What did you do in your shop today?

Sprung said:
Feeling a little better today than the last few days. Led worship this morning. Came home and relaxed for a bit, then made lunch. Relaxed some more - and fell asleep in the chair for a while. Woke up and wandered out to the shop to finish up our gift for my in-laws.

A couple years ago my in-laws finally realized a 40+ year dream of theirs to have their own park model at the resort they've been vacationing at for more than 40 years. We spend a week with them there each summer; we stay in one of the rentals there. Since they've gotten their park model, it's allowed them their own space to have their own things beyond whatever they would bring with them for their week or weekend that they would spend in a rental. My father-in-law loves his pellet grills, so has a smaller one there as well. (And a Blackstone was added to the deck there this year, which I really enjoyed cooking on.) With his pellet grill, one thing we've done the last couple years is a family pizza night where we've made homemade pizzas together - with the pellet grill, it gets some of that wood smoke flavor and we don't have to run the oven inside in the summer. My job has been dough and assembly, my wife and mother-in-law runners and helping in whatever way needed, and my father-in-law has cooked them. It's a great time and the pizzas are great - and extras are always made, because who doesn't love leftover pizza.

In the last couple years we've used wine bottles and unopened cans of beer to roll out pizza crusts and cutting has been a challenge, lacking a cutting board large enough to cut a pizza on. And the pizza cutter my in-laws have at the park model is one of those crappy freebie ones that's pretty worthless.

So, this gift is called Family Pizza Night, to be kept up at their park model for use there. It's more than a cutting board, rolling pin, and pizza cutter. It's family time and memories. This year we were able to change what week we are there to match when my wife's brother and his family will be there, so there will be more people and hopefully even more fun and memories.

Cutting board is walnut, cherry, and maple. Rolling pin and pizza cutter handle are cherry.

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Congrats! You did it right! You made the tools to help make great family memories! Chuck
 
Sprung said:
Feeling a little better today than the last few days. Led worship this morning. Came home and relaxed for a bit, then made lunch. Relaxed some more - and fell asleep in the chair for a while. Woke up and wandered out to the shop to finish up our gift for my in-laws.

A couple years ago my in-laws finally realized a 40+ year dream of theirs to have their own park model at the resort they've been vacationing at for more than 40 years. We spend a week with them there each summer; we stay in one of the rentals there. Since they've gotten their park model, it's allowed them their own space to have their own things beyond whatever they would bring with them for their week or weekend that they would spend in a rental. My father-in-law loves his pellet grills, so has a smaller one there as well. (And a Blackstone was added to the deck there this year, which I really enjoyed cooking on.) With his pellet grill, one thing we've done the last couple years is a family pizza night where we've made homemade pizzas together - with the pellet grill, it gets some of that wood smoke flavor and we don't have to run the oven inside in the summer. My job has been dough and assembly, my wife and mother-in-law runners and helping in whatever way needed, and my father-in-law has cooked them. It's a great time and the pizzas are great - and extras are always made, because who doesn't love leftover pizza.

In the last couple years we've used wine bottles and unopened cans of beer to roll out pizza crusts and cutting has been a challenge, lacking a cutting board large enough to cut a pizza on. And the pizza cutter my in-laws have at the park model is one of those crappy freebie ones that's pretty worthless.

So, this gift is called Family Pizza Night, to be kept up at their park model for use there. It's more than a cutting board, rolling pin, and pizza cutter. It's family time and memories. This year we were able to change what week we are there to match when my wife's brother and his family will be there, so there will be more people and hopefully even more fun and memories.

Cutting board is walnut, cherry, and maple. Rolling pin and pizza cutter handle are cherry.

View attachment 251327
Click to expand...
Sounds like a great setup for all the family. The Blackstone is some we really enjoy, smashburgers so quick to make. We toy around with thoughts of pizza oven, so many variations out there.
 
TimR said:
Sounds like a great setup for all the family. The Blackstone is some we really enjoy, smashburgers so quick to make. We toy around with thoughts of pizza oven, so many variations out there.
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The Blackstone is awesome. After spending the week cooking on it this summer my wife and I were determined that we needed to get one. Well, two days after we got home from that trip, one showed up on our doorstep - courtesy of my in-laws. We've just got a 22", but it's worked out fine for our family of four and is small enough that we can also pack it up to take camping with us. We don't make pizza enough to justify getting a pizza oven, but doing it on the pellet grill does work well for us. At home we have our old gas grill, a Recteq 590 (pellet grill), and the 22" Blackstone - they all have their strengths and get used often, but we definitely don't have room for another cooking device on the back patio!
 
