Going to take a class
Well I now know how badly I want to learn to use hand tools – I’ve signed up for a cl...
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More on my hand plane journey
Second chance to make shavings tonight. Have definetly discovered a few things: 1) if you inte...
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Hand plane journey
As many of you know, I am trying to incorporate more hand tools into my woodworking. I’ve s...
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Blog Series
- Adirondack Chair build how to - Betsy's version - 10 parts
- Armrest assemly - #1 - 0 parts
- Hand Tools doings - 25 parts
- Making a short fence - 2 parts
- My woodworing ideas and tips - 7 parts
- Small Cabinet - 1 part
- Woodworking vacation - 12 parts
- Woodworking vacation tidbits - 3 parts
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