Featured Content

Wow, another week has gone by already! I've been busy with the typical spring fare- painting deck furniture, yard work and preparing the tiny garden for planting.   We had a really great discussion this week concerning the characteristics of a table for mounting a lathe.Patriot member Lissa Hull asked for help determining what she should consider when making a table for her new lathe. Check out the discussion here- http://thepatriotwoodworker.com/topic/16824-making-a-lathe-table/?page=1.   Another Patriot member, Todd Clippinger, provided a heads up on a new turning video from Brian Havens. Brian always has great information and this video is no exception. This particular video deals with using a gouge as a scraper. Brian's explanation on how to use the gouge for scraping and why it is a safe operation is really interesting.       I gleaned this next item from a post on Google+'s Woodturners community. I believed I may have referenced the Library Of Congress site in the past. This link is to an old book titled "A course in wood turning", published in 1919. What I found interesting was all of the detailed measured drawings at the end of the book. Here's a link to the book- https://archive.org/details/courseinwoodturn00milt   While on that page, scroll to the bottom to see more old turning books!   Safe turning.

Good Monday Morning folks! Time to kick the tires and light the fires! Hi ho hi ho it's off to work we go! So, what are your woodworking plans for this week ahead, and what did you accomplish over the weekend? Me? I've been reading my wonderful books I received in the mail a few days ago and priming my mind for the grand opening of my shop once again. To see the books I have been reading go to I am ready to start to create some jigs for some chairs I am excited about, and to begin production, I have college educations to pay for and my day job only gets our family so far! So here we go! So, how about you all? What ya been up to!

I just bought a lathe and have never used one before the lathe does not have a table. I can make one but my question is this I have no idea how tall to make it.. Because I have no experience with lathes. Where do I want my work to be at? Eye level? Shoulder? Does the table need to be heavy to help with vibrations?  I have done woodworking before just not this type. Thank you a head of time for you help. Also please add any suggestions you may have for making a lathe table.

Well I did it again. I perused Amazon books this past weekend and found some wonderful book about Shaker Furniture. I know our admin John Moody loves Shaker too! I am hooked on Amazon Used Books, you can purchase virtually any book used on Amazon at a fraction of the cost of a new book, great for us, not so great for the original author and publishers. But hey, your keeping small independent used book stores across the nation busy and cash flowing! So there is an upside to the supply side of this. Here is another book I purchased through Amazon at this link: The following books arrived over the last two days in my mail box, and I love them!   This first book caught my eye completely because I really want to build a shaker Mt. Lebanon style chair, and rocker. I love the style and the weaved seating. I paid $3.99 plus $3.99 shipping on this one.   How to Build Shaker Furniture by Thos. Moser, the Moser's are one of my favorite woodworking families in the entire world. I get their catalog of furniture every year and I drool and I also get inspiration for design ideas. This book arrived in excellent condition as well. I paid $1.99 plus $3.99 shipping on this one.   Here is another Kerry Pierce book for Shaker furniture and storage. I can't wait to dig and read this from front to back. I paid $4.99 with free shipping on this one.   All three of these book were listed on the Used Book Scorecard as "Good Condition". Folks, these books look brand spanking new! These are the actual scans of the books I received, if you look at the first book above, you'll see a little turned up corner at the lower right of the cover, that is the only visible wear out of all three of these books. Each book ranges in prices from 24 to 30 bucks retail based on the tag on the rear covers. I paid a total of $18.95. You can't beat these deals, I would like to encourage anyone who wants a book, to avoid purchasing new, and re-purpose these used books at a fraction of the cost. Thanks for reading!   Interesting Links Kerry Pierce Kerry Pierce Furniture Album Thomas Moser

