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Welcome to the December 2007 issue of the LumberJocks eMag:
From the Editor
It's December - in case you haven't been watching the calendar, or perhaps you have been trying to ignore the fact that 2007 is quickly coming to an end.
A lot has happened here in the LJ Shop over the past year, including the growth of membership to over 2000 members! We have watched the Cyber Skill Share resource be born and grow as members share their experiences in video format; we have enjoyed the many changes in the site formatting created by Martin; we have participated in several woodworking challenges and we have treasured the camaraderie and expertise shared by all our fellow woodworkers! 2007 really has been an exciting year.
Wrapping up the year, on behalf of Martin and the LJ team, I wish everyone a wonderful holiday season and truly magnificent 2008. I hope the days are filled with sawdust and new achievements.
~ Debbie
The LumberJocks
New Milestone Reached
November 19th, 2007 we reached the milestone of 2000 members! Congratulations to Martin on the success of his site and to all the members without whom we'd still be at 0.
Advertising Managers
We welcome Zuki and his wife, Xploreorganics, as our new Advertising Managers. Along with the front-line work that this "tag team" will be doing, we also have Max providing advisory support. Congratulations and thank you to Zuki, Xploreorganics, and Max.
Members Support LumberJocks.com
In acknowledgment of the success of the site and awareness that there are expenses that need to be paid, the LumberJocks have provided much-appreciated support in the following manners:
- The LJ Store: making purchases from the LJ shop provides a commission that goes towards expenses
- The LJ Apparel Store: sporting "high fashion" clothing with the cool LJ logo not only promotes the site but also is a source of site income
- Donations: making direct donations to help fund the site is just like purchasing a magazine subscription
- Promotion: promoting the site with links and badges posted on personal websites, and distributing flyers around their part of the world spreads the word about LJ.com
Fame
Look for Jim Stevens' book on "Scrimshaw Techniques" - our very own Mark Decou will be mentioned in the book along with some pictures of his extraordinary work. Read more...
Woodworking Awards - Winter 2008
It's official! Get building for our current semi-annual Woodworking Awards. This year we are pleased to announce that along with the traditional two categories we will also have a GRAND PRIZE winner, the participant with the combined most points. So, put those shop aprons on, sharpen those tools, and start building your entries.
GRAND PRIZE
14" band saw with granite top
by Steel City Tool Works
AWARD CATEGORIES:
Not Just Any Box – There are boxes and then there are “boxes”. Whether are you are a beginning woodworker or a skilled craftsman a box can provide a challenge to bring your woodworking skills to a new level by mixing technique with artistry. It’s time to “step out of the box” and create “not just any box”. Entries for this category are to be boxes Entries for this category are to be boxes with dimensions (height, width, depth) not to exceed 18 inches / 45.72 centimeters.
Award for Top Woodworker in this category:
- 10” Premier Fusion Saw Blade donated by Freud Tools
- Shaper Set & Sanding Discs donated by Microplane
- Magazine Subscription donated by Canadian Woodworking
- T-Shirt donated by LumberJocks.com
Runner-Up:
- $50 Amazon Gift Certificate donated by LumberJocks.com
- T-shirt donated by LumberJocks.com
The Multi-Purposed 2×4 – One 2×4; One Project. Put your creativity and technical skills to the test by building a project from a single, eight foot long, 2×4. You can secure the pieces with glue, dowels, screws – whatever your heart desires; you can decorate it with paint, stain, or some other medium; you can add mechanical do-dads. What you can’t do is add any other building material (wood, plexiglass, sheet metal, etc.) to it. One 2×4; One Project.
Award for Top Woodworker in this category:
- Grex P650 - 2” Length 23 Gauge Headless Pinner and package of pins donated by Grex
- Shaper Set & Sanding Discs donated by Microplane
- Magazine Subscription donated by Canadian Woodworking
- T-shirt donated by LumberJocks.com
Runner-Up:
- $50 Amazon Gift Certificate donated by LumberJocks.com
- T-shirt donated by LumberJocks.com
Please visit our Awards pages for all the rules about this event.
