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I want to make some display frames for the Famous Women's Quarters being issues by the mint. I want the frames to be round and made of segments, so here is what i came up with (suggestions and criticisms welcomed). First, I had to cut the segments and I didn't want to make or buy a sled just yet, so I used my miter gauge. This is an Incra 300 and measures angles down to 1/2° so I wasn't worried about that part. To keep the lengths correct I made a fence with a stop and adjusted it to cut the right length...then I cut 22 of the segments (2 extra, just in case) out of some cherry I had.       Here's how I decided (right or wrong) to turn the ring. There will be 2 layers overlapping to make the joinery easier and I started by making a backer out of floor underlayment (1/4" ply) and gluing (sparingly) the first ring to it. Then put the second ring on top of it.       Then to mount it to the lathe I made 3 pieces, one was a chunk with a tenon to put in my chuck, the second was a back support that got screwed to the tenon piece. Then a front support to clamp the underlayment backer down tight. You can see how these went together on the lathe. I drilled holes in the center of everything to allow me to align everything as an assembly. I put a 1/4" bolt through the holes and then screwed the pieces together.         Now it was time to turn, and since I didn't know what tool to use I went with bowl gouges and an EZ wood rougher. I've never done anything that generated this many chips, I was buried in them by the time i got it roughed out. In this pic, you are looking at the bottom of the frame, the rebate is for the inside piece that holds the coins.     So I sanded the outside and then had to remove the backer to finish it up. I took everything apart and put the frame in some cole jaws to cut off the underlayment backer. This was a little tough, plywood really dulls tools fast. I had to sharpen my gouge 3 times to get the dang thing cut off.       Once the backer was removed I had to clean up the face of the ring and trim some more out of the inside. But I finally got it done.     It's easy to see this isn't perfect, but it was more of a test to see if my plan would work. I want to make 4 of these, one for each year of the program, so I now have a way to go about it. One thing I didn't do was make the rebate for the bottom deep enough, I think I may use the router table to cut that a little deeper with a rabbiting bit. I also don't have a way to put a cover on this, like glass or plexi. I just couldn't come up with something that I thought was manageable. Sorry to drag this out, I hope you could make it to the end.

It is with great sadness that the family of Jesse Leo Littlefield announces his passing on May 26, 2025. He was 89. Jesse was born on October 21, 1935 to Bernice Garner and Lucy Littlefield in Tokio, Texas. He is preceded in death by his parents and his son, Anthony Garner (Tony). Left to cherish his memories are his wife of 63 years, Bernadette (Oxford), daughters Terri Miller (husband Mike) and Sherri Marx (husband Jeff), sister Francis Tindel (husband Benny), grandchildren Bryan Turner (wife Claire), Bailey Johnson (husband Tomas), Michael Miller, Lewis Marx, Oliver Marx, and Grace Marx, 5 great-grandchildren, and numerous other family and friends.  A graduate of the Ropesville High School class of 1954, Jesse was a veteran of the U. S. Army, having been drafted twice and serving in Germany and Fort Polk, Louisiana. He retired from the Lubbock, Texas Fire Department, where his final assignment was driving the chief. While working as a fireman, he supplemented his income by restoring furniture and selling Matco Tools.  After his career as a firefighter, he and Bernadette built a truly incredible entertainment complex. Fun City of Odessa was a favorite place for thousands of people. It included a gokart track, water slide, game room, mini-golf course, remote controlled boats, and soft-serve ice cream. Jesse’s skills as a master of all trades and a creative genius were on full display with beautiful landscaping, bridges, rivers, caves, and waterfalls he designed and built by hand. Fun City was a veritable oasis in the desert land of west Texas.  Upon retiring from his second career, Jesse and Bernadette created a beautifully landscaped home on Hubbard Creek Lake. It was there that they have kept incredibly busy. In addition to maintaining their five-acre park-like property, Bernadette spends many days in her stained glass studio, while Jesse could always be found in his wood shop. He was a truly amazing master woodworker, not only in skill, but in creativity. He didn’t just build tables, cabinets, clocks, and such; everything he did was a work of art. His eclectic (eccentric?) imagination never ceased to impress, amaze, and enthrall visitors. Not only did he know how to use and manipulate wood, but his use of color (and for a brief time, glitter) revealed a real artist’s mind.  Jesse was also known for his clever and witty sense of humor. He was always twisting words and phrases and making (mostly appropriate) comments to bring some levity and keep everyone guessing. It always took a few seconds to figure out if he was being serious or not. He usually wasn’t. One of his favorite things was to try to fool others into thinking he wasn’t as brilliant as he truly was. He also loved to spin all kinds of yarns on the woodworking sites he frequented. We are sorry if you believed every story he told.  People always liked Jesse immediately. He was a natural people-person with an easy way about him. He was honest and always eager to listen to and learn from others. His sense of humor and inquisitive nature engendered warm feelings from friends, acquaintances, and strangers alike. If you knew Jesse, you will miss him.    

