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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!

Did you know that certain hardwoods fluoresce under a blacklight? You can read all about it on the Wood Database site: FLUORESCENCE: A SECRET WEAPON IN WOOD IDENTIFICATION

Project Details
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Text on it says “AM PUB SUPPLY.” The 3/8″ thick blade is held in place with a screw cam. 
 

 

Cherry burl platter turned with Easy Wood Tools

Cherry burl platter

Cherry burl platter

I have been sharpening my chisels & plane blades with a homemade guide, assorted papers spray glued to a piece plate glass for some time now and decided to move up to something less bulky. 
Found the FASTTRACK on Woodcrafts web site that linked me to https://www.m-powertools.com/.  Signed up for the news letter & received 20% off my purchase.

Ok ladies and gentlemen, we now have our "What's it" live and ready!
The image(s) below is a MWTCA "What's It" image for you to research, and tell us all here in this topic post, just what the heck is it!
 
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Hopefully this is the right forum.  I surf the topics a lot but rarely post.  Just finished out another walking stick.  Stick is a limb off a wild cherry tree that grows in NW Ark and on my lot.  Ball is from a scrap piece of cherry that I have had for a while.  I harvest various types of limbs from my lot or others being cleared for homes in the area.  Dry them for a year and then strip bark, knock down the knots with a rasp, scrap out the rasp marks, sand and then ID a rough design that seems to change as I go.  On this stick the cherry ball was not in the initial design, just seemed like it would fit.  I use stains that I have on hand, but the black cherry left the white wood more purple than cherry so I used a mix of walnut and the BC on the stick, no stain on the ball.  Ball is secured with epoxy before staining.  Pattern is supposed to represent snake skin and is cut in with a dremel tool.  Design is not planned, just what seems to fit that day.  I have made and given away approx 12 since I started last year and have 5 completed on hand and 7 more limbs drying. 

Well folks better late than never! He did it! I don't know if ya'll remember but a few years ago he was ready to go, then some things happened, life, and it got put on hold, and today we witnessed our son swearing into the Army!   Here is the post that I did a few years ago.   And here we are today! At about 1210 today civilian Jeroid Morris became PFC Jeroid Morris! Why a jump in rank, cuz the kid was smart and did JROTC three years in high school.   Enlistment 5 years Regular Army MOS - 15T UH60 Repairer Rank at Entry - PFC Basic at Ft Jackson, South Carolina AIT at FT Eustis, VA Option 19 First Duty Station - Our son chose Ft Lewis Wash   Very proud of our young man, his MOS is 15T, a UH60 Black Hawk Repairer. Jeroid should have the option of getting his Airborne Wings, he wants to Air Assault qualify as well and his end goal is to become Crew Chief on his own Black Hawk, with his name stenciled on the side of the bird   Earlier today, Jeroid and Recruiter with proud mama and papa and sister. The oldest sister and our son n law will attend the MEPS ceremony in March when he actually ships out. Don't worry, he'll get some meat on dem bones while at Basic

I mentioned a bookcase in the What's on Yer Bench thread. Let's see if I can make one out of this.

With what little time I've had to screw around in the shop I was practicing on this. This isn't the nice job the rest of you do, but someday I'll get better. Not seen in the pic is the split down the back of the hat from a hole that was drilled a little off center in the piece of scrap I used. Anyway, the body is a piece of scrap peach and the hat is cherry, both from my supply of "smokker" wood. The nose and ball on the cap are bloodwood...

How fun this was! 

 

 

 

 
Just so y'all remember I was asking. 
 

Box - A corner joint with interlocking square fingers. Receives pressure from two directions.
Bridle - The bridle joint is often defined as the reverse of a mortise and tenon, and is chiefly used in the carpentry and joinery trades. The name probably originated from the fact that it bears some resemblance to the manner in which a bit slips into the horse's mouth and is fastened to the bridle.
Butt - The end of a piece of wood is butted against another piece of wood. This is the simplest and weakest joint. Of those, there is the a) T-butt, b) end-to-end butt, c) Miter butt and d) edge-to-edge butt.

