Santa Came Thru...

Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Santa delivered a new Ryobi Mouse Sander. Oh happy days, now I can "retire" my Black and Decker Mouse with the velcro pad glued on with Liquid Nails.

Can't wait to make something so I can sand it.

Look out world, here comes Tom, sander in hand.

Pattern Search

Well, haven't found any patterns yet that I can make from scrap pieces I have, but will keep looking and build what I have built in the past.

I am sure some pre-school or Church would like a few wooden puzzles for the kids. Trucks and Heloicopters are easy to make but hard to paint. Getting safe paint for the pieces at a reasonable price ius the hard part.

A lot of web sites say "Free" when they are free IF you buy this, or subscribe to that.

Anyways, its fun.

Wood Work Is Done

Well, the last of the projects I wanted to get done by Christmas are completed, and hopfully I will have some time to find some new patterns for the New year.

Over the last year I have made Valance's for our home and our daughter. (They look a lot better than just having curtians hanging on a bar over the window.) Also made quite a few napkin holders that also have carved spaces for salt and pepper shakers, and banks that look like Brinks trucks, and a few small all wooden four car trains, and some paper plate holders that look like iron frying pans.

Am going to have to hit the pattern sites and see whats available that don't cost an arm and a leg to build. I have done the "daddy, would you make me some end tables and a coffee table?"

Now, I just want to make simple things that don't take a lot of time or money.

Santa is Coming, (Hopefully)

Been working at a fairly fast pace, trying to get all the things completed before Christmas. Been making things for the Senior Citizen's Center, and all WAS going well until my Mouse Sander died. The plate the sandpaper attaches to came off, and my orbital sander cannot do the job of rounding the edges, and getting into tight places like the Mouse can. So, its been hand sanding which takes longer, and don't look as good as when using the mouse. I know Santa will get me a new one for Christmas, so thats why I have not rushed out to the local Lowe's or Home Depot and replaced it.

Come on Christmas.

Come on 8 A.M.

Its 6:58 here, and I can hardly wait for 8 AM so I can fire up my sander and some of my saws. I try to give the neighbors a break and not use power tools until 8AM, thats late for me, but they need their rest and relaxation time before they go to work. Me, I am retired, and have no real place to go, so I stay at home and make things from wood. (Keeps me out of the bars.)

Am mentally thinking of making a four car train that I can give to someone. I know it will be a great dust catcher.

Have had a few people ask me for plans of some ot the things I make, and I have to admit that I do not have any written plans, so I have to type them to them as I remember them. (Some times I slip in some improvements, or shortcuts I just thought about.)

Am patiently awaiting my new router blades to arrive so I can make some puzzeles in time for Christmas.

Cheap Wood

Went down to Lowe's and felt really down when I saw the prices they are getting for "preimum" wood. It's so sad, most of the wood would be good, if I was building an ark, as they have a natural curve that would work for the brow.

Anyways, I went to Home Depot, and saw pretty much the same situation........... Except Home Depot had some Cedar boards, like what you would make a fence out of. They were 6 feet long, and 6 inches (5.5") wide. The boards are rough, but by using the belt sander, I will have smooth Cedar boards that are straight, and ready to work with.

They only cost $1.97 a board.

Wanna be a good Craftsman

I love working with wood, I like starting with a naked board, cutting and shaping it, and putting a stain or finish on it, and giving it away to someone.

I have made things from wood puzzles for young kids to wooden garden bridges (6 plus feet long), and a Civil War cannon (over 8 feet in length). Currently, I am making things for the Senior Citizens Center. Like Banks that look like Brinks trucks, Napkin holders that also hold Salt & Pepper Shakers, and Paper Plate holders that look like Iron Frying pans.

Sometimes I think to myself that I have really done a good job on a project, and then I see a simular project done by a real wood worker, and realize that I am a "wood butcher". But you know what? I enjoy it. I like making things.

My wife goes crazy because when I build things, I have no visible plan. It's all in my head. I can visualize all the parts, and how they will go together.

When I made her a china cabinet, (78" x 34") with two glass doors, (30" x 14") with a fold down writing table, and all the plans were in my head, she just did the best thing possible. She stayed out of my way, and has since enjoyed the cabinet.

I am hoping to talk with other "Wood Butchers", and maybe trade ideas and pictures of projects.