I started my second basket illusion vase. The first one will be for sale at the 4th of July fair. I needed a second one to enter at a contest at our local art center. I made a table out of 3/8” steel plate with a 1” post for putting the lines on to burn. I think this is going to work a lot better than the old way.

I started my second basket illusion vase. The first one will be for sale at the 4th of July fair. I needed a second one to enter at a contest at our local art center. I made a table out of 3/8” steel plate with a 1” post for putting the lines on to burn. I think this is going to work a lot better than the old way.

When we last visited this issue, I had the Roof on and the sides wrapped.
This week I gave up on the free door. It was left outside too long, and the wood core was rotting, so on my way to the orange box store for fasteners, I decided to buy a storm door that gave me the option of have a sliding window for more ventilation.

When we last visited this issue, I had the Roof on and the sides wrapped. This week I gave up on the free door. It was left outside too long, and the wood core was rotting, so on my way to the orange box store for fasteners, I decided to buy a storm door that gave me the option of have a sliding window for more ventilation. Then I built two seven-foot by 30 inch tables for SWMBO's plants   Now I have to frame in windows on each end of the house, and build two more tables, 5' long x 4' wide. Once the growing season is over, I have to dig out the floor and put something suitable down.   This is the madness she's creating. This is her She-shed   This is the dining room     and this is the entry area

Every woodworking site out there...they always talk about it...and how only certain $$$$ tools could deal with it....so..   We are about to find out IF such is true..or just someone trying to sell me tools.. Here we go... Will be trying to find some actual use for these four Ash planks...3/4 x 6" x 4'  more of less..a look at the other side? These 4 can from 2 longer planks..and were then sent through a Lunch Box Planer...BEFORE I got to buy them.      This is half of the remaining planks I have on hand...   This should be FUN?     Stay tuned....

I had built some cabinets last fall and finally started the doors this week.  They are a simple flat panel/shaker style but the M&T is a first go for me.  It's all done with a dado setup on the table saw.  There are a total of 20 doors, with 1/2" overlay.

My wife and I have just completed the necessary arrangements for us leaving the this world. This included purchasing a cemetery plot(in a 18th century graveyard), a grey granite headstone, and cremation. I'm building our boxes to hold our ashes using simplicity as my guide. I'm using some very local walnut, that I've had air drying for 25+ years in my loft. The box is getting dovetailed, with a sliding lid, and closed with a rosehead nail through the lid. Our goal was to decrease the burden, of our passing, to our two children!

Hi, I suck at telling a story, but I promise I'll try to get better. Instead I thought I'd just post a few gratuitous pictures of some recent work/progress on an instrument build. Specifically, carving the back braces. Instrument is Cedar top over spalted maple.      

Gang, I am officially out of room in my shop so I need to get creative.  My pipe clamp storage consists of a peg board with the pipe clamps hanging on hooks.  I have about 25 1/2” and 3/4” clamps of varying lengths (2 feet to 6 feet) hanging and I need ideas to consolidate them.  So, whatcha got folks?

