Nova 1624 Lathe from Woodcraft

I got a new Nova 1624 Lathe from Woodcraft about a month ago. I have nothing but good things to say about this lathe. The 1 1/2 hp motor has more than enough power for this weekend woodworker. It came with steel legs which I am currently using. They seem to keep the lathe very stable. The motor is smooth and powerful. Belt changing is easy, which is a plus. I have already turned several projects on the lathe. I will be sharing some of these projects, here on my blog as well as my web site. The woodcraft people were very helpful went I went to the store to pick it up. I also have the Nova G3 chuck, which I used on my Jet mini lathe. I may want to pick up a bigger chuck in the future but for right now, this chuck has worked well.
This lathe is great for wooden bowls, Pens, spindles, small table parts and anything you can turn in the 16" round by 24" inches in length. You can see a picture to the right, click on the picture for more infromation.
Please visit my website http://nokeswoodworks.com

Fine Woodworking , Best chisels on the market

The October 2008 issue of Fine Woodworking has and article on the Best chisels on the Market. The article in on Bench chisels and does a test on the most popular chisels on the Market.
They test 23 brands and picked the Lie Nielsen at the best overall western style chisel on the market.
The runner up is the Pfeil Swiss Made brand. I have a set of the Swiss Made chisels. I not only have the bench chisels but also have the carvings chisels as well. I think these are the best chisels out there, but have never tried a Lie Nielsen chisel. I do have other Lie Nielsen products like planes and saws and do fine them to be exceptional good.
In the test of 6 categories the Lie Nielsen chisels got 2 excellent, 3 very goods and 1 good. The Swiss made got 2 excellent and 4 very goods. The price of the Lie Nielsen is $50 and the Swiss made is $31.
So for my money the Swiss made is a better chisel. If I some day have a chance to try the Lie Nielsen , I might change my mind but for the time being,I will continue to use the Swiss made. I like the way they feel in my hand, they stay sharp. They do not take much work to keep them sharp and they cut true. I use the bench chisels for cutting dovetails, mortises and for general trimming work.
Please visit my web site at http://nokeswoodworks.com

Mini lathe project, Make-up brush

Making a make up brush on the mini lathe. I purchased the actual brush and a plastic blank with an embedded rose from Arizona Silhouette. The blank comes in a round form. I place this round blank in my scroll chuck, in order to drill a hole to insert the brush. Once this was drilled, I had to enlarge the hole using lathe tools. I then changed drill bits and drilled a hole for the mandrel to screw into the blank to hold the blank while I finished turning it to shape.

The blank is turned to shape using a skew and a spindle gouge.

One the shape is achieved the blank is then sanded to a glass like finish. Using different grits of sand paper and then a final buffing at the buffing wheel. Once the blank is completed, the brush is

inserted in the hole using epoxy. Makes a great gift for your wife, mother, or girl friend.

This is one great project. Almost every woman I know uses a make up brush. For more on mini lathe projects , as well as more pictures of this project, please visit my web site. http://nokeswoodworks.com/

Making Wine Stopper or Bottle Stopper kits,Stainless steel

WINE or BOTTLE STOPPER KITS

I recently purchased some stainless steel bottle stoppers from Arizona Silhouette. The wine stoppers are made of stainless steel and should not corrode for any reason. These are the best kits on the market
The wood is turned in the usual way. I drilled and tapped the hole to create threads on which the stopper could be mounted. The tap was sized at 3/8" to fit the stopper.
Here are some of the pictures from my new stoppers.
Please visit my web site for more on turnings with a mini lathe
http://nokeswoodworks.com/

Father's Day Gift for the Woodworker

It's that time of year again, to think about what to get Dad for Father's day. If your Dad is a woodworker then I am sure a surprise woodworking tool will be in order. One idea could be to go to Woodcraft and get a gift certificate. A gift certificate will allow him to get anything he wants.
As a woodworker, I confess that any tool, even if I already have one, is a great gift. I have 3 drills and 3 routers and I use them all.
A new square is always needed. A set of drill bits, is always useful. Woodworking books are always a favorite for me. A new circular saw by Dewalt or Porter Cable is on my wish list.
A Bosch Colt trim router is a great idea. If your Dad is into carving, Woodcraft has just come out with a new line of Hock Knives, you can't go wrong with a new detail knife from Hock. If your Dad has a lathe, try a new Sorby spindlemaster turning tool, unless of course you want to purchase him a new lathe.
If you are not into buying tools or books, Dad's can always use a new baseball cap.
Please visit my web site http://nokeswoodworks.com/

There is a link to woodcraft in the side bar.

