Friends,
Last Tuesday, I went to the meeting of the Washington Woodworkers Guild. A man got up to speak and introduced himself as an Australian, which wasn’t really necessary. We had figured that out. He gave a great talk about Australian woods, woodworking, salvaging wood, and showed photos of a PHENOMENAL carved fireplace mantle (actually about half a wall). When he finished, he said he’d take questions. When he got to me, I said:
“You said you are from Australia. I know a guy in Australia.”
At that point there was a collective groan from the sixty (or so) members, as if to say, “That is quite silly.”
Well, I had prior knowledge that the guy, whose name is Greg Miller, is from Perth. So I continued. “Do you happen to know a man named Derek Cohen.” His jaw dropped, and he said “Sure, we belong to the same woodworkers group.”
He and guild members were a bit dumbfounded that this Australian and I would have a friend in common. After all, what are the chances? Me, I was dumbfounded that everybody didn’t know Derek.
In any case, it was great fun. Greg and I had our photo taken. You will see it below. You can distinguish Greg from me. He is a tad taller.
All I can figure is that:
– Australia is very small, and
– everyone in Australia is a woodworker.
Two weeks ago, I saw and used two of Philip Marcou’s planes. Last week, I met a friend of Derek. Next week I plan on going to the Smithsonian museum. What coincidence will happen then — maybe I’ll see a table by Lataxe. 馃檪 Knots is a great place for making contacts, and having nice things happen.
Have fun.
Mel
Measure your output in smiles per board foot.
Replies
Hi Mel
Wonderful story!
Did Greg mention that there were only 2 others in the club? Or that he is the shortest?
Just to correct you on one detail - not everyone in Australia is a woodworker. Half are woodworkers and the other half are carvers. OK, I'm just teasing... :)
Regards from Perth
Derek
Derek,
Wow. That was a quick reply.
Glad you enjoyed the story. The meeting was a lot of fun. Greg did a great job and was well received. When you see him, please let him know that you saw his photo at the Washington Woodworkers Guild meeting, and that you heard from me.
Thank you.
melMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
Hi Mel
Here is an article written by Greg in the October 2009 magazine of our (ironically named) Fine Wood Work Association of Western Australia. I think he would be chuffed if I reproduced it here.
Regards from Perth
Derek
View Image
A Saw Stool on
Steroids.
Greg Miller
Those who have worked with me know how
much I value traditional Saw Stools. I use them in
the workshop and out on the job all the time. In
fact I am lost without them! I usually have several
sets, some low ones at around 21” high and
some taller ones at 30” high.
I am not talking about those crappy folding metal
and pine things, which wobble around and carry
warning stickers saying you should not stand on
then. I am referring to properly made traditional
saw stools. Usually made from jarrah, these are
rigid and can carry considerable loads. I have in
use some that are well over 50 years old and
which have worked hard all their lives. These
type of saw stools were standard equipment for
carpenters, joiners and cabinet makers for
generations.
I had a big job to do recently, which involved
working on site in Kalamunda for 3 weeks solid. I
took a portable jarrah work bench with me, as
there was a fair bit of bench work to do over
those 3 weeks. Of course I also needed to use 2
pairs of low saw stools and 2 pairs of taller saw
stools on site for that period as well.
While I worked on the job, I got thinking: How
can I create a saw stool X workbench hybrid,
which would be more portable than my portable
jarrah bench?
So I have played with the idea, and the result is a
Saw Stool which looks like it has been on
steroids:
View of the beast - a hybrid between a saw
stool and a bench.
Here are the specifications:
Height: 880mm. The legs have a 10 degree
splay to the ends and to the sides.
Length: 980 (plus tail vice outer cheek equals
1030mm overall.
Width: Pine 220mm, including jarrah front edge
equals 260mm.
Tail vice: Maximum bite 240mm
路 Minumum bite between dog holes: 240mm
路 Maximum bite between dog holes:
1040mm.
Front vice: Maximum bite 140mm
路 Minimum bite between dog holes: 110mm
路 Maximum bite between dog holes: 390mm.
View with the Tail Vice extended.
A 25mm square Tuart guide rod maintains the
orientation of the vice cheek with the single vice
screw.
Almost whole thing is made from recycled
salvage material :
路 Pine top – from a 10” x 3” solid pine beam.
路 Legs, rails, and other odds and sods – from
some 3”x2” jarrah wall studs.
路 “Breadboard ends” - from an old jarrah door
sill.
路 Jaw cheeks of the front and tail vices – from a
jarrah 8”x2” ceiling joist.
路 Vice handles made from Peppermint (Agonis
flexuosa) I milled years ago.
路 Tail vice guide rod made from a piece of Tuart
(E. gomphocephala) leftover from the making of the
Endeavour Replica.
