Replies

1. 
   flairwoodworks | Feb 07, 2009 08:37pm | #1

   Derek,

   I hate looking at your nicely organized shop and then having to go down to the war zone where I work. Every tool is put away where it belongs... disgusting! Sorry - just giving you a hard time!

   I love your 30" jointer. You have me inspired with your Stanley #3-to-infill. Your bow saw is beautiful too - I have been wanting to make one for many years. Which of the three mallets pictured do you use most often?

   Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
   (soon to be www.flairwoodworks.com)

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

1. 
   derekcohen | Feb 08, 2009 07:33pm | #7

   I hate looking at your nicely organized shop and then having to go down to the war zone where I work. Every tool is put away where it belongs... disgusting!

   Hi Chris

   My pictures are mainly taken when I am displaying a tool, or after a cleanup. I have a rule that says 'clean up after each project'. The truth is that I am a lazy slob. My workshop gets as messy as anyone's can, but you never get to see it that way.

   Here is a picture taken today, before a clean up. Everything is piled on everything. The dust is inches thick.

   View Image

   View Image

   It will have to wait until tomorrow.

   Regards from Perth

   Derek

1. 
   flairwoodworks | Feb 09, 2009 09:21am | #13

   ...and it still looks better than mine!Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com(soon to be http://www.flairwoodworks.com)

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

2. 
   WillGeorge | Feb 09, 2009 08:35pm | #14

   I see no dust?

3. 
   Joe Sullivan | Feb 10, 2009 01:52am | #18

   Derek:I am immensely relieved. I had the impression that your shop was part of your (well kept) living room.J

2. 
   oldusty | Feb 07, 2009 10:45pm | #2

      Derek ,    

           All your tools are beautiful but I especially admire the bow saw and the stair saw is also a thing of beauty . Just for scale , is that a standard hack saw blade length ?

               thanks for sharing

                      regards from Oregon     dusty

1. 
   derekcohen | Feb 08, 2009 07:35pm | #8

   is that a standard hack saw blade length ?

   Hi Dusty

   The bowsaw blade is made from a bandsaw blade.

   Regards from Perth

   Derek

3. 
   dkellernc | Feb 08, 2009 01:00am | #3

   Derek - Curiosity question.  On your cutting gauge, did you thread the brass thumbscrew directly into the wood of the gauge, or is it in a brass insert (and if so, how did you get the brass insert to stay in place?)

1. 
   derekcohen | Feb 10, 2009 08:24am | #20

   Derek - Curiosity question.  On your cutting gauge, did you thread the brass thumbscrew directly into the wood of the gauge, or is it in a brass insert (and if so, how did you get the brass insert to stay in place?)

   Gee, I forgot to answer you.

   This cutting guage was inspired by one by Woodjoy. I am not sure how they went about designing/constructing theirs.

   Here is an exploded picture of the captured bolt in question. The thumbscrew is a separate item (this is the only part here I did not make. It is from Lee Valley). Incidentally, the fence is reversable for straight and curved work. There is a tenon that holds it square inside the mortice/groove.

   View Image

   View Image

   View Image

   Regards from Perth

   Derek

1. 
   dkellernc | Feb 15, 2009 07:14pm | #25

   Ahh- Very clever.  I had in my mind the typical "Crown Tools Design" where the thumscrew is part of the bolt, and screws into an insert.  Your method is considerably more friendly to construct in my shop.

4. 
   9619 | Feb 08, 2009 02:57am | #4

   Derek,
   Very, very impressive array of shop made tools. I have seen some of them individually before. When you see them all together, the impact is greater. Very nice post.
   Mel

   Measure your output in smiles per board foot. 

5. 
   WillGeorge | Feb 08, 2009 04:25pm | #5

   Fibonacci gauge.. I made one of those.. Ok several in different sizes.. I just use them for estemating sizes. I love em...

   Derek you are one amazin' man!

   Australia.. Only there once, maybe twice? I Loved all the folks I met.

