Huckleberry's Blog at LumberJocks.com

My First Commission

Huckleberry — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:21:17 GMT

Earlier this week I received my first commission. Or lets say it is my first job for someone that is not a friend or family. I am both excited and intimidated by this first step. Although it is a small job through school and will not be a huge earnings I am looking at it as some great experience. I will be adding cabinets to an existing kitchen. Which with the sizes and such will have to be fabricated. Now for the scary part, HOME-OWNERS! As a home owner myself I really scrutinize work that I am having someone else do. So I guess I kind of know what to expect and hope that I can satisfy this customer and keep them within the budget they would like to stay in. I can say this the design and estimate process is not all that much fun. I would really like to hear about everyone’s first time and the fears and successes that you had on your first commission.

Rocking Chair Problem

Huckleberry — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 01:22:52 GMT

Latest and greatest project is for my sister-in-law that is due to have a baby any day now. I am doing the style out of Wood Magazine issue #183. Everything is going well, but I lost the paper that has the rest of the patterns on it for the seat slats. So Jocks if any one has this issue and wouldn’t mind scanning or what ever I would appreciate it. Here is a picture of what it looks like now.

Huck's Book Case

Huckleberry — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 04:04:30 GMT

Ok here is my entry for the bookcase challenge. This piece is a complex design and I hope that I will not build this one. Although beings that my wife loves this design it will probably have to be built. The original design was to be made from a sustainable material. Though it is shown in three different woods paduk, walnut, and lace wood. I would like to claim this idea for my own original idea, but my wife actually came up with this. Hey she could almost make it as my designer. Good luck to everyone that enters this contest!

First Table Saw

Huckleberry — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:34:18 GMT

Ok jocks, I am in the market for a new table saw or should I say my first table saw. I was looking at the Powermatic 1 1/2 hp contractor saw. I was at my local Woodcraft and got into a really good conversation with a fellow wood worker who happens to work there. We were talking about this saw and then he tries to up sell me on a steel city 3hp table saw. Now the pros and cons of each have been weighed heavily and there is about a $400 to $500 difference between the two. Now with this bigger saw I am pretty sure that dust collection would be a great idea. So I guess my question would be for a first saw would you buy bigger than you need knowing that you may tie into a project that could require the extra hp. But also that this purchase would indeed run you to the point of no new tool purchases for at least another 6 mos. But on the other hand with this Powermatic that you may still end up buying a bigger saw a few years down the line. I’m looking for some advice on this one since this will be my first big purchase.

Back in the Groove!

Huckleberry — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:16:41 GMT

Ah Huck’s back! In the shop that is. Took the hand longer to heal that I had first hoped, but all is well now. It amazes me that when you loose the ability to do something that you really enjoy how great of a feeling it is to get back in saddle. So I am back on track with this futon that I am making and had plenty of time to make design changes and this thing is turning out a heck of a lot better than I thought. I hope to have some pictures soon on this. I hate to disappoint everyone I did go through with the pocket holes and glue. I am not giving up on mortise and tenons I wanted a quick joint and to my surprise this joint is pretty strong. I really appreciate the well wishes that I received from everyone it was really nice of you all.

Scroll Saws

Huckleberry — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:37:04 GMT

Well since I have nothing but time on my hand (HAHA), I took a trip down to Woodcraft to look at scroll saws. The only one that they had there was a DeWalt. For $489 and some change I could own this and it comes with a stand and light for free. Well since I am just looking I wanted to see if anyone else has any tips on buying any certain brand or if anyone owns one I like to hear about it.

Pens for Soldiers #1: Woodcrafts making pens for our guys over seas

Huckleberry — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 15:25:39 GMT

It’s about 9:15 Saturday morning and my wife and I a headed down to Woodcraft to turn pens for our boys over seas. As I was talking with my family about this we ended up with a lot of volunteers. So hopefully this year we can get a lot of these done. I will write about all that went on and how we did. I would also like to put some photos up for everyone to see.