Link to Blog the Tools Store

blogthetoolstore.blogspot.com

Just an idea and a photo, not wood working related really.

Latest Contract

  The photo is of some very fine wooden knives and spreaders sold on the west coast of Canada by a company called Arbutus Arts.  Their web site shows a wide variety of cool looking wooden kitchen tools.
   I have looked to them for inspiration and design ideas in the past. Today I struck a deal with a local pottery, Pavlo Pottery in Rockton to make some pate knives.  The knives are going to be sold in his shop and included with some of his pottery too.  It sounds like an interesting challenge, it could become a situation were I have to make several hundred items per year. 
   The cabinet makers in the crowd will no doubt scoff, but some of the more down to earth wood workers can see the advantage in finding someone that will buy products like this. I expect to make many knives/spreaders from what  ordinarily would be off cuts and therefore waste.  I hate waste, for all sorts of reasons.  
   The other thing is that a couple of weeks per year spend on productions type items helps finance the fun stuff, helps more than we like to admit, I think.
  Anyway, Monday I have to get set up to produce 3 dozen knives for next week.  I will let you know how quick I can get at making a knife.

When Does Your Head Explode??

I am very afraid that my head is going to explode, there is going to be one more thing piled into my work shop and "BOOM" my brain is going to explode.


At this moment in the shop there is:


1. the scroll saw panel of the Lord's Prayer 3/4 of the way framed.  It is a large panel with narrow trim requiring many clamps. So...it is one side at a time and then the glue needs to dry.


2. I am working on Pate/butter knife designs for a possible contract to hand make 400 knives.  The design has to look good and I need to be able to create each knife quickly with the band saw and grinders.  A design needs to be decided upon and a method of work established.  Once I refine the production process I need to find out how many I can make in a day.  Needless to say there are now band saws and every sander/grinder that I own set out to work with. (while the glue   is drying on the panel)


3. I have an off site job on the go that requires me to slip away for an hour per day glueing and clamping in a  10,000 Villages store repairing a large shelf unit that got damaged while being moved.  Today it is going to tie up ALL my Bessey clamps for over night.


4. cutting boards, always on going.  I have able half of what I  expect to need for the coming holiday season. 


5.  marble trees.  I have an order for 8 of them for the beginning of November.  Preparing materials takes time, clamps and glue.  Then it will require a dedicated shop with the table saw set with dado heads and various sanders forming the leaves on the trees.  I figure there is easily two full days of nose to the grind stone, if uninterpreted. 


6. I have a truck for the Grandson in the works.  It is drying as I type.


7. This morning was spent partly creating a temporary safety gate to keep the roving  little fellow in the family room and off of the stairs.  A permanent, pretty gate is in the planning stages but.....it will be later in the season before it is done.


8.  Today I also have to fit in time to tend the Lodge garden before tomorrow's degree.


9. On Wednesday's I blog on blogthetoolstore.blogspot.com too.

Blog Spot 101

Wow,
  Yesterday 101 people looked in on my blog.  Thanks, I will try hard to make it worth your time.


http://www.rocktonworldsfair.com/images/Banner5.jpg



 This weekend is Canadian Thanksgiving, for us that means Rockton World's Fair and family.  Eva and I both volunteer at the fair and often enter food and carving for judging.

These guys are the cute part of the family.

Scroll Saw Master Piece

An outstanding example of the Scroll Sawyers Art

click the link and see the story on my other blog.

This is Different

But I think I like it

new look

The birds are flying south, you can see them as they fly off the edge of the page.  Wood working season will be in full swing shortly. Motorcycle season is winding down.


 Now you can't see birds fly off the page.  I didn't like that format either.

This is one of Eva's birthday gifts, her birthday was yesterday.  She returned to sick husband and birthday cake in another city.
My friend Daniel at Forged-Link made this mobile for us.  It twirls gently  in the wind as though it were feathers not iron and steel.  Eva thinks it looks like a long legged bird.