   Tell all, Hart felt sorrow for all lost in the brush fires. From an 'USA yank'...

1. 
   Shoemaker1 | Feb 08, 2009 07:12pm | #6

   Very nice work. Wished I could ship you a few tons of snow!

2. 
   derekcohen | Feb 08, 2009 07:39pm | #9

   Thanks Will

   The fires in Victoria (on the Eastern side of Australia) have been devastating. Something like 700 homes burnt to the ground. 700 families without homes. And the fires are still raging.

   Regards from Perth

   Derek

6. 
   RalphBarker | Feb 08, 2009 09:25pm | #10

   Beautiful work, Derek. Thanks for letting us drool.

   The downside is that you owe me a keyboard. ;-)

1. 
   Shoemaker1 | Feb 08, 2009 11:05pm | #11

   Dereck
   Your Fibonacci gauge is wonderful. I googled for plans and I got a metric one tried to print to full size and no luck. Do you have a set of dimentions for the gauge?
   Are the main legs 340mm long? or can you make a scaled down length that will still work? Math is not my strong suit, a great understatment.
   I would love to make one of those for a friend who would really enjoy it. and one for me.

1. 
   trialnut | Feb 09, 2009 04:01am | #12

   Thought you might enjoy this.

   View ImageThe Professional Termite

   
2. 
   WillGeorge | Feb 09, 2009 08:39pm | #15

   What I used for mine. Just scaled for the other sizes.

   As a suggestion. The centers are critical if you 'really' need it to be exact.

   http://www.quantumbalancing.com/images/goldenmeangauge.jpg

   Edited 2/9/2009 12:39 pm by WillGeorge

1. 
   Tony Z | Feb 09, 2009 09:50pm | #16

   WG,

   Is the  last number 60mm or 80mm? 

   Thanks,

   T.Z.

2. 
   derekcohen | Feb 10, 2009 01:49am | #17

   Hi Will

   That is the plan and dimension upon which I based my gauge.

   Tony, it is an 80.

   I gave one of these to Mike Wenzloff a couple of years ago. He tells me it is a crucial factor in designing and making his saws. He would be lost without it :)

   Regards from Perth

   Derek

1. 
   rhagenstein | Feb 10, 2009 06:42am | #19

   I gave a gauge to a friend who has a boat and suggested he use it as a navigation tool:  He could measure the distance already travelled on his chart and then determine the most aesthetically distance to travel relative to distance covered.  He rarely takes me seriously on anything; this time was no exception.

   Derek, your work is very inspiring.  Thanks for sharing so much of it.

   Randall

2. 
   mwenz | Feb 10, 2009 03:20pm | #21

   I gave one of these to Mike Wenzloff a couple of years ago. He tells me it is a crucial factor in designing and making his saws. He would be lost without it :)

   {g}

   Mike

3. 
   Shoemaker1 | Feb 10, 2009 04:12pm | #22

   Thanks
   Now I know what I an doing this weekend

7. 
   shakychisel | Feb 15, 2009 10:12am | #23

   Derek,

   having read all the other replies, there is nothing left to say.Like Mel, I've seen them all individually here and on your website,but together,they are simply breathtaking!

   I'm beginning to wonder why I bother. :-)

   Cheers from Bowral

   R.

    

1. 
   derekcohen | Feb 15, 2009 03:29pm | #24

   Thanks for the compliments Robin.

   What's the weather like in Bowral?

   Regards from Perth

   Derek

1. 
   shakychisel | Feb 17, 2009 06:14am | #26

   After all that extreme heat,we seem to be back to something like normal.In fact we are now getting some vaguely consistant rain,and have fired up the heating implements once or twice recently if you can believe that!

   With all our dry weather,read drought, & heat,now that it is raining gently,could you believe there are people complaining about the wet??!!

   Takes all sorts,I guess.

   Cheers from a dampish and much relieved Bowral.

   Robin