Good Monday morning Patriot Woodworker's! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and all your digits are still intact and functioning properly. Speaking of safety, here is a reminder for us all from the grand pooba of safety OSHA. Years ago I was a carpenter maintenance worker for Sea World of San Diego, and I was also the Safety Officer for our shop along with cataloging MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets). I had OSHA on my mind quite often, and Anheuser Busch was very serious about the safety of their employees, it was almost a job within a job. But I learned much, and I still use many of the safe operations in my shop today. I just simply copy pasted a page from OSHA's own website here as a reminder of some of the things to watch out for, and what the industry looks like as a whole in the realm of safe practices in woodworking. When you click on the videos you'll have to open them in your own media players, and the PDF are viewable without downloading. I know, it's a boring read, but they, remember, it's OSHA! Have a safe and wonderful week ahead folks! OH! And, what did you get done over the weekend, and what are you working on for the week ahead!!   Hazards and Solutions Workers operating woodworking equipment suffer the following common injuries: laceration amputation severed fingers blindness Health hazards for woodworking include wood dust and chemicals used for finishing products, which may cause skin and respiratory diseases. The following OSHA video clips and images from OSHA inspections display some of the machinery and related hazards associated with woodworking operations: Finger Jointer/Conveyor Nip Points*. (September 28, 1998). Table Saw - Unguarded*. (January 7, 1998). Shaft End/Conveyor - Unguarded*. Planer Feed Deck*. (February 2, 2000). Guide for Protecting Workers from Woodworking Hazards (PDF). OSHA Publication 3157, (1999). Personal Protective Equipment (PDF). OSHA Publication 3151, (2003). Discusses the types of equipment most commonly used to protect the head, torso, arms, hands, and feet. Additional topics include requirements, hazard assessment, selection, and employee training. Hand and Power Tools (PDF). OSHA Publication 3080, (Revised 2002). Presents to employees and employers a summary of the basic safety procedures and safeguards associated with hand and portable power tools. Wood Products: Woodworking. OSHA eTool. Provides information on topics such as assembly, production, and shipping. Production > Handheld Nail/Stapling Gun Hazards Communication Guidelines for Compliance (PDF). OSHA Publication 3111, (2000). Provides a general guide for employers that do not produce or import chemicals to help them determine what the HCS requires. Materials Handling and Storing (PDF). OSHA Publication 2236. Helps employers know and understand the potential hazards associated with the task at hand and how to control their workplaces to minimize the danger.

Carl Jacobson posted a nice video on making salt/pepper combinations-     Most of us have made handles for a turning tool. Here, Brian Havens explains how to consider the length of the handle-     When I use a faceplate, chuck or any metal accessory that screws onto the headstock threads I always use a Spindle Washer (learned through personal experience). They can be purchased from most woodworking stores and on-line. Here's a very short video showing how to make them-     I have heard that there is some concern that a spindle washer can affect the trueness or run-out of the lathe. Here's a video demonstration from Rick McQuay explaining his views-       Mimi gave my last 3 coffee scoops away. I have the materials cut and ready to glue to make the scoop portion. Guess I'll be at the lathe for a couple of days.   Safe Turning!

Sketchup contains so many tools to make drawings easier. One that is very helpful is the "Follow Me" tool, although, it can sometimes be confusing to use for those just starting to learn Sketchup. Here's a short video showing some of its' capabilities.       While on the Sketchup subject, Dave Richards has released a new "E-Book" called "Sketchup Guide For Woodworkers: Advanced Techniques". It is available from the Taunton Press as a digital download (pdf format). I have it downloaded but haven't had a chance to work through it. I'll post a review soon.

I wish to inform all of the readers and members of TPW that we have received word that Frank Byers is in the ICU unit in the Marietta Hospital.  Frank, one of our contacts at Woodcraft, is also a friend and posted here on site.  He was admitted with pneumonia and the respiratory issues have grown worse rather than better.  He's in a drug induced coma to allow his body to heal and let the antibiotics do their job.  Please keep Frank and his family in your thoughts and prayers.   Here's a link to Frank's Facebook page.  His daughter Maddy is keeping his status updated on his page. https://www.facebook.com/DJFrankElvis

The countdown continues and next Friday I will be officially retired. As I understand, it really just means I change bosses. But for a while I will be here by my self during the day. We'll see how it works out.   So a few weeks back I posted a picture of a couple of Poplar tables I was working on to become Lego building tables.   At this point all I had to do was put the trim piece around the top that helps keep the pieces from falling off the table. So this week I got all of that finished and got the tables painted Lego Red and added the Green 10"x10" Lego bases. This gives them something to start building from. I made one of these for my grandson for Christmas and had several people wanting one.    So now these two are ready for pickup and should bring hours of fun in Lego building. I used epoxy to attach the bases to the top.       Today I am working on gluing up and hopefully getting these two Walnut panels cut into a circle 27 1/8" to be used as a table top on a Bistro Table. I'll take them down to almost a 1/2" thick and the bevel the edge after it is round.     And while I am waiting on that to dry I am working on building a cherry base for this Marble Chessboard that came from Italy.     I also have this small veneer repair to do on this old coffee table They saved the piece of veneer and taped it on so I will get it glued back in place for them.     That's what is happening in my shop, what projects are you working on this weekend in your Patriot Woodworker shop? All of us here at TPW love to see the pictures and projects you are working on so share this weekends projects with us.   Have a fun and safe weekend in the shop making sawdust!!