Pen Kit Finish Notes

Notes about pen kit finishes:

24kt Gold Pens with 24k gold plating usually wear very quickly most have a coating of epoxy on them to help extend the wear life of the pen.

10k Gold pens with 10k gold plating wear better because the gold is mixed with hard nickel to form a more durable gold plating with is also cheaper. wears better than 24k gold.

Chrome pens, Chrome is used where there is alot of everyday use such as key rings, very durable and looks great at cheap price. Chrome is very shiny and very good looking. Wears better than 24k or 10 k gold

Black chrome. These are pens plated with a black color plating. The black has a soft sheen which is attractive against light color woods. It is more durable the 24k gold but less durable than 10k gold.

Satin pens get a plating that is a matte finish and gives a satin look to the pens, The finish has a slight texture to the feel of then. This more durable than 24k gold and less then 10k gold slightly more durable than black chrome.

Black Titanium pens are coated with a titanium plating which looks good and is very wear resistance. This finish give one of the most durable finished to pens.

Rhodium plated pens are the top of the line and the best looking pen kits available on the market there durable is equal to or better than Titanium. The appearance is the great.

For more information on pens please visit my web site: http://nokeswoodworks.com

Randy

Pen Making Abalone Kit

This is a Wallstreet II Tropical Isle Abalone Kit from Woodcraft. I did this kit as a Mother's day gift for my wife. The kit came with the hole already drilled and the brass tube inserted. The polyester resin the Abalone is sealed is more difficult to turn than normal acrylic blanks. The polyester resin can easily chip. Sharp tools must be used. During the turning process, the blank on this pen chipped out near the edge. I used a small file while the lathe was on to soften the rough edges before continuing to turn the blank .

I finished turning the pen blank and then completed it in the normal way using sand paper. I buffed the blank to a final shine and assembled the pen using a pen press. For more pictures on this project please visit my web site.

Randy

http://nokeswoodworks.com/

Carbara Pen Kit using a Rattlesnake Blank

Rattlesnake Pen
I used a rattlesnake pen blank and a Black Titanium Carbara Pen kit to build this rattlesnake pen. These blanks are more difficult to turn compared to wood or regular acrylic. Care must be taken because the acrylic can be easily lifted off the surface of the snakeskin because of the chemicals used to tan the snake hides. Sharp tools must be used.
The blanks come with the brass tube already inside the skin and acrylic. Therefore you do not need to drill and glue the brass tube.
You will however have to size the blank and square the ends. The sides of the blanks are also removed during the sanding process. See the drawing that came with the blank for this detail.

The edges were sanded and the blank was placed on the lathe. I used a spindlemaster lathe tool to turn the blank down to size. The lathe tools must be extremely sharp. I stopped 4 times to hone the tool while cutting the blank to size. I stopped cutting short of the bushing size. Sandpaper was used to complete the projects. I used micro mesh and an acrylic finish to complete the blank. The blank was assembled using a pen press. More ideas can be seen at my web site:
http://nokeswoodworks.com/

The rattlesnake blank and pen kit came from: Arizona Silhouette at http://ArizonaSilhouette.com .

Pen Making The Wall Street II Pen kit

Wall Street II Pen kit from Woodcraft.

The following pictures may be helpful in understanding the steps needed to build the Wall Street pen kit that I purchased from Woodcraft. The finished pen is illustrated here to the right. These are easy pens for the beginner and fun for the experienced turner as well. I used my Jet mini lathe and Robert Sorby turning tools.

The picture to the left shows the pen kit parts, drill bit 27/64 , the wood blank and the epoxy used to make the pen kits. The first Step is to cut the blank to length. Use the brass tube to measure and mark the blank for cutting. Cut the blank a little longer than the brass tube. It will be made to length later. Mark the center of the blank on the end before drilling. Drill slowly and clean out drill bit often. If you get the blank too hot or do not clean out the bit you will get a blow out on the blank. As you can see in the picture I have a home made pen vise that I have used successfully for years.

