Rechargeable tools ultimately need recharging. Most chargers will recharge batteries in less than two hours. Ordinarily we don’t give this process much thought, trusting that the charger will do what it is designed to do, provided we are using only the proper charger for the battery that we are charging. It seems to have been designed to require little oversight from the end user. Simply plug the battery in, and after a while, it is recharged and ready for more work.
What happens after the battery is charged depends on the brand, style of charger, type of battery, and other things that are too hard for most people to keep track of in a mix and match world. Some chargers shut off, some change modes from fast charge to maintenance mode. Usually the battery is recharged safely, but there have been issues and product recalls on these devices. Continue Reading »
Safety is something we should keep in mind always when we are in the shop. The same is true for hobbies and vocational tasks. While I realize there is an established woodworking safety week established in early May, the prime time for most woodworkers to be in their shops is right now, because the holidays are upon us and many are working hard to complete the hand made gifts they want to give to loved ones this year.
Right now seems like an excellent time to remind us all about being safe in the shop. Continue Reading »
Several years back, PBS, Public Broadcasting, began showing a few videos that have been produced about the life of Richard L “Dick” Proenneke. (1916-2003) The titles of these videos are: “Alone in the Wilderness”, “Alaska, Silence and Solitude”, and “The Frozen North”. Most people who have seen any of these, have more than likely seen Alone in the Wilderness. This video is of footage shot mostly by Dick himself, with his 16 mm Bolex camera, and the narration is writings from his journals in the book, “One Man’s Wilderness”.
Richard L. Proenneke Photo
For most of us, this was our introduction to Dick, and his life. It is one of the only films ever made that shows the process of making a cabin in the wilderness, using only hand tools. It is a real gift.
Dick was a man whose life took him to a lot of places and exposed him to a lot of things, and those things may have been instrumental in helping shape his abilities for life in the wilderness. Born and raised in Iowa, he joined the US Navy and was a Navy carpenter, a rancher, diesel mechanic and heavy equipment operator.
He originally went to Alaska to start a cattle ranch, and wound up commercial salmon fishing and working as a mechanic. He spent the final years of his working career in and around Kodiak Alaska at the naval base there, until a work accident nearly cost him his eyesight. His life in the ranching business probably helped him understand nature and wildlife on an intuitive level, and his life as a carpenter and mechanic probably prepared him with the self-sufficiency needed for the next phase of his life. He retired at age 51 to Twin Lakes, living as a naturalist, nature cinematographer, and scientific observer in the remote Alaska wilderness. Continue Reading »
If you have been thinking about buying an Evenfall Studios Shooting Board for your own shop, and have wanted to see one in person, maybe even try it out a bit before you decide to place an order for one of your own, then Woodworking in America, October 1-3 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio will be a great opportunity!
As many woodworkers have learned, shooting boards are one of the magical epiphanies of woodworking, along with sharpening, planing, good layout tools and good technique! I have been amazed with them ever since my granddad showed me how to use his when I was a kid. After all these years, they are still really cool! Many woodworkers have learned that I take no shortcuts when I make shooting boards, I pay attention to every detail. Every board I make must live up to the rigors of quality woodworking, delivering high craftsmanship, to any woodworker, using any plane. It’s built to last.
There will be two vendors, both Infill Plane Makers exhibiting in the WIA marketplace, who will be using Evenfall Studios ‘Deluxe Shooters’ under their infill miters. Continue Reading »
Yes, I do like to write about woodworking, and tools, both hand and power tools, but I have been busy building tools…
Evidently I am NOT comparatively busy as the folks who made the following video. Busy does not really adequately express these folks… I’m thinking over exuberant, with double down on imagination…
For those who dig… eh sorry, like hand tools, this will be over the top, but it will be over the top to everyone anyway. Just when you thought you’d seen most everything. Eight some odd minutes of stunning, well, shock… Eh, you’ll just keep watching to see what happens next. It sort of just sucks you in.
For those who prefer better content from me, Thanks, and I am working on some, but for now just laugh a little like I did, and know I’ll be along with better stuff soon!
Recently a great question was asked about finish surface preparation for stains, oils, and coating type finishes with hand planes. It was regarding the finish a plane leaves, if sanding is necessary, and which grits are appropriate. It’s a great question. Let’s explore the options.
In many woods, a planed surface will leave a surface quality similar to that of 600 grit finish smoothness, and without burnishing the wood surface. Sanding in this case may not bring much to the table.
Occasionally there are grains that are just too difficult to plane successfully, and so you must sand. Continue Reading »
Granite Surface Plates are the world standard for flatness in any shop. There are a number of places you can get them and the pricing on these tools varies widely. It is important to note that for most of us, they needn’t cost more than necessary.
There are a lot of great things to know about them, but there is one thing that is really important to touch on first off.
The grading of Granite Surface Plates is of importance to the woodworker. Please have a look Continue Reading »
Have you been combing eBay in hopes of finding vintage sets or individual planes of the Hollows and Rounds variety? I’m happy to help get the word out that there is a new plane maker on the scene that may be able to help.
Matt Bickford Photo.
In recent times the desire for these planes has increased dramatically, and the availability of them is scarce. The plane makers who currently offer them have backlogs I’ve read that are over two years long.
Matt Bickford Photo.
Enter Matt Bickford. Matt was recently asked what his focus was on and he said:
“I’m focusing on molding planes: hollows/rounds, snipes bills, I make rabbets like that pictured too. Basically, I make those non-bench planes listed in Builders Dictionary published in the early 1700’s less the plow. I can certainly make specific profiles if you want something out of Chippendale’s Director.
Is there something specific for which you are looking? Please let me know.”
Matt Bickford
The photos tell the tale. Welcome Matt to toolmaking! If there is something specific in this line of tooling for which you are looking, please do let Matt know!
Walt Quattro is a really cool guy who has a really cool used record store in Waterbury, CT that <looks right, looks left> secretly doubles as a vintage tool store. <but please, keep that to yourself, eh?>
Walt’s place is Brass City Records and Tools. Those who know Walt know that he is known to drop into a tool forum with a song lyric that doubles as a riddle that somehow describes his latest tool prowl. Please click here for one of Walt’s riddle answers. Walt’s posts are always a great time and he is great to trade with! So as usual, I like to make a habit of going over to his site to look around, because it is always changing. Me? I am usually late to the party but eh… you know how it goes. His site changes a lot as some of you know. Early birds get the worm, fair is fair. Walt knows this and it works that way to shop with Walt too.
Well anyway, Walt’s haunts are the flea markets of New England, where many a tool he finds are straight out of the heart of where the industrial revolution took place. He is also centrally located near where many of these tools were originally made. These are the tools that helped bring that revolution, and are now sought after by many of us who don’t want those tools to become just another historical footnote. (Thanks Walt)
It happens that Walt has a cool link on his site that points to Pat Leach’s (of Superior Works fame) supertool.com site, that I have looked at many times over the years. While we all seem to discuss tool cabinets around at various forums on the net pretty frequently, I don’t recall seeing anyone really discussing this one for a pretty long time. It is worth a visit, or for some of us, a re-visit.
All material on the Evenfall Woodworks blog is original and copyright-protected and can only be used with the express permission from the author, Rob Hanson.
Richard L. Proenneke Photo
Matt Bickford Photo.
Matt Bickford Photo.
Photo Courtesy Pat Leach
