August 24, 201213 yr Author That's some awesome information there Joe. Thank you so much for adding it to the discussion. The band saw we have we picked up used. It needs a LOT of attention before being usable. Fortunately for me, 4 other gentlemen here are actually supplying the wood for our 4 first projects, 2 of them, Mr. Dudelston and Mr. Kauffman have already sent the materials and I have them here ready and waiting. The first class will be September 5th. We are busy getting everything in order and ready for this event. The closer it gets, the more nervous we are.Also, I am personally doing my first wood working project, making a work bench/table to use for putting "stuff" on as it comes inside the house. We are using cheap materials, treated 4x4s for the legs, etc. But I don't need "pretty", I need functionality. I've used the chop saw to cut the leg lengths and then yesterday I figured out (after a lot of pondering) how to turn it to cut the 45 degree cuts on the 1 x 4 that will be used as xxx. What Mike FAILED to tell me is that when I do the cuts I need to make sure that I can "see pencil". They all came out a 1/4" short... o.O oh well... I MIGHT live... ;o)THEN, Mike put the dado blades on the table saw for me and he showed me how to make the cuts on the tops of the legs that the 1 x 4s will rest on. He did one, I did the other 7. That was pretty interesting and I was terrified of cutting myself but I came out intact. Yesterday, using a finish nailer, I nailed the 1 x 4s into a sort of frame, then the legs were set into the frame and nailed together. For some reason, in the shop, it looks WAY to short. The next thing is using a "Kreg" jig, we are drilling diagonal holes into the legs for screws to screw the top onto.This may all be pretty mundane for you guys, but for me, well, it's something I have always kept far back in my mind and never really hoped to do because there are so many more urgent things to deal with each and every day. Now, suddenly, it's in my face and I'm a lot more excited about it that I can say. And to think, it would never have happened if we had not decided to teach little boys how to build little boxes. Really, what you give a child, will always bloom into unimaginable blessing.Speaking of giving to a child, I need to get some breakfast going before my guys start gnawing on my arms!Jo
August 28, 201213 yr Jo, it looks like you are really getting your feet wet. You go girl!Ron DudelstonSite AdministratorAbove and Beyond WoodWorks
August 28, 201213 yr Author YES! It's all done now Ron and it has egg baskets, chicken dippin' pots, and other stuff occupying it. Sturdy as a rock and absolutely perfect for the intended job and place. REALLY awesome. We are all getting a bit nervous as the big days are coming up. I'm cleaning out my knitting nest, Mike is working on getting the shed ready, the boys have been signed up for singing and band classes. They will be sharing a "percussion kit" which consists of a snare drum and a sort of miniature xylophone. Remember, next Wednesday will be the first class! Y'all have my permission to bug the heck out of me if there are not any pictures up by Thursday!Jo
August 28, 201213 yr Author I'm with you on that Joe. But, and I speak as a pseudo farmer here, it helps to give him a pole and some line while he's learning. You provided some invaluable advice AND information. Drawback is the bandsaw. It isn't functional at the moment. Also, we are on a fixed income. Mike is legally blind and I am not engaged for wage. We work like dogs mind you. There just isn't any of ceaser's gold involved.It is our hope, that when these classes are done, our sons AND the other boys as well WILL have a skill that they can use to make some money with. I have hand knitted hats for sale, a lace shawl as well. Mike works on small engines, lawn mowers, chain saws, stuff like that. We HOPE we will be able to sell a few butchered chickens (got a TON of roosters). I bake bread and pastries.We WORK like crazy! We just, don't get paid. NOW we are going into the teaching business as well. Most of the folks we know that are giving classes are asking a WHOLE lot more than we are asking for ours. We are not going to be wealthy with ceaser's gold. This I can promise you. HOWever... we have a message. The message is that God is in His heaven and He loves and watches everyone. He knows everything. We believe we see a growing body of evidence that He will be returning. Be prepared and warn everyone you can. If they listen, sit and tarry awhile. If not, brush the dust from your clothes and shoes and move on to the next town. This is the TRUE value of everything we do AND every single bit of help that comes our way is blessed. So, I assure you, the advice you have given WILL bless and you WILL BE blessed for giving it. Today we are meeting up with other home school families at the beach. It's an annual event for the group. I need to go make a picnic. You guys are in my prayers and I hope that God's love falls heavily on all of you for all that you have given us.Jo
