My Very First Blog Entry

Giving away free woodworking plans seems contrary to my job creating drawings in a commercial cabinet shop. Due to the highly custom nature of these woodworking projects, its rare that a design created for one customer is ever suitable for another. Countless hours and dollars are spent on a drawing that usually gets discarded or filed away and forgotten after only one or two uses. The Problem I wouldnt throw away a brand new table saw or a quality hand tool, but what could I do about all of these valuable designs going to waste? My Solution First of all, I could plan the projects such that the designs are much more suitable for reuse. In the shop we get in a hurry to push jobs through production and we dont take the time to make the design reusable or configurable. My goal is to include elements in every design that allow for rapid customization and multiple configurations.
Secondly, I could share the designs. Give away free woodworking plans! I cant give away the actual woodworking drawings from my job. They belong to the company or the customer who paid for them. In addition, those designs generally arent suitable for reuse. So the plans you will find here are original, created from scratch to share with you. What To Expect Keep in mind that since Im coming from a commercial cabinet background, the plans tend to be more shop drawings than project instructions. They assume a modest level of skill reading prints and working with tools and wood. Even so, Ill try to include projects that are very basic as well as those that are much more complex. Getting Started If you are new to woodworking, I encourage you to find someone who is willing to share their knowledge and experience with you. For those of you who are seasoned pros, I endeavor to earn your respect. To everyone, I welcome and encourage your feedback.

The greatest lessons I can hope to learn about designing cabinets and furniture dont come from books or drawing instructors. They come from you folks out in the shop. With that, I hope these free woodworking plans find as much use in your shop as that brand new table saw or your favorite hand tool.
Click Here and Start WoodWorking

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Rust Hunting in Georgia January Estate Sale

I managed to hit an estate sale last Friday and picked up a handful of tools. Someone in the family was a hobbyist woodworker - the largest piece of equipment was an older Shopsmith with a full compliment of accessories (bandsaw, etc) - there was also a European bench that was already long gone when I hit the sale (probably a good thing as I wouldnt have room for it anyway and they tend to be very pricey).

Most of the prices were reasonable to high (as usual) - I passed on a later model Disston handsaw at $10 and a few other tools, but did manage to pick up a set of Footprint cabinet maker screwdrivers - these are the flat haft type with oblate handles in beech. I also found a #15 SnapOn Phillips driver, a "Sears" marked grinding wheel dresser (appears unused), a rosewood handled putty knife (partial to those) and a Sargent hole punch (second of this type Ive found). Most items were in the $1-2 range with $25 on the screwdriver set. Nothing real special here but all good user tools.

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Footprint Bench Screwdriver Set

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Made in England

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Snap-on SSDP102

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Sears Grinding Wheel Dresser

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Super Hyde Putty Knife

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Sargent Hole Punch

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Not too bad for a brief stop. In particular Ive been thinking about a set of cabinet drivers so those are very welcome.

-- John

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Using Evapo Rust for Tool Restoration

Ive been using Evapo-Rust for about a year to clean up rusty tool parts. Ive had a gallon that I would re-use and its finally died on me - what happens is that it gets to the point where its not getting into the pits (if the metal is pitted) and after wiping the part flash rusts pretty quickly. Looking back over the documentation it states that a gallon will treat 300 pounds of metal. I can attest that Ive put way over that amount in the gallon Ive been using (I filtered the liquid when there was too much sediment). When it starts to fail it creates a yellowish/greenish slimy sludge that sits on top of the part in the bath - this stuff wipes off and Im assuming that its a mildly sulfurous compound (no eggy smell though).

Some tips:

1. Make sure you have enough to submerge the part completely or you get a watermark from the dip - this is almost impossible to remove.

