What Has Been Going On?

Nothing much. I seem to have been hit with a combination of lack of shop time and lack of shop projects, so there really hasn't really been much activity in the shop. I have been working on finishing up a large maple cutting board, and a lamp base for a stained glass lampshade, whose hardware hasn't come in yet, so it is unfinished. It was made using left over walnut from various projects (one benefit of doing different projects out of the same wood species.

Shop Upgrades

Believe it or not I have actually been much more busy during December than it might seem.

I remade the moving dog part of my wagon vise, making it more robust, and with a better fitting dog. I really should have made the block using lamination the first time, it was much easier and is more precise.

I also figured out a way to play my ipod through an old boom box we have, which makes a much bigger sound.

For christmas I got some woodworking gifts including a 3" granite surface plate. When not in use it is good for adding extra weight to my bench.

I also discovered that the lower thrust bearing for my bandsaw guides has completely seized up, so I will need to replace it, possibly today.

Small Holiday Gifts

This year for christmas I made some knives for gifts.  I only have pictures of two for now, but I will post some more pictures later.  The top is made of african blackwood, the bottom is cocobolo.

New Wenzloff Website

A while back I made a saw using a kit I purchased from Wenzloff and Sons.  While I had no problems getting exactly what I wanted, Wenzloff and Sons has a new and improved website, and I am very impressed with the information, and options available.  I think that every small tool company should have a site as good as theirs (hear me St. James Bay tools?).  Without this being a shameless plug for a quality sawmaker, they are also offering $20 off of all shipping until December 15.

Folding Knife Kit

For a gift, I made my sister a folding knife.  I bought the kit from KnifeKits.com, which was $25 plus shipping.  Here is a pictorial of the assembly process:

Small Update

As you may have noticed, I haven't posted very much lately.  This is due to the fact that unfortunately I have had barely any time in the shop recently.  Today I am recovering from oral surgery and cannot do much.  But I have taken some pictures for your perusal- enjoy.

 Newly turned on heater that makes woodworking in upstate Ny winters possible.

 Wood that I have cut.

 Almost finished butternut music bookshelf.

 New Grizzly grinder ($35 including shipping!).

 

 Left end of bench.

 Right end of bench.

 Drill chuck I cut out of an old cordless drill that wouldn't hold a charge.

Allows me to use small diameter bits with my drill press.

Better Drift Adjuster

I know that you're probably all tired of more bandsaw stuff, but I thought that I would share my method of improving my fence.  Before I had used washers to shim the fence, but I began to find those annoying and coarse to use.  So I tapped a hole for a thumbscrew into the t track.  I can now correct for drift with almost infinite angles.