Columns/Blogs

There are some things I hate to do. But if I rationalize the task hard enough, I’m fine with it. Sometimes, the rationalization even makes sense.

Wherever you stand on the question of climate change or global warming, there is no denying that our sources of fine hardwoods is rapidly diminishing.

We’ve all stripped old furniture finish. But sometimes “furniture stripper” means something else entirely.

It’s amazing how you can go decades without doing something, and then suddenly find yourself doing it all the time.

All conservators are not the same.

Lights Out Manufacturing

The big push in today’s market place is toward automation. Most large industries are already at least partially automated with CNC machines and robotics performing work formerly done by people.

Always measure twice before cutting. But then, cut as many times as you need to till you get it right.

I love routers, but I’m no fan of the way most of them turn on and off.

A recent column in the July 2019 issue of Woodshop News, “What’s the deal with finding skilled labor?”, discussed the shortage of cabinetmakers, joiners and woodworkers in general.

There’s an old saying, “Do as I say, not as I do.” That goes double when giving safety advice that you don’t follow yourself.

I’ve always thought of my woodshop as my personal play space, but it never occurred to me that it might be the same thing to someone else.

Finding skilled labor.

Discipline in the woodshop is important, whether you have employees sharing that shop or not.

Remember Strickland, the stern, disciplinarian school principal in the “Back to the Future” movie? “Discipline!” was his litany. And to be sure, discipline is important.

I’m always annoyed by online posts that relate some event, but then never follow up to tell me what eventually happened. Here, then, a few follow-ups.

Avoid the growing pains.

No matter how careful you are in the woodshop, cuts happen. However, there are some shop tasks where they happen more often than others.

There was a long period when I had employees, but I started out as a one-man shop and ended up as a one-man shop.

Apparently, a lot of small business people are doing great. They must be, since they don’t seem to want to work.

I found an interesting relic in my shop yesterday. Nicely made, but I have no idea why I made it.