Wolfe's Woodworking: December 2010

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Murphy's Laws of Woodworking

We found this on American Woodworker's website and thought we would share with you because it was so true.

This was written by Edwin Hackleman and can be found at this link.

Murphy’s Law states if anything can go wrong, it will. I’m convinced that axiom applies to woodworking. Here are several examples I’ve experienced:

The more expensive the wood, the more you will waste.

When you drop a piece with freshly applied glue, it will land glue-side down

on a pile of dust and shavings.

Every scrap piece will be 1/2 in. short of being useful.

During glue-up, nothing lines up as well as it did during the dry fit.

Router tear-out always occurs at the worst possible place and time.

For every hour you spend woodworking, you spend two hours cleaning up.

The phone only rings when you’re gluing or applying finish.

You’ll always spot the area you forgot to varnish immediately after cleaning your brush.

When you install butt hinges, at least one brass screw will break.

A dropped tool always lands where it does the most harm.

Staining highlights the grain … and all the blotches, scratches and glue spots.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Looking for Software to Help With Your Woodworking?

While browsing the internet we found this awesome site that lists a ton of various software to help with woodworking projects. Most are free to use. Here is the link: http://www.woodweb.com/Resources/RSSoftwareConnection.html

We have been downloading various ones and trying them out. We will post a review of the ones we like.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

State Tree Pen Project

We started this project on the International Association of Penturners forum. They had to change the way they allow edits to their classified so we are going to post the information here for everyone to follow. Some of this will be a direct copy from the IAP post.

"Special thanks to ThomJ (at IAP) for giving me this idea and letting me run with it.

I am going to set up a page on my website to offer pens made from the wood of each State's and Territories trees to my customers.

I realize that this might take me a long time to accomplish but that is fine. I am going to make this my fun project since things have been stressing me out at my day job.

The reason I put this in the classified is that I would like to use wood that actually comes from a tree in that State. Since I don't travel much I would like to find one turner from each state to help me out.

What I am looking for is 2-3 blanks mailed to me in a padded envelope. I am willing to pay for the blanks and the postage. I won't be able to buy them all at once since I am living on limited funds but I will pay for them as I have the funds available. Basically, the first person to post would get paid first and then on down the line as extra money is available.

I have no problem with someone sending blanks from their surrounding State's trees as long as they promise that they came from a tree in that State. I know wood from a tree looks the same no matter what state it is in, it just feels more authentic if I do it that way.

If anyone would like to help, please post here or pm me. I will be posting a list of the States and their trees. I have Ohio covered. I will also post a link to the page on my website once I have it completed.

Just so that no one thinks I am trying to be sneaky, I will be selling the completed pens on my website. I am willing to buy the blanks but have to be able to do it as I have funds available.

Any questions, comments, or concerns please feel free to post."

Our address for those that need it:

Rob & Alicia Wolfe

Wolfe's Pens -N- Things

916 City View Dr.
Mansfield, OH 44905

This is the wiki list for States and their trees.
When someone posts that they have the wood I will make the name blue.
As I receive the wood I will then make the name red.
The stuff in italics may be incorrect.
Hopefully I won't confuse anyone!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._state_trees
Not 100% accurate

Now using:
http://www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/col...reeflower.html

Alabama - Longleaf Pine (thanks Sparhawk - IAP)
Alaska - Sitka Spruce (thanks KenV - IAP)
Arizona - (Blue) Palo Verde (thanks TusconCyclist - IAP)
Arkansas - Pine (thanks d - Blog)
California - Coast Redwood/Giant Sequoia (thanks nava1uni - IAP)
Colorado - (Colorado) Blue Spruce (thanks Mr Vic - IAP)
Connecticut - White Oak (thanks Padre - Facebook/IAP)
District of Columbia - Scarlet Oak
Delaware - American Holly (thanks Greggas - IAP)
Florida - Cabbage Palmetto (Sabal Palm) (thanks mredburn - IAP)
Georgia - (Southern) Live Oak (thanks Greggas - IAP)
Guam - (Ipil) Ifil, Ifit
Hawaii - Candlenut Tree, Kukui
Idaho - Western White Pine
Illinois - White Oak (thanks RogerGarrett - IAP)
Indiana - Tulip Poplar
Iowa - (Bur) Oak (thanks Tim McGill - Facebook)
Kansas - Eastern Cottonwood (thanks Hunter27 - IAP)
Kentucky - Tulip Poplar (thanks Ctubbs - IAP)
Louisiana - Bald Cypress (thanks Rangertrek - IAP)
Maine - Eastern White Pine (thanks Lenny - IAP)
Maryland - White Oak
Massachusetts - American Elm (thanks Greggas - IAP)
Michigan - Eastern White Pine (thanks Workinforwood - IAP)
Minnesota - Red Pine
Mississippi - (Southern) Magnolia
Missouri - Flowering Dogwood (thanks KenBrasier - IAP)
Montana - Ponderosa Pine (thanks Hunter27 - IAP)
Nebraska - Eastern Cottonwood (thanks Hunter27 - IAP)
Nevada - Single-leaf Pinyon Pine/Bristlecone Pine
New Hampshire - (American White) Paper Birch (thanks ESwindell - IAP)
New Jersey - Northern Red Oak (Steven - Facebook)
New Mexico - (Piñon) Pinyon Pine
New York - Sugar Maple
North Carolina - Longleaf Pine (thanks Penmaker1967 - IAP)
North Dakota - America Elm (thanks Hubert - IAP)
Northern Marianas - Flame Tree
Ohio - Ohio Buckeye (thanks Rjwolfe3 - IAP)
Oklahoma - Eastern Redbud (thanks David Keller - IAP)
Oregon - Douglas-fir (thanks Cnccutter - IAP)
Pennsylvania - Eastern Hemlock (thanks Jaybird - IAP)
Puerto Rico - Silk-cotton Tree
Rhode Island - Red Maple (thanks Greggas - IAP)
South Carolina - Cabbage Palmetto (Sabal Palm) (thanks mredburn - IAP)
South Dakota - Black Hills Spruce (thanks Old Lar - IAP)
Tennessee - Tulip Poplar (thanks Ctubbs - IAP)
Texas - Pecan (thanks MesquiteMan - IAP)
U.S. Virgin Islands - None
Utah - Blue Spruce (thanks woodlvr)
Vermont - Sugar Maple (thanks Greggas - IAP)
Virginia - Flowering Dogwood (thanks Penhead - IAP)
Washington - Western Hemlock
West Virginia - Sugar Maple (thanks Lulanrt - IAP)
Wisconsin - Sugar Maple (thanks David Drickhamer/ssajn - Facebook/IAP)
Wyoming - Plains Cottonwood

Below are photos of our progress and photos of our completed pens. If you would like to purchase any of these pens please email us for details @ rob@wolfepensnthings.com.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Carousel Horse Restoration Project

We received this horse from Rob's mother. She has had it for awhile. We are hoping that we can restore it and even add some legs to it. Right now we are researching the best ways to do it. The very bottom is extremely dry rotted. Some the pieces are broken off. We know that we have to glue it back together as well as strip off the paint. We will post photos as we go along. If anyone has any suggestions or ideas of how to do this, please post them here or email us at wolfeswoodworking@hotmail.com.