rookster's Blog at LumberJocks.com http://lumberjocks.com/rookster/blog Wed, 10 Sep 2008 03:58:46 GMT Interviews #1: Woodworking Soundbite http://lumberjocks.com/rookster/blog/5891 I recently had the chance to interview an established woodworker about his life in woodworking. Tim McCready stopped by my other woodworking blog, A Woodworking Odyssey, to comment on using pinch dogs, and somehow that grew into something much more than a comment. I think the interview turned out really well, and Tim allowed the use of some pictures to illustrate some of the comments. He does beautiful work.

In the interview, Tim talks about:
  • how he entered the trade
  • how he became his own boss
  • how he would suggest getting into the trade yourself (if you are so inclined).

My two favorite lines from the interview:

  1. “My philosophy is ‘Cry once when you buy a tool instead of crying the thousands of times you actually have to use it.’”
  2. “I’d love to call Lee Valley and tell them to send me one of everything, but obviously if I did that the only business I’d be able to operate is a giant yard sale!”

Boy, I’d like to be at that yard sale! I had such a great time talking with Tim that I hope to do it again with other dedicated and talented woodworkers.

I hope you’ll stop by and read the interview at A Woodworking Odyssey, and if you know of interesting, talented woodworkers who might be willing to be interviewed, please leave me a comment. I’ll write you back for details.

]]> Wed, 10 Sep 2008 03:58:46 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/rookster/blog/5891 rookster rookster The Sketchup Learning Curve http://lumberjocks.com/rookster/blog/2483 The recent Sketchup Challenge at LumberJocks inspired me to abandon Visio as a drawing tool and learn Sketchup. Sketchup will clearly save hours of drawing time, but learning the tool is taking some time. To develop my skills, I started drawing something I’ve already built, an Inkle Loom, and plan to revise the plans to increase the weaving capacity.

What I’ve found is that the basics are easily mastered, but the tool is so powerful, I want to do more than I ever would have considered in Visio. For example, I want to round all the edges of the tensioning arm and put the inclined plane on the screws and nuts. Is this crazy?

Anyway, this weekend I wrote about my reactions to Sketchup and posted a the current drawing for the Tensioner Arm (the .skp link is at the bottom of the post). I’m hoping those of you who participated in the Sketchup Challenge earlier this year will be able to suggest ways of doing the round over on the tip and back edge of the object. I keep losing the skin on the curves when I attempt it.

]]> Mon, 12 Nov 2007 19:50:50 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/rookster/blog/2483 rookster rookster A New Hope http://lumberjocks.com/rookster/blog/2441 When last we met, the level of clutter in my basement shop area had hindered my desire to be there. But a recent disaster quickly disposed of the clutter. My shop space is cleaner and more comfortable than it ever was, and the clutter is GONE!

You can see more pictures of the newly cleared shop space in my Workshop section here at LumberJocks. It’s good to be back.

]]> Fri, 09 Nov 2007 05:16:51 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/rookster/blog/2441 rookster rookster Cleanup Progress #2: 3 weeks of boxes http://lumberjocks.com/rookster/blog/1224 Cleaning is a little like dieting: you get great progress at the beginning and the result is easy to see. I’ve been very consistent about the workshop cleanup over the last three weeks: Tuesday nights are strictly reserved for dealing with trash and clutter; Thursday nights I get to do something a little more fun, like setting up and tuning the Radial Arm Saw or clearing the workbenches for use weekends allow for projects of any type (I’ve just been clearing little fix-it tasks in quick succession).

Over 18 bags of cardboard recycling have been put out on the curb, and 6 bags of outright trash. The broken 1970’s tubular steel chairs have been broken down so they take up less room (in preparation for a trip to the dump), and the mechanic’s tool set has been put away in the Machinists Chest (fortunately it all fit). Both benches have been cleared, and I’m within shouting distance of having the radial arm saw tuned and ready for precision use. I’ve been enjoying the “wide open spaces” on both benches, and it’s great to have screwdrivers, wrenches, and ratchets in a place where I can put my hands on them in seconds.

Feelin’ good (and I haven’t needed that dumpster yet).

]]> Sat, 09 Jun 2007 00:16:08 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/rookster/blog/1224 rookster rookster Cleanup Progress #1: Cleanup has begun http://lumberjocks.com/rookster/blog/1043 I’ll admit that things had become so bad in the shop I couldn’t bear to face it, but two nights into the project and I’m already feeling better. The workbench is cleared and ready for use! Next week I clear the second bench and we’re back in business. The wife has lobbied for the dumpster I talked about in the last post, but I’m holding out. I just can’t bear the idea of having a weekend to decide what should be done with this stuff.

We may still get a dumpster, but I’m going to be much further along in clearing the basement before that happens… Just an hour or two at a time (every Tuesday and Thursday night) should do wonders.

There are a couple new blog posts on my home Web:

http://www.robertkarl.org/woodworkingblog/index.html]]> Fri, 18 May 2007 23:05:55 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/rookster/blog/1043 rookster rookster Getting into the Shop http://lumberjocks.com/rookster/blog/398 It’s getting harder to get into my shop.

]]> Sat, 24 Feb 2007 05:22:52 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/rookster/blog/398 rookster rookster