2. When not using, reseal in the container as I believer there is some dilution with exposure to air.

3. My process is to dip, usually overnight as most of the parts are heavily rusted, remove next day and wipe down - if theres a lot of rust Ill hold it next over a garbage can and scrape a bit, which removes the heavy stuff - use a wire brush, sandpaper or razor blade. If its still rusted put it back in the wet. When youre satisfied that the rust is off, re-dip and let air dry - it keeps it from flash rusting (says 2 weeks but it actually lasts longer).

4. For irregular shaped objects I place 4 mil plastic in a plastic over-sized tub, then shape the plastic to conform closely to the part - put a couple of blocks of wood underneath so the plastic isnt sticking to the part or youll end up with water marks areas not derusted.

5. Best price Ive found is at Harbor Freight - they have gallons for $20 and you can use a coupon (I get 20% off coupons in the mail or via email).

6. More info here: http://www.evaporust.com/

-- John

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How To Make A Bed Your First Woodworking Project

You would like to reward yourself with a more stylish and attractive bed on your bedroom? Maybe you have thought to build one yourself? Its actually possible and you may begin making plans even once you are still a newcomer. Its in no way simple to create a new bed though you will make it in case youre happy to learn a lot about woodworking.

Bed woodworking plans is usually what you would need if you would like to develop a new bed on your home. It is going to be an easy task to make many improvements on the bed you have. Its not easy either though you will quite surely become very satisfied once youve finished the work, a minimum in case you read the bed woodworking plans carefully before you commence.

One thing that could be excellent to have in mind is always that it would likely really be quite complex to read bed woodworking plans when youre a rookie. It is going to be easier when you gain a little understanding on the topic just before you start looking for suitable plans. Read as many as you could find about woodworking. You will definitely be able to get lots of articles, forums, questions and answers on the world wide web so if youll need much more information you can usually use magazines and books. Youll discover each of the answers youll need eventually in case youre patient.

when youve studied woodworking craft for quit some time youll quite likely be able to begin looking for the proper bed woodworking plans. Its actually a big bonus even if you can finish just a few smaller projects prior to starting with all the bed project since thats a quite large and complex project and not the most suitable project to start with.

Anytime you think you might be ready for a huge woodworking project you should start looking for for good bed woodworking plans. Its really not impossible to produce a comfortable bed and youll be capable of succeed in case youre prepared with an abundance of patience and quite much knowledge. You wont have to operate as a craftsman however its certainly the greatest thing in case you know a person that works with it since he will be able to provide you with some guidance and advice if needed. Its generally good to have somebody to rely on for advice each time you experience some problems.

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first woodworking project

first woodworking project

When I commenced woodworking, my grand daddy showed me how to operate the wood tools as well as taught me the way to safely utilize the woodworking machines.

 However, if you dont have your own grandfather that will help you safely begin your woodworking projects, youll want to find one more source of advice and creativity for your projects.

If you are first starting off youll want to choose first woodworking project which match your woodworking expertise. Use the Kiss and lick method: keep it uncomplicated stupid. You just arent going to cash of a woodworking pastime if you by no means get through your current first project. Yet performed correcly, your family will probably be impressed as well as your friends is going to be amazed, and you will probably move on to more woodworking projects, leaving a long lasting legacy on your family.

Although my grand daddy would come with ideas for farm-style wood furniture that we would likely build, if you are first starting off you arent going to build your own woodworking plans.

Therefore youll need to locate a plan in which excites a person, gives you reliable step-by-step instructions, takes you through with all the wood tools and also the woodworking machinery, as well as grows the woodcraft skills. The top plans include a total planning listing that includes components, required resources, and ideas on levels of skill with people tools.

Youll find first woodworking project on the Internet and throughout woodworking magazines that you could pick up your local raw wood store. I discovered that many with the plans that I have downloaded online arent comprehensive, or usually are not accurate. Usually theyre the merchandise of an newbie draftsman versus a specialist furniture designer. An improved alternative would be to go to the collection and check out lord instructional textbooks full of content articles, plans, and ideas without paying anything.