August 28, 201213 yr Harvest Moon is Mid September.... just because of Drout God doesn't forget....  Meanwhile back at the Ranch. I need an Address for this kindlins... Project #4........ I'll have Project #2 (I Believe?) sawdust and ready to ship as well.... I am busy at the moment folks.... up to my ass & Elbows..... person came along and bought my shop. So for the past 3 weeks I've been taken care of Business Mine/ My Own/ this small town I live in and everyone else's........ Brakes you say??????? Somebody cut the lines!!!!!!!  God Bless.... just send me an address!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We Ammo Jockey's never miss a Mark!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jo R. said: I'm with you on that Joe. But, and I speak as a pseudo farmer here, it helps to give him a pole and some line while he's learning. You provided some invaluable advice AND information. Drawback is the bandsaw. It isn't functional at the moment. Also, we are on a fixed income. Mike is legally blind and I am not engaged for wage. We work like dogs mind you. There just isn't any of ceaser's gold involved. It is our hope, that when these classes are done, our sons AND the other boys as well WILL have a skill that they can use to make some money with. I have hand knitted hats for sale, a lace shawl as well. Mike works on small engines, lawn mowers, chain saws, stuff like that. We HOPE we will be able to sell a few butchered chickens (got a TON of roosters). I bake bread and pastries. We WORK like crazy! We just, don't get paid. NOW we are going into the teaching business as well. Most of the folks we know that are giving classes are asking a WHOLE lot more than we are asking for ours. We are not going to be wealthy with ceaser's gold. This I can promise you. HOWever... we have a message. The message is that God is in His heaven and He loves and watches everyone. He knows everything. We believe we see a growing body of evidence that He will be returning. Be prepared and warn everyone you can. If they listen, sit and tarry awhile. If not, brush the dust from your clothes and shoes and move on to the next town. This is the TRUE value of everything we do AND every single bit of help that comes our way is blessed. So, I assure you, the advice you have given WILL bless and you WILL BE blessed for giving it.  Today we are meeting up with other home school families at the beach. It's an annual event for the group. I need to go make a picnic. You guys are in my prayers and I hope that God's love falls heavily on all of you for all that you have given us. Jo
August 29, 201213 yr Author Hey Russell, did you get my friend request? I "attached" my address to that. Also, according to my records, I do show you sponsoring Project #4 which is scheduled to begin in January. You have a day or so to worry about that one! ;o)Also, I need to make some book ends.... I need simple but I would like elegant if that's possible? In my head, this would be were I would learn about using stain. Link? Thoughts? Ideas?Jo
August 31, 201213 yr Jo,Yes I did and got your address. just watch for incoming mail....... I'll be back up to visit and view with friends here.... NO I mis- spoke in an upper post... I sold my building (not my business) I'm still elbows and you know what moving my equipment/materls wood and etc. to the new location and getting everything all set up..... ( kind of like the post/thread if you Won a woodshop?) Anyways I am sure there are tons of input from all these ol' Veterans to teach you how to stain/varnish/shelac... right down to the smallest sandpaper they may use! Great discussion piece (new topic) just add me I'll find it once I have a bit more time on my hands..... I'll be shipping both project #4 And #2 next week....... #2 is the last project I will be rolling out of my old shop....I'm a week ahead of schedule for opening up in the new shop... So I Thank God! God Bless everyone and Happy Labor Day!!! Russ Jo R. said:Hey Russell, did you get my friend request? I "attached" my address to that. Also, according to my records, I do show you sponsoring Project #4 which is scheduled to begin in January. You have a day or so to worry about that one! ;o)Also, I need to make some book ends.... I need simple but I would like elegant if that's possible? In my head, this would be were I would learn about using stain. Link? Thoughts? Ideas?Jo
