This past weekend I got some time out in the shop. Got some projects started, finished a wall "unit" to hang some tools. Basically built a boxed shelf. The bottom has cutouts in it so I can slide in my air nailers and my cordless drill. There's a shelf over that for the nails and charger. I used 5/16" lag bolts to fasten it down. Just a simple thing with 3/8" birch ply, glued and nailed. Repurposed a bookshelf from the house into storage shelves - when it's warm out again it's where the finishing stuff and glues will sit. I've a juniper blank on the lathe for a small bowl. Built a handle for a 3/8" drill bit (bit is roughly 14 inches long) so I can set the depth of bowls and forms. I'll have to give some feedback later on how I like the new handle. I just took a piece of 2x2 poplar and basically cut 1/4" squares out of each corner. For the drill it seemed to work OK (easy to get a grip) but I don't know how well it would work for something that you were holding for a much longer period of time.
Ran some strong 8/4 maple through the planer to get it down to 7/4 and 5/4 for a project that's going to take a while (Gamesphere.) Unfortunately I ended up grabbing a knot at the end of the board and put a nick in at least one of the planer blades. Cut up some more maple, oak, and cherry for handle material for things like ice cream scoops.
Picked up what I think is a deal for getting the shop warm. Not a permanent solution, but this thing sure puts out the heat. Walking through Lowe's and saw that someone had returned a custom order. Box was unopened, originally $409, marked down to $180 (and I got my military discount on top of that.) A 300,000 BTU propane heater. The construction kind for warming up a house while it's being worked on. I cut a piece of 2x4 to put under the back garage door to ensure sufficient air flow. I'll get a chance to try it out this Thursday. The only bad part is that at full bore it will burn through a BBQ size propane tank in just under 2 hours. Of course it'd be 100F in the shop by then so I don't think it'll be going full blast all that long.
Ran some strong 8/4 maple through the planer to get it down to 7/4 and 5/4 for a project that's going to take a while (Gamesphere.) Unfortunately I ended up grabbing a knot at the end of the board and put a nick in at least one of the planer blades. Cut up some more maple, oak, and cherry for handle material for things like ice cream scoops.
Picked up what I think is a deal for getting the shop warm. Not a permanent solution, but this thing sure puts out the heat. Walking through Lowe's and saw that someone had returned a custom order. Box was unopened, originally $409, marked down to $180 (and I got my military discount on top of that.) A 300,000 BTU propane heater. The construction kind for warming up a house while it's being worked on. I cut a piece of 2x4 to put under the back garage door to ensure sufficient air flow. I'll get a chance to try it out this Thursday. The only bad part is that at full bore it will burn through a BBQ size propane tank in just under 2 hours. Of course it'd be 100F in the shop by then so I don't think it'll be going full blast all that long.
