The Greenhorn's initial sawing season 2019-20

[Old Greenhorn]

Yeah, I guess I could rig up some kind of spin jig, but that is a lot of sanding. Maybe do it in the drill press. I think the RA is way too fast. I'll play with them a bit and see what I come up with. I might consider painting them too. That might give some nice contrast.

[doc henderson]

they may look fine as they are.  you can do testing to find out the finish type.  or just take one and put finish over it and see how it looks.  especially if you are going for bulk production for sale at craft style venues .  cannot put you heart and soul into every one for sale to the public.  one offs are for family and friends, in my opinion.  

[WDH]

cannot put you heart and soul into every one for sale to the public. 

That is a hard lesson to learn.  My standards are very high, but that can be a weakness as stated in the quote.

[Old Greenhorn]

Yes WDH, Doc's comment resonated with me. I know and am conscious of what he means as well as your comment about being one's own worst enemy. In fact, I am never happy with the stuff I make which is probably why I can't think of a thing that I have made in the last 20 years that is in my house. (When we were fist married and had no money I made 'stuff' which is still floating around, but not stuff I point at with pride, but my wife likes it, so...). I never realized that until now. I don't think much of the stuff I make. I am just pleased that I am learning how to make it and it does look pretty cool. Other folks seem to like these things, or so they say and I am fixin' to see if they are willing to buy it. ;D
 Hence I tried putting a coat of polycrylic on that book shelf tonight because I have never used it and bought a small can today to try it. It does seem better with this Ash, but it is tricky to apply. So I will see what this looks like in the morning.


 

This finish was so clear it was hard to see where it was, and where it wasn't. Hence my puzzled and focused look (also wanted to see how that 'other' camera worked on my phone).



 

You can see by my lousy joints that I am not really good at this, but I will work on it. I think these might be nice for cookbooks in the kitchen, but who knows if anybody uses books anymore besides us old folks.

I also finally remembered to bring toothpicks out to the shop so I could do that little epoxy pour on a couple of remaining cracks in the coffee table legs. Haven't touched them in a week and have to get back on it. (I need the toothpicks to push the epoxy down in these small cracks and get the air bubbles to come up.)

 I also picked up a forstener bit today to try boring holes to see how those legs will fit. I am painfully low on pocket cash halfway through our pay period (bought that planer the other day, remember?) so buying that and the polycrylic was pretty much my limit. Turns out I bought the wrong size. Got an 1-1/8" instead of 1-1/4". >:( DOPE! So it will have to wait a little longer and I added to my set of forstener bits. Eventually I will have them all.

 Funny little thing:I was browsing CL today and found a guy that makes the exact same little phone/tablet device stands that I made a week or so ago (scroll back). They look exactly like mine except I think he made them from box store 2x4's. He is asking 10 bucks a pop for them. When I made the samples, my wife said they were worth 10 bucks, 7 minimum. I was thinking nobody would pay more than 5. I gotta think about that now. Maybe my wife was right?! (Once again.)  Of course, I have no idea how many of these the guy has sold.
 Anyway, I made some slow and plodding headway. Tomorrow is another day.

[doc henderson]

your look seems normal to me, and I put lots of light around when I spray finish to see the reflection to know when finish is wet and able to flow.  the joints look fine!

[WDH]

I find that the polyacrylic spray cans "sputter" and leaves little glops or globs on the piece being sprayed.  I really do not like that.

[Old Greenhorn]

Well I didn't think of spraying. I got a small can to brush on.

[doc henderson]

now you get a tree that means something to the family, and make those for your family, maybe even the grand-"men".  

[WV Sawmiller]

OGH,

   Everything looked good till you posted the picture! Then I had to do a double take as I thought you were my old roommate from when i worked in Saudi a long time ago.  :D


 

[Old Greenhorn]

Which one is Fred?

[WV Sawmiller]

   The taller one (on the left).

[Old Greenhorn]

Yes, I can see some similarlys :D

EDIT: The last word in the sentence above is supposed to be 'similarities' dang autocorrect! >:(

[doc henderson]

sometimes on rustic i brush or roll (on large items like benches) until the porous grain is filled, sand, then spray the final coats.  I use spar urethane on nearly everything,  uv protected.  

