borderdogs

For a hobby I started making sheepdog (border collie) whistles many years ago. These are machined from various materials, brass, stainless, aluminium, corian, etc. Now it's become more than a hobby it's become part of my yearly income. One thing I have learned there is a limit to what people are willing to pay for certain improvements. A table saw is no different albeit much more expensive. I wouldn't say the sheepdog world is cheap but they are fugal really no different than the woodworking world. Even though a manufacturer can improve their product it isn't always what the customer wants. When there is no choice in my opinion the customer looses. I am not against someone making a profit I am against the government mandating & limiting choice.
Rob Drummond
Hillsboro, NH

I think the Saw Stop technology is great and if you want to go out and buy one for that peace of mind by all means do so. Credit is do to the inventor too it is innovative and I hope he does profit from it.

What I don't like is how the Government always has to be involved in some sort of regulation or mandate some new law. If they can't pass a law to mandate that new technology be included in new saws produced by other tool companies they will impose new taxes to penalize them.

Someone made a comparison to guns, so true & an appropriate comparison.

I am sick to death of all this government involvement in every fascet of our lives. Let the open market determine how sucessful the technology will ulitmately be.

I don't need some noodle brain in Washington to tell me the table saw in my shop can be dangerous, butt out!!!
Rob Drummond
Hillsboro, NH

I have watched the show on & off when PBS has allowed it to air when not conflicting with fund raising efforts.

The very first show I watched I thought it should be named "A Rough Cut on the Hand". Everything seemed rushed with a hurry up "hey Guys" every now & then. Don't get me wrong I am glad there are still woodworking shows on the air & I think it shows that Tommy loves what he does. That alone will improve the show. The last few episodes I watched were better & toned down so my guess is it will get much better as he continues. Roy Underhill would cut himself & continue to work while bleeding and at times his show seemed rushed too. His personality & charmisa along with his talent made the show unique & IMO a sucess. Now it's Tommy's turn good luck & best wishes, will be watching!
Rob Drummond
Hillsboro, NH

There seems to be two things I like looking at and they are work benches & work shops. I too use my work shop for several other activities. I currently have a basement shop with a walk out entry, which is roughly 340 square feet and shaped like a flat s and has less than 8' ceiling height. In that shop I have an old Unisaw w/50"fence, 8" jointer, 15" planer, 10" sliding compound saw, 14" bandsaw and various & assorted power & hand tools. Also in the same space I have a small closet, dog grooming tub, & a space where a bathroom was roughed out. It is far from finished space and I have plans to put up a ship lapped paneled walls and fix up the closet for tool storage. I also plan on putting a cyclone in the bathroom space along with a tolet. I can work in the space as it is pretty well but the studded walls, insulation, & dust make the space somewhat uninviting.

So as I try to work out what the next step is to finish the space I love to look and see what others have done so anytime there is a review of a shop or a tour I want to see it. Thanks for the posts on shops & that one about the bench.
Rob Drummond
Hillsboro, NH

You are a brave one to post pictures of your shop. With all the posts of clean shops I was attracted to your post by the picture you put on Shop Tour. There are probably more shops like yours then people are willing to admit. Here, here for posting the pictures I love them!

Rob Drummond
Hillsboro, NH

Thanks for the update Tom. It's been interesting to read the comments coming in on this issue. This discussion about Delta still being Delta reminds me of the tale about the guy who owns a tomahawk once owned by Daniel Boone; the handle has been replaced four times and the head has been replace twice but he's still proud to own it.

trduff I appreciate your support & your effort and your interest in buying US products. My company is called Brailsford & Co (www.brailsford.com) & we manufacture brusless dc pumps, motors, & blowers sold to various industries. We have in business since 1944. That year, 1944,the US was probably at it's pinicale for industrial might and the world looked to us & our industral abilities to help win WW2. It's that spirit of pride in what we could do & produce that I wish was more prevalent in today's business & I try to foster that kind of spirit in my own company.

Professionlly, I have purchase Hardinge, Brigeport, Clausing, Souh Bend, Logan, etc machines over the years. Sadly these companies are not what they use to be or have been bought up & no longer exist. The quaily of some of these older machines, the castings, tables, lead screws, etc were excellent, hold up to the rigors of daily production use and lasts for years. We have machines that are 60+ years old that are still used daily for production work. Ever take a look at some of the older Delta machines? I have a Delta combination sander that is probably 50-60 years old & is used daily. I have newer Delta sanders that can't hold a candle to that old one.

ieiswingle of couse I know it's not a country that makes a product & I beg to differ on who steers a company. Generally it's a BOD that may be influenced by a union. But it's the people who work for the company that make the products not the union. Unions in my opinion are probably part of the problem of why companies such as Delta are owned by Asian interests. Fortunately for me I do not have to deal with unions and I have a loyal work force with virtually no turn over. Our employees are treated fairly & paid fairly. We have to compete with other bigger companies and overseas companies as well. How we stay competitive is producing quaility products and don't aim for quantity. As a nation we are losing the talent & abilties we once had as a producer nation as we gradually become a user nation. I find that sad....don't you?
Rob Drummond
Hillsboro, NH

You know I find it sad that Delta was sold to an Asian investor. I don't have anything against Asian products but for me "Made in the USA" still means something. Parts for their tools are probably already made in Asia and maybe we'll see no change in the fit & finish of their products I hope so. But it seems to me there goes another old American brand down the tubes.

I can speak to this with some experience because I own a manufacturing company where we make just about everything that goes into our products. We take pride in the Made in the USA label we put onto our products. It might cost more because we don't sub out to overseas contractors but in the end we can control the quality of the products. And when a customer calls they can talk to a live person for assistance who knows the product first hand. We stand by our products & we make every effort to make sure our customers are satisfied with their purchase. Maybe that is old fashioned a way of the past but I know we have customers who appreciate a US manufacture & US quality. Delta has a long history but I think in the near future there may be people looking for a Pre 2010 model Unisaw, etc.
Rob Drummond
Hillsboro, NH

There is a blank spot without knowing Norm is on tv sometime during the weekend when I watched him. It's sad to know he's not going to do the New Yankee Workshop anymore. I think He had a practical, plain view to approaching & building a project which lent itself to an easy going instruction style. He inspired me over the years and I have built several of his pieces over the years. I actually think, at least in my opinion, he represents an era in woodworking & even in diy tv that some have tried to copy but haven't equalled.

I was doing woodwork & carpentry before New Yankee Workshop and of course I continue doing it after his show ended. But I can say my work has been influenced for the better because of Norm.

If you read all these commnets Norm I hope you know that there are many out here that appreciate you and all that you have contributed. Thank you & all the best
Rob Drummond
Hillsboro, NH

I have used MDF to build jigs but I have also used it to build furniture with pretty nice results. It's heavy and a pain to cut to size and dust control is a must but in my opinion it definately has a place in a furniture shop.

The biggest piece I made using MDF was for two built in book cases on either side of a window. The house was a 1930's colonial and the design followed other cases in the house. The book case was on the top portion and the bottom was selving & drawers covered by two raised panel doors. The drawers were half blind dovetailed construction and the doors were cope & stick. I made both cases completely out of MDF and installed them using custom MDF molding made to order. I used a spray finish inside & out and when complete they looked like they had been in place since the house was built.

For me it has a place in my shop and I would use it where I thought it would work well.
Rob Drummond
Hillsboro, NH