Think your dovetail and box joints won't come apart? My study of antiques says otherwise. But I have a solution to lock your dovetails and box joints permanently.This is my favorite woodworking tip and technique of all time. I hope you enjoy the video and find it helpful.   I am looking forward to hearing feedback on experience and observations of these joints. Your friend in the shop-Todd A. Clippinger      

Good Monday Morning Patriot Woodworker's and guests! So, what the heck do have going on in our shops this week? I finally finished sanding some plaques for my daughters veterans club event, you can follow the beginning the blog series here at Project Introduction.   It's amazing how long it takes to sand 32 square pieces of wood through the grits to 600. Last night I applied a coat of Watco Teak Oil and wiped down and tonight I'll apply a second coat as well. The plaques need to be finished up by this Friday night for presentation. I'll submit a second blog entry later about this project.   Meanwhile, it's daylight savings time! Yuck! I wish it would just stay whatever for all year long. For nice read on the history of DL savings, see this at Daylight Savings Time Wikipedia.   So, what's up in your shops folks!

I just realized I forgot to include this information about a newly formed, AAW sanctioned woodturners club.  The new woodturning club in Santa Cruz County. It is called the Santa Cruz Woodturners Association. Our membership includes absolute beginners to professional turners so everyone is welcome.   For more information see- http://thepatriotwoodworker.com/topic/16742-new-aaw-chapter/   I apologize, Larry for missing this in the last installment of "Wednesday's..."   Lew

I have been looking at the Carter  guides.  They seem nice and the Euro ones I got on the saw have been showing some wear.   But I had it in my head that they were too spend-O-licious for what they were.   Yipper I'm a cheap Ba$%#$d. So I set about figuring  how to build 'em.   Seemed easy peasy. First I mocked it up from wood and hot melt glue just to get the feel of it     Cute huh?   I know what you are thinking - - - did he turn it on with wood  just hot melted together?  Is anyone that INSANE??  well sort of,  the video is  still uploading   so you'll have to wait to certify me insane.   But it looks like it's a do-able  thing       The DUTCH  ANGLE  for drama     through the front door   From the side   An intimate view from the rear.     So after all this  I have  still to  turn the steel pillars for the lower guides.   I'm thinking maybe the Carter Guides  ARE worth the money coz it's been a busy couple days so far.   Wasn't so easy peasy as I imagined.  But it's sturdy and works great. I've already used them.  

First Friday in March and it starts the show season for us. I'm here and ready to setup and get it going. This is an outdoor show and the low tonight will be 34 so we will run our heater.    Been working on finishing cutting boards and a couple of cedar chest.    so what what is on your agenda? We here st TPW love to see your projects. Post them and share with us.    Looking forward to to seeing them!    

Squinkies, yep that is what they are. I made this display rack/storage hanger for my granddaughter.  It will hold 350 and she has enough to nearly fill it. I drilled 4 shelves at a time and inserted/glued 3/16" dowels and cut to length. It was time consuming, but I enjoyed it. She will LOVE it.    

Good Monday Morning Patriot Woodworker's! Well here we go again, the madness of the week starts over and we all roll up our sleeves and get back at it. This weekend I made a trip with my oldest daughter into the lumber store to pick up some walnut, birch and maple for some plaques that I am on the hook for. Her high school club Patriot Tigers is hosting a dinner for the veterans who work in their school district in a few weeks, and part of that dinner includes the presentation of some "Thank you for your service" plaques to the 30 plus veterans in attendance. To see what both our daughters and their club have been up to lately please visit their website at http://patriottigers.weebly.com/   This last week mama loaded the kids into our family wagon and shuttled them to the Homes for our Troops event for Army Specialist Jose Martinez. In the image below you'll see all three of our kids actually, one of our daughters are third from left rear row, and the other second from right, and our son is standing at attention with hands braced appropriately and thumbs tucked in per standards to the left of the guest of honor. We are very proud of our kids and their friends, and we are very proud of our daughters for starting this fantastic club in our valley to benefit those who have served. And we are completely honored to have them standing in the presence of "freedom protecting royalty". The new home in the background is obviously the new home of Spec. Jose Martinez.   If any of our Patriot Woodworker's have never been to an event like this, I'd like to encourage you to do so, it's a life changing event to rub shoulders with the men and women who have served, and sacrificed, for us. And the more you become involved with something like this as our family has, the big bothersome things in life, well, they just seem so trivial anymore. Context is gained further, and a perspective is shared and gained.   To join these events across our nation please go to: Homes for our Troops Project Map   So, what is on your Patriot Woodworker agenda this glorious week ahead!! Curious minds want to know!  

