randyb's Blog at LumberJocks.com http://lumberjocks.com/randyb/blog Wed, 05 Dec 2012 14:25:21 GMT Projects for freinds and family http://lumberjocks.com/randyb/blog/33301 I am amazed how many projects come to me from other people.it seems every time I try to work on my stuff, I am side tracked buy a new project from someone else. I have been working hard on redoing my shop, finally I am making progress, then there was the knock on the door from my friend across the street” who buy the way is a black smith, with cool tools”. He has a project he would like to make for his wife for Christmas. As I should be working on something for my wife, but I agree none the less. As usual I over think things and the project goes from a simple pine box, ( not that kind of a “pine box”by the way) to a full blown, rift sawn oak, super dooper heavy duty Box, That doubles, or even triples as a stool /storage system along with dovetails!! Always use your dovetail jig when you can, because they are soooo coool. The point I am trying to make is, the projects you do for someone else are the best on so many different levels. They push you to do things you wouldn’t normally do, plus they score huge Karma points. I hope I do a good job since I set the bar so high.

]]> Wed, 05 Dec 2012 14:25:21 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/randyb/blog/33301 randyb randyb goodbye to an old freind http://lumberjocks.com/randyb/blog/33268 Last month I had to say goodbye to my restored 1960’s Powermatic model 66 table saw. It was my dream saw with a Excalibur sliding table, as the old Rush song said from a better thanish time. I spent a lot of time on putting this old saw back to work. I bolted it to the floor, and tried to “dust proof” it. As I was sitting in my shop looking at all of the things I planned on selling to clear out my shelves and make some room. The Excalibur sliding table was huge!!! and took a lot of floor space, I found it to be a great place to store stuff. I thought I would put the saw in the classifieds for a higher price than all of the other table saws, much higher than it cost me. One day later a man who happen to be a retired wood shop teach from a local college called and ask if I still had the saw, when I told him I did, he in a relieved voice told me not to sell it!! He wanted it and would be driving from the next state over to get it. I under priced it I thought what had I done??? My saw was sold. The guy told me that he only used Powermatic tools and had been looking for this model for quite some time and was very excited, mine looked almost new and was loaded with all kinds of neat toys
My saw is gone now and I miss the heck out of it. Morel of the story is, be careful what you ask for you just might get it.

P.S. My wife told me I can buy a new Saw Stop Table saw. Man I love her!!

]]> Mon, 03 Dec 2012 14:25:43 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/randyb/blog/33268 randyb randyb cool jigs http://lumberjocks.com/randyb/blog/23961 Last weekend I help a friend do some custom home improvement work, (sorry no photos). We had to do some dadoes and other little tricky techniques to make it strong enough to hold a heavy appliance. He had done this kind of work before but only having a few hand tools and an old radial arm saw, he was in need of some help. My shop seems to find this kind of work the most, which to be truthful scores big karma points. I really love doing project where you get to show off your skills and use your homemade jigs. woodworking is such a great hobby! I work with my hands for a living, but i love to be able to just figure stuff out and make it work with no pressure from the boss man. If you make a mistake you just modify, adjust, and move on.

]]> Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:39:41 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/randyb/blog/23961 randyb randyb Bench Cookies http://lumberjocks.com/randyb/blog/14734 Today I used my new “Bench cookies” for the first time. I have to say they are cool! I was working on a new router table top, I needed to flush trim the edges and do some sanding, I had my workmate sitting there so I set the top down and thought I would have to clamp it down. I remebered my cookies and gave them a try, Impressive! if you don’t have a set you should pick some up.

]]> Wed, 24 Mar 2010 22:41:21 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/randyb/blog/14734 randyb randyb Clamp dilemma http://lumberjocks.com/randyb/blog/14361 I am having problems in my shop, and I need your help. I am going to buy some new clamps, I like the Jet clamps. My problem is what sizes to get, i am getting into some cabinet and furniture. I am in need of some advice, please help. Thanks

]]> Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:58:32 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/randyb/blog/14361 randyb randyb My old Block plane http://lumberjocks.com/randyb/blog/13164 Today, I was building a window sill for my house, the window was a bit bowed so I needed to remove some wood in the middle to make it fit. I kept thinking how am I going to do this without screwing up. Should I sand it, cut it, or what? what a pain. I was looking through my bench drawers looking for that ever elusive pencil, you know the one that can move on its own. As I was searching, I pulled open the drawer with my hand planes. I love hand planes, but I never remeber I have them. I grabbed my block plane and started shaving off the middle of the sill until it fit perfectly. The block plane is a very cool tool, I am going to tune mine up and use it more, that is my new years resolution. If you don’t have one then you are missing out on a wonderful tool.

]]> Thu, 21 Jan 2010 01:16:42 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/randyb/blog/13164 randyb randyb My Wife http://lumberjocks.com/randyb/blog/12835 I have to say I am very lucky to have a wife that supports me in all of my hobbies. We all know woodworking takes a lot of room, money and time. My shop is our garage, we have never parked a car in it as long as we have owned our house, she has never complained. My wife has bought me many really great tools and always comes out to my shop a looks at my simplest acomplishments. I know many of you feel the same way, so heres to our wives!

]]> Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:37:47 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/randyb/blog/12835 randyb randyb How to setup a woodshop http://lumberjocks.com/randyb/blog/12814 The book reads “how to setup a woodshop” I have to laugh when I read this. I have been working on my shop for at least 7 years and its still not done! As I look back over the years I have said I finally have a woodshop at least 10 times, I said it yesterday. As I walked out and look inside I realized that it has always been a wood shop, its just better now. I think sometimes I get caught up in the hype and over think things. My new year resolution is to spend more time enjoying what I have and not planning my next tool, “unless I happen to run across a sweet deal on a big planer” .

]]> Wed, 06 Jan 2010 01:26:37 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/randyb/blog/12814 randyb randyb building a shop http://lumberjocks.com/randyb/blog/9875 I can’t believe how important my shop is to me. I call it a workshop not a wood shop, I am always out there doing something, fixing, building, and thinking. its been called an unorganized mess, whatever! maybe so but its my mess, as long as there is a place for my coffee and my old rocking chair I’m happy. every morning when I take the dog out to do her thing, I open the door and just smile, its my place.

]]> Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:03:53 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/randyb/blog/9875 randyb randyb my first post http://lumberjocks.com/randyb/blog/9867 I’m am so excited! I finally figured out why my old Powermatic 66 table saw wouldn’t start. I have been working on this problem for a week now, I really feel bad for all of the names I called it. along with the guy I bought it from. The breaker for my 220 was only on one leg of the shop power! you would think for an aircraft mechanic I would have caught that pretty quick huh. It doesn’t matter, It works!!!!! I love the sound of the big cabinet saws when they power up, kinda like an old jt8 engine, Can’t wait to cut some wood. Now I have to get it all tuned up and put together. My shop is a mess so I don’t know where to put it. I have a really nice jet contractor saw that I have used for a few years I really hate to part with it especially since having two table saws would be great! but a router and a lift would also be nice to have, the way the tool budget is one has to make sacrifices. for now I’ll use what I have.

]]> Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:42:06 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/randyb/blog/9867 randyb randyb