Another substitute is to please take a woodcraft course that will steps you thru the process of wisely growing the woodworking skills inside a logical method so that as you skill progresses, ignore the in wood equipment and woodworking machines also normally progresses.

 It does not make sense to get thousands of dollars inside equipment that you just never make use of. But it can make sense to buy the right tools for the best project that stimulate you to go on to the next level of your respective ability.
In the end you want to take your current woodcraft experience and build your own first woodworking project that contain your design suggestions and abilities that youve designed along the way. This may cause your woodworking project entirely your own--a one-of-a-kind manufactured goods is your personalized work of art. A number of wood workers possess even made their own items that they sell with furniture stores as well as art homes, making money off their hobby.

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Woodworking plans table from the first times

Woodworking plans table create beauty for your landscape. Because ages, wood is a huge good materials for making robust and beautiful furniture.

It is usually easy to construct with the help of common hand tools. Woodworks sometimes appears in the simple furniture, ornamental add-ons, practical safe-keeping items ,and so on. some wood item projects may be built just within an hour or so, while others may necessitate one week .

Wood has always been the favourite and classic furniture building materials for new comers and pros. It is easily obtainable and straightforward or perhaps strange.

A great many other materials will need painting, concluding, etc nevertheless it can be quit undone like a natural wood seems even better. It is going well any time left discolored, unpainted, unpolished as it makes a natural wood conclude.
Woodworking and cabinetry are both concerning working associated with wood. Carpentry specifically means mending or constructing wood structures.

End carpentry contains trim, cabinets and paneling, although rough woodworking includes sheathing, surrounding and patio decking. Woodworking is considered to be an extension box of woodworking and requires making cupboards, furniture and other goods. It does call for precision, persistence and some a lot more skills.

Dining tables

A desk is used for a lot of different types of desk serving numerous purposes just one common factor it explains to you is a toned and side surface generally used for consuming from and dealing.
History of platforms
The four legged platforms have been well-liked since the historic Egyptian period of time. The roman and also Greek utilized the platforms that were slab-sided, similar to the altars.
Your Romans used reduced heighted tables to provide low sofas but these days and nights the platforms have more peak to accommodate the actual chairs inside.
The trestle platforms were used with regards to eating. It had been the traditional western table of people early periods.

It acquired simple panels that was standing on the trestles that might be erected at any time for the purpose of having.
Other than platforms, there were in addition tables including card platforms, library platforms, billiard’s tables, creating tables, breaking of the bread tables, green tea tables, dressing up tables, a coffee table, etc. there are also distinct tables for various locations that may be the differentiating aspect between their own sizes and shapes.

They might be night furniture, sofa dining tables, side and also end platforms and plan tables.
There are numerous designing inside tables that permit it to lessen or develop in size, thats usually for additional leaves ,pull leaves, flip leaves, fall leaves as well as many others labeled in by the specific strategy of construction like tilt-top, hunt -tables, gate-leg, crop and Pembroke.

There are several additional features in which enhance the seems to be and using of any stand. A kitchen table may have additional shelves along with drawers, and then for library furniture, there may also be drawers for more storage space

Some of the popular woodworking table plans are highlighted below
Scandinavian Kitchen Table

This is the simple and humble table that is certainly hard effective enough, created in such a way which it allows the hard home cooking food. The kitchen table has shouldered any bridle joint in which does the function of lock the hip and legs to a set of two long apron. Also having an H-stretcher that allows this to look as well as solid being a rock.

Shaker-Inspired Corridor Table
It is a sort of multi-purpose kitchen table that fits wherever and looks nicely everywhere. It appears attractive and light-weight the bottom archways of the apron add a lighter in weight appearance towards the look of the particular table.
Area Table together with Flair

This kind of table was made with a distinct taper having its top broader. The cut-away the surface of the table had been meant for placing the hip and legs on complete display as well as the aprons ingested the shape of the arc that echoed the actual theme.

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