What did you do in your shop today?

I've been there before, Almost liquidated all my mechanics tools and then realized that I'd never replace them down the road for what I'd get out of them plus I wouldn't be able to fix anything. I'll get rid of materials, maybe a duplicate tool. but if you keep your tools hopefully you can find some way to feed the family. Or mothball them and go flip burgers to make ends meet for a while.

Totally with you on this Colin. My dad was a mechanic and there were some mighty lean times when I was growing up, but he held onto his tools. The way I figure it, as long as you have tools you can probably find somebody that needs something fixed or built. Tony
 
Yesterday my inlaws had a guy work on doors in their house. I got a call asking if he could use my tools... hell no! I was a little irritated someone would take a job without the tools.I went over and cut all the hinge mortises for him. Found out the guy has really been through the wringer. 6 month old, laid off... a story I know all too well from personal experience. He had sold off a lot of his tools. I told him not to do that he can't work without them. I saw his one chisel and it was horrible. I spent a good half hour grinding his chisel back into shape. When I handed it back he could both use it as a mirror and shave with it. It is up to him to keep it in shape from this point on. So now he can at least mortise hinges.
Good man with a big heart. It's easy to help those who need it and you can see in their face they appreciate the help.
 
Last 2 days ive been in the spraybooth and tomorrow will finish up a full dinning room set. After everyone left at 4 I got back on the lathe and turned a zebra wood and maple spalt pot call.
I need to get the numbers up. Seems I get 20 or so calls made and they get gone. I want to get a few hundred to have on hand for a turkey convention. Has anyone had a booth ?
 
Mixed up some resin and my new mold I built today is currently sitting on my vibratory bubble removal table with 16 stamp blanks curing.

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So how did you attach your palm sander to effect the vibratory part?

I put a blade in it that's got a slight wobble in it that I'd never gotten around to throwing out, just lowered it below the table and let it run a while.
 
I guess that would work. Read somewhere, don't recall if it was here or other places on the net, where someone had used his palm sander to vibrate the bubbles from the resin with reported good results. I would think a round or two of duct tape in the appropriate places, hanging it underneath the plank, would work really nice.
 
I guess that would work. Read somewhere, don't recall if it was here or other places on the net, where someone had used his palm sander to vibrate the bubbles from the resin with reported good results. I would think a round or two of duct tape in the appropriate places, hanging it underneath the plank, would work really nice.

I've seen it where someone cuts a 5 inch or so circle in a board as a pocket to keep the sander from walking away and attaches that to the board or table. Really the only reason I had the 2x6 sitting there was to cover the blade slot so it wouldn't throw dust up.
 
:lol: Sometimes you just gotta do, what you gotta do! Long as it worked, that's what counts.
 
:lol: Sometimes you just gotta do, what you gotta do! Long as it worked, that's what counts.

Yep, The router table at mid speed vibrates pretty good too but I had crap piled on it today.
 
Got out yesterday afternoon and turned a couple of cherry burl pendants turned and finished. Also got 6 curly maple turned and the black dye on them.

I fastened a couple of maple blocks to the Joyner jig faceplates and used one of those with double stick tape for the turning. Putting a few lines into the block really does help with getting them centered. Don't recall who had it, but it was a good one that I'd like to think I would have had eventually. But there's no guarantee on that, for sure.

Tonight I'll do some sanding back on the maple and put the other colors on them. It'll be a busy weekend, getting ready for the sale next Saturday. Another of those 'break even' type of sales, I think - unless folks like the pendants, then it might go better. The only reason I signed up for this craft fair was the stepson wanted to bring along his duck calls and bottle stoppers and help out at the booth. I'm just hoping our weather pattern breaks and it's a non-rainy weekend for once. :)
 
I'm not a machine like @Schroedc , but had a pretty productive weekend. Colin gets about 2000 pens done in a weekend, but I got 4 cutting boards done.

This one in oil, totally done
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This done, waiting to go into oil.
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And 2 small cheese boards also finished. Tony
 
In between the poilitisize'in I did this. Rounded the outside of some Mahoe both Blue and Red (w/citrus stripes). I allso pretty much trashed a Buttonwood crotch shell. I think it will become a round jewelry box?

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Currently working on this. A friend had contacted me to ask about making a pipe for him. I've never made one (but it's nothing new to my family - my uncle was an accomplished pipe maker and my dad has made several), but was up to the challenge. My friend knew that this would be the first pipe I've ever made, but he'd rather pay me to make one for him than buy a pre-made one. So, here we are! Did a little bit of stock removal with the bandsaw and then a disc sander on the lathe. Now we're at files and hand shaping. Once it's close to shape, I'll switch to sandpaper by hand and then work my way up from final shaping to polishing.

Not sure that this is my cup of tea, but it's nice to try something new - and it gives me a good opportunity to crack open a beer and listen to music in the shop. I have a second pre-drilled block on hand in case I mess this one up. If I don't mess this one up, I'll have another one to make for myself (even though I'll never smoke it...) or someone else.

BTW, a piece of leather glued to a block of wood, along with a leather glove on my left hand, makes for pretty good work holding while shaping it by hand.

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This isn't a what I did in my shop post. This is more of a what happened in Colin's shop/garage/driveway post.

Went to Colin's yesterday and came home with a vehicle full. He milled for me a couple Buckthorn logs I brought with me. I also picked up a drill press, spindle sander, and a righteous cherry burl from him that I can't wait to get into and start using. For size reference, Colin had to do a little slight trimming with an axe to get the burl to fit between the guides on his 18" mill.

@Schroedc - Thank you for everything and for the enjoyable afternoon! I'll be looking forward to the next time I head your way.

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This isn't a what I did in my shop post. This is more of a what happened in Colin's shop/garage/driveway post.

Went to Colin's yesterday and came home with a vehicle full. He milled for me a couple Buckthorn logs I brought with me. I also picked up a drill press, spindle sander, and a righteous cherry burl from him that I can't wait to get into and start using. For size reference, Colin had to do a little slight trimming with an axe to get the burl to fit between the guides on his 18" mill.

@Schroedc - Thank you for everything and for the enjoyable afternoon! I'll be looking forward to the next time I head your way.

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I feel sorry for your son, that couldn't have been comfortable for him to ride in the car seat that way!:rofl: Tony
 
I feel sorry for your son, that couldn't have been comfortable for him to ride in the car seat that way!:rofl: Tony

The drill press got moved to the van when I met up with Katy so I could put the car seat back in so he could ride with me!
 
This isn't a what I did in my shop post. This is more of a what happened in Colin's shop/garage/driveway post.

Went to Colin's yesterday and came home with a vehicle full. He milled for me a couple Buckthorn logs I brought with me. I also picked up a drill press, spindle sander, and a righteous cherry burl from him that I can't wait to get into and start using. For size reference, Colin had to do a little slight trimming with an axe to get the burl to fit between the guides on his 18" mill.

@Schroedc - Thank you for everything and for the enjoyable afternoon! I'll be looking forward to the next time I head your way.

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It was fun! Folks are always welcome to come and visit. My kids don't bite and I do keep some beer here somewhere.......
 
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