Comb Back Rocker Day 1

I have 4 students here this week representing 4 different states starting the comb back rocker. They are  roughing out the spindles and the crest blank. Tomorrow we start carving the crest volutes and steam bending.

 Mike brought his smart head shave horse that he built at kelly Mehler's school that Peter Galbert taught last year. Mike did a great job finishing this horse into a work of art.

 It was a great first day. Everyone looks so serious. Did I crack the whip too hard?

I'll post their progress later this week. Stay tuned......

Happy New Cabinet!

The new year starts much like it finished with many irons in the fire. I have lots of classes to prepare for and materials to gather.This week I am wrapping up the tool cabinet for Jet Tools. Pictured here is the upper cabinet before the knobs are installed.

I have about two more days of details to finish this project. I will be interested to see how Jet will use this piece for their photo shoots.

I have 30 knobs to turn for the drawers and doors. I start with 3'' long blocks of 1.5 x 1.5 cherry. I chuck them into my 4-jaw chuck which I rarely use but works great without the tailstock in the way.

I round them down to 11/16th for the small knobs and 7/8'' for the large.

A story stick is used to keep them somewhat consistent.

I use a 3/8'' wrench to size the tenon. These turn really fast about 2 minutes from start to finish.

Probably no two knobs are the same but you may not notice when installed.

Here you see the knobs installed. I saw a kerf in the tenon, drill the hole and wedge the knob with glue for a very sturdy knob that won't come loose. I can't wait to oil this cabinet down to bring out the grain of the cherry. I have several students coming in Feb. to build this cabinet as a class. I have worked out all the bugs and can't wait to teach this for the first time. It is a good lesson in dovetails, turning knobs and mortise and tenon construction.I'll post some photos when complete.

Anti-Hand Burning Device

As a spindle turner on occasion I have to turn something longer than should be turned between centers. This was the case last week when April made the spinning wheel and we had to turn a wool bar the was over 40'' long and only 1 1/2'' in diameter. Needless to say I almost burned up my hand trying to keep this thing from vibrating. It just flexed way too much.

 I am sure many of you have seen different ways to dampen vibration with a steady rest. There are several commercially made versions that cost more than I could rationalize. Making one seemed the only option. The first thing to come to mind is the old in-line skates that me and my wife purchased in the early 90's and no longer use. I can't believe we still had them. Gravity has made it unsafe for me to skate anymore and my hockey career never took off. So lets see what a steady rest looks like.

 The wheel come off easy with an allen wrench. I took off the spacers and a 5/16th bolt fits perfect. Next I mapped out my design on poster board and cut out the body out of 3/4 plywood.

 Some scrap wood and some hardware and I was in business.

 As you can see the adjustable wheel mounts are set in dados in the body. This keeps it lined up and strong. One wing nut to adjust and it stays very firm.

 I built the base so everything lines up with the drive centers on the lathe. One bolt to hold this in place.

 In use it works really well. I have several cant hook handles to turn which are 42'' long so now I won't burn my hand trying to hold out the vibrations.

 Last week I made a trip to Johnny Watson's farm in Dickson. He wanted to show me the wonderful hardwood forest he has. To my surprise it was covered up with these perfect white oaks. Johnny just became my best friend.

 Here is a shot of one of the sheds at Johnny's farm. He has lots of old tools that need handles. I guess that steady rest will come in handy.

Classes Offered for 2014

Here are the classes I will offer for this coming year. I may add to this later if needed. All chair classes are $1000 including materials unless otherwise noted. Turnings will be provided for every chair class. Lunch will be provided each day. Send an email to hold a class. I can take up to 4 students per class.

Jan and Feb classes are full.
March 10-15- Sack Back
April-full
May 5-10-Sack back
June 9-14 Continuous-Arm

July 7-9 Solid Wood Dovetailed Cabinet....$395   Cherry or Walnut included.

 August 8-10 Windsor Live Edge Bench.........$350 including materials
I will also be teaching this class at Marc Adams School of Woodworking  October 18-19

 November 9-16 Writing Arm (8 day class, longer if needed). $1650 including materials.

Spinning Out of Control

Everyone has probably heard of a spinning wheel but I bet few have used one and even fewer have made one. April asked me if I thought we could build this version of a spinning wheel. As usual without hesitation I agreed we could. I mean, why not? It's just wood, right? Right from the start I thought the biggest challenge would be this wheel but this proved to be one of the easier parts to this extremely advanced project. Don't get me wrong, I have really enjoyed this journey and have great appreciation to those that built these generations ago.

 Wheel assembled and cut out ready to be turned by my good friend Barry Werner(professional turner) who did a fantastic job. My lathe was too small and Barry is a perfectionist.

 Here is the grooves that Barry turned, sweet......

 I have to jump ahead because I did not take many pictures. April did an awesome job on the spindle turnings. There were lots of metal fabrication that we did. Nothing pre-fab here. Everything was made from scratch.This project has taught me a lot and I hope to make one for myself someday. I live next door to an alpaca farm so I could make my own socks.

 April seemed very happy with the results.Tonight  Ziggy and April have moved on to start their new life in Berea, Ky. I enjoyed having them in the shop again and look forward to seeing the finished spinning wheel on my next visit to Berea. Best of luck you two!

Timber Frame Update

Work has been slow on the little timber shed. The frame has turned a nice shade of grey. Recently I had two red cedar trees that had to be taken down at my parents house, (my childhood home). These trees grew deep in the woods and were estimated between 120-150 years old. They were about 40 feet tall which is tall for cedar. The upper logs made nice front porch post for my shed. 

 All I had to do was draw knife off the bark and cut to length. They peel like potatoes.

 My good friends Ziggy and April have stopped by and offered their help with this process. I wish I had their energy. Oh....to be young again.

 April peels the last log. Looks like she is having fun.

 They teach timber frame workshops up in Missouri which they are moving from on their way to their new home in Berea, Kentucky. It's always great to have fresh ideas from people who live these methods of work. Using hand tools and working by eye is something not many people do anymore.

 The post are notched at the top to house the top plate. Easy to accomplish with square timbers but round post require more thought. Notice the cool log dogs that Ziggy uses to keep the post in place while working.

 All the post fit like a glove. Today we cut and fit all the wall girts. I will be ready for wrapping the building with 4/4 lumber as soon as I can get back to the mill which is still in Indiana. Thanks again for the great work Ziggy and April. You two are the best!

 I have started the tool cabinet for Jet and hope to post more on this soon.

Camping Boxes-What?

Let me introduce you to Hendersonville native Johnny Watson. Johnny is a retired police officer that works harder than most people I know. He has some really cool tractors and I help him bush hog on occasion and he helps me pull trees from creek beds. He came to me and wanted to know if I could build him some camping boxes that he could pack on mules to carry through the rocky mountains when he goes elk hunting. This was a first for me but boxes? How hard could it be? 

 After following some very strict measurements this is what we came up with. Being the woodworker that I am I had to dovetail the drawer and burn an elk on the front. I think it adds something, don't you?

 Four boxes, two for each mule. They stand up when at camp to make a kitchen. These will be going to Montana soon. Actually as I am writing this they are probably there now. I hope Johnny brings back some elk steaks to cook on the Kamado Joe grill!

 I do still make chairs and just completed 4 sack backs for a lady in Nashville. Soon I will schedule a class for the sack back probably in March. My comb back rocker class is full for January. Next week I'll be building a tool cabinet like the one in my shop for Jet to use for a photo shoot. More to come.....