STL141: Vic Tesolin’s Tool Bomb
Vic Tesolin stops by to talk tools and tool bombs, plus the guys talk about splash-and-go sharpening stones, inexpensive vises, fretsaws, shaping curved legs, tool cabinets, and their all-time favorite woodworking books of all time… for this week.00:50 – Question 1:
I want to purchase one more stone for edge maintenance. I have waterstones up to 8,000 grit, but I want a ‘splash and go’ stone for quick edge renewal. My shop time isn’t that consistent/regular and I’d like a stone that’s ready with less foresight on my part.
Shapton glass 10000? Shapton traditional 15000? Leather strop? Something else completely?
-Jon
08:04 – Question 2:
I know you guys love the twin screw vises, but I can’t justify that kind of expense right now. Should I be looking at a standard front vise? A quick release front vise? What size would you recommend? What about purchasing a pair of tail vise screws and operating them in tandem? Would this present too many racking issues? I’m doing my best to operate on a budget, so please keep that in mind as you answer as well.
-Eric
Steve Latta – Restore a Vintage Vise – Issue #251
Matt Kenney – Lee Valley Large Quick-Release Front Vise
Matt Kenney – Lee Valley Medium Quick-Release Steel Bench Vise
14:00 – All Time Favorite Woodworking Book of All Time… for this week:
Matt – The Book of Shaker Furniture by John Kassay
Mike – The Unknown Crafstman: A Japanese Insight Into Beauty by Soetsu Yanagi
Tom – Dictionary of Woodworking Tools by R.A. Salaman
26:00 – Question 3:
I’ve decided to purchase a nice fret saw for cutting the waste out when cutting dovetails. Given all that you have to say about bandsaw blades, I thought you might have some specific ideas about fret saw blades in terms of TPI and thickness. Teeth per inch vary from 14-30 and the blades get thicker as the TPI goes down? What do you use in your saws?
-Jim
Chris Gochnour – Coping Saws and Fretsaws – Issue #238
30:00 – Introduce Vic Tesolin and Question 4:
For my next project I am going to attempt a cabinet-on-stand. I would like to make some curved, flared legs like the ones found on the kumiko cabinet by John Reed Fox. Matt described them as “bootcut” when he referenced it as his favorite furniture piece of all time in Ep.112.
How should I smooth out the concave curves on these legs after I’ve cut them to shape with the bandsaw? I have bench and block planes, but do you suggest getting a compass plane, or spoke shave for this job. Any excuse for some new tool purchases will do here.
-Dan
37:50 – Tool Bombs:
Vic – Compass plane
Matt – 12 in. disc sander
Mike – Dull pencils
Tom – Tenoning jig for tablesaw
50:20 – Question 5:
What is the point of doors on tool cabinets? It seems like the cabinets are open all day when the dust is flying, and closed at night when the shop isn’t in use. Is it just a matter of wall space or appearance? Does anyone ever close the doors to their tool cabinets?
-Mike
Tom McKenna |
Michael Pekovich |
Matt Kenney |
Every two weeks, a team of Fine Woodworking staffers answers questions from readers on Shop Talk Live, Fine Woodworking‘s biweekly podcast. Send your woodworking questions to [email protected] for consideration in the regular broadcast! Our continued existence relies upon listener support. So if you enjoy the show, be sure to leave us a five-star rating and maybe even a nice comment on our iTunes page.
Comments
How about a photo of Matt's 'portable' tool cabinet? Or is it already an FWW article?
Good pocket pencil sharpeners do give a sharp point: https://smile.amazon.com/Kum-107-02-01-2-Hole-Pencil-Sharpener/dp/B000VZEC3A/ref=sr_1_5?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1499570757&sr=1-5&keywords=KUM+2-hole+Pencil+Sharpener
about $5 or 16 for $23.
