52 Replies

It’s spring. Yard projects. Fishing. Sports. All time sucks. I haven’t made anything notable in a while but I plan on building a gate in a month or so. After I finish my brick patio and painting the house. Blah….

yep pretty much like Brian said spring and summer lots of folks get involved with outdoor activities and put lot’s of woodworking projects off until fall and winter.

As above for me as well, unfortunately I started to run out of money so I had to go back to work for a while.
Not sure why the Apr Woodworking Monthly does not open or where the May version is, Papadan posted a nice dog box just recently, I havent heard back from Tonycan yet, Dutchy is still chugging away with his tractor, Shipwright is possibly out sailing somewhere or maybe feeding swallows in his workshop, not sure what Madts is up to, obviously everybody else is busy too!

Just glad to hear that you all are alive.

—Madts.

I am rebuilding a Kitchen and bathrooms. Pictures to follow soon.

and I’ve been laid up for a bit …. missed a couple of Weekly Briefs. My apologies for that.
Working on the current Weekly Brief right now … (better get back at it)

I’m alive! Haven’t been doing too much WW as Brian mentioned, this is spring and I’ve mostly been doing yard stuff. Slowly been working on a walnut liquor cabinet but have really struggled with motivation to sit in my workshop after the long winter.

I just haven’t finished anything notable in a while that’s worth posting. A lot of the same ol stuff. Plus my son’s doing allstar baseball, so we’ve been all over for tournaments. I’m in the process of building a greene & greene inspired coffee table, but it’s not done yet. I’ll post that once I’m through.

Here is a preview:

Built a bigger wood shop and have been busy wiring and insulating and painting and moving all my tools . Plus mowing .

Hey I found Shipwright sure enough he is away sailing with friends by the looks, I hope his swallows are OK on their own!!

I almost forgot the title prompted me to resopnd, … with some dead boring stuff I made a while ago. 2011 and 2012.

I needed a box or my router bits, and like Bruce I had an interest in coffins and caskets

My mate spotted it and decided he needed it more than I, so I made two more this time knowing he would want to annex one yet again!

Only this time I never let on I had them and made him drool for a while after he saw them one day, later on giving him one!!…he was chuffed!! At least friendship is not dead.!!

Later on in 2015 I made a tool box for my ute.
Hoping to keep sticky beaks away from my tools when I am out!!
Unfortunately it attracts more attention than intended, oh well.

I’m busy as can be, can’t find VKD to see about the box swap.

Guilty as charged.

My self and 15 other old codgers play golf 6 days a week. By the time I get home and take my 3 hour daily nap, I barely have time for yard work. I do have a couple of requests for music stands and a couple of night stands but I must keep my priorities in order but yes I am still kicking. Very sorry to hear you have been ill MsDebbie. Hope it is all behind you.

Nice video and photos Paul. Your sure do look happy and relaxed.

Really Nice work . Keep the chips flying .

Seems like this post had some bad timing. Either that or it was inspiration for a flurry of projects recently. :-)

It’s been to hot to doing anything in the shop… When we catch a cool day it’s fishing time…. I check in every day just to see what you all have been up to…

Too hot to fish even.

Been recovering from some coronary b.s. lol .

Ready to let the chips fly.

Regarding the site:
In my opinion, W3 has active woodsmiths, woodwrights, shipwrights, and do-ers for members – they spend their time on the craft, or the business related to it, or on other active things which keep them from mindlessly blogging about minutia.

In my opinion, LJs was a great site; but now contains a lower % of experienced advice and tested equipment reviews.

I spend little time commenting on either of these two sites, and I’m an active member at one other. I too busy being ‘retired’. A good tennis match requires two individuals who can learn from and press each other – this is what I look for in a woodworking site.

Everyone, Do Take Care.
MJCD

As I re-read my note, I can see where some individuals may be offended by it – they’ll take the position that I’m dissing LJs, or that I’m being ‘uppity’: neither of these are my intent; nor is it my intent to offend anyone, period.

I enjoy this site more… for several reasons – all related to challenging me… more; and informing me… more.

Call me crazy – many people have.

MJCD

There are some amazing craftsmen here for sure. Plenty to learn from if you’re willing.

Dont be too concerned MJCD the members here are possibly LJs members as well.
I like youself joined because of wanting something different I guess it takes all types, I did a search of members afew years ago the recognise the 10 years it had been in existance and found myself wading through members who joined and have never contributed anything from the day they joined, upon checking its a numbers game they play regarding memberships lots of members but lots of deadwood too!