I've mentioned that I could use a router plane. Funds ain't gonna allow the purchase of one, so guess what that leaves? I'm makin this up as I go along; might be ugly, but if it works I do not care. I have some Black Walnut from an old barn. Not really enough to build much of anything, but I think it'll be enough for this. But it needs paint removal and flattening, etc. So after clamping a makeshift stop, I get busy. Snow is going away, and I could not be happier to watch it leave.     Dealing with some cup and bow.     Making progress.      

Hey all.   I've always been curious when I've heard anything about the Carpenter's Shop that's long existed in the basement of The White House — but never manage to find any details about it. I randomly did find this one photo recently — and of all things, I spot a handsome long-arm DeWalt radial arm saw in the background (a tool I have some affection for) —   Photographed December 3, 1947 — "Photo of carpenter's shop, from an album of photographs by Abbie Rowe of the White House prior to the 1949 renovation."   I did some quick work to upscale and colorize the original (low resolution, black & white) photo —   Here's the original as I found it —   Found here: https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/photograph-records/82-54-108   I also found one more photo, at a different angle. I'm not certain if it's one taken around the same time, or years later — something about his shoes doesn't feel quite "1947" to me, but maybe I'm wrong about that. Again, I've tried to upscale it from the absolutely abysmal low-res original I found —     Original version:   For anyone curious, here's a large archive of photos from 1940-1969 by White House photographer Abbie Rowe (who covered 5 administrations from 1941 up until 1967, the year he died). This archive includes plenty of fascinating photographs he took during the Truman Reconstruction — a period of The White House's reconstruction from 1949 to 1952.   From Wikipedia —   The White House Reconstruction, also known as the Truman Reconstruction, was a comprehensive dismantling and rebuilding of the interior of the White House from 1949 to 1952. A century and a half of wartime destruction and rebuilding, hurried renovations, additions of new services, technologies, the added third floor and inadequate foundations brought the Executive Residence portion of the White House Complex to near-imminent collapse.   In 1948, architectural and engineering investigations deemed it unsafe for occupancy. President Harry S. Truman, his family, and the entire residence staff were relocated across the street to Blair House. For over three years, the White House was gutted, expanded, and rebuilt.   There's also this large collection of Rowe's photographs on Wikipedia Commons.   Here's a shot of Abbie Rowe amidst some interior renovation (taken March 3rd, 1950) —     I'm actually unclear about when the White House carpenter's shop came to exist — as the photo I found was taken in 1947, but the carpentry shop is also mentioned as being an addition during the reconstruction — which began in 1949. So that's a bit confusing.   From Wikipedia (White House Reconstruction > Changes in design) —   Additions to the ground floor included additional service elevators to service the upper floors, a bowling alley, expanded kitchen, broadcast studio, barber shop, medical and dental clinics, carpentry and upholstery shops, and large service and equipment spaces.     As for more photos or details on this (presumably very intriguing) carpenter's shop — I haven't come across much beyond these. But maybe more exists somewhere — if anyone discovers or knows more, I'd certainly like to know about it.   — David

What does this mean?   Does this mean you create from scratch something from nothing?    Does this mean you copy other creations?   In my opinion… It’s creating and building it in dreams or thoughts. I often build tables from what I think and apply it to wood. Sometimes it’s too hard and II eliminate it from from thought. Sometimes I lose interest and walk away.    Sometimes I’ve built to pay bills and sometimes I build to challenge my dreams. I spend many of hours tossing in bed over ideas.

Another pattern by Steve Good.  This one is cut from 1/4 Baltic Birch with a stained maple background.  I think it turned out pretty good.  The small letters made for quite a challenge.

Another pattern by Steve Good.  This one is cut from 1/4 Baltic Birch with a stained maple background.  I think it turned out pretty good.  The small letters made for quite a challenge.   obtw - if you cut it, be aware that the "Great Seal" is backwards in the original pattern.  The arrows are always on the right side with the olive branches on the left.   