Took a que from @scootac , made a whiskey smoker for my nephew. He was at a wedding that served smoked old fashions and raved about them.

Made this one a different style with a lid. Demo that I saw said to light the shavings and then put the lid on to force the smoke down into the glass. No idea which way might work better.

Apple base with maple lid.

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Well today I modified the dust chute on my new planer. Took the last glue up out of the clamps and jointed 2 sides. Ran the long cross stretchers through the planer. Dumped the dust collector drum again. Theres 3 bags out on the curb this week, lol. Was a good shop day.
 
pinky said:
@woodtickgreg
Greg,
Could you have just flipped the original one over?
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No, there wouldn't have been enough flange to attach it and it also would not have had any way to screw it on the bottom. It would have taken a lot of engineering to make it work. Ordering another chute for $20 was a no brainer. The way it is now is much sturdier. I used it yesterday and it worked excellent.
 
Finished dimensioning the glued up leg stock. Emptied the dust collector again. Started cutting stock to length. And vacuumed up around the shop a bit. I also pulled the access cover off my table saw and vacuumed out the cabinet. First time I've done that since I got the saw. It wasn't horrible but it did need a cleaning. Lubed up the gears and trunion shafts while I was in there.
Started doing some layout for joinery.
 
Nice day outside, sunshine helped it feel warmer than it was and no rain. Worked on my games, got all three cut out with exception of shaping the exit gate piece. Next up glue up the game board and start finishing the pieces.



khun phan games roughed out.jpeg
 
It's called Khun Phan. Easily googled. I figured it was a good way to make use of a bunch of small pieces I had that were becoming way too numerous but were too nice to throw away. I'll write up the story and the rules and they'll make nice little gifts down the road when the need arises.
 
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No wood working today in the shop. Today was all about sharpening and maintaining a couple of my user planes. I use the sandpaper method on a piece of laminated tempered glass, also known as bulletproof.
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I use spray adhesive to attach the paper to the glass.
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I work the face....
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And the back through each grit. And I use a cheap honing guide.
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It's kind of hard to see in the pick but I work the edge mostly and not the whole face. I sharpened up all but the 2 smallest sizes of my narex morticing chisels.
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I also did some maintenence on a couple of my user planes. Ill need the rabett plane soon.
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Original edge was not square, it is now. Checked it with a machinest square.
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Again, I worked the edge o ly and the back.
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Next I moved on to a couple block planes.
This one is still new in the box, never sharpened factory edge.
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All better now.
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I did a little work on the sole but didnt spend a lot of time on it to make it perfect.
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Then I waxed it.
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I also gave the treatment to this vintage craftsman plane. This is one of my favorite users because of its adjustability.
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Yesterday I got some time in the shop, so I got this all put together. Finished putting together the stand I bought, including adding a top and shelf to it. The mobile base was a Christmas gift, which was appreciated, as I needed it for this. This has on it the two machines I restored in 2023: Sprunger Brothers 10" bandsaw and a Rockwell 1" x 42" belt sander. The only thing I still need to do on the bandsaw is install and crown the tires. I do need to get a belt for the bandsaw as well, but the link belt I had on hand will stand in for now.

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Sprung said:
Yesterday I got some time in the shop, so I got this all put together. Finished putting together the stand I bought, including adding a top and shelf to it. The mobile base was a Christmas gift, which was appreciated, as I needed it for this. This has on it the two machines I restored in 2023: Sprunger Brothers 10" bandsaw and a Rockwell 1" x 42" belt sander. The only thing I still need to do on the bandsaw is install and crown the tires. I do need to get a belt for the bandsaw as well, but the link belt I had on hand will stand in for now.

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Man I like that green!
 
I spent a little garage therapy time today. I rough turned some green wallet that I’ve gotten from @JD1137. My wife passed away from cancer two years ago today. It was a nice way to spend the afternoon and not get too much inside my own head.

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DWasson said:
I spent a little garage therapy time today. I rough turned some green wallet that I’ve gotten from @JD1137. My wife passed away from cancer two years ago today. It was a nice way to spend the afternoon and not get too much inside my own head.
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Gotta love Walnut! Quite the lineup you have there! How will you finish them? So sorry to hear about the anniversary. Chuck
 
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