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Same here, I truly believe the best way to make a small fortune woodworking is to start with a really large fortune.

well, went to the shop for a test run....one drawer is completed, and in the clamps...second drawer needs those clamps in the morning....then a bit of trimming....and sand them smooth.. only hold up, is waiting on drawers to be assembled long enough for the glue to have cured out. Then wait on clamps to be available.... Stay tuned..you may like this part...

Good job, family. I won't hassle you about codes. But, I do hope your using California carcinogen free paint.

There was a topic recently about custom woodwork, which I've now lost track of. I heard Nancy in a presentation last weekend and meant to post some of here thoughts, but could not find those either at the time. Probably the best advice I got before I quit my job and started my business from from a (former) custom woodworker, "The world is full of ex-custom woodworkers paying off their IRS debts." That was enough to lead me in another direction. Here's one of Nancy's recent posts http://www.finewoodworking.com/2017/08/14/nancy-hillers-reality-checklist

Stopped in at a local indoor "flea market" yesterday...picked up these treasures. Grand total with tax +$13 or $1.625/ea for the 8 items. The pruning saw maybe has been used 1 or 2 times. DIB price tag was $19.98. It replaces my old Fiskars pruning saw. The egg beater is a no name, but like new condition...wooden handle & crank knob, but nylon gears; the chuck is as valuable to me as the rest once I remove the stuck 1/4" twist bit; might be a good beginner tool for my oldest grandson? The Karbo-grit is more of a novelty than anything especially since in OB although the grit surface (fine) is very good. I always can use an extra 1/4 chuck key + the cord retainer; The drill bits in the wooden container Is suspect are from the late 40's to early 50's. No name brand. Originally included 9 bits but only 6 are there. No 1/16" Label is marked "For Hand, Breast, Post, Bench Drills. The X-Acto handle and blade is new although the plate has slipped in the back. The Copper rivets ~3/16" dia. x 3/8" L. Tower Mfg, Madison, IN; original price tag $2.49 I use to use similar to "roll" upper main bearing halves out; maybe make my own jeans now or something...lived in Madison from 1953-1955. The auger bit is #8 (8/16 or 1/2" by 12"L marked Van Camp (thanks @John Moody). Former Indianapolis Hardware & Tool Company Carbide attached particles to a copper plate attached to a wood block Cat #9-3002 Original price sticker of 25 cents

Progress pictures. Been working hard at it lastnight and today, beams are up, new posts, putting up the hangars now. Nice and clean notch to hang over the long beam. Wife and kids got two coats on the lumber. There's more painted lumber off to the side. Moving along! PS: please hold off on displaying your knowledge of building codes, every region is different. Thanks

ahhhhh.. retirement practice... way to go John...

I had thought of that Cal, but I have had bad luck with the cup sprayers for paint work mostly due to my own misuse of the sprayer or lack of reading instructions I am sure. I have a commercial airless that have owned for years, I thought of breaking that out but it atomizes paint pretty good and our neighbors would have had issues with that one. But the smaller cup sprayers I did think about, but like I said, just had not had that much luck with it. Truth be told, this was a great experience for mom and the kids, they all got to have a roller, and go to town on this, and while rolling out paint they had some good life discussions, it was a neat family project for them. Funny how it all works out after all right?

Best advice I've ever heard about starting a business: only work for yourself if you can't stand working for anyone else. Down deep, wherever you work, no one really likes the Boss. That includes the self-employed.

With two dogs and two pups in the house....I have quite enough "BARK!" Thank, you.....

