danmart

OK this looks like a long shot but hey if I don't enter the contest I won't be able to bad mouth FWW for not picking poor pitiful me. Ha. Just hurry up with the results OK? I'm getting anxious and I don't want all these other Knotheads to come along and fill up the hat.
You could make me babble even more if you had posted a couple of those glossy color shots in between the covers... maybe?
later

Hey Normand
I like it. I was wondering.. what does the french carving say?

Hey Zbop
You don't know if its the Hock blades? Get the old irons out and put Hock blades and breakers in your Bailey planes. You won't regret it and you'll most likely ask yourself: Why did I wait so long?

I have the high carbon blades in my old Bailey planes(3,4, 5). I also have blades for the 3 and 4 in the A2. I can't tell that much difference after months of use and comparing. The A2 does last longer but I get an incredible edge on the high carbon. I called Ron Hock and he said that is not unusual for users to get the keener edge on the HC blade. I love his blades. I just bought 300 feet of wide birdseye maple and I am going to make another steep angle wooden plane(55 degrees) for the job. I had one with a hock blade and loved it. My friend liked it more than me.... he still has it. Its all good. Get some blades for the old boys and put them to work.
dan

Asa
Like to hear about the second session and the SAPFM banquet. The two sessions usually have unique personalities.

Having gone to the first 8 sessions, I can tell you there is something to learn at every session. Its very enjoyable. I must say- the best session I attended was the Metal working in the 18th century which included: riflemaking, silversmithing, and the blacksmith. They had break out sessions at the work-sites and you got to do "hands on work" as part of the deal.

One year FWW/CW offered the attendees an opportunity to visit the shop where they use modern tooling to make the reproduction tools for the historic work areas. What a gold mine. I got to visit with George Wilson(former musical instruments) and Jon Laubach(former riflesmith).If CW offers to let FWW/CW attendees visit the tooling shop, make a point of visiting the place
dan

Hey JM I like the cabinet. I might add, I like seeing a cabinet on a stand without "gumby" legs. For anybody who has worked curves in multiple planes, its a challenge to say the least. I hope when you got to the end you felt like you did the "special" wood justice.

Keep posting
dan

I played around with some of this cherry and found it difficult/challenging to get some acceptable joinery to make larger sections. Like apple it seems to go best in floating panels or small pieces to highlight the interesing grain.

Don't get disappointed by the amount of unusable stuff. Take the losses and make the best of the good stuff.

dan

Well done. I like the piece. What finish did you use?

Mark I like to make a box to give to friends and family. The candle box(tall one) that Lonnie Bird featured in curly maple is a simple project that lends itself to multiples. All of the parts are small so there's a good possibility to use scrap wood for a good project. With the exception of the detailed cutting on top, the box is all butt joined. I have made six boxes in a day and come back to touch up the finish at my leisure. I've not had one come back.
dan

The guy was looking thru a lense many are trying to find. His view and subtle comments have interested me in a way I can't put my finger on right now... maybe in time.

My admiration of JK has been the approach to work he encouraged. I think it seems far fetched to some to be inspired by the wood and then build. I have looked at a piece of wood and put it aside for that day when it would be "just right" in a certain place. I think JK validated that for me.

Very nicely done. Your carving tools will have a place much nicer than my toolbox. Thanks for the photos.

Tom
I guess you didn't want to get too technical and steal Chris G's thunder in the upcoming article. I was wondering about the measurements and the tolerances they adhere to with the construction?
Truthfully, if you told me they were the same front to rear between the LN and the WR, I would not buy the WR. That's just me. When I bought my Martin D-28 35 years ago, I planned to give it to my son when I croaked. There were some really nice Japanese look-alikes and they were cheaper. Today, I have a guitar that rings like a bell and its a genuine made in the US Martin. I would rather support the efforts of the guys in Maine or the gang in Canada who are trying to innovate at the same time that they are producing to keep the lights on. If LN or LV goes off-shore to make their parts cheaper, I'll have to re-evaluate. Till then the WR can stay on the shelf.

Love the continuous arm windsor. I am surprised not to see Curtis Buchanan in the crowd. Windsor chairs,Tennessee and no Curtis? Well done.

Nicely done Charles. That's a fine piece of cherry on that desk lid. I have enjoyed visiting your website on many occasions. Thanks for all the information and humor.
dan

Chuck I like it. I have always liked the color I know as "soldier blue" on small things. I like the contrast of painted areas and natural wood side by side. The nice figured maple is eye catching. In the future, if you are looking for a darker look, you can cut the brightness by adding black milk paint powder to the mix or you can layer. Curtis Buchanan(windsor chair maker) paints some his chairs with a base coat of red then thins out black milk paint cut 2:1 so you can see the red behind the black. When you put oil/varnish/shellac over it, the colors change again. I have used this method with good results.

Very nicely done. Would love to see some additional photos of the inlay.
Again, it looks nice.

It would be nice to see some plans, measurements and explanations of how the kneeholes are built. The picture of the piece on the site is more than enough for me. If not a complete piece, perhaps an article on convex and concave shells. Its been a while since we've seen an in-depth article on 18th century carving.