Size does matter

The simple removal by the Old Man of my GWW workstation has thrown the workshop into complete chaos (by request, to be fair). I can't even see the top of the Maxi - not that that's usually my idea of a good time anyway, but you know what I mean. So I've been mulling over how best to sort out the workshop. I'm increasingly aware that I could really do with the bench being accessible from all sides, but oh, if only the workshop was just a foot or so wider! So I juggle this and juggle that on a workshop plan and go round in circles better than a Trend T5 on a trammel bar. The truth is I didn't fully think the new SCMS through, and it's too darn big. D***ed if I'm giving it up now though - sweeeeeeeeeeet. Hmm, wonder if the Old Man fancies taking on the lathe as well...

It's come...

'Nuff said.

Except for the order to Wealden for router cutters that, for some reason, I felt compelled to place...

Shooting from the hip

I think I've at last hit on the key to understanding shooting boards. The practicalities of making and using them is easy peasy, it's the theory that gets everyone's knickers in a twist. One you see one and use one you stop worrying about silly things like why doesn't the board get planed away in use and all that mularky. However trying to explain that all important why so someone will take the fatal step and go out and make one themselves is beyond me. I know how it works, I can make them, I can even show someone else how to make one if pushed, but explaning theory is giving me a headache. I feel a bad attack of poor utilisation of MSPaint coming on...

All gauged out

Hurrah. Gauge review all done, and I haven't felt compelled to spend £67 pounds on a new marking gauge either. Result. Now I really ought to devote some time to tidying up the w'shop; it's a total tip at the moment and virtually unusable :~(

Chisellin' away

Tiny, tiny progress made on the tool chest contents. One chisel cleaned and handle fitted:



No means of knowing the rather boring-looking boxwood branch was going to turn out quite so lively to look at, although this picture really doesn't do it justice. Got a couple of socket mortise chisels to do next...

Everyone's a winner, baby

Or rather they're not. But I am!!!! By some quirk of fate or plain clerical error I've won the Trend router competition! Way-bloomin'-hey! Goodness knows how that happened, but I promise not to complain about it. Too much unseemly gloating, I know, but this isn't something that happens every day so I shall wallow in victory for just a little while. Here's the prize-winning table. Ah, I love the smell of Patina in the morning, it smells like victory...



Okay, enough of that. The gauge review comes on apace, and I haven't cut myself again - yet. Still no decision on tables or desk, but that's no surprise. I'm really itching to get out there and make something though, so once the review's to bed maybe I'll do something with that old pine from the chapel benches... But what? Dammit, I'm so indecisive.

Or am I?

Shall we have...?

Note to self: Self, don't ask people what they want, just make what the heck you damn well like and they'll be suitably impressed anyway 'cos people are like that.

Alas, too late. I asked the dreaded question of my folks; what would you like for your Golden Wedding anniversary? This is in August btw, so I should probably have been thinking a bit further ahead than this. It's not like there hasn't been 50 years warning... I tentatively suggested a pair of side tables for the living room and showed a few examples. Mmm, maybe. But could they have that beading there, but not those legs and they need to be oblong not square and... Urgh. So here I am thinking of a few options when I let mum see a Barnsley desk in F&C. Ooo, says she, I like that. Suddenly she wants a desk while the old man is still thinking side tables. Meanwhile I'm thinking "hey folks, I need to get on and order the timber!" Oi vey. Probably my best hope is they're both still hale and hearty for their Diamond...

Safety glasses! (tap tap)

Yay! My outrageously expensive safety glasses have arrived and all is clear and safe chez Alf. Of course I haven't actually tested them by having passers by chucking small, hard objects at my head, but I assume they're okay... Also got the website revamp up and running at last. Double yay! It all appears to be working, but time will tell... Hand editing all the code was, erm, fun. No, fun isn't the right word at all. I must have gone backwards and forwards trying this 'n' that to get it how I wanted about a trillion times by the finish. No wonder I don't update it very often...

On a non-woodworking note, going into Falmouth for the specs included a detour to Port Pendenis and a good long goof at "B&Q" - the yacht, not the diy store natch. And low, before our wondering eyes St, er, Dame Ellen herself. Disappointingly she looks very ordinary indeed; makes you feel really you should have been round the world yourself by now as obviously anyone can do it. Oh, and she is really very short. In fact the boat was much smaller in the flesh than on the telly. Pretty awe inspiring I'm afraid. Never mind, I'll get over it I expect... Apparently she goes out tomorrow morning, either for London and a berth next to HMS Belfast or Southampton (local rumour is divided on the point).

Bye-bye pictures.

Sob, wail and nash of teeth. If there's one thing I hate more than spending an hour or so taking pictures of marking gauges, it's seeing them wiped from the computer right before my eyes... My own fault, but hell's bells. I hope this isn't going to turn into one of those reviews, 'cos I'd been quite enjoying myself up until that point. Despite testing for sharpness in the time-honoured ooops-where-did-that-blood-come-from-? manner...

I must stop starting each new post with apologies...

... sorry. Erm, oops. But by all that's Normish, where did all the time go?! It's February already and I haven't posted since December. Early December. Oh, the shame. So a rapid update then:
Finished all the Crimbo pressies in time, even the coffee table for the folks. Gasp!
Made and reviewed a spokeshave kit
Made a little progress in the upgrade of my website
Got a stinking cold at the moment
Er... that's about it really.

You have to wonder why I'm bothering with a Blog at all really... But from now on I will post regularly.

And if I don't I won't apologise about it.

So there.