My Son has his first tool.

Over the weekend my oldest and I took a woodworking class together at a neighborhood shop where we built a kid sized mallet. The owner used to be a kindergarten teacher so it was a great experience for my son who has a tendency to not really listen.

After a 2.5 hour class we had a decent kid sized wooden mallet but my sone wanted to add some wood to the gaps around the wedge but i suggested some black tinted 24 hour epoxy which we also used to fill in a loose knot.

The next day i used a card scraper to smooth off the epoxy and my son sanded everything smooth before adding raw linseed oil thinned with true turpentine.

Why yes that is a Claro Walnut child’s mallet (the owner had received some free cutoffs from someone). Once the oil cures we might add some shellac but we will see.

First Bowl

I’m planning on turning the tenons for my long overdo staked chairs and my family is still out of town so I decided to take a bowl turning class at the office wood-shop.

Considering it was my first attempt I’m pretty happy with the results this far. Next week I’ll try to finish sanding out that tear out and try to get it finished. I might cook some raw linseed oil this weekend in preparation.

The Perks of the New Job

I’m just wrapping up my first week of training at the new job and wow this is a change from my old job. I had a bit of downtime Thursday evening so I signed up for the safety class at the on site wood shop. Overall it’s a well stocked shop with dedicated crosscut and ripping stop-saws, multiple lathes, and an oscillating horizontal drum sander. There are also laser cutters and soon to be a CNC router.

Next week I’m going to see if I can fit in the lathe checkout class so I can crank out the dining chairs what are taking up room in my shop.

A consultant no more

Yesterday I put in my notice at work and soon I will no longer be a consultant. For the last 15 years I have lived by the billable hour but now I am entering the world of Big Tech thanks to an offer I could not refuse.

It will be interesting to see how the year shakes out in a new industry (they have an employee wood-shop).

Life is full of change.

Crest rails are drilled

While I had the drill press out on the bench I went ahead and drilled the spindle holes in the crest rail. I’ve got some more shaping to do and then the best 4 will be used on the chairs.

Drilling Spindle Holes in the Seat

My second had POS drill press needed some help in order to drill spindle holes in the seats. I built a quick platform and used holdfasts to lock the drill-press in place. I wish i could justify a decent one but i just so rarely need a drill press.

Butterflies may have jumped the shark

This afternoon i was touring the new office space of one of my clients (tech startup) when my host pointed out their new tables. Inlaid brass butterflies work pretty well in the “industrial chic” of their new office.

Then I happened to notice the oddly consistent need for split control and became suspicious.

Is it just me or do those look like saw marks in that split?