Michael Brailsford's Blog at LumberJocks.com http://lumberjocks.com/zamdriver/blog Wed, 20 Aug 2008 01:09:15 GMT Thank you http://lumberjocks.com/zamdriver/blog/5671 I would like to thank all of you who participated in and voted for me in the competition, “Another Man’s Junk”. I feel honored to have been voted for over so many worthy selections.
Thank you all again.

Mike

]]> Wed, 20 Aug 2008 01:09:15 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/zamdriver/blog/5671 Michael Brailsford Michael Brailsford A different kind of challenge http://lumberjocks.com/zamdriver/blog/5421 A few years back Fine Woodworking magazine did an article that gave me a new inspiration. That was to utilize space on a piece of furniture that would otherwise be wasted and install a secret compartment. Now I don’t have sensative government documents I am hiding nor do I have priceless pieces of art I am trying to hide nor secret documents that once I give it to the press will make us feel differently about, let’s say, Coca Cola. I just felt inspired to try a new kind of challenge. I added three secret compartments in my daughters desk. She has allowed my to mention them, but not show pictures of them. I also made a pair of bed side tables to match the cherry built-ins I made (I have no pictures of them) that I added a secret compartment to. When the second National Treasure movie came out it inspired me yet again. I believe it is something that I want to engineer into most of my pieces. I think it is exciting to add a compartment to a piece of furniture that is both functional as a storage space and not noticable from the outside. Let’s say you take a piece of furniture like a blanket chest and can hide a false bottom that nobody but a CIA agent would suspect, that is a lot of fun. Maybe a bed with a post that can open in such a way to hide a rolled up document or small jewlery. You might make a chest of drawers with raise panel sides and make one of the stiles hinge out of the way to access a false back. I think it would be most challenging to add it in an area that is more out in the open. I know that this gave my daughter a kick to have something that her brothers don’t know about.
In the end try something new and act like a secret agent.

]]> Sun, 27 Jul 2008 21:40:52 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/zamdriver/blog/5421 Michael Brailsford Michael Brailsford Sir step away from the project http://lumberjocks.com/zamdriver/blog/5384 Have you ever had one of those projects where you start all pumped up to get going and then you can’t seem to do anything right? I am in the middle of that kind of project right now. I am building a set of book cases and entertainment center for my parents. I needed 6 sheets of 3/4 cherry ply and 3 sheets of 1/4 cherry ply, as well as 84 bd ft of 4/4 cherry. So far things have not gone to plan. You know the old adage measure twice cut once. It does not help to measure twice if you don’t mount your jig in the right place. Sometimes when you just aren’t getting it, step back and leave the project for a while. It can give you a much clearer perspective when you get back to it. Or maybe the gremlins will have just gotten bored and left. In the end give a frustrating project a break. It might save you a $90 sheet of plywood.

]]> Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:20:42 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/zamdriver/blog/5384 Michael Brailsford Michael Brailsford From arguments to passions http://lumberjocks.com/zamdriver/blog/5382 Confession time. I have been a member of Facebook for a while now. First mainly to keep an eye on who is talking to my kids and then because I found I was able to get in contact with friends, many of whom I have not heard from in years. However, there is a dark side. Politics and social issues abound on Facebook. I am a person who can be quite passionate on issues that I care about. This past weekend I had a particularly disagreeable exchange with a close friend who took some hurtful shots because of which I have decided to avoid these issues. Mainly because no matter what I think or anyone else thinks make no matter to my daily life. Who anyone votes for is their business and not mine and vise versa. I know who I am going to vote for and will do so, why engage in a pointless arguement over it? So I am shunning that now and found lumberjocks quite by accident. The only debates I wish to get into now will be over gel vs alcohol stain, cherry vs walnut, and such. It is much more meaningful on a personal basis to encourage people on their work, and to give and get help. The free exchange of ideas on this site is a blessing. On this site nobody will ever know if I am Democrat or Republican, Conservative or Liberal.

]]> Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:35:51 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/zamdriver/blog/5382 Michael Brailsford Michael Brailsford