[WV Sawmiller]

Yes, I can see some similarlys :D

You didn't think I was talking about the one in the middle did you? :D :D

[Old Greenhorn]

Yeah Doc, I am trying different methods to see what works best for me. Time matters too. ;D The polycrylic is very clear and does not affect the light color of the wood. I like that, but it is more time consuming to apply. I could not find it in a spray can. One of these days I will try a foam brush on a larger piece. 

WV, you did notice that I didn't ask if Fred "was the one on the right or the one on the left"? I figured I would leave it wide open to save us both possible embarrassment. :D

 Not much done today, but a full day anyway. In no particular order:
 I ran back to town and got the right forstener bit for those legs I bought this week, grabbed a piece of oak and made a little short rectangular foot stool. Cut the legs and glued them in, and that sits drying. I sanded all the device stands and the little bookshelf, then re-coated them. 2 hours later I gave them another coat. The stuff dries fast. I did another small pour on the coffee table leg cracks. One I got finalized, the other still need a little more. These tiny cracks take more time than a big pour. At least this time I have them masked so there are no leaks, but getting the epoxy to suck into those tiny slots just take time. I also did some beginning pours on that cookie that is starting to show up in photos. It's a mess so I know this will be the repository for any excess epoxy I have as time goes on. I think I have the main center split (heart) filled and this thing is really dry, but also very punky in places. My back is achy from all the half bending. 
 My neighbor also called and asked me to check some trees that are 'endangering his driveway'. I looked them over, they are not and have been like that for nearly a year. I'll clean them up next time I am out with the Mule and have a few minutes. Now that they are up here full time for a few weeks or more escaping the city to bring the panic up this way, he is looking around. I get that it's a real problem, but some folks are getting carried away and not thinking things through entirely. If I ever get to the point I start ordering gallons of water on amazon, I hope somebody will do me a kindness and shoot me, just sayin'. ;D Oh, and I also made the mistake of stopping at the local food store to get solo shot cups (for mixing epoxy) and toothpicks and there was not much in the paper goods aisle. People are crazy. Yes, there were quite a few people on line, but not a huge amount. Down in town at the big food stores it is an entirely different story, just crazy nutso. 
Just another day.

[Old Greenhorn]

Today was pretty much the same as yesterday, lots of little things. I spent an hour or two working on a Facebook page for the sales end. Keeping it very low key for now and not very descriptive, just the basics. I had gotten some interest expressed in that little bookshelf (go figger) and expect at least a small order to result. Got out to the shop, did what I really think is the last tiny pour to fill one more crack on that coffee table...finally. It just sucked it down when I shut off the lights last night or something, I dunno, but there was still a small void this morning and no leakage. I sanded the other table leg where I had finished all the epoxy work and re-oiled it. Looks good. When I sand and re-do the second leg tomorrow I will be ready for urethane, so I figure that's where most of my evenings will go this week, with no cutting or sanding to keep the dust down. I should do good cleanup first.
 I fired up the new planer and took down 3 well dried Ash boards, then cut enough pieces to make 7 of those bookshelves. Tomorrow I will try to get the dados done before the cleanup takes place. It's a good feeling to make nice clean and straight flat boards. I think I am headed in the right direction with my choices so far. Dumb luck and good advice, I guess. ;D
 Oh, and here is that foot stool I whipped up yesterday. I thought I posted a photo, but it seems to have slipped my mind. It is sitting on that big pithy cookie I am slowly working on.


 

 Lots of little things going on and not too much being finished right now. But that should change soon I hope.

[Old Greenhorn]

Well I am spending more time looking at that FB page I made and thinking about it than I should, but this whole virus thing is really distracting. I have stayed away from participating in the discussions on the forum because I had enough of that during my active years in EMS. I understand the enemy, know the drill, and read the right stuff. I lost my tin foil hat decades ago.  ;D
 So getting into the shop and diverting my mind from this other 'stuff' becomes important because at work it is even worse (don't ask, I might share it). Got out there last night and got the first finish coat on the coffee table top, it looked GREAT! also did one leg, but the other leg STILL had one little blow hole in the epoxy after sanding and I am NOT going to let that go, so I have to do yet one more tiny pour to fill it. ARRGGGGHHHH! but this is how it goes in this world and i have to learn to put my zen mask on and work with the flow, right? I also put a urethane coat on one of the device stands to see how it would look compared to the water based stuff.
The top looks good to me:


 



 

 Tonight I went out and everything I did looked good but the temp in the shop overnight was not warm enough for everything to cure hard plus I think the humidity might have been a bit high (gotta get a meter out there). So I could not sand it for the next coat. I let it all set, as is, for another day. I cut dados on the book shelves and set up a drilling rig for doing the screw holes. That was my evening.