Moment…

I hope not. While I appreciate there is little activity, at times, on this site, I think it speaks to a membership who is busy doing things – as I blogged some time ago in this thread. Maybe the whole idea of a woodworking forum is no longer worthwhile; however, for me, most of my inspiration for ‘new’ designs come from previously built ‘new’ designs… and not on LJ.

Everyone, Do Take Care.
MJCD

I’m with you MJCD. I first joined WWW when I first started this wonderful thing that we do. This is my only forum but no one can tell me this is not an amazing, special and wonderful bunch of folks. I realize I am on the lower rung but I so appreciate all the encouragement and the ideas we get from the group. I know we have a huge percentage of folks who seldom if ever post anything but they must enjoy looking, and that’s ok. Thank you to everyone because we are family.

Well I tend to agree the forum has “gone to the dogs” somewhat and begining to replicate non woodworking related rubbish seen on other sites maybe its time to find a different path.

MJCD…..
Very good points , I agree . It is nice to have
some encouragement and a few words from
your peers from time to time . I appreciate all the
folks who take time to share their creations on this
site . Just having you and Jack and Rob respond to
this , makes me feel better. Thanks guys .

To follow-up a bit…

Currently, I’m building two foot stools (along with being VP in-charge of maintenance for my home). The stools will be of reclaimed Locust for the tops, and legs of leftover European Beech (if I have enough) – basically, I’m raiding my scrap bin. Legs will be attached with Maloof joints, and slightly arc’d, providing a broader footprint than the top. Also, the tops will have hand-holds cut along each side – these will be quarter-rounded for comfort.

Aside from this, I’m preparing the shop for an equipment change-out… upgrading my Table Saw, Jointer, & Planer – needing 3-phase electric, as well.

I provide this because collectively, individually, we’re a busy group. I see what Jim (A1jim) has on his plate, and I wonder when the poor man sleeps.

What we need are questions… serious questions … asked by individual who have done their homework, yet still requiring the insight from Forum members. Personally, I’d like to know what individuals use to finish Walnut; is anyone unhappy with their Drum Sander, and share any experience with entry-level Wide Belt Sanders (the next rung up to a Drum Sander) ; what contrasting woods make complimentary builds (I took a guess at Walnut & European Beech); has anyone abandoned brush-on, wipe-on poly, and gone to spraying… and why or why not?

There a few thousand advanced topics that we could discuss; and I have found that on LJs, the experienced members get lost in the blogging noise…

So there is my rant.

Everyone, Do Take Care.
MJCD

I’m around and check in now and then but I’m a little burned out. I don’t post a lot any more. My current project is a relatively big one, a set of two complementary boxes on the same scale as the jewellery box I built a few years back. I will post them when they are done but a blog would just be re-covering ground I covered when I built the JB.
Anyway, sorry about not being around more and here’s a teaser on the work in progress.

Plan to have more projects thus year.

Plan to have more projects thus year.

Looks like the woodworking world is in a state of suspended animation.

I try and check in now and then on here and other sites it has been a busy year for me too,I think all said and done forums have more activity in late fall and winter given there’s less to do outside folks are back in their shops building things or trying to learn how to build things asking questions online.

For the past several months I’ve been focused on the house & home; as well as a complete re-working of my shop. I decided to go all-in on my small shop, and upgrade to Felder equipment. My Delta Unisaw, Powermatic 6" jointer, and DeWalt 13" planer being sent to my nephew.

The shop upgrade was a massive undertaking: 3-phase electric; extending and making the DC more flexible and accessible; and, a detailed layout of fitting the large Felder equipment into 400 sq’. The logistics of getting the equipment into the shop and assembled; then developing new methods of work – utilizing the slider and the J/P combo – was time-consuming.

All-in-all: expensive, and the equipment is game-changing.

Regarding Forums, Lumberjocks is painful; though, I still go there, hoping to find someone asking a serious question; or posting that out-of-the-box project. Truth-be-Told, I’m just too busy to spend a lot of time at the computer.

Everyone, Do Take Care.
Mike

Yeah, the hand-me-downs are nice too. :-)

I hope this site isn’t dead.

That is a fantastic job

Pretty much dead. I look in once in awhile, but the projects are pretty sparsely posted. I don’t know what the issue is, per se, but I do have to say that the format isn’t one that I really like. It just seems clunky.

CLUNKY !!!! You said the secret word !

an example as above.

Can’t be dead, I just got here!

According to my son who owns an ad agency specialized forums are becoming a thing of the past. I hope that’s not true as I really prefer to hobnob with woodworking friends rather than the whole world.

That’s for sure. I’m not going back to faceborg ever again.

Far from dead. We are alive and aware ?

This site will never be dead , to many devoted woodworkers