For a little project a set of wood balls were ordered from the jungle store.   A week later and they still hadn't been shipped.  Cancelled that order and set about seeing if I could make my own.    Step 1.  Find a scrap of wood at least 1.5" x 1.5" x 10" or so.   Got close.  Had a scrap of hard maple salvaged from a retired computer desk project.  Larger in cross section than I needed so I trimmed it down to 1.5 x 1.5 with two passes through my table saw.   Mounted it on my radial axis.  Screwed one end into a hex block I made many years back to hold it in the 3-jaw chuck.  Moulding toolpath created in Aspire.  First finish pass left flat spots on the spheres.   Reset Z atop a flat spot and ran that finish pass again.  Next step required 3/8" diameter holes on each ball.  Made an X/Y/Z toolpath, using the vectors created for cutting the row of balls to verify spacing down the row.    Next the balls were cut apart using my bandsaw. The nubs left needed to be removed.   Sticking an aluminum rod into the holes made let me chuck them up one-at-a-time in the radial axis. Used the hex nut between ball and tailstock point to help hold the ball secure. Made up a toolpath I hoped would just cut the nubs off.   Ran it once and found it cut a bit more of the sphere surface than I expected.  Then realized I had a variable speed mini-lathe in my garage shop.  Clean it off, remounted the tailstock and tool rest.  Found a reasonably sharp skew chisel to use. Trimmed off the nubs.  Sanded through 120, 180, 240, 320 to smooth the surface of each one.  20 minutes later I had 4 wood ball feet for my project.  Less expensive than buying them.  Scrap was free.  My investment in the time require well worth it as a mental exercise to figure out steps needed to produce them. 4D

Working on restoring my family’s old dining room table. It's the closest thing I have to a family heirloom, my dad got it out of someone’s back yard when my folks first got married. It was pretty beat up, he sanded most of the marks out of the top, varnished it and put it to use. I got it from them last year, all the glue joints were coming loose and a piece or two missing. Cool old table, solid oak double drop leaf, made probably early 50’s by a company called A. Brandt. It was a line they produced called “Ranch Oak”. It was made to look like the pieces were rough cut out with a chisel. 

Started making a pack of inlay band Sunday.  Never made it before, but it came out alright I think, B+ anyway.  Using scraps of beech and walnut because I had it.  Going to do a few more of the same until I get it down and can switch to expensive stuff.   About half of it I planed the edge, then ripped a thin strip on the bandsaw, then planed the edge again.  The second half I just ripped so both sides are rough.  Figure it gets planed or scraped down to the host surface anyway.   Even though I was expecting it, I was really struck by how cool the shavings are:  

As Jesse will attest, the scroll saw is a versatile tool. While my attempts are nowhere near his artistry, they are a bit unusual as these pics will hopefully show.
 

As Jesse will attest, the scroll saw is a versatile tool. While my attempts are nowhere near his artistry, they are a bit unusual as these pics will hopefully show.       Here's the pattern for the next one.  

Bob Flexner was instrumental in informing and education many woodworkers about finishing.   Reading his book and articles was an awakening in my finishing knowledge.  I was also privileged to meet him a few years ago.  RIP Bob   Obituary For Bob Flexner    

Simmons & Company Auctioneers, Inc. is excited to announce that the THCKK (The Hardware Companies Kollectors Kulb) annual auction is coming up on March 14th and 15th, 2025! This highly anticipated event will showcase over 1300 lots of rare and collectible items from some of the most prestigious names in the antique tool world, including:

Like many of us, I have a problem throwing wood away and I am always looking for ways to make interesting things out of it.
Enter a decorative way to use up small scraps of wood.  This pattern was done in poplar (with a lot of color variation).

I received my forge a couple days ago and I spent the morning putting it together. I was going to build one but I really want to get started so I did some research and found this Whitlox Homesteader forge, it's perfect for me, I love it!