Not quite wood, but still working

So we decided we wanted a garden this year.  Now I know you are wondering what a garden has to do with a woodworking shop.  Remember, the tools cut more than wood.  Read on.

To do so, we had to address the concerns that kept us from having one in previous years.  All of our outside water faucets are softened water and we know that doesn't do plants any favors.  The other thing we needed to deal with were the four-legged friends we have living in the neighborhood.

We came to the conclusion that a container garden on our deck was a logical answer to our friends but made the watering part a hassle.  That's when we found the book "The Vegetable Gardener's Container Bible" by Edward C. Smith.  In it we found directions for making self-watering containers.  Below is how we adapted the information in the book to fit our needs and accomplish what we wanted.  You will have to go all the way to the end to see if it worked.

We went to Home Depot and bought the containers with the tops and some 4" PVC pipe.  The PVC got cut up into 5" segments.  There are six pipes in each container.  We cut a hole in the side of the container to add water and so that excess water ran out instead of water-logging the dirt.

Two of the pipes in each container have 12 holes drilled in them.  They get filled with dirt so the water wicks up into the main container. 

According to the book, the reservoir should hold 3 to 4 days of water.

We cut the sides off the top of the container so it fit inside and rested on top of the PVC. We also cut holes in the top, above the PVC segments that had dirt in them.  This keeps the dirt out of the water while allowing the water to wick up into the main container.

We lined the inside of the container with landscaping material to help keep the water reservoir free from dirt.  We cut holes in the material where the openings in the cover were so the water-wicking action wasn't hindered.










This year we made 11 containers.  We have planted watermelon, cantaloupe, 4 kinds of peppers, 3 kinds of beans, peas, 2 kinds of tomato, 3 kinds of lettuce, carrots, and radishes.






Shortly after planting we went on vacation for 10 days.  While it was cool while we were gone, there was no rain.  With a reservoir lasting only 1/3 of that time, we expected to come home to a dead garden.  Below is what we came home to.  I should note that the tomatoes and peppers were not started from seed. 

I think it works. Now I have to make the trellises for the beans and peas.

Wedding Pens

As part of Aimee and Aaron's wedding I was asked to make pens for them to sign the marriage license as well as for the groomsmen. Because they were gifts, it would have been inappropriate to post pictures of them. Well, the kids got married last week so here they are.

Nostepinne Trilogy - The Conclusion

Well, the nostepinne is off the lathe and ready for use.  It's making the trip up north this weekend.

Since the last episode it has been turned to it's final shape, sanded, finished, sanded, finished, sanded, finished, hand rubbed to a glossy shine, parted, sanded, finished, and had it's first photo session.

Here are the last in-process and finished shots.

 

The Elves Strike Again

The Christmas elves have returned.  This time bringing some antique planes.  Here is the scoop on the new arrivals.  BTW - I haven't taken time to clean them up yet so ignore the dust.  I was so excited when I saw the year on them I had to get this posted.

Stanley No. 8
The Stanley #8 plane is the oldest of the bunch.  With the help of the Internet (hyperkitten.com, and yes it is a family safe site) I have been able to date the plane to between 1902 and 1907 (Type 9).  The #7 is a 24 inch long jointer plane.

I believe the plane has the original handle, knob, and iron. 

One of the traits of Type 9 planes is the March 25, 1902 and August 19, 1902 patent dates right behind the throat.

The 'Bailey' name on the toe is a reference to the Stanley plane's designer.  The 'japanning' on this plane is in pretty good shape but not perfect.

The sole of the plane is corrugated to slide across the wood better.

Sargent Type 22(?)

I believe the Sargent plane to be a 'Type 22' manufactured between 1910 and 1918 to compete with the success Stanley was having with their planes.  The Type 22 plan is a 22 inch long jointer plane.

Like the Stanley, I believe the components of this plane are the original.


The 'japanning' on this plane is not in great shape though the condition of the wood components is is reasonable.

The sole of this plane is smooth and in good shape.

Stanley No. 7

The Stanley #7 plane is a 22 inch long jointer plane.  It is the newest of the batch, being manufactured between 1933 and 1941 (Type 16).

The #7 is the dirtiest of the bunch but overall in the best shape.  I guess that is to be expected since it is 30 years younger.  Like the others, it appears to have all of the original components.  It also appears to have been well taken care of.

The colored portion of the plane appears to be in better shape than the other two.  I hesitate to call it 'japanning' as Stanley began a process of lowering manufacturing costs in the 30s and I have not been able to verify the process to add the coloring.

It too has a corrugated bottom.

So you might be wondering why I would want 100 year old planes.  Other than the fact that they are very cool and hold some value (considerably more than I paid for them), they are very usable.  Information on rebuilding planes is readily available and these are in very good shape.  A little elbow grease, maybe some new 'japanning', and probably a replacement iron, will make these planes work and look like new.  Maybe even better.

Do I really need three jointer planes?  It's how many I have so the answer must be yes.

Nostepinne - Part II and other stuff

So it's been a while since I posted.  I've been working on some gift items so can't publish anything about what it is.  At least not until they have been given to the recipients.

I have been working on some things I can post about though.

There has been a little progress on the nostepinne.  I turned it to something reselbling the shape it will be and let it rest again.  Now that the other project is done I can get back to it.

I originally thought is was a black walnut but am thinking now it is an English walnut.  Not sure how you would tell the difference.  I just know we find a walnut like nut all over the woods.

The other thing I have been playing with is some coasters.  They are simple slabs cut from a branch on a dead tree we dropped but they look pretty nice.  The tree was dead when we moved here so have no idea what the leaves looked like.  I just know it is a very hard wood.  They will be finished with a matte polyurethane.

Nostepinne - Part 1

This weekend I was able to start a project for Suzanne, a cousin in the Minneapolis area.  The project is a nostepinne.  Suzanne spins her own yarn.  A nostepinne is a device that helps to wind the yarn into a ball that unwinds from the inside.  Just do a Google search for 'nostepinne' and you will find all the information there is.

This particular project began life as a black walnut tree branch in my back yard.  I cut it off about a year and a half ago because it was dead.  It has been sitting in my shop since then waiting for the right project.  The remainder of it is destined to be a couple of scrollsawn chess sets.

The first step is to square it off at the band-saw.  This will help balance the blank as it spins on the lathe.  It's a safety thing.

The grain on this piece is going to be gorgeous.  Here are the cut-offs from the squaring process that give a hint to what is below.

After getting the blank on the lathe and giving it a few spins with a roughing gouge, it begins to round off.

Like a fine wine, a turning blank like this needs to be aged.  Now that it is roughed in, it needs to sit so any tensions that have built up as the tree grew have a chance to release now instead of after the project is complete.  It is also important just in case the moisture level of the inside wasn't quite what it needs to be.

Here is my birthday present.  It is the Easy Wood Full-Size Detailer turning tool.  This turning tool is my third from this manufacturer.  It will come in handy as the nostepinne goes into the final shaping process. 

These tools, along with Robert Sorby turning set should be all I need until I start doing more advances turning techiques.