The Renaissance Woodworker

This week we start building our very own wooden spokeshave. This will be at least a 2 part video due to the detail involved. This is not a very difficult project, but it requires a great deal of precision to get it done. You don’t need very many tools and it will be a great test of your hand skills.

The blog of the week is Rob Bois’s shop blog at http://theboisshop.blogspot.com

Check out his videos on his 21st Century Workbench.

Questions, Suggestions, Comments?

shannon@rogersfinewoodworking.com

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First of all if you don’t know what Lumberjocks is then stop reading this and immediately click on the link and sign up to be a member on this Facebook for woodworkers site. This is an amazing community full to inspiration and comraderie and a great addition to any woodworker’s toolbox.

OK that said, the Lumberjock pen swap is in the middle of round 3 and I was visited by the pen swap fairy this past Friday. I came home from a trip up to Lancaster county, PA to find a mysterious box on my front step. It was extremely heavy but I knew by the sounds it made that it must be my turn in the pen swap rotation. I quickly took it down to the shop and tore the box open.

Wow, this thing is full to bursting with pen kits, pen blanks, and completed pens. This is the second time I have participated in this swap and it is becoming more and more obvious just how great woodworkers are. The overflowing box is a testament to their generousity. It took me at least 15 minutes to unpack everything and be able to take stock of what was inside. My entire benchtop was covered with stuff. This go around several of the Jocks has put in some local “exotics” from their part of the country like Kentucky Coffee Tree, Pecan, River Birch, and Mesquite. Of course there were samples of the pen turning standards like Cocobolo, Ebony, Pink Ivory, and Curly Maple; however, this round is unique in that several of the Jocks had also dropped in some “challenge” blanks.

These challenge blanks are from locally harvested woods usually on the Jock’s property that are unusual in some way. The challenge part of it was not only to take a blank, but to make a pen with it. The taking is no problem because these two blanks: Cherry Burl, and Spalted Willow are both stunningly beautiful. The making however is the real challenge. Both blanks provide their own tests as the burl is very unstable and the willow is just plain punky and soft. They will take a steady hand and fine tool handling technique to turn effectively. I think this will be a good opportunity for me to try some home stabilization techniques that I have been reading about on the forums. Whatever happens, I am up to the challenge!

I admit that since this box was so full that I may have taken more than I put in just so that I could get the box closed again. We Jocks are probably abusing the flat rate shipping box and the US postal service must be losing money on this deal because the weight alone would drive up the shipping cost. I tried to offset the space and weight issue by putting in more pen kits and less blanks since they take up less space. I also put in more exotic and expensive blanks and kits to balance out the karmic effect.

Here was my take:

Blanks:

2 Laminated Walnut/Poplar
2 Apple
Spalted Willow
Cherry Burl
2 Cocobolo
Pink Ivory
2 KY Coffee Tree
2 Pecan
Walnut Crotch
Tulip
PurpleHeart

Pen Kits

A cool satin nickel Euro

Pens

Great Euro turned in acrylic
Beautiful Slimline in Big Leaf Maple burl

And here is what I put back in the box:

Blanks

2 Quilted Maple
2 Bird’s Eye Maple
2 Very Curly Koa
Kamani (Hawaiian hardwood)
2 Yellowheart
2 Quartersawn White Oak
2 Quartersawn Sycamore (from my backyard)
2 Buckeye Burl (see my Euro Screw Cap post)

Pen Kits

2 Classic Screw Cap
2 Rhodium Euro
Refrigerator Pen

I didn’t put in any of my own pens mainly because everything I am making now is going towards my craft show in two weeks. Next time around maybe I’ll put some of my own creations in there. I can’t wait to try out some of this interesting wood I pulled from this. Thanks to everyone who is participating and especially to Tim D for organizing the whole thing. Now it’s time to package this up and ship it off to the next lucky Jock!

The long awaited pen giveaway sponsored by Penn State Industries has arrived. Come along and watch me make this beautiful high end pen kit.

To make your own go to www.pennstateind.com and get your Majestic Jr. kit. You will also need

10.5 mm drill bit
12.5 mm drill bit
3/4 x 3/4 x 5 pen blank
Barrell trimming sleeves (or make your own)
Majestic Jr bushing kit

This is a great high end kit and will be a wonderful gift this holiday season for that special someone.

