Peter Brown's ShopTime

Completed! So I spent about 2 hours with my new addition last Friday: I took a LONG time to reestablish the bevel on the three 220 plane irons. Since I'm a glutton for punishment I also sharpen my 4 bench chisels and the iron on my Jack plane. All of these bevels were off severely. Now I can cut paper and the tip of my thumb (oops! and ouch!!) Right when I finished that the mailman brought a package with height adjustment screw and frog (the parts I was missing) So I put together a plane and test out my labor. Thin enough? This is fun... It made short work of the wild grain on the walnut and after a bit of adjustment got it pulling nice thin shavings. I would call the feel equivalent to 320 grit paper. Which I have to say BLOWS MY MIND. Anyway. I call this a success. I will totally be looking for frogs for the other two, seems a shame not to complete them after the first works so well.

I picked up three Stanley 220 block planes on craigslist. Turns out they were missing some parts, so my stellar deal isn't so stellar but I think I still did okay. Before they are usable I have some clean up to do. So I spent 4 hours in the garage last night cleaning up the planes and lapping the soles by hand. Really made me appreciate the bargain box of Kingspor sandpaper I got. The amount of sandpaper I consumed was staggering. Even with stopping every 10 minutes to blow out the filings with compressed air. Okay.. pictures. This was the best looking of the three and a good place to start. 100 grit & 150 grit on either side of an old glass shelf When I realized how long this was going to take 2 - 3 hours later( I also too the opportunity to flatten the backs of my chisels too. Something that I'd never done) I started at 100, then polished to 240 but didn't get a shot of that. Plane iron time... These things are awkward to hold... My kludge: double stick turners tape c...

I sell bottle stoppers in a shop in Healdsburg Ca. The shop is called Noble Designs . Selling bottle stoppers in the wine country is a very competitive enterprise. Every shop here has at least one type of stoppers, if not two to three. So I was quite thankful to have the opportunity. Regardless some months are good and others are silent. I call once a month and ask, "So... need any more stoppers?" "Sorry no sales" That's how it's been since November and I was beginning to get discouraged. Then all of the sudden I get a call last week: "We sold almost half of your stoppers! Come restock us!" I suppose that's tourist season for you. Now I need to re-order all my supplies and start cranking these out again. I hope this run last for a while!

I sit down, and shed all reason and logic, as I open my pamphlet entitled: “So you’ve decided to do away with all that filthy productivity and join the cult.” It’s not a good sign but I decide to keep reading. I flip open the hand folded tract and see what more information it has to impart to my longing soul. “You don’t have to live the repressed life of your narrow minded generation. Open your mind and breath easy. You have begun your first step towards a life without the domineering overlord of 3 phase wiring or mindless repacking of your wearing motor bearings. Can you imagine a world without concerns of blade drift or constant mechanical tuning? If yes, then I bid you welcome to the cult. Please remove your jeans and t-shirt and pick up a linen smock and a tasteful pair of dark breeches.” It turns out, that my new hobby has some rather bizarre fringe members. Like any other family, the woodworking clan has a number of relatives that most peo...

I sit down, and shed all reason and logic, as I open my pamphlet entitled: "So you've decided to do away with all that filthy productivity and join the cult." It's not a good sign but I decide to keep reading. I flip open the hand folded tract and see what more information it has to impart to my longing soul. "You don't have to live the repressed life of your narrow minded generation. Open your mind and breath easy. You have begun your first step towards a life without the domineering overlord of 3 phase wiring or mindless repacking of your wearing motor bearings. Can you imagine a world without concerns of blade drift or constant mechanical tuning? If yes, then I bid you welcome to the cult. Please remove your jeans and t-shirt and pick up a linen smock and a tasteful pair of dark breeches." It turns out, that my new hobby has some rather bizarre fringe members. Like any other family, the woodworking clan has a number of relatives that most peop...

As much as I hate to do it, I have to admit that I am not enjoying this drum restore. I convinced myself that I was in it to see the drums in good shape, but I don't think that's true. Yesterday was my first day of buffing out the finish. It just wasn't right. Some parts were perfect but it wasn't universal. I had small runs, orange peel and other imperfections that really showed after going to the buffing wheel. I took a deep breath and gave it one more try. I pulled out the sand paper and sanded down the drum yet again bringing it back to smooth 220 grit feel. I resprayed the lacquer and within 3 minutes I'd already spotted a run. It was too much for me. I got mad and kicked my very well constructed work bench. This stopped my in my tracks as my toe felt like I broke it. So much for cool and collected. I have no desire to fill myself with angst in the shop. That is not why I go out there. So I'm posting them up on craigslist and removing the temptation of gett...

Left to right: Maple & Mopani, Red & White Oak, Walnut, Maple & Lignum Vitae, B&W Ebony, Lignum Vitae