Other LJ Events
Save the Children
Our "Fall Philanthropy" Event is quickly coming to a close. January 1st is the deadline for the donations to be sent to "Save the Children, Canada". We would like to thank everyone who has participated by making something, selling something, buying something, bidding on something, and by donating something, as well as the organizations worldwide who make a difference in children's lives.
LumberJocks Picnics
- Arlington, Texas: February 16, 2008. Host: Betsy
- Brant County, Ontario: July 13, 2008. Host: MsDebbieP
- your picnic listed here
New Gardening Site
November 11, 2007 marked the debut of the long awaited gardening site, GardenTenders.com, the first "sister site" of LumberJocks.com.
GardenTenders is already offering its first challenge: The first annual Gardening Winter Awards, Garden of Lights. What a wonderful way to celebrate the creation of a new online community than with a challenge to "celebrate". We look forward to seeing the entries and following the excitement of the event.
Congratulations Martin on another "soon to be" success! We look forward to watching the site grow!
Feature Article: The Legacy of Woodworking
Woodworking in itself brings enjoyment to woodworkers through the processes of designing, working the wood, and being proud of the finished products. Every woodworker brings his or her own skills, motivators, and inspirations to the craft and gets enjoyment through different parts of the process.
The finished products, whether they are pieces filled with more sentimental value than craftsmanship or pieces of timeless beauty, will be enjoyed for many years to come.
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Arts & Crafts Frame
by RonH |
Looking at a family heirloom or other piece of antique furniture we can only imagine the history that the piece has gone through, from the workmanship of the person building it, to the daily use the item has seen, to use and abuse, to treasuring and cherishing. A wood project becomes a legacy that will be handed down through the ages.
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Mark Decou initiated a wonderful discussion about what makes an heirloom. Read more here. |
But it is not just the wood creations that create a legacy. The tools, as well, tell a story about life, about passion, about dedication, and about artistry. Just by touching a tool held by a woodworker of yesterday, one can sense the time and commitment put into the craft through the use of the tool.
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Mark Mazzo shares his experience with feeling the legacy of a woodworker. Read more here. |
The legacy continues. It does not only get passed on just through the projects and the tools, but by teaching the next generation the skills of the trade.
The following are some of the examples of how LumberJocks share their experiences at passing the legacy onto children: |
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- Here, Charles Neil shares a video of children/youth building their own birdhouses. (see the discussion about Charles' videos here.)
- DustyNewt shares tips on teaching kids woodworking skills
- David helps a Boy Scout Troop earn their woodworking merit badge and Plumbseed initiates a discussion about other ideas to help with the merit badge
- Budman shares an idea to create a project grab bag
- MsDebbieP shares how the Roarockit School holds parent/child classes to help children develop ability to work with their hands through the venue of making a skateboard deck
- Jordan shares his collapsible castles that he makes
- Mot makes a bench that his son can use on the floor while Dad works on the big bench
- Cheller shares the plans for a house to be built by a 6 year old
- Karson provides the plans for a flipper toy that children can make
- Dadoo prepares a birdfeeder ready to be put together
- and we can't forget DrSawdust showing us, in his shop tour, that his kids know their way around the shop!
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I know that there are more ideas posted but this is a good start. I do want to make special mention of Karson, who obviously spends a lot of time in the workshop passing along his skills to his children. Here, in his daughter Karrie's blog, we see the tables that each of them made to enter in the Thorsen Table Challenge last spring. And then there's his son Dave's projects, GuitarFreak's projects, and a project built with his son Dan,
Well done Karson and family! |
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Also, don't forget the children who may not even have a roof over their heads let alone the opportunity to explore the world of woodworking!
The deadline for submitting the funds raised for our "Save The Children" event is less than a month away. There's still time to build something and auction it off. Read more about the "Save The Children" Philanthropy Event.