    Introduction It's that time of year again folks! And it's time for us to step up to the plate and support the men and women and families who put it all on the line to keep our nation safe, the men and women of our Armed Forces! We are very thankful that we are able to team up with Operation Help a Hero. In the past we have teamed up with Operation Ward 57 but they had to fold up their operations. So we are switching gears and teaming up with Operation Help a Hero.   Our Goal This year, we will be doing the usual raffle, with 100% of the proceeds going to a Warrior Family for their Christmas! Through the application process, we have been teamed up with a deployed warrior and his/her family. They are expected back around Christmas time, so lining up a gift exchange will be difficult, so instead what Operation Help a Hero is going to do, they are going to hand deliver a "BIG OL FAT GIFT CARD" from us, to them! They will be able to use the proceeds we collect here, as they see fit for their Christmas. We are very happy to help a deployed family in this manner. Once the gift card is delivered, our Christmas family would like to send us a Thank You card, so that'll be fun to share with you all once we receive it. This is very exciting.   How this works If you donate $2.00 to our fundraiser, your name will be entered into our random draw 1 times. If you donate $5.00 to our fundraiser project, your name will be entered into our random draw 3 times. If you donate $10.00 to our fundraiser project, your name will be entered into our random draw 7 times. The more you donate, the more chance you have of winning. The project will start on November 24, 2024 and end on January 3, 2025 when the names will be drawn to receive the fabulous items donated by our sponsors.   Donation amounts and number of entries $2.00 enters your name 1 times $5.00 enters your name 3 times $10.00 enters your name 7 times $20.00 enters your name 15 times $50.00 enters your name 50 times $75.00 enters your name 80 times $100.00 enters your name 110 times   Enter the drawing Click on the "DONATE" button! Fill in your billing info at the secured PayPal server (we do not have access to your credit or debit card details, and you do not need a PayPal account), and you're done, and good luck!   Drawing Items will be assigned to the winners drawn in the following order.   Offered by our friends at Woodcraft 1ea Woodriver No. 4 1/2 Smoothing Plane $230 1ea Woodriver Table Saw Tenoning Jig $190   Offered by our friends at Easy Wood Tools 1ea. Wire Burning Kit $54  1ea. Yorkshire Grit Original and Micro Fine $19 1ea. Yorkshire Grit Original and Micro Fine $19     Mr. Sawdust In addition to our sponsors, we'd love to thank our friend David Walsh for contributing his goods and wears for the purpose of raising funds for this annual traditional fundraiser. We are very happy to have David aboard with us for this event, and we are very grateful. Mr. Walsh has a wonderful legacy of woodworking tradition that goes way back in his family. And he is carrying that tradition forward in his own life, and he is making a difference in this campaign of ours, by helping us, help the men and women in our Armed Forces. Thank you Mr. Walsh!   Mr. Sawdust Links of Interest Mr Sawdust website Mr Sawdust Shop website Mr. Sawdust YouTube Mr. Sawdust Facebook Mr. Sawdust Instagram     Offered by our friend David Walsh (Mr. Sawdust) Carved Shop Sign A simple, classic one-color carved wood emblem sign. Your choice of one of these fine, old designs: Delta (Red), Walker-Turner (Black), Rockwell (Black) Value: $100   Vintage Machinery Print Set Your choice of any five vintage machinery art prints from the Mr. Sawdust Print Shop. Value: $80   Vintage Machinery Emblem Tee Your choice of any vintage machinery shirt from the Mr. Sawdust clothing line. Value: $35   Master the Radial Arm Saw (Book) We’ll send you your own copy of the only book you need if you own a radial arm saw. Turn an old DeWalt into a precision instrument — with over 400 detailed drawings & illustrations. Value: $38   Rules Fundraiser starts November 24, 2024 and ends January 3, 2025. Everyone (guests, members, forum staff, and admins) is welcome to enter, except the owner of this website (John Morris) and his relatives, and their immediate relatives. Sorry, but only residents who reside in The United States/Alaska and Canada are eligible to participate. However, if you live offshore you can still donate to this project for our Warrior Families Christmas, but you won't be able to receive awards because of high shipping costs. Last but not least, have fun! And thank you for your support!   Alternative Method for Contributing Some of us don't like using our credit card for things like this, that's ok, you can send a check for this project, and we'll enter your name into the hat for the draw!   Make check payable to: The Patriot Woodworker and send to: The Patriot Woodworker 977 Sussex Rd San Jacinto CA. 92583   In closing Our entire community would love to thank our contributing sponsors. Woodcraft and Easy Wood Tools. They are staunch supporters of our woodworking community and most importantly, the men and women who serve our nation in the Armed Forces..   And please join us in welcoming David Walsh (Mr. Sawdust) to our fundraiser, we are very happy to have him and his legacy of woodworking tradition with us, supporting our men and women who serve our nation.