It have been busy week in my shop getting ready for Arts Alive here in Florence. A two day show in the park downtown with over 100 artist. We had such a good First Friday we had to make more inventory.

 

Included are cutting boards and iPhone and iPad stands alone with Pizza Peels.

 

I also finished the Cedar Chest and it will be featured in our booth.

 

 

I'll be working the show all weekend so I hope you all get a chance to get out in your shop and make something.

 

Have a great weekend, see ya on Monday!

Wow, John, you have been busy!

 

It's suppose to rain here over the weekend (again!) so maybe I'll get some shop time.

Have fun at the show John, and nice work, wow! What an inventory!

I would sure love to go to a show one day, but when I say "beam me over Scotty, no one seems to be listening. Humph!

 

Nice inventory

 

I'll be finishing that bowl/candle holder this weekend and getting a few other things finished that I had previously started, this being one of them. Just a small bowl made of apple. I also have 2 that are smaller still, made from mimosa, one (actually 2) that are made from cherry and a couple of pen blanks that I need to make into pens, that' about it this weekend, I am not even sure I will get all that done, but we'll see

Mimosa1 and mimosa2 are actually from the same piece, just cut in half, but look at how much darker mimosa1's grain is as opposed to mimosa2 and mimosa 1 doesn't have any finish on it so I am not understanding why its so much darker. I like it though. Have a great weekend all and be safe.

I'm in cruise mode right now with no shop time planned.  We're prepping for a California trip coming up soon.

13 hours ago, Charles Nicholls said:

I'll be finishing that bowl/candle holder this weekend and getting a few other things finished....

Hey Charles, I know you have discussed this before, but can you perhaps go into detail about how you control the work and dust in your unique indoor environment. And even how the neighbors relate to your operation, if they even know. And any other challenges that arise from your operation?

 

Sure. Well mostly the dust is controlled after it hits the floor by way of a 5 gallon shop vac. I have always wanted a dust vac or some sort of air cleaning operation, but i have never been able to afford it, not at $600+ for a USED one

Also, I use dust masks rated for wood that I get from walmart or home depot. I'd like to get a professional mask but have not found one I can afford yet

As for the neighbors, the noise is not enough unless I AM using the shop vac, or band saw, for them to hear anything anyway, (walls are really well insulated). My neighbor is a "Special breed" anyway, she gets nervous when she doesn't hear anything, and has even come over to check on me when she hasn't heard anything going on for an extended period of time

 

Work Environment: Well now there's a challenge. Since I am in a wheelchair, I have to have a bench or turning table that is low enough for me to comfortably turn pieces without undue strains or stresses on arms etc, So one of our guys here, and he knows who he is , made a table for my lathe to sit on that I can safely turn from. Big difference between a normal turning bench and my bench

 

 

By the way, this is inside my apartment. This is not a "Shop", and since the apartment is so small (think granny sized) that has it's own challenges. Like having to store wood or supplies anywhere I can LOL.

 

Yep, this is my living room.

 

 

That mess there in the middle of the floor has since been all sorted and stored into bins that well, still sit in the middle of the floor LOL.

Oh what I would or wouldn't give for a real shop that I had enough storage space for my needs LOL.

 

Any questions? Anyone?

 

 

Edited May 21, 201610 yr by Charles Nicholls

No questions here Charles, but I do have a statement.

There is no truer woodworking than those who work in challenging environments, for the love of the craft! There are a couple guys and gals here who work in similar conditions as you, and there are no truer woodworkers in this community than you and the few others I am referring too.

It's easy to wake in the morning, head out to a shop, full of tools and space, and to also have the funds to get what you need when you need it, the only challenge we may have is the actual build process.

But you my friend, are working under extreme conditions, for the love of the craft and the occasional sale of your work. This Charles, is significant in my mind. I look at you as a "Pure Woodworker". My hat off to you sir, I take a knee, and I say, thank you Charles for the inspiration.

Be well my friend

2 minutes ago, John Morris said:

No questions here Charles, but I do have a statement.

There is no truer woodworking than those who work in challenging environments, for the love of the craft! There are a couple guys and gals here who work in similar conditions as you, and there are no truer woodworkers in this community than you and the few others I am referring too.

It's easy to wake in the morning, head out to a shop, full of tools and space, and to also have the funds to get what you need when you need it, the only challenge we may have is the actual build process.

But you my friend, are working under extreme conditions, for the love of the craft and the occasional sale of your work. This Charles, is significant in my mind. I look at you as a "Pure Woodworker". My hat off to you sir, I take a knee, and I say, thank you Charles for the inspiration.

Be well my friend

Well thank you John, I am all choked up now . Honestly, the sawdust has probably contributed to an illness I have but I just can't see myself doing anything else, and I am certainly not going to quit

Would I own a shop if I could? Sure, but I am not going to lose sleep over not having one . I have brought smiles to way to many faces to stop now  , have a great day all!

On May 20, 2016 at 8:09 PM, Charles Nicholls said:

I would sure love to go to a show one day, but when I say "beam me over Scotty, no one seems to be listening. Humph!

 

Nice inventory

 

 

Thanks Charles. 

On 5/21/2016 at 9:39 AM, Charles Nicholls said:

 

Sure. Well mostly the dust is controlled after it hits the floor by way of a 5 gallon shop vac. I have always wanted a dust vac or some sort of air cleaning operation, but i have never been able to afford it, not at $600+ for a USED one

Also, I use dust masks rated for wood that I get from walmart or home depot. I'd like to get a professional mask but have not found one I can afford yet

As for the neighbors, the noise is not enough unless I AM using the shop vac, or band saw, for them to hear anything anyway, (walls are really well insulated). My neighbor is a "Special breed" anyway, she gets nervous when she doesn't hear anything, and has even come over to check on me when she hasn't heard anything going on for an extended period of time

 

Work Environment: Well now there's a challenge. Since I am in a wheelchair, I have to have a bench or turning table that is low enough for me to comfortably turn pieces without undue strains or stresses on arms etc, So one of our guys here, and he knows who he is , made a table for my lathe to sit on that I can safely turn from. Big difference between a normal turning bench and my bench

 

By the way, this is inside my apartment. This is not a "Shop", and since the apartment is so small (think granny sized) that has it's own challenges. Like having to store wood or supplies anywhere I can LOL.

 

Yep, this is my living room.

 

 

That mess there in the middle of the floor has since been all sorted and stored into bins that well, still sit in the middle of the floor LOL.

Oh what I would or wouldn't give for a real shop that I had enough storage space for my needs LOL.

 

Any questions? Anyone?

 

 

 

Well most of the time if you could see my shop it is in a mess. The bigger the space, the bigger the mess. I am thankful my wife helps me in the shop. We just have to stop every so often and clean up so we can find what we are looking for.

 

You do a great job, just keep it up.