I have seen the SawStop demonstration with the hotdog a dozen times. But I always felt that it was done under premium conditions to ensure that it worked properly with optimal results. At several of the demonstrations I had questioned the demonstrators and requested that they place the hotdog in a glove so we could see the results. My request was always denied and I was always told, “You shouldn’t wear gloves at the table saw.” Well, I live in the real world where other contractors are on my equipment, we work in extremely harsh conditions, and I can’t keep control of everyone every time they use the table saw. So, even though it is unsafe, contractors wear their gloves at the table saw all the time. That is just reality. My local cabinet hardware supplier, A&H Turf, recently became an authorized SawStop dealer and so I made the request to them and they took me up on it. This video shows how far a SawStop will drag the glove into the machine before it kicks off. I hope you enjoy my version of the SawStop test and stay safe out there;) Your friend in the shop, Todd A. Clippinger Let your work be your signature.  

In between other obligations, I was able to finish up the salt shaker Mimi wanted. The glued up blank from a variety of scraps-   I trimmed the diagonal piece to form a square blank then rounded the blank on the lathe-   Remounted the round blank in the 4 jaw chuck after turning a tenon on one end. The shape is a little different from others I've made. Although the top "ball" is not perfect, I still like the overall shape and proportions.   Next I drilled the inside hole according to the dimensions that accompanied the parts. My Forstner bit extension wasn't long enough to drill to the correct depth so I switched over to a speed bit.   The final top hole was drilled on the drill press using the drive center mark for locating the drill point.   Couple of coats of gloss poly-   A couple of  weeks ago, member John Morris asked about adding a cover/cushion to the tool rest to prevent tool damage. Most of the people who responded felt this probably would  not be a good idea as this might trap dirt. While turning the salt shaker, I noticed this on my tool rest-     If buildup occurs on bare metal it would probably be even worse if padding/coverings were added to the tool rest.   I'm not sure if a Facebook account is required to view this but Scott Phillips has a short video with some turning tips- https://www.facebook.com/theamericanwoodshop/videos/1664358050491053/?fref=nf   Safe Turning!

Good Monday morning Patriot Woodworkers! What do you have going on in your shops this week! Inquiring minds want to know!   Here we are rocking and rolling and ready for a new week of fun and work in the wood-shop! I am a huge fan of the MWTCA (Mid Western Tool Collectors Association) and every year for the last 5 years I have subscribed to support them. Their subscription starts on the calendar year, so every January you would pay the modest 26 dollars to be a member, have your name listed in the national directory book of which you get a copy, you also receive a really nice reproduction old book of tools, machinery, or something related to woodworking, and on top of that you get a quarterly publication (The Gristmill) delivered to your door. All of these items together are easily worth the dues, but more importantly you are supporting a great cause. These folks main mission is to keep the antique tools history alive and well, and they are very good at it. They also have regional tool meets and conferences, many of them are within driving distance from our members here. I encourage you to sign up with MWTCA, help support a great community of collectors, and help keep our tool history alive.       Below is one of the Annual Reproductions you receive with your membership, this particular one I received last year, a really neat old book that is actually brand new due to their professional reproduction, each year MWTCA sends out a different reproduction.   Below is a neat video made by Jim Bode Tools showing off one of their tool meets.     And finally here is a link to join! Mid West Tool Collectors Association    

More snow, then ice and then rain- you would have thought it would have been a good week for turning but, alas, the shop was filled with lots of maple strips, TiteBind III and beech-wood biscuits.   In between gluing the strips, I have been able to finally glue up a blank for a salt shaker I promised Mimi. I'm anxious to see what type of pattern emerges from the various wood species and the manner in which they were glued. If I was really good with Sketchup, I could probably produce a drawing but those skills are barely beyond the "box" stage.        I'll need to trim the diagonal piece and then mount it on the lathe. This isn't going to be a grinder type of salt shaker- just a plain old fill at the bottom and shake out the top. I have the sneaky suspicion she's going to give it as a gift. Maybe by next week, I can get it, at least, rounded.   Popular Woodworking has posted another Tim Yoder video on YouTube. Tim makes a colorful pendant. What's really great about this episode is that Tim explains a little about dying wood and how those principles can be applied to other turnings.     Safe Turning!

