The DR Rapid Fire Log Splitter is in.   Freakin' Awesome.   Let the Doomsday preparations begin!

http://www.drpower.com/twoStepInquiry.aspx?Name=Logsplitter_A&Redirect=true

Splitting 1 cord of wood in 6 minutes by hand!

This is pretty amazing.   The man in the video splits 1 cord of wood in 6 minutes!   You have to see it to believe it!


http://youtu.be/pLULLzZuMn8

Drying Lumber from a Woodworking, Lumber operation, and Craftsman in nearby Marrietta PA

If you ever wanted to see what goes on inside a lumber facility, this video is for you.,

Here is a video from a guy right near buy in Marrieta, PA. http://youtu.be/pO0MxvUPuPg

USDA Publication on Air-drying of Lumber

The following document is a must read for those processing wood into lumber.  It is a good read for every woodworker.


http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgtr/fplgtr117.pdf

New Cross-cut Box sled for the table saw

I got the materials for a New Cross-cut Box sled for the table saw:

1/2" MDF and an INCRA miter slider

This time around I'm not using wood runners.  I thought about using UHMW plastic, but decided I would be better off with the nearly perfectly squared high tolerance aluminum in the INCRA miter slider.

Shop-made router table from Rockler - Part 1

Here is the first in a series of steps to make your own router table.

http://www.rockler.com/blog/index.cfm/2012/5/8/A-ShopMade-Router-Table-Part-I

Jeremy Hopkins sawing a hard maple log with lots of burls

We stopped by to visit Jeremy at his sawmill today.   He was sawing a really nice hard maple log that was harvested locally.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omaX3tPn098

Local Sawyer and Lumber supplier in Forrest Hill, MD

Check out Jeremy Hopkins' website.   He's a great guy.  If you are in the Baltimore/Harford County area or even South Central PA area and need hardwood for projects, you've gotta talk to him!

The business is family owned, friendly, and reasonable.

http://www.thehopkinsfamilywoodworks.com/

Squaring your table saw blade -- 5 cut test for blade squareness

I just came across this simple, ingenious 5 cut test for squaring your blade on the table saw.  Awesome!

http://www.thewoodshop.20m.com/five_cut_method_swf.htm

Dovetails

Here is a cool dovetail layout calculator that is very flexible.   It gives you a template to use for practice.

http://www.blocklayer.com/woodjoints/dovetaileng.aspx

Really cool small cross-cut sled from Fine Woodworking magazine

13 years ago, I built my first cross-cut sled.  It has oak runners, melamine coated particle board bed, and heavy, think sandwiched 3/4" plywood fences.  It still serves me well after all these years.

The cross-cut sled changed my woodworking life.

I couldn't imagine working on the table saw without a sled.   Sure, I have the miter guage, the rip fence with a few sacrificial fences, and a panel cutting sled.  There's nothing like a cross cut sled.   If you have one, built one, or use one, you know what I am talking about.

The only problem with my cross-cut sled is that it is HEAVY.  My 11 year old is getting into woodworking.   He knows how to use the cross-cut sled, but it is simply too heavy and unwieldy for him.

I found this great article today from Fine Woodworking.   I am going to build one of these smaller sleds this weekend.   Happy Woodworking everyone!   Thank you Fine Woodworking magazine for this article!

http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/39002/build-a-super-precise-tablesaw-crosscut-sled

INCRA Miter 1000HD

I just ordered the INCRA Miter 1000HD Gauge.   I am very curious to hear about your experiences with the INCRA Miter gauges.   Do you have any special tips?

http://www.incrementaltools.com/INCRA_Miter_1000HD_p/miter1000-fslash-hd.htm

Here is another good article on selecting wood for outdoor use:  http://www.plesums.com/wood/choosingwood.html

The following is a good article on selecting wood for outdoor furniture:  http://bit.ly/JiITVe

Thomas the Tank Engine style Train Track Router Bit Sets

I am trying to decide between  MLCS Train Track Router bits and Rockler Train Track Router bits.  Does anyone have experience to offer a recommendation?

http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/bt_bull.html#train_track_bit_anchor
http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/graphics2/TM61-65-traintrack.pdf

or:

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=17231&site=ROCKLER&filter=train%20track%20bits

http://www.rockler.com/plans/TrainTrackPlan.pdf

This place is great for hardware.  I bought 10 lbs of screws for 1/6 the cost at Home Depot/Lowes www.mcfeelys.com http://bit.ly/bc0vkU

Sawdust logs

http://archives.record-eagle.com/2007/may/20sawmill.htm

I updated my website.   I could really use some help from someone with a good artistic eye and web design skills.   For details, please apply within.  http://www.cherryblossomenterprises.org

Planing  7/8 x 12x pine for the next batch of all-weather Morris Chairs chairs and a book shelf for John

Since you care about your wood, read this publication on the management of wood-destroying pests http://www.pested.msu.edu/Resources/bulletins/pdf/2047/E2047MinusAppenG.pdf

I see an HVLP sprayer in my near future.

Radial arm saw stand finished

The Radial arm saw stand is finished. Now on top the top, fence, and wings...

Sampling air drying Black Walnut

I sampled the Black Walnut I've been drying.

Workbench construction continues

The monster casters arrived!

Next shop projects for today

Today's fun includes:

• Finishing the Morris Chair by putting the hinge and back stop on
• Building the benchtop for my DeWalt antique radial arm saw
• Working on the workbench top -- 2" think hard maple -- the Monster Bench
• Getting an HVLP paint sprayer
• Organizing the shop and business paperwork

Tomorrow, I'm going to prospect for lumber from several sources

Flat screen TV hutch in Cherry

Here is my Flat screen TV hutch in Cherry for a client

All-weather Morris chair

All-weather Morris chair during construction. ... Fun project. Great looking Very rewarding

My latest project: All-Weather Morris Chair in Lost Atlantis Blue

All-Weather Morris Chair in Lost Atlantis Blue
http://instagr.am/p/KaYaRlC4XW/