 

I am trying to get my to my short run production skills and ways of thinking back in the groove. I did it for more than 48 years in metal, working in wood is somewhat different, more forgiving in some ways, but less forgiving in others. I am working on that advice my journeyman cabinet maker friend gave me "It's time for you to stop thinking like a machinist and start thinking like a woodworker". Sage advice that.
 

[Hackeldam Wood Products]

that big bench is extra pretty.

[Old Greenhorn]

Well, I have been trying to catch up with the reading here and just that has been tough enough, I may have missed a few posts. Things are hopping here in my state and with my job. I spent the whole day yesterday setting up a home office work space. No time in the shop, did a little more work this morning, then headed out there. I got the pieces finished for some of those little bookshelves. did all the screw holes and cut the tops, then glued and screwed.


 
I seem to have a verbal order for a few of these already. Might have to make some more to sell.

I also sanded and put another coat on the tabletop and one leg and the foot stool. That footstool may be done if this coast comes out OK.



 

In some ways I am getting better at this finishing thing, but in some ways I am finding flaws easier. I should really stick to do finishes when it is daylight, I see more stuff and make less errors.
Tomorrow is the first day of working from home and I am not looking forward to it, but we have to do what we have to do.
 I hope everyone is staying healthy and in a good mental state. I hope y'all are sleeping better than I am. ;D

[Old Greenhorn]

Well, I have to admit I am having a difficult time doing this 'work from home' thing. I can't seem to 'turn it off' and I already have 26 hours in this week. Getting out to the shop has been tougher than I might have guessed. I get involved in the work I am doing and can't find a natural break point to stop. I had thought I go on out to the shop at lunch time and put a coat of finish on stuff or do some sanding, but I barely have time to eat. I have to work on this and I never thought this would be an issue. I can barely keep up with the forum reading and I missed a few posts here and there.
I did quit just before 5 today and got out to the shop before and after dinner and got some light sanding done and started finishing the flip sides of a few pieces.
It is starting to close in on us here. We have a lot of folks from the city coming up and moving into their vacation homes full time. They bring what they have with them, maybe a virus, maybe just crude habits, like cleaning out a store. They set up a screen testing facility in town and I haven't heard how it is going there. I am starting to hear about local infections of folks I know (waiting 7 days for test results). This is not a good time in our lives, but we will get through it. I worked through the H1N1 mess a few years back with my EMS crew. I know the deal, it's all the same, just a bit worse now. Most of the public takes SO long to learn the simple procedures and basic understanding. This is the real enemy here. Sorry, didn't mean to bring this subject in here, but it is keeping me from working in the shop as I am used to. Whether I get caught up in this or not, I am affected, just as we are all affected. I feel bad for all of us. Usually in times like this I check on the neighbors and help where I can, but now folks don't want anyone knocking on their door. Strange times. Hurricanes, fires, wrecks, disasters, and floods I can, and have, dealt with. This is different and I am still trying to figure it out.
Maybe tomorrow I will get a little more time in the shop and feel better. I hope everybody is getting on as best they can. We'll all be breathing easier in a few weeks, let's work toward that!