Sorry some of the measurements are a little off

Last night wasn't a good night....Was just going to measure for the back panel.... After a lot of fussing and cussing....got the panel cut....out on the patio. About threw the thing down the steps to the shop....finally got it attached to the case.. Photos are from today....was to agitated last night to mess with a camera... Plugged the counter-bores....walnut plugs, and a dab of glue....hammered each in place But the drawers kept sliding out, into my way...grrrr, not in the mood. Took the drawers out, laid the case over, finished the plugs. then added the foot pads...THEN placed everything back to where they were... Which brings up this plank of Poplar... Was too large for the mitre box, rather, too LONG @ 7' long.....Laid the plank on the bench, was about to clamp it to the bench to saw......hmm,NEED a saw...walked over, grabbed the 1953 Disston D-8 crosscut saw out of the til, THEN clamped the plank to the bench...waxed the saw'plate, and made what I hope is the correct cut for length.. Then hauled the load of clothes in the dryer up the steps, and closed the shop for the night... Nothing much was done today.....a little cleaning of the floor. Installed a new light for the bench. Will try to clean these to new arrivals...sometime.. Strange hammer? I might find SOME use for the other "Thing" laying there....just a dollar bill for these two. Maybe after Lunch tomorrow, I may try to get to the shop....stay tuned...

No lead here, either. But, all the oil based products you need. Hey, it's just a short jaunt to the border.

The bottom piece was the last one done. Then after closer inspection, it was done but on the wrong side. See the two holes in the two pieces. They line up and a screw goes in from the bottom. I knew about an hour ago it was time to quit and go eat. At least I can still carve the other side.. Can't win em all.

Because I can rip the occasional beam when I need too, or 4x4 post, in one pass! The lumber I am using for our new balcony and patio structure is roughsawn full dimension. My 4x4's are 4" by 4". Love it! I have a small beam I needed to rip an inch off, my 12" TS cutting limit is 4.25 inches in one pass. Plus the 5hp helps too. You see me pushing hard at the end, it's more to do with the fresh paint on the beam, was grabbing the workbench surface.

Well, that sort of narrows the choices, doesn't it?

I like it, I could really get used to this.

Ok, Pastor took the Boss and I out to lunch, today. Extremely happy with his desk!. Finally got back home, got out of the Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes, and into the shop clothes.... Got the clamps off one drawer, and did a glue up on another, using all six clamps.. Worked on the drawer the clamps came off of....and set it aside, had a Drawer to assemble... Made a big batch of Maple Noodles, ploughing grooves for drawer bottoms.. Got the front and both sides grooved, then laid out a few dados.. Even made a "knife wall" for the mitre saw to follow.....then some chisel work.. Then a dry fit.. This was the easy one....I had to bevel the edges of the plywood panel to fit the grooves. Panel was a bit too much fun to cut to size, too.. But, finally got it to fit.. Spread some Elmer's around, had to use the pipe clamps... Added a few screws to the back and the bottom..... Ok, that drawer that was cleaned and set aside? Because someone complained about seeing "exposed, naked" Dovetails. This will be done only on the dovetailed areas, top and bottom edges are left alone....would look too "busy". Same "Enlightened" blowhard also didn't like the use of plywood..........or my use of a Bandsaw ( horrors!) so....here tis I am waiting on glue to dry, again. Maybe later, I can clean up the second small drawer? BTW: Amber Shellac? Or, that smelly BLO? Stay tuned

Probably his new GF or the kids. In either case, this is appropriate.

He's fine, he's live and well over on Facebook, he's just ignoring us for some reason, what'd ya'll say to him to make him high tail it out of here!

