Good Monday morning!

Good Monday morning Patriot Woodworkers! What did you get done over the weekend, and what have you planned for the week ahead! Inquiring minds want to know. Please tell us what's happening in your shops, your life, and any events going on with you. Thank you for being here folks!

 

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Mike talks about the use of the smoothing plane to create a final surface on a board, ready for paint or finish. Gossamer shavings and buttery smooth surfaces are attainable with these antique tools.

 

 

Good morning John & all.  I completed the finish on daughters replacement desk top.  This replaces a much shorter top on a stand up desk.  Pretty neat, really - the legs have small electric motors that raise and lower the top so that it can be sat at or raised to a comfort level no matter how tall you are.

The underside looks a bit rougher, finish-wise, as I experimented a bit with the sealer prior to applying the stain.  1/3 on the left had no sealer, 1/3 on the right had the sealer applied and then close to 2 hours dry time prior to stain, and the middle 1/3 had sealer applied just before staining, and there would be some overlap on those two.  Also, where holes were drilled for threaded inserts and screws had some stain that seeped out after I flipped the project over to stain the top side.

But, it looks pretty good and daughter is happy based upon the pics.

 

I started washing my truck yesterday, and of course it rained last night.  That's ok, we need the rain more than I need my truck cleaned.

The week ahead, hope to complete the wash and detail of the truck.  Mow the lawn a time or two.  Clean up the shop and prep for the next project - which I will find out what it is when the desk top is delivered, which will be some time this week.

 

 

Nice work, Cal. On the computer, it's hard to see any variation in the finish on the bottom side. Which technique was the best?

1 minute ago, Gene Howe said:

Which technique was the best

 

It is likely more my pic than your computer!  Allowing the sealer to set the two hours was much better.  Very little blotching there, some blotching on the short interval betwixt sealer and stain, and a lot of blotching where the sealer wasn't used.  This was using Minwax sealer and Minwax stain. 

Another weed killing spree is on tap for today. Probably, 5 applications will be my limit, today. Got a lot to do in the shop. Priorities, ya know. 

Going to try to stay cool here in the sweat belt of the U.S.  Applying the second coat of G.F. arm R Seal on a bookcase.

7 minutes ago, Ron Dudelston said:

Going to try to stay cool here in the sweat belt of the U.S.

Hey Ron, Could be worse water to the right of us, fires to the left. 

 

Maybe that's why it's so sticky. 

See last week's post. SSDD at the J.O.B. 

 

.40

Edited August 23, 20214 yr by forty_caliber

Thanks for the mention @John Morris. Got to go get hearing rechecked this AM . Hope to get handles attached to all the kits I have turned in shop this afternoon . then maybe get some finish on them.

Sold my 1986 Dodge Ram pickup yesterday, just 3 more payments and it would have been all mine !

 

A friend is supposed to come today an fix a loose shingle on the roof- 9/12 pitch and I do not go well together- he uses those special boots for traction.

 

One day, later in the week, going to install a new DSL modem at the doctor's office. Finally convinced Embarq to send a new one after two attempts and several hours on the phone with no success. The support techs act like I'm trying to spent their money!

 

Maybe then I can get back to the box elder bowls.

1 hour ago, lew said:

Sold my 1986 Dodge Ram pickup yesterday, just 3 more payments and it would have been all mine !

 So now you start all over with a vehicle mortgage. At the prices they're at I'd need at least a 50 year loan. 

4 minutes ago, Larry Buskirk said:

At the prices they're at I'd need at least a 50 year loan. 

Even longer for me!

Actually last week, one evening, but used it today.  My "picking basket" of 45+ years needed some augmentation.  I pulled some scrap "only used once" #3 2x4s out, resawed off 1/4" thick pieces and left some of them 3/8" for the ends.   Jointed and glued up the end pieces and nailed on the 1/4" strips to side and bottom.   Handle is a 3/16" x 3/4" piece of ash, cold-bent, and nailed on.

 

2 hours ago, lew said:

Even longer for me!

I probably wouldn't live long enough to pay off the 10 year loan I'd need for the down payment. 

1st day back from vacation.  Loaded with electrical problems I wasn't here last week to do.  What a day. Tonight was errand night so no work done.  

 

 

Got one more double 2x6 shelf installed. I think that's a total of 30' of shelving. Now, to get some plastic shoe box "drawers" hung under them. Eventually, to be replaced with real wood containers. But, right now, storage is a priority. There's still 4 large plastic tubs of stuff to be sorted. The pile of stuff for Craigslist is growing rapidly. I am ashamed of all the tools and supplies I've gathered over my 50 some odd years of woodworking. Many single purpose tools used maybe twice. And, most shameful are the duplicates. There must be 30 screw drivers, probably 10 or so pairs of the same sized pliers. And really, now. Who needs 40+ spring clamps. Well, maybe some do but, not me. This winnowing process is time consuming and painful. But, it has to be done. If for no other reason, that it will save my wife from the onerous task after I'm gone.

50 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

The pile of stuff for Craigslist is growing rapidly.

 

I hear you on that Gene.  Over the past year I have shed a bunch of tools and stuff that I felt was time to go.  I even sold my 12" dual bevel sliding miter saw the other day.  It was a good saw, great for crown moulding - but the space it took up!  A whole workbench, and it was too heavy to keep moving it around.  Watch out for those CL scammers. Those same types have found their way to Facebook Marketplace now...

Busy day at Mother's.  Did manage to find the belt sander @Cal had mentioned he was looking for.  So it gets a new home, bloody thing weighs a metric ton!!  My Mother picked it up and asked if I had ever seen Dad use it. 

 

Umm, not really.