I am still standing, honest. What I haven't been doing is anything interesting enough to share. Most days I spend some time in the shop, now nearly always on a maintenance/repair task.
For example, extension cords. I have half a dozen cords of various length from 5 to 50 feet. Over the course of their lives the cords have been nicked, or cut or the ends have begun to work loose. I have been splicing out the biggest cuts and strengthening the end's connection. A tip, use hot glue to fill the gap between the cord covering and the ends, it flows and fills the gaps.
What else? I have one dust collector , this model from 15 years ago, connected to a cyclone garbage can top.
And four wet/dry shop vacs of various sizes, two connected to smaller cyclone systems. About once a year I vacuum all the cracks and crevices I can reach and them take all the dust collection systems completely apart and clean them out including washing the various filters, both foam and cloth. A blog about drying paint would be more interesting for readers that stories about dust in my eyes and up my nose.
At least one morning was spent culling wood from my off cut and found wood piles. It is easy to collect that stuff and stash it in a corner. Well, at some point a critical eye needs to assess whether this is working material or fire starter. Found wood after close inspection is often fire starter, and allowing it to gather because the space is available is a bad habit, that I need to fight against.
I spent some time making lids for boxes that have been laying around. To make the work worthwhile I have been using these small projects to practice veneering. I have got pretty good at small pieces, and nice veneer can sure change a plywood box.
Gardening, and yard stuff. I have made some more peony stakes. A quick, low skill, band saw project.
with a support these flowers fall to the ground.
I have made shelving for BBQ tools for my brother's outdoor space as well. A bit of two x four and few screws and hooks, not blog worthy.
Yesterday I carved another spoon. One of the things I found while doing my wood inventory/clear out was several bits of wood that will make nice spoons. Yesterday I sat in the shade out side and whittled a spoon. I find making spoons satisfying.
This recent spoon was rough shaped with my hatchet, then refined with knives and the bowl was made using a hook knife. I have a bit more sanding with 220 and 400 paper then I will finish the spoon in food safe oil. My spoons are working tools not ornaments. My previous spoon was a request for a long strong spoon for mixing sour dough bread dough in its jar. I also made a long handled spreading knife for reaching into the bottom corners of the peanut butter jar a while ago. Choosing to make spoons enables me to make custom kitchen cooking and baking tools.
This is some of the spoons I've carved for our kitchen. The long spreader knife is in the middle beside the the super spoon. I made the super spoon for Eva to be able to stir fruit for jam in our biggest pot. The dark wooden spreader is a copy of the ever present Smor Kniv, from Sweden. (butter knife) At least as many spoons, and spreaders have be given away to friends and family, here and abroad. All these projects are made from off cuts or fire wood, a great value and use of time, IMHO.
cheers ianw
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