September 5, 201213 yr Author Well, we are now breathing easy after a VERY successful first class. I wish you guys coulda been flies on the wall. The house was FULL of kids and moms. Mike was (IS) an INCREDIBLE teacher!PICTURES! I don't have them.... BUT! The mom who is the photo person will be signing on to the site and she will be posting the photos a bit later today. An AWESOME lady! You'll love her!I have got to run for now, it's noon and we haven't even had breakfast inspite of being up and running full blast since about 6 a.m. Jo
September 5, 201213 yr Jo, the pictures that Jessica posted tell an amazing story. I'm glad we could have a part in it. Blessings!Ron DudelstonSite AdministratorAbove and Beyond WoodWorks
September 5, 201213 yr Author I really hope y'all are proud of the part you played in this process. You stand in honor before the throne of God for what you have accomplished as a team this glorious day! Still, the job is not yet at an end. We invested some of the money we were paid in buying little squeezie clamps. The ones like glorified clothes clothespins? The kids will use them to clamp the lid parts together and when their boxes are done we will celebrate the final class by "awarding" them the clamps for their tool boxes to come. Please keep praying for us and for Mike in particular. Y'all are awesome!Jo
September 13, 201213 yr Author Our second class was today. I apologize, we didn't have a camera today. BUT... the YOUNGEST guy FINISHED his box today!!!Didn't get that finished last night....Anyhow, the youngest has finished his box. There are a few kinks and quirks, but hey, the kid is 6 years old and if you ask me, he did an AWEsome job! The rest of the boys will be finished by next week and we will probably have a little bit of a party for them on the last week. Then, on to Project #2!Jo
September 13, 201213 yr Outstanding Jo. Post photos when you can and keep us in the loop.Ron DudelstonSite AdministratorAbove and Beyond WoodWorks
September 24, 201213 yr Jo,Just a heads up... Project #2 wood is shipping out tomorrow and should make it to you in time for the next classes...I apologize for any delays on my part here.. I am still moving my entire shop to a new location and setting everything upProject #4 will ship soon as well. just been a bit busy here at the moment.. Hello to everyone also! Russ
September 24, 201213 yr Author Thank you so much Russell! I'm glad for the update! I understand very well how life has a way of interfering with plans... Happens to me more than I care to admit to! The final touches will be going on the first boxes this Wednesday. I HOPE that I will get a photo of each child with his box. They are surprisingly good in my opinion, for a first time effort. Who's box is BEST given age? The 6 year old! How about that?P.S. Life happens to me because I tend to procrastinate. Right now I really should be working on my collection of seeds which are hiding the dining room table.... XoXJo
September 26, 201213 yr Author This was the last class of our first session. I think you would have been proud of all the little guys. We will be losing the 2 youngest and the oldest for the next project, but we have the word out that we are looking for replacements. The youngest won't be back because they live to far away to afford the gas. THAT breaks my heart. The oldest is a high school freshman and his study load is just to much this year.I have the photos (YES! I MYSELF took photos and it WORKED... well... sorta...) and they are on my Facebook page. I'm going to try to put them here on the forum as well. But, if I can't please send me a friend request so you can view the album. Jessica also took photos and I believe she will have them posted here pretty quick as well.Project #2 is scheduled to begin next Wednesday!Jo
September 26, 201213 yr Jo, refresh my memory. Are all of the projects covered?Ron DudelstonSite AdministratorAbove and Beyond WoodWorks
September 27, 201213 yr Author All but Project #5. That's the one with multiple types of wood.However, there is a store (The Hardwood Store of North Carolina) thats about a 4 hour drive from us. I've talked to one of the ladies that works there and she would be willing to give the class a tour of the facility and I think it would be great if they were to start saving their money and then buy their own material for that project.So, we have a back up plan. JUST in case... By the by... is there anyone on the site that makes things like bows and arrows? I'm teaching the boys archery and since we have lots of trees on the property, I was thinking it would be a good idea to teach them to make their own bows and arrows.HEY LEW! Isn't an arrow just a super skinny rolling pin with feathers?!?!?! =o)Jo
September 27, 201213 yr Jo, please keep us in then loop,on what you wish to do with Project #5. If you want us to do it them I'll beat the bushes. Perhaps a couple of guys could tag team the project.Ron DudelstonSite AdministratorAbove and Beyond WoodWorks
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