路 The tail vice screw and front vice are those
imported ones from Timbecon/Carbatec. The front
vice is the smaller of the two models available, and
is pretty disappointing. Its guide rods and screw
are not square to the metal vice front and rear, and
are barely parallel. However the tail vice screw is a
ripper. These metal components cost less than $100
in total. I put the additional bit of jarrah onto the
front side of the pine to beef up the work area a bit
and provide a more durable front edge to the work
area. The only reason I used pine was to help keep
down the weight!
Derek,
Now I see why I was so impressed with Greg. I had never heard of a Saw Stool, but now I am thinking of going into the Saw Stool business and give Tom Lie Nielsen and Rob Lee a run for their money. Greg is a creative and clever dude. And all the while, your country is running out of wood, and has to use recycled stuff. :-)Are saw stools a common thing Down Under? THanks for posting Greg's article.
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
It sounds like what he calls a saw stool we call a sawhorse, only his is a lot nicer than what most of us make and use. But I got the impression their use of the saw stool is the same as ours for a sawhorse until he dressed one up, added the vises, and made a mini-bench out of it. I love it!Woody
Woody,
a superb portable Bench. Best I have ever seen. I saw photos of this guy's woodwork. He is exceptional.
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
Forget about the saw stool, that is one outstanding mullet!
Mullet?? I don't see no steenkin mullet, nor a mallett.What are you seeing there?Philip Marcou
A mullet is a hairstyle. Business in the front, party in the back. Common amongst hockey players and woodchucks.
Thanks-I am enlightened ☺ I would never have guessed.
A mullet can also be a stupid person-same as a muppet (slang).Philip Marcou
Mook , A Mullet is also a fish over here , sort of a bottom dweller scavenger suckermouth almost prehistoric looking .
Pressure canned I'm told they taste like Tuna ,,, after looking at them I didn't want any parts of them .
regards dusty
I know, hence the use of the word "steenking"....But thanks anyway (;)Philip Marcou
Phillip
It's nothing short of astonishing that someone who resides in NZ and has an interest in motorcycles is not familiar with said hairstyle these are de rigger for leather clad ACC benefactors.
John
Yah, interesting, that....Tell me more about the ACC thing. There were some hefty contribution increases proposed but protests may bring about a re-think .
Could be that because I don't wear full leathers or fail to take right hand bends properly or have a certain claims mentality I am not very familiar with the ins and outs of ACC. Neither do I cut fingers etc.
Philip Marcou
Short on details as to the levies but it appeared to be more smoke and mirrors on ACC's part, I guess it will make the final washup more palatable to the two wheeled fraternity if it is fraction of the original increase.
By the way the planes you rectified for me are humming along nicely, thanks again for your efforts.
Rgds
John
And a FISH!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mullet_(fish)
Combining a saw stool with a bench suggests a new noun - either bool, or stench, perhaps. Bool sounds better, I'd say, even if totally ambiguous. ;-)
Hi Mel ,
Great story , interesting how woodworking has lines that extend so far .
regards dusty
Dusty
it is a safe bet that everyone in woodworking knows Derek. :-)
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
Mel.. Thanks for the post!
Did your grandson have his own Turkey Leg?
Sir.. You are amazing with what you come up with. Maybe in my other life I will be.
EDIT: Now all we need is a comment in very strange words from Latexe.... Or is it Lataxe?
Edited 11/27/2009 1:05 pm by WillGeorge
EG,
This adventure was real, and it was fun. I was hoping that Lataxe would join in, but no luck so far.
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
Hi Mel
The latest copy of the Australian Wood Review magazine has a full article on Greg's mantle. This was the first time I had seen it. Amazing! For others who are possibly wondering why this was so special, it is that the work was part restoration and part creation in a heritage listed house. The mantle is very tall, and filled with columns and carvings. I'd post a large picture but the article is copywrite. There is a link for a thumbnail.
Regards from Perth
Derek
Derek,
I was totally amazed by Greg's mantle. The sheer scope of the project is overwhelming. I saw photos of the progression of the work. Greg seems to just take it in stride. He is one cool dude. I wish I knew he was going to be here. I would have like to host him for a few days. Am about to leave Florida for home in a few minutes.
Regards from Tallahassee.
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
Thanks for the link. Now is when I want to download a huge picture!
No source for the Mag. here in Chicago that I know of. I'd buy if I could find a source.
This adventure was real...
Mel, I'm a sucker, I almost always believe what folks tell be untill I try it myself.
Lataxe makes them but with three legs. No level ground around him.
I for one think that little bench is a winner! All it needs extra is a coffee cup holder.
I will make one next spring (If i live that long). I now have a winter project. My nephew, at Thanksgiving dinner , said.. I know how you hate the cold and your shop is not heated. I have this huge dollhouse kit you can make for my little daughter!
I have made many doll houses but not from a kit! There must be 7000 parts plus in that box!
Oh well, at least I'll be inside where it is warm......
EG,
am returning from Florida. Only have iPod. Have fun with dollhouse kit. Post photos .
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
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