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| Hobby & Craft Tool Set
Perfect for little hands and big ideas.
This 23 piece kit from Woodcraft comes with 4 carving gouges, 1 saw blade, Miniature spokeshave, Block plane, Balsa stripper, Sanding block and much more.
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Where in the World is MsDebbieP?
Shop Tours
Tour Manager, Writer, Designer: Douglas Bordner
Company Tours
This past month, MsDebbieP shared information about the following company:
A Tutorial-We-Will-Go
Creating a Video
Have you been thinking about creating a video to show your fellow LumberJocks how you do something? Are you unsure of you should do regarding lighting or other materials needed? David has created a video that shows you what he uses. Hopefully his work will inspire others to become a movie star/director/camera operator! Read more ...
Scraper Video
Blake shares his version of how to sharpen and use a scraper. He makes it look easy and effective to use. See the video here...
Tags -Scraper: Blogs, Projects, Forums
Pocket Holes
Huckleberry initiated a discussion about pocket holes which has resulted in a sharing of tips and strategies about how to make them, how to use them, and when to use them. Read more...
Being Environment-Friendly
Have you been looking for "environmentally-friendly" products? Or, perhaps you are aware of products to include on the list? Dryad initiated the discussion started here.
Tags- Environment: Forums
Using Double-sided Tape
Securing templates to work pieces using tape can be a real asset in the workshop. But what type of tape works the best? Read more...
Charles Neil's Video Series
Charles Neil shares a variety of tutorials in his video series "In the Workshop" posted on YouTube. Check out the videos...
How To Do Scrimshaw Work
Mark DeCou shares the art of Scrimshaw with a history of his journey and a step-by-step lesson with directions and photos. Read more ...
Tags- Scrimshaw: Projects, Blogs
Building a Powder Horn
Mark DeCou also guides us through making a powder horn. Captured your interest? Read more here...
The Do's Behind the Glues
SST began a discussion about the effectiveness of glue joints and as always the LumberJocks shared their expertise, their resources knowledge, and information about gluing. Read more...
Tags- Glue: Blogs, Projects, Forums
Antique Painted Finish
Looking for some tips on how to create an antique paint look? There are some tips here.
Tags: Paint: Blogs, Projects, Forums
Segmented Bowls
Taking bowl-turning to a new level, Bob#2 walks us through creating a segmented bowl and provides a variety of tips. Read more...
Tags- Segmented: Projects, Forums
Shop Tricks and Tips
Gary begins a blog series about tricks and tips. His first posting talks about how to get that "sliver" of a cut to make a piece of wood the perfect length. Read more...
Tool Maintenance
Have you done a tune-up on your bandsaw lately? Here, Teresa talks about how her maintenance project allowed her the opportunity to really get to know the piece of machinery. Do you have other tips to share regarding tuning up your bandsaw? Make sure to add your comments to the discussion.
The ~Plan~ Truth
Entry Table
Who doesn't need an elegant table in their entryway? Todd A. Chippinger shares his plans for an entry table that is both elegant and simplistic in design. Todd's table stands just over 30" high, and the top is 41" x 15". |
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Router Pattern Jig
Tired of struggling to remove patterns glued to wood or making a number of jigs for a variety of pieces? Peter created this jig that can be used for a number of different patterns by clamping the pattern and wood together. After receiving a lot of positive feedback on the jig, Peter provided the plans for the project. You can find the directions here. |
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End-Grain Cutting Board
After tantalizing us with the finished product, dewoodwork provides us with the step-by-step plans for making cutting boards with unique designs. The plans are carefully prepared with photos and tips. |
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Products in Discussion
Woodworking Events Around the World
The Comic Sections
Ho! Ho! Ho!
Merry Christmas from all the little elves in the LumberJocks' Workshop!
Big thanks to TomFran for sharing this moment of mirth with the rest of us. Frank, Chip, Obi, Don-- keep those hips a-moving!
It's Very STAT-isfying
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