Stay tuned to the end of the episode where I announce the winner of the drawing. We had over 400 entries to this contest in our very first giveaway. Thank you to all for entering and I now have a very compelling story to share with PSI to continue this sponsorship.

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Today I started filming for the giveaway episode of this above Majestic Jr. pen kit. This pen is similar to Jr. Gentleman or Jr. Statesman pen that Craft Supplies offers, but I am really pleased with the lines and details on this particular kit. This is the first Majestic Jr. that I have turned and it was very simple and straightforward and comes together with a spectacular result.

This will definately make an outstanding gift to someone this holiday season or just a nice reward to yourself for making it through another year. I’m not going to show any pictures of the one I just finished here, you will all just have to tune into the podcast to be released Monday evening, November 24th. I will hold the drawing until 9 PM so for those of you who like the thrill of waiting until the last minute can get their emails in to me by then.

Good luck everyone!

This week is a lot of little things rolled into one episode. Also I premier the first video edition of Tales from the Hoarde.

Don’t forget your entries for the pen of the month giveaway next week. I’ll be giving away a Penn State Majestic Jr. kit complete with drill bits, bushings, barrel trimmer sleeves, and a stabilized spalted Tamarind blank.

Send me an email to shannon@rogersfinewoodworking.com and let me know you want to be in the drawing.

Topics:

World of Woodworking Online Game (listen up Warcraft!)
New Dust Collector
New microphone
Craft show preparations
The Way of the Galoot new podcast!
Cutting miters
Scraping glue
Fitting a panel to a groove
Tales from the Hoarde vol. 5

For those not familar with the Hoarde series, check out volume 1 through 4 here on the blog. Just look in the wood stash category to find them all.

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To the Twitter crowd this will not be a shock, but to the rest of my readers and listners I am sad to announce that I did not make it to Woodworking in America this weekend. My wife has been battling an illness for 3 weeks now and just when we thought modern medicine had it beat a secondary infection took hold and she had to be hospitalized for more testing and observation. This decision all happened late on Wednesday afternoon as I was wrapping up work for the week and bubbling over with excitement to go to Berea. However when faced with the decision of going to a woodworking conference or staying with my wife (who is terrified of hospitals by the way) there was no decision to be made.

Let’s fast forward to Friday night and eliminate the concern of the readers and just say, that Heather is fine. She was discharged and as of this writing on Saturday morning she is home resting in her own bed and on a road to recovery. Now to back up a few days, I am still dumbfounded by the kindness and support I have seen from the woodworking community. I have been inundated with Tweets and emails wishing Heather well and encouraging words about how much better WIA will be next year and how I won’t be missing anything.

On that last point I couldn’t agree more because I have several good friends whom I’ve never met out there right now taking classes and taking notes prepared to share with me and the rest of the woodworking community. Maybe I am deluding myself, but honestly what I am missing the most about this event is not the classes and lectures, but the opportunity to meet all the fine people I have gotten to know through Lumberjocks, Podcasts, Twitter, and all the other social media outlets available to us. Maybe I should throw a big shop-B-Q and have everyone over to hang out. Then again how many people can you realistically fit into a one car garage… So thank you to everyone who is pulling for us. Thanks especially to Matt and Mack for pleading my case at the WIA registration desk, and also Mark for offering to fly me down later for free. You guys are kings among men!

As an interesting side note what was hardest for me these past couple of days was consoling Heather as she was distraught over missing this weekend event. I think she was even more excited than I to get away and catch up on some reading and well deserved rest. Bless her heart, she keeps feeling guilty for making me miss such an anticipated event and I keep telling her that I wouldn’t rather be anywhere else than by her side. However, with the antibiotics she is taking she is really sleepy so she keeps “banishing” me off to the shop stating that “You’ve done enough and I’ll call you if I need something. Go have fun.” So with no plans for the weekend and a mandate from the CEO of the house I guess I’ll have to go down to the shop and make some stuff.

Looks like there will be woodworking in America after all…

PS: the rumor mill is churning and it seems that there may be more than one WIA event next year in different parts of the country. Maybe I’ll go to all of them next year to catch up!

PPS: Don’t forget to send in your entries to the Penn State Industries giveaway. Send me an email to shannon@rogersfinewoodworking.com. I’ll be doing this drawing at the conclusion of the podcast to be released on Monday November 24th.

