A New Year and a New Challenge

    Last week we took possession of a new house. Rather a new house for us, in reality an older bungalow in a small town an hour away, very near Eva's extended family. The house is ripe for some up dates and renovations.  So that house is why I haven't posted yet in 2023.  There were many trips to see the house, see the real estate person, see the lawyer etc.  Once we closed, last week the have been a couple more trips to explore and imagine.

  We will be holidaying, as usual shortly so there has been a rush to arrange a short term house sitter and there remains several trips to move somethings into the house as well as do something to make it more livable.

  Today's project is a make it livable project.

   In the garage there is a lighting problem.  The light switch is in the back away from the door and the light fixture is really improvised.  While there is no car in the way I am going to make a change.

  I bought a basic motion sensor light fixture. 

  This is the cheapest fixture I could find. Normally it wires into a box in the wall or ceiling. 

 This is a two wire connection.  I have wired a cord and plug to the fixture and now it can be mounted where I want it.  I put a ten foot cord on the light  so I will be able to put it anywhere I want in the garage and move it later if I change my mind.

 

  I don't mess with electrical wiring on a regular basis but I am comfortable and confident in a minor modification like this. It was a cheap trick because I had a length of 'two wire' available. I got my wire from someone's dead vacuum clearer that had been kicked to the curb, I clipped and saved  cord.

  I have made a door stop to go in the patio door slide already for the house and pulled out about one hundred nails and screws that have been spread around the garage and basement walls.  I don't know what the previous owners did with them selves but I know they hung lots of stuff on random nails.

  Since we are moving to a small place, I have promised my local grand kids a full tool chest of basic tools.  I have a variety of duplicate tools and they will now have a new home.  Where my really good tools will go one day....I have no idea.  I do hope one of the Grand kids will have use for them.

The other shop thing is another reason to have a shop.

  Modern glues are great. I am gluing and clamping a piece of leather onto the  back of a wrist watch strap that is falling apart.  Clamps of all sizes and shapes are a must.  A house needs a toaster and a bunch of clamps for sure. 

cheers ianw

 

Woodworking and Making

   I was not aware that "making" was a thing as I grew up, because I lived in a family of "makers".  We often made things that we wanted and until computer chips invaded all aspects of life home made things were pretty good.

  I am still a "maker" as well as a wood worker.  Something I have done for years is make books.  I took a book binding course at college 35 years ago and have bound my own note books since then.  Recently I have been making sketch books for my Grand Children.  My most recent book:

6 x 9 inch pages.

    I mixed a variety of techniques to make a sketch book from mixed-media paper and I recycled the card stock from a frozen pizza box for the cover.  I may need to re-enforce the corners before the book is used up.  I  have 24 pages stitched with waxed thread which makes for a study and useful sketch book.  This is an easy thing to do in a 'wood shop' all you need is glue, half a dozen spring clamps and a sharp knife.  I've been doing things with re-used paper for years. 

   While I've been puttering about in my shop my wife has been very busy finishing her latest stained glass project.

  To enable Eva to work as high as she needed we created a platform upon which the ladder stood.  The platform is oak church pew (3/4 inch) Since I have a well equipped shop the wood is firmly clamped together and then clamped to my two saw benches, with the wings supported by stools.  Eva wasn't interested in taking any risks while working on the ladder.

  Eva  carefully hung 60 pieces of cut stained glass to finish the entrance way light fixture.  

    In the wood shop I have been working on a crochet hook case from Eva.

  I opted to drill out the interior of the case.  In the past I have tried to use a router to clear out material but I have not had success.  The router is an excellent tool in practised hands, but mine aren't,  so drilling out the waste material works most comfortably for me.  This particular forstner bit has had its centre bit ground off to make clean up easier.

  These weights hold the inserts down while the glue dries.  My original plan was to use small hinges on this box, but the cheap salvaged hinges would not provide good enough alignment.  I decided to use leather for the hinge.

  The inside of the hook case remains only to be varnished and this project is done.  I will search out a small hook/latch once I am out and shopping again.

  While doing these various small things and waiting for the glue to dry I have been sorting out and throwing away things in the shop.  I knew I saved stuff.  But the saved stuff is beginning to impinge on the reason that it was saved.  So far I've filled a garbage bag with solid wood finishes and useless cleaning rags.  I had many small jars with a 1/2 cup of stain, or vanish, or oil or ..... All of which is passed being useful and it is time it was tossed out.   I have also been sharpening things, my 'day to day'  chisels are over due for attention as are some shop knives.  

  The biggest issue is going to be the back of the shop.  I have a shelving unit that is the catch all, dumping zone for all manner of scraps and found  bits.  Before I get into it in a big way I need to hang another work light in that dark corner.  Have you even noticed that one job leads to another?

  I'm baking bread, varnishing projects and vacuuming the house today, as well as blogging. Really, luckily, I haven't been forced to change my life much.

  cheers, ianw