RalphBarker

I just finished upgrading from clay tablets to papyrus. Does this mean I have to upgrade again? Sheesh! ;-)

Add me to the list of those who would like to have the book. My aluminum cane looks so . . . well, un-woodworky.

There are few things more rewarding than exposing kids to a new area of endeavor, new skills, or new science. Not all of the "light bulbs" go on, but those that do make it worth the effort.

I think the answer depends on whether the work is being done as a hobbyist or a pro, where time is a balance between quality and profit.

Personally, I mostly like to take my time, smelling the fresh shavings (or, sawdust) along the way.

With respect to methods (the focus of the tenon-out), however, my choices are often based on how I feel my hand skills compare, precision-wise, to what I can achieve with a machine. Proper set-up of the machine often takes longer for me, though.

I think I detected some wasted motion at 14.23757 seconds, Matthew. ;-)

Should you want to take longer, try shooting with an 8x10 view camera. ;-)

Thanks for the report, Asa. The conference sounds like a wonderful opportunity.

By chance, does either the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, or Taunton, do DVDs of the sessions for sale to those of us out here on the frontier? (I have a roadrunner chasing a lizard on a treadmill to power my DVD player. ;-) )

I wonder why the woodworking shows never come to Rio Rancho, New Mexico? ;-)

I was really hoping for a #4 workshop expander, but I didn't see it on any of the polls. ;-)

Turning a few wooden plates would be a big improvement over the flat rocks I'm using now. The rocks are pretty durable, but tough to hold onto in the wash water. ;-)

And, FWIW, the MF keyhole saws actually did work - for things like cutting outlet holes in sheetrock, but they weren't as versatile as the MF marketing department wanted us to believe.

I still have a couple of those puppies. Last used about 30 years ago, as I recall.

I tried buying tools as Christmas gifts for all three of my ex-wives.

Obviously, that didn't work out well. ;-)

To paraphrase the line from the old movie, "I don't need no stinking dovetails." I equip all of my drawers with motor-driven worm gears, activated by a remote control. ;-)

There is a possibility, however, for practitioners of any craft to become overly obsessive about certain aspects of the craft. Dovetails may be one of those instances for woodworkers. I've never understood the lack of interest in hand-cut hexagonal mortices and tenons, however. ;-)

Dear Santa,

I'd really like to get a Time Machine for Christmas. That way, I could go back to when exotic woods were both available and affordable, buy a whole bunch of it, and sticker it away for the present time.

Oh, and I've been a good boy, too. (At my age, the choices are limited).

Congrats on the find, Matthew. Old Delta iron is tough to beat, unless you have a bush out back that grows cast-iron sticks. ;-)

How about a screw-in leg to support the end of that outrigger fence?

The only thing better than a good book is a free good book. ;-)

Yeah, those sheets looked pretty loose. Not likely to pass the bouncing-quarter inspection. ;-)

Good thinking, Ms. Roman. Norm deserves the pat on the plaid.

I could definitely use this book. The furniture I carved from the sandstone in my cave is starting to wear. Plus, the "sofa" is really cold in the winter. ;-)

Even though I don't consider myself a "Normite", this is sad news. I wonder what prompted the decision to discontinue the show?

I hope your refurb works out OK, Patrick.

One possible lesson in the experience is to take a magnifier along on yard-sale adventures, allowing closer scrutiny of higher-priced items. ;-)

I completely agree with the idea that teaching hand skills is relevant, even in a digital age. A parallel exists in teaching analog photography basics to budding photographers who have only experienced the use of digital cameras. Both lead to better understanding and a more well-rounded mind.

Teaching hand skills, of course, goes back thousands of years - back to the time that learning flint napping, for example, was essential to bring home dinner. Back then, outsourcing the task to manual craftspersons in China or India wasn't possible.

This might help me to think inside the box.

I've always wanted to get my angles right. ;-)

To paraphrase the frog, "It's not easy being Greene."

No sliding mini-dovetails on the dividers? ;-)

Please allow me to cut your chances in half, Jake. ;-)

Life has a nasty habit of ending, usually well before we'd like it to do so. Worse, there are no exemptions for those, like Krenov and Maloof, whom we'd like to have around forever. But, they live on in the on-going inspiration they provide. Rest in peace, Mr. Krenov, and Mr. Maloof, as well.

I agree that it's tough to choose a favorite tool. But, after some consideration, I've settled on my brain, even though it's probably the least-capable tool in the shop.

Excellent work, and a distinctive design.

I haul out the spare, continue to work, and then repair the broken one later. Doesn't everyone buy two of everything, plus spare parts? ;-)

Seriously, for me, the repair/replace question is one of economics vs. features. If the repair is cheap, it has a chance . . . unless the features of a new version are too attractive to pass up.

Fun game, but is there a link that shows all of the differences after one has tried to spot them?

Do the toothpicks have T&G joints routed along each edge? Or, did he use nano-biscuits? ;-)

re: Laguna's new LT14 SUV Bandsaw

"SUV" - does that mean it consumes more amps than one would expect? ;-)

I'm interested in mortisers, but limiting the comparison to benchtop models is much less interesting. I'm more curious about whether floor models are worth the added expense. In other words, my suggestion is to consider the real buying decisions people make when determining the scope of a tool review.

Does it cover the flint and copper tools I'm still using? ;-)

Nice to put some faces to names in the masthead. Thanks, everyone.

One might quibble about whether the band saw is the *most* important tool in the shop, but it's certainly among the top contenders in my shop. Now, to go carve one of those big "champion" belts out of wood (oval cut on the bandsaw, of course), and hire a couple of "round girls". ;-)

It's great to get the kids involved in woodworking, and this is a simple-enough project to ensure their success. Others have commented on safety issues.

The design of the tote, however, might prompt additional gifts of a gym membership and steel-toed boots. The sides of the tote are heavier than they need to be, requiring Mom to pump more wood than she needs to, and the handle would be better placed inside a hole drilled in the end panels. As-is, supporting the weight of the tote and contents depends on the fasteners in the end grain of the end panels.