This week there is much ado about the trip to Berea for the Woodworking in America conference. The long awaited date is fast approaching and I have been prepping my tools to take to the conference. In this episode I will walk you through my steps to resurrecting an old firmer chisel that I won on eBay. As a bonus I show you how I prep a new Veritas plane blade right out of the box in 5 and a half minutes!

The blog of the week is none other than my favorite Roubo creator Jameel at Khalaf Oud Luthiery. Check out his blog today and be amazed.

Also in this episode I mention my new Veritas jointer plane and my first usage of Zem hearing protection. And coming soon is my guest appearance on The Saw Dust Chronicles with Rick Waters and Erik Pearson. Check it out.

Finally the biggest news is my announcment of a show sponsor. The great folks at Penn State Industries have sent me two of their very finest high end pen kits complete with drill bits, bushings, barrel trimming sleeves, and a spalted Tamarind blank. I hope this will be the beginning of a regular sponsorship by Penn State and I am relying on my lovely listeners to come out in force and sign up the giveaway in a few weeks to show them just how powerful this podcasting medium is. So with that being said, send me you email entry to shannon@rogersfinewoodworking.com and let me know you want to be entered in the drawing.

Penn State has pulled out all the stops and given me the perfect pen kit for a Christmas present for that special someone in your life. And one of your will get one for free. With all of the goodies included this is over a $50 value!

So finally here is this week’s installment of The Renaissance Woodworker. See you all at Berea and for those not able to make it I will be active on Twitter and the blog daily during the conference. Come back soon, same bat time, same bat channel!

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So any of you who have been listening to my podcast and reading this blog have heard me mention on more than one ocassion that I do not have a workbench right now. You have also heard my plans to build a version of the Roubo that has become to famous (infamous to our spouses) thanks to Chris Schwarz’s Workbenches book. Well if I am to strive for any kind of excellence this would be it. Check out Jameel’s bench and video of his gratuitous planing and workbench demonstration.

Check out the 8 foot long shavings he is peeling off the edge of the board with his jointer plane. This gives me that warm fuzzy feeling in my stomach! Someone get me a tissue I think I might cry.

Khalaf Oud Luthiery

Jameel, if you are out there, you’re my hero!

I got an email the other day from Todd O up in Minnesota. Todd took up the challenge of my audience participation turning project put forth in episode 9 and made his very own Euro Screw Cap pen.

Shannon,

I finally was able to turn my pen (pictures attached). I made it out of ebony, sanded to 2400 grit, then finished with EEE-Ultra shine paste wax, and Mylands friction polish with a final coat of paste wax. Thanks for putting out such a great show I look forward to your next turning project.

Thanks again,

Todd O

Richfield, MN

Here are some more pictures of Todd’s glorious creation:

Thanks for sharing Todd and keep up the great work. Ebony is one of my favorite woods to turn and pens are small enough to allow me to do it without breaking the bank!

So how about the rest of you listeners out there. I know you are turning so let’s see what you have made.

Welcome to The Renaissance Woodworker podcast. This is episode 12. I have to make apologies first of all for this episode. I had some recording problems and the levels came out a little off so you may have to turn up the volume in places only to turn it down later. Sorry about that, but I didn’t want to delay the release of this episode when it wasn’t that serious of an issue.

This episode has been inspired by my preparation for my annual December craft show. I take a lot of steps to speed up the builds when I am making multiples of the same piece. Here are my thoughts on how to handle this process whether preparing for a show or building gifts for the whole family.

This week I talk some things to consider when making multiple identical pieces either for family at the holiday time or when preparing for a craft show. The keys points are:

1. Determing your target demographic
2. Designing for that demographic
3. Designing for repeatability
4. Plan the build
5. Layout the processes by machine or tool
6. Label, Label, Label
7. Assembly tactics
8. Finishing strategy
9. Consider the next project in the run.

In my current events I mention

-Build your own spokeshave video coming soon
-File compression
-Miter saw safety and my near miss
-Moxon by candlelight
-Blog of the week: Al Navas’ excellent site. Check out his journey on learning to hand cut dovetails at http://sandal-woodsblog.com/

Questions, suggestions, hate mail:

shannon@rogersfinewoodworking.com

or leave a comment on the blog at

http://rogersfinewoodworking.com/blog

Two weeks til Woodworking in America. See you then!

The thumbnail image for this week is one of the pieces I am selling this year. Would you buy one?

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