Here we are already in the middle of February and only days away from Valentine Day. I hope you have taken a  little time out to pick out something really nice for your valentine.   So I have been out of the shop for just over a week. But I am ready to go again and look forward to getting into the shop this weekend. We should have really good weather here and I am ready. I have cutting boards, and furniture pieces to either work on, cut out or finish so I can just take my pick this weekend. The main thing is I will get in some shop time.   So what is on your Patriot Woodworker agenda this weekend? We here at TPW love to hear about and see all of your projects and the projects that are in progress. Share with us your project and any pictures you have.    I'll be looking forward to seeing what all of you are doing since I have been out to pocket for a coupe of weeks.    

In this video I share how I cut small parts on the miter saw.  I am sure this one will be cause for active commentary from the safety police and maybe the hand tool junkies for not using a fancy hand saw to cut small pieces.  Well, this is the way I do it in the American Craftsman Workshop. Because if the tool doesn't make any noise and throw a rooster tail of sawdust, how am I supposed to know that any work is getting done? Hope you enjoy the video and find it helpful;) Remember to let your work be your signature.  Your friend in the shop, Todd A. Clippinger Share the Love - Share the Knowledge 

Good Monday Morning Patriot Woodworkers and Guests! Now that we are all waking up to a "normal" week, without football hype, interviews of players, betting, and the constant barrage of geographical reviews of San Fransisco, we can get back to what really matters in life, woodworking! That being said, my son and I were on opposite sides of the Superbowl, I had to root for the Broncos, my boy on the other side, he's already an independent thinker at the ripe old age of 11. I was happy for Manning, and on the other side I was also rooting for a Panther win because of Bruce DeHaven, the Panthers special teams coach, he was diagnosed with an un-curable form of prostate cancer, and he coached through the last season like a champ, and he is loved and well respected by his players. I really also wanted a win for him as this will be his last year.   This past weekend I have been tasked by my oldest daughter to make 40 awards for her Veterans and Patriot Tigers club she heads up on her high school campus. My family was at a Homes for Our Troops event on Saturday leaving me in the shop to get the awards started. Our girls club is going to present the awards to all the staff members in our school district who are Veterans at a special dinner that the students organized for the staff. Each award will be different. None alike. I have done these before and the recipients love them. I'll chop them out of these boards and slabs and shave and chip till they are ready. Then I'll mount some engraved tags and branch of service medallions on the face of each one. We have some California Live Oak, Apple, Claro Walnut, and Black Cherry. All left from prior projects. What a great way to use leftovers, in wonderful projects like this. Respecting the tree it all came from, and by giving each veteran a unique symbol of thanks. So this coming week I'll be splitting and hacking at these slabettes (not a real word, but hey, it works!) and cutoffs in order to come up with some unique awards for our veterans. How about you all? What you got coming up this week? Our Admin John Moody gotyall fired up for the weekend, and we are being nosy about your work week now!  

I am starting a bookcase This is the beginning of the base unit and I've finally taken a short vod of my slot mortising machine / milling machine.  The head tilts the power head is a Triton plunge router   The miller Some components of the bookcase   little tenons I can make 'em any size I need          

Good Monday morning Patriot Woodworkers! Here we go again, off to a new week, a new start and a new week to make sawdust, create works of art, wrap up honey do lists, and if your like me, make firewood! For our family the hustle and bustle of the Holidays and the following weeks are just winding down now, since our two oldest daughters both had birthdays in two weeks consecutively and both the birthdays were party worthy because of the important year, our youngest daughter turned 15, a very big birthday for the culture my wife is from, and our oldest girl turned 18. Now that the parties are over, and our home is back to a dull roar I'll be able to get back in the shop and start up on some of my projects. Meanwhile I have been getting my woodworking fix by vicariously living through others and their artistry. One of those being a group of folks who make Windsor chairs. It's a relatively small community of chair makers and they are wonderful folks, they have a great appreciation for quiet shops, full of hand tools and tradition, and they are a very helpful community willing to jump in and help anyone make their Windsor chair. Here are a couple links to some of the makers I have been visiting: Ellia Bizzarri Curtis Buchanan Jock Jones Arrow Back Arm Chair by Jock Jones My head is wrapping around the idea of a quiet shop as I have begun the mental process of coming to terms of a quiet shop and what it means to run on human power, and the Windsor chair among many other projects are well suited to the quiet suburban shop of today. In addition to the Shaker Round Box projects I posted about a few weeks ago, I think the Windsor chair would make a great addition to the inventory of hand made projects to have in an inventory for market. They just seem to go together so well.   So, what is on your week's agenda folks! It can't all be work, I know we have some retirees here as well who are able to continue their woodworking through the week. Not me, I still have quite a few years before I am in that camp, so for now I'll sign off and head out the door to work, and leave this community in the wonderful hands of those who are able to visit throughout the day. Cheers!