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Showing posts with label from. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Well the weather has made a turn here in Wisconsin this week with temps up into the 40s. We are talking about a 60 degree turn around from the -20 below temps we were sporting the week before. How could I stay away from the shop with the weather so balmy and beautiful. (I know some of you from the more southern areas are cringing to hear me talk about 40 degrees as comfortable and balmy, but after a while at -20 degrees I was ready to break out the shorts . . . almost.)

Maybe its just the change in weather, maybe its a wish for an early spring, maybe it was just the giddy happiness that sometimes accompanies the time I get to spend making sawdust, but I decided to peel back the tarps I have covering a lot of my tools (protection from condensation and a leaky roof) and use the video feature on my little digital camera to record a quick tour of my shop. The whole thing was done as a one take deal. I resolved to confine my perfectionist was to working off the cuff and keeping what I recorded, in the order I recorded, however I recorded it, so you will have to excuse some of the jumpy nature of the production and editing.

I love to look into other peoples shops, When we go rummage sale shopping here on weekends in the summer Im not looking for that 25 cent bargain Harley Davidson T Shirt thats two sizes to small. Im looking into the garages to see the way someone will have it set up, what tools the might have and the layout they use, those kinds of things. Im not looking for trouble, Im just looking for ideas. There are all kinds of shops, just like there are all kinds of woodworkers, and I think theres always something you can learn looking into someone elses shop. So you are welcome to sit right there and take a quick look into mine.
As a side note, I had a funny kind of epiphany while I was editing the video and putting things together. For some of the editing I turned the sound off to just watch and see if there were other tweeks I needed to make to it before I put it up on YouTube. Watching yourself move and talk with the sound off is an interesting exercise. I could not help but realize just how many manerisms I had that were the mimic of my father. From the turn of my head a certain way to the way I shrug my shoulders when I make a joke. I could sit there and watch and see my father coming through in the things I was doing. I wonder if hell see the same thing when he sees this video...will he see himself, or just me? I almost cant wait to find out what he thinks.

Cheers
Oldwolf

Monday, January 27, 2014


Sams uncle, Peter Moore of VermontBrickOvens.com , Pawlet, VT, builds elegant wood-fired pizza ovens. Sometimes he needs little details like this digital thermometer door cover above or a fancy damper handle that Sam made earlier in the week (The camera missed that one) . The outer door frame shown here is maybe 8 x 10" made of 1.5" angle iron, but I thought it had a cool look when it was done so here it is .... Click the photos for a better view ...

First step, cutting and welding the 1.5X1/8" angle iron frame, fitting the 1/8" door

Step 2, scan a logo and cut a tree out of thin, (14 guage?), flat stock... or maybe it was an 1/8"flat stock ... Sketch on some mountains

Find some brass hinges and rivets and practice your mountain making and all you have left to do is make your mountains and stars on the real thing, hand forge a small pull, texture the big copper rivet, figure out how to epoxy on a little rare earth magnet to hold the door shut, patina the brass hinges, and youre all set .... Nice Job Sam!

click to enlarge for details