New Gets

I love old woodworking machinery, and I really appreciate the people who take good care of them. One person like that is Brad, the shop teacher in a local high school. His machines are in great order, I bought their old shaper.


Brad has since called me back twice for parts he's found. At the end of the school year during a clean up he found this for me:



That's two more spindles and a tie rod, the small wrench, table insert, hold down spring to complete the set, and a large number of assorted correct screws and washers. Also in the box is the holddown portion of the shaper mitre gauge. This machine gets more and more complete!

I like the vintage box, too.





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New Gets

I got a package from Stephen Thomas this week.

In it was a set of collets for my hollow chisel mortiser.



If I had SMTs skills I wouldn't leave the shop.



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Current Work

Fireplace, Red Oak

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Five Minute Bench 10

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New Gets

While working on the stools, one thing became clear; my old spokeshave couldn't work. The mouth was far too big, tearout was inevitable. I decided to purchase the Veritas spokeshave in the flat and round bottoms, with the A2 iron.



The shave is very well made. Highlights include the lever cap.





The iron is an impressive 1/8" thick, and dwarfs the vintage blade.



The mouth is already slight, but with the use of the included shims the mouth is a sliver, compared again to the old shave.



These attributes, added to its heavy body, result in a shave that cuts very cleanly.

The round and flat bottom shaves are very complementary.



It doesn't take much of a curve before the flat bottom stops cutting.



The round bottom is a little more difficult to control. It's use is for the inside curves only.



After a quick honing, both shaves handled this curly maple with ease.



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Bar Stools- Assembly

Assembly begins with the preparation of the parts.

Saw marks are removed, and other milling marks as well.



The backs are assembled.



Front legs are cleaned up.



Fronts are assembled.



The backs are cleaned up.



A block plane and spokeshaves are used to fair the joinery.



I used my old shave to hog off big thick curls.



The tight mouthed Veritas shave leaves a beautiful surface after.



After the back rails are shaped, the back is rabbeted for the upholstery. The rabbeting bit is touchy, requiring a sharp, clean edge, and constant climb cutting.



I marked one with my initials and the year.



The fronts and backs are joined.





Corner blocks are made and marked, as they are location specific. Holes are drilled and counterbored for seat screws.



Done!



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