The need to control sanding dust has been evident in my shop for some time. Like most small shops, work space is at a premium and a downdraft sanding table has a substantial foot print. I looked at several of the tables available Read more »
Appling Glue to Mortise & Tenon
August 10th, 2010 
TBDKeith I received an e-mail from Popular Woodworking with an interesting video on gluing Mortise & Tenon. It is only four minutes long but does an excellent job of illustrating how different gluing techniques can effect the integrity of the joint.
The third one is a real eye opener. After seeing this video, I know for sure which method I’ll be using from now on.
http://popularwoodworking.com/article/video_where_does_the_glue_go
After seeing the video, will you change your method of gluing Mortise & Tenons?
Keith
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Tool Review 23 gauge pinner
June 30th, 2010 TBDKeith I was in the Grand Rapids, Michigan, Woodcraft Store for a router class that I was teaching that afternoon. I intentionally arrived a few minutes early to look at their selection of 23 gauge pinners. I had read a post on www.woodweb.com about how the 23 gauge pinner was great for attaching trim. The woodweb post pointed out a few of the advantages Read more »
Woodworking Classes, are they worth it?
May 16th, 2010 TBDKeith First the disclaimer…I have been teaching woodworking classes for several years. Just so you know up front, this is not a sales pitch, just a look into why someone wood (pun intended) want to spend time and money to take a class when there is so much free information Read more »
Cordless Drill Review
February 6th, 2010 TBDKeith My old Delta cordless drill, drilled it’s last hole after four plus years of service. It was a 14 volt drill that served me well. The drill is in decent shape but the batteries would not hold a charge long enough to drive a 2″ drywall screw. To replace the two batteries would cost over $75.00. I do not want to put that kind of money in to batteries with the life of the drill motor uncertain. Time to go shopping Read more »
MMWG Christmas Dinner
January 5th, 2010 TBDKeith In early December the Mid-Michigan Woodworkers Guild held their Christmas dinner/fund raiser. This year our members elected to raise money for Ele’s place. http://www.elesplace.org/
ELE’S PLACE IS a healing center for grieving children throughout the Lansing and Ann Arbor regions. Ongoing peer support group programs help hundreds of children and teens to cope with the death or life-threatening illness of a parent, sibling or other close family member or friend.
The evening started with over fifty members and Read more »
Why Wood?
January 5th, 2010 TBDKeith Why Wood?
Because wood is visually and spiritually inspiring. It can be a source of motivation, inspiration and even frustration. Wood speaks to you with the silky voice of a smooth maple curl or as boldly as a plank of Oak. It can fill the voids with dreams and wonder. It can make time stand still or whisk it away like the wind.
Wood can be worked in the round, flat or given a smile, with one tooth missing. Wood can be recognized by touch, smell or sight and still remain a mystery. It can be whimsical or moody and even elusive but always your friend.
I didn’t choose wood, wood chose me and I feel damn lucky that it did.
Keith
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Innovative Woodworking Tools
December 29th, 2009 TBDKeith I just viewed a short video on the The Wood Whisperer Community http://community.thewoodwhisperer.com/video/a-mans-gotta-do-what-a-mans
On this video Marc used his wife’s mixer to complete a task in the shop and it reminded me of the time I used my wife’s deep fryer Read more »
What’s your favorite finish?
December 10th, 2009 TBDKeith What is your favorite type of finish for your woodworking projects and how did you arrive at that choice? This is not a question about which finish is the best or harder, (unless you only build the same thing over and over) it’s about what is your favorite and why.
The first thing that I thought about Read more »
Tiger Stripe Sofa Table Part 1
December 6th, 2009 TBDKeith The basic router class that I was teaching that day had just finished and I was perusing a pallet of maple boards at Johnson’s Lumber. http://www.theworkbench.com/ The lumber was setting off to one side of the warehouse, waiting to be loaded into the storage rack. I thought that this would be a good opportunity to see if there were any treasures to be found. It was not long and I found a single board of Tiger Stripe Maple. You know the one….the board that Read more »
