Going to Build: next

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Sunday, January 26, 2014

The Move Next Steps

Well, its a new year, with a new house, closer to the family which has been great, all, or most, of the curtain rods and blinds are hung, so now it is time to get serious about setting up the shop in its new location. This house has a very large basement, but I chose the corner with the one window in the foundation. The builder insulated the walls that are above and a few feet below grade, and I am surprised how comfortable it is even when we were in the low teens last week.

As you can see, I have "roughed in" some lights to get an idea of where I want those, and the builder was generous enough to add one, count em, one 110v outlet box on the unfinished side of the stair well wall. Later today, I have my cousin who is a retired electrician coming over to layout the electric service (he will do anything for beer). I debated as to whether I should frame in the walls first, finish the ceiling, or just get this unpacked, set-up, and get back to using the shop. I chose the latter, and there isnt that much stuff to move around should I choose to do so later on.

The two benches are temporary in that they will be replaced with the Benchcrafted Shaker Bench which is the first project intend to build.

When I started packing in mid-December, I was amazed as to how much "stuff" I had in the shop in Tennessee. I am even more amazed now that I have to unpack it all and figure out what to do with it in a new configuration, but that is part of the fun (I guess). I will post more as progress is made.

Its good to be home.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

A Good Thing But Not The Next Best

The next best thing to attending Woodworking in America if you cant? Hardly.

Ill say it here, it is now very likely that I will miss WIA 2011. Im still hoping to go, but forces well beyond my control (also known as life) are conspiring against me. I cant complain though, because I was able to stop in breifly for WIA 2009 & and I kicked it with the cool kids all wekend long at WIA 2010.

Ill have my homework in tomorrow, Mr. Schwarz.

For anyone who hasnt been lucky enough to attend, dont let this blog post from Popular Woodworking fool you. The hand tool techniques you pick up at WIA are great, yes. And these are great DVDs to suppliment the instruction. But they are not what make the weekend great. Neither is the market place filled with its tool porn and fantastic deals.

Ahh! Woodworkers everywhere!

What makes Woodworking in America the MUST ATTEND Woodworking event of the year are the WOODWORKERS!

Marcs as entertaining in person.

The highlight of the 2 hours I spent at WIA 2009 was my meeting Tom Iovino. What made WIA 2010 one of the best weekends Ive ever had was meeting and hanging out with not just Tom, but Kyle Barton, Rob Bois, Nik Brown, Matt Gradwohl, Kari Hultman, Adam King, Allen Lindsey, Ian Mackay, Aaron Marshall, Mike Morton, Marc Spagnuolo, Steve Taylor and Matt Vanderlist (a many, many others).

Youll leave any woodworking event with great friends.

If you can’t make it to WIA, be sure to make it to a local woodworking event and meet you’re fellow woodworkers. They’re a great bunch. You’ll be glad you did.