[Old Greenhorn]

Well, it ain't gettin' no easier yet, but I ain't givin' up. ;D I didn't get out in the shop last night, it was the wife's 70th birthday and we had something bigger planned, but given the current situation, we did the right thing. I left the house for the first time in 5 days to go get take out from a decent restaurant. It was quick and easy with no close proximity. The young lady taking money was one I have known since before she was born. She is still a cutie. I dropped exact change plus a tip on the counter, asked about her family and was out in less than 2 minutes. Nobody else in the place. It was a good dinner. Back at work today and my neighbor who has a newborn (7 weeks) had a medical issue with the baby, so between my work I made calls and texts getting references and finding a place to take the child to get looked at. They were treated like lepers from every Doctors office they called even though they have not left their house here in 3 weeks. I found them a Doc and they are all feeling a little better tonight. The issue seems to be resolving itself as happens with newborns many times as their bodies develop. Very stressful none the less.
 Then at 5pm my big boss lays a bomb on me and tells me that he wants me to look into 'making ventilators' because he hears they need them and we should do something to help. I wanted to tell him where he could put that idea, but I took a (slightly) higher road. I know what a ventilator is and how it works and what the requirements are.  there is a reason they cost up to 50 grand. He has no idea. He reads the internet and has this idea that we could make these because we are 'manufacturers'. He has no clue. Now I just spent 2 hours doing the research any college freshman could have done to find out where we are and why this is a non-starter for us. But I will waste a good part of my day tomorrow making lists and having meetings trying to talk these fools out of wasting a LOT of time. I want to tell them if they want to make a difference and help, they should run a blood drive, there is a big need and they could do that pretty quick with good results. Ah, I can't wait to retire and get away from these people.

 I forced myself into the shop tonight to shake all this frustration and get away from the work computer. I got some more sanding done, applied another coat of finish, and did what I hope is my last teeny tiny epoxy fill on the coffee table. Maybe I am nit picking now, but I really want this table to look nice. My wife is asking me about doing shows, but I can't even think that far out, given the uncertainty and not knowing if I will have time or materials to fill a booth with 'stuff'. Al in all, I am getting a bit testy. The weather was quite nice here today and I did go out for 20 minutes at lunch time, did a short walk and some sanding in the shop, but I need to get into something that wears me out or I will soon go crazy.

[Nebraska]

Instead of a whole ventilator how about support parts like hose fittings, stainless barbs, or machined valve bodies. From what you've mentioned about your  manufacturing facility and products doesn t seem like a fit. You should put him on networking  with different folks to be part of a pool to make ventolators just supply parts xyz.. Your blood drive idea is better. Glad you got  your wifes birthday done up a little, tell her happy birthday  from us, maybe you can use that homemade stage and have a good party for 70 plus a little bit in a couple months.. Stay well.

[thecfarm]

We all need a break from work, to work on our projects.  ;D

[ManjiSann]

Hey OG good to see you are still at it!

Keep up the posts, try to stay sane and we will all have a big sigh of relief on the other side. 

Happy birthday to your missus!

Brandon

[Old Greenhorn]

Brandon, nobody would think you foolish for trying to help someone who needs it. Having done a few things in my time that others would (and have) been considered 'putting myself in harms way' I understand this decision. However in all cases, it was always a risk/benefit analysis that went on in my head (usually in a few seconds given the circumstances) and I knew the options and relied on my training. The first thing first responders, medical folks and others learn is that if you become unable to perform, you are no longer helping the situation and have now added to the problem. You need to remain safe and healthy in order to continue to provide aid. SO do take all precautions washing, masks, change clothes and shower when done. It protects both of you. This is why I didn't run over to check on that infant. There was little I could do or add that wasn't already being done. Hard decision sometimes when you want to 'be there for them', but you have to follow your head too. Be careful and thoughtful.
 We will get through this each in our own way. I am just having trouble wrapping my brain around it and there is the added stress of working from home, trying to be productive, doing phone meetings, skype sessions, emails, etc. With the company increasing workload on us to find alternate sources for suppliers that are closing up. Getting handed a major (waste of time) project at 4:55 in the afternoon that keeps me at it for another 3 hours of research. That alone wasted most of my day today.
 It's a little like making the adjustment immediately after 9/11. It just takes a while for the brain to settle while you are trying to make sure you cover all the bases. My brain doesn't settle very quickly, I am not that smart or quick.  ;D

 Today I am determined to quit on time and get out in the shop. I will turn off the computer and try to have a 'normal' weekend (less the social interaction). There is a lot of cabin fever beginning to boil up in these parts and here about. :D

I've gotta go dig some holes or mill some logs or something. Keep your chin up.