Fred when we started trying to get rid of the coons, the trap worked as good as anything. I hauled off 28 coons in about a 5 week period. I hauled them to the other end of the lake which has a mile long bridge and a creek bridge that always has water standing to come across to get back here. Its right at 6 miles one way... two different times I had two coons in the trap at the same time. Very heavy and the trips almost every night got to be a chore so I went to get a hunting license which was at Walmart and he said the permit would let me shoot 1 coon a night. Don't know if your area would be the same. So I put a hanging light over a saw horse with long metal legs. At first I used a regular wood saw horse from the shop but while sitting watching and waiting for the coons we noticed the skunks kept trying to climb up the wood to the food. It took about 6 months and once the skunk figured the saw horse out, I had skunks I had to deal with in the trap so thats why I built the long legged metal horse. They never could make it up that one plus we smeared crisco or something slick to make sure. I have the trap only about 10 foot from the deck of my house with a light hanging right over it so it kinda entertaining so I could sit in the house and play free cell and every once in a while glance out the window... I did get the permit for one year and this was much easier to get rid of them than put them in the pickup and spend a half hour or so hauling them. A fence charger not built to kill. We also have lots of foxes but they are good for the area for they eat rats and mice but do get the fruit when they come ripe but I consider that a trade off. Squirrels are another thing for we hardly ever get any pecans off of ten trees or so plus and the bluejays help the squirrels. Watch what trap you get for the coons. They can destroy some of the smaller traps. Our cats take turns with the foxes eating. We use dried cat food for the coon bait. Sitting the trap on the ground didn't work so hot for the ants would have the food covered solid right quick. As it is I can spray around the metal legs and have no trouble. Every night of so I switch the red bucket for the trap and sometimes the cats or the foxes can't wait and we have to go out and let them out. I do like to wait and leave them in the trap for a few hours to try and get them so they will remember not to go in there but they are kinda like my wife, they will do what they want to do...and what I want don't matter.

similar here. gave a friend a nice little cherry box last week. they said, "hey, you should sell these" nope. if i approached it in a proper business manner, i'd be up to my eye balls in paperwork every week, sure, i'd have all sorts of tax deductions on day one for my shop and all its tools, but the IRS says you have to show a profit in 2 out of 5 years, or they consider it a hobby, thus no deductions for you, so pay up your back taxes. it's cheaper just to give it away. don't have to worry about record keeping, filing reports with the county and state every quarter, keeping separate accounts, tracking lumber purchases, dealing with inspections and rules......no thanks.

And that's why it's a hobby for me.

Hey take care and watch closely...I know you half tongue-in-cheek jest about this, but it is very realistic you may have a slight concussion. You (we) aren't as young as we once were so some things can occur more easily than they once did. watch for signs anyway...don't be "hard-headed" about it...ooops poor choice of words in this instance.

What if I throw in the bark?

Working out a few "details" in my sore head......there will be a surprise coming in regards to the drawer fronts.....Need to cut a few strips of walnut....and THAT is the ONLY hint you all will get..... Banged me head getting into the van today, so hard it made the van rock......now have a leaky bump on top of me head, and a BIG head ache.... Concussed? Or, maybe knocked some sense into that solid bone structure......? Anyway, when the next shot of all the drawers shows up...look very carefully...

I don't have any patterns but I made some for some boxes I made. You might get an idea from these The first two are made from welding rods and short dowels the third is wood shaped as hearts and the forth a lady in New Orleans ordered this one plus the pulls are from some bamboo wood flooring. I would suggest you might be happier with some if you thought up the designs yourself. I am a person who hates to be told anything.

Very handy light fixture. I got one like that on every machine in my shop, all garage sale items. I make a list of things to look for at garage sales and ask for the things on my list. I tried 100 watt curly cue florescent bulbs for the light fixtures but they were too heavy but the led's work great. As I was leaving a garage sale one time the lady said ain't you guys gonna buy something. I said I was looking for a 22 rifle but don't see one. She said husband has one, I'll go ask him if he wants to sell it.....Cheapest buy on a gun I ever made. That was when I started making a list of things to look for and especially ask for. Garage sales are held for number of reasons. They either need to get rid of things or else they need money so keep that in mind as you are looking.

Well, today, while installing a new light for the bench.....decidedto clean the floor under the bandsaw.. Even found a few tools that had dropped off the back of the bench.... As for that new light... About $2...new in bag. It did need a bulb and a bit of installation... Has enough reach I can see over onto the bandsaw, as well as the bench.....maybe I can actually see what I am doing? Bandsaw is still working great, starts right up.