I dont know where to go to tell these four musketeers that there answers really suck,lol Hope thay have a sense of humor. But a question was asked is there one stone that will do the work of three and the true answer was yes. What I dont understand is that these Japanese water stones havent been out that long in the market. So all that beautiful furniture that was made 100, 150, 200 years ago I wonder what they must have used to sharpen there tools. A file? A Brick, Uh!! I dont think so try buying a old Washita Whetstone , Not a med arkansas thay some companies call a Washita but a real Washita, Check out David W. on You Tube he will so you what one looks like. I used water stones, ceramic stones because I was told that was the future. My Washita's will cut A2 and PMV!! if Im only trying to hone a small bevel just fine. And My cutting irons last longer between sharpening and are just as sharp if not sharper than any Shapton, Bester" ouch", KIng, Ohishi, Norton water stone I have ever bought. If I need to move it up a notch a little .1 micron diamond paste and two drops of oil on a flat piece of Hard maple and theres no need to go any further. After learning the difference between Natural Novaculite stones and man made stones Ill never go back for my everyday sharpening. If I need to create a new primary bevel I just use an Extra coarse 400 grit Diamond stone and free hand a 25 degree primary bevel. Then on to the Washita two drops of oil four to five strokes and Im done. I will compare my shaving to anybody's and I promise you will be amazed. Actually you will be upset at all the money we have spent on buying these expensive synthetic stones. Its nothing but a marketing hoax that we have to spend money on three to four stones. Your sponsors are really going to hate me now when it comes to cutting wood there is a thing called too sharp. If the cutting edge is too thin you will spend more time sharpening than building. And which is more fun? Especially A2 steel anything less than 35 degrees and watch how quick the cutting edge fractures. You cant even see it with the naked eye but you can see the track marks in the cut. O1 is perfect for woodworking. Think about it ,they got along just fine back in the day . In fact I think they got along better cause they didnt need all this newfangled sharpening stones, guides, rulers , all just take more time and money. You want to build furniture are be a full time sharpening expert. Look at the awesome furniture makers today and look at there tools. Looks like something you would find in a trash can but they make the most beautifulist pieces. Hey I can use that word If I want to. lol. I was obsessed with having all these new tools but then I found out they were holding me back from working. Oh and by the way the #20 Stanley compass plane or the 113 work just fine if you know how to use them. An old Man told me one time while he was watching me shovel dirt the hard way, He said ," Son" you have to be smarter than the equipment your trying to operate. My point being just because you cant figure something out dont discourage others from trying it just might be there all time favorite tool of the week. Now, I fell much better getting that off my chest. Except for one more thing. Theres four , five counting the camera man of you cant yall figure out something interesting to talk about . What I would like for you to talk about is how to resolve problems . Ive been a loyal listener to your podcast but my god its getting boring. Maybe you should try and let your listeners answer the questions I bet you would be amazed at how much you could learn. Maybe have a segment on" Something new I learned this week that I never would have thought of." Educate us out here That's what were looking for.....Our brains what little there is left, is starving for information. Feed us from the knowledge platter. These days If I have a hard time going to sleep I just turn on your podcast, works every time.. If your going to take the time to do the PC then do it or else get out there and find us some great articles for the magazine. Theres about a jillion woodworkers out there It shouldn't be that hard to find a good story...... Okay okay I think I've said enough. but keep in mind Im speaking for a lot of people out there who all want to support you guys and girls so help us out here a little. There goes my subscription I bet I wont see a new Magazine for months now. lol Oh , Did I tell you guys your doing a great job keep up the good work.
Lol.
ok
The question asked was:
"I want a ‘splash and go’ stone for quick edge renewal."
IMO, the best option for on the go edge touch-up is a Spyderco ultra fine ceramic stone. The stone can be used dry and if you're proficient with hand holding a blade, restoring a super sharp edge takes mere seconds. The edge left by my Ultra Fine is finer than that left by a Shapton 5000 professional water stone.
I believe these stones are favoured by knife sharpeners.
(One caveat, some users report that out-of-the-box the stones need an initial flattening with a diamond plate. If required this is a once off exercise.)
I was so disappointed no one followed-up on Vic's off-the-cuff statement that he has not used a table saw in years!! I am in pretty much the same situation, but it would have been good to understand his reasons why... perhaps all hand tools? or band saw and jointer? Enquiring minds want to know....
73
And... as a bass fisherman (in addition to woodworker), I suspect you missed this guy... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owze_aeY-LU
73
I have to say this podcast has really dropped off in the past few months. It used to be my favourite then it fell into the mid range and now I'm considering unsubscribing. There's so much mocking of the people asking the questions you guys can barely pull an answer together. I'd be terrified of asking anything cause I'd be worried my stupid question would be mocked and, in the end, barely answered.
For some of the questions in this episode, there really wasn't an answer and you had to ask others if the question was answered cause you went so far off that no one knew what was going on.
In many cases, "what you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
Lose Kenney and you might have a chance to keep this going but man, it's getting hard to listen to.
The best pencil sharpener I have found is the X-ACTO KS or previously it was known as Boston. I first learned about this pencil sharpener long ago in an 8th grade mechanical drawing class. Where I also learned about pencil lead hardness and where to use them. The teacher was very adamant about pencil use and sharpening. A student could only have so many pencils and they needed to be sharp. The current X-ACTO one is exactly the same as the Boston one I used in 1961. Two maybe 3 cranks and you will have a perfectly sharpened pencil. I mounted one in a convenient location in my shop, can be table or wall mounted. I too carry around a No. 2 pencil and when it needs sharpening I take a moment to turn the crank a couple turns and I am back in business. Link to Amazon, current price is $8.57, cheaper than just about any other pencil sharpener.
https://www.amazon.com/X-ACTO-Manual-Pencil-Sharpener-Finish/dp/B00006IEDY/ref=sr_1_1?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1499726865&sr=1-1&keywords=boston+pencil+sharpener
By the way, I am entertained by your Podcast, I never miss it. You do pass on some useful information. Some of the dry humor, at times satirical, is actually funny.
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