Ok, that's it Gene!!!! You had to go there didn't ya!!! Lowes Valspar high heat exterior grade I guess is what you call it. I am sure if Lowes is selling it, here in CA, it's good. Oh how I yearn for the days of oil and lead!

I like the dovetails!

Thanks for getting us connected @Stick486, Ralph is a very busy man for sure. Well cover his quizzes till he gets back and he resumes his duties. If you read this Ralph, you are missed and appreciated!

I keep telling myself that Gene, and trying to convince my wife of the same. Sometimes it's hard!

Well, Fred, it sounds like you have a plan. I'll make a suggestion, though. If you are going to use an electric charger, set it up now. Tie some surveyors ribbon on the wire at consistent intervals. Bait the area and let the coons come into it. If they learn that the fence is going to bite them, they will associate the surveyors ribbons with the shock, also. Come spring, they'll associate the wire and ribbon as nasty and avoid it. Not all will be conditioned, but the more that get the message before hand the better off you'll be. Basically, it's conditioned response. This is the way you train dogs on an invisible fence buried in the ground. The buried wire is marked by flags, when the dog gets close the collar beeps and warns them. You slowly remove the flags and the dogs learn not to go near the perimeter wire. A neighbor did this with his pigs. He ran a wire around the pen, he then walked the pigs around the pen and forced them to touch the wire as he made the circuit. They soon learned the boundary and would wear a path around the pen, away, from the wire. Once they learned, he didn't even have to run the unit. They just associated the wire with the shock.

Kinda like sanding. A little rough in the beginning. Then things gradually smooth out. We're up to the 300 grit now.

Mine, also, reverted back to the light theme this morning. I have changed it back to the custom theme. I am back to experiencing an intermittent lag when typing. Not all of the time just every once in awhile. I not the slowest, or the fastest, touch typist in the world, but it is having a tough time keeping up this morning. Thought you would like to know.

Everyone keeps telling me to sell the things I make. I tell them I don't a job, especially one that pays a lot less and has more headaches than the job I retired from.

Thanks, Keith. Her insights should be mandatory reading for all aspiring business owners. Very sobering.

Change is good.

you burn witches, not rocks, even though rocks float (well, little rocks, shaped like ducks!). i'm here all week!!

Just so you know, about 12-15 years from now things won't go that fast for you!

Hey, Hey! This is a family-oriented site, remember? John

FINALLY someone found a use for cottonwood! No sense in burning them, they don't give much heat. John

Since I have had one in my shop for a couple of years now, I would like to put in a plug for the maker of my cnc machine. Inventables.com It's a smaller machine (1000mm x1000mm or about 30"x30") but with software techniques, one can work to infinite lengths in one direction. I have many times done engraving on 8' deck boards for a local restaraunt and have another to do today. Price is around 1600 for the macine and there is free software available or you can use 3rd party software at extra cost, which I use and prefer. On thier forum there is even a for sale and trade section for used machines that folks have tried but just lost interest or other factors and are looking to sell. You do have to put the machine together but this is helpful in the learning process so if something goes awry, you can resolve it easily. Is it a high end commercial machine? No. But it will let one "get thier feet wet" in the world of cnc at a lower price point and do what a cnc should do. I dont work for them BTW but I do believe in the company. and thier customer service is top notch to say the least. Ok, End of shameless plug.

Update: Seems the bandsaw got tired of being "Jump-started" each time it took less spins to got it moving...yesterday..I flipped the switch on, without doing the helper...saw started right up! Has been working fine ever since....must have done something right? Will see how long this lasts.....fixed, for now.

After they secede from the USA they may have second thoughts on knives

...guess you should've keep the doughnut holes...

Hey Dave, you've never offended me but, could you send a few of those trees my way, anyway?

Well, Keith. I am just terribly offended. I'm pretty thick skinned but that just takes the cake. What were you thinking?

Took two people to get that tire onto the wheel...unless the other tire falls off, I am not changing it. Will put things back together, and go from there...