After the pen blank is drilled. I sand the brass tube lightly before mixing epoxy to glue the tube inside the blank. I like epoxy more than CA glue, but CA glue will work fine also. After the pen blank has dried I then go to the sander to square up the ends. A picture of this process can be seen on my web site: http://nokeswoodworks.com/

Once the ends are square, It is ready to be mounted on the lathe using a bushing and a pen mandrel. The picture to the right shows the pen blank mounted to the lathe .

Once the blank is mounted to the lathe, and everything is tightened up. The blank is then ready to be turned. Refer to my blog on lathe speeds for correct turning speed for pens or other projects. There are pictures of the actual turning process on my web site. A gouge is used to reduce the pen blank to a rough round size. A skew is then use to take the blank to proper size. I use the spindle master instead of a skew. This smooths the blank and gets it to the right size ready for sanding. I use a range of sand paper from 120 to 600 and then use micro mesh to 6000 for the sanding process. Once this is complete I use a finish of my choice. In this case I used Hut crystal coat to finish this pen. This is a friction polish and is applied with a cotton cloth and rubbed into the wood while the lathe is running. Once the finish is complete the pen blank is removed from
the lathe. It is assembled using a pen vise. Please visit my web site for more pictures and more information on pen making. http://nokeswoodworks.com/

This kit can be purchased from Woodcraft. See link to the right.

Building a Woodcraft 68 point skinner knife kit

Woodcraft Skinner knife kit

This past week I bought and assembled the Woodcraft 68 point skinner knife kit, using Bocote wooden knife scales.

The kit did not come with instructions, but I found a set I could down load at the Woodcraft web site. I used the knife as a template and marked the handles for cutting.. I drilled one hole and placed a brass pin thru the hole before drilling the next hole.

After the holes were drilled, I checked alignment and cut the handles out on the bandsaw. I cut on the out sides of the lines. So the handles were a bit over size. I then shaped and sanded the part of the handle near the knife which was not mounted to the blade. This was done so the finish on the knife blade will not be damaged. After this I used one hour epoxy to glue the handles to the knife blade. I then inserted the brass pins with epoxy also. The brass pins had to be cut shorter to fit the handle and knife. I clamped handles and blade together with several clamps and wiped away the excess glue. I let it dry over night. Once it was dry, I removed the clamps and finished shaping the handle to match the knife outline. Once I had this shaped and sanded ending with 600 grit sand paper. I applied a wax finish. Buffed and finished the project. Please visit my we site http://nokeswoodworking.com/ For more on knives or other woodworking information.

The project turned out great. Now I will have to build another since I have two sons. This will make a great keepsake gift for them. You can visit Woodcraft by clicking on the link at the right column. The knife scales (wood for handles) are purchased separate from the kit.

Tung Oil an oil based wood finish

Tung Oil or china wood oil as it is sometimes called is an oil based wood finish. Tung Oil is made from the pressed seed of the nut from a tung tree.
Most tung oil products sold at retail are not pure tung oil. They may have tung oil as the major ingredient but have other additives such as varnish.
Pure tung oil can be bought at places like Woodcraft or Rockler.
Pure tung oil is non toxic and has been approved by the FDA for food contact. Pure tung oil is water resistant, will not darken with age. It penetrates well. The down side it is it dries slowly and takes 3-6 coats to give good protection.
The the surface should be dust free. Any filling, sealing or staining should be done prior to oil application. Apply a liberal amount of oil, wait 20 minutes for it to soak in and then wipe off exceed. Check back in an hour to make sure there is no draining and if there is wipe again. Allow to dry for 24-48 hours. Use fine steel wool between coat and apply 3-6 coats.
http://nokeswoodworks.com

Carving in the woodshop

I decided this weekend, that I wanted to do a carving project, so off to the wood store I go. After looking though all of the books, I decide I want to learn to do a caricature carving.
So I pick out a book. I go over to the carving section and pick out a new detail carving knife, I have a couple of knifes already but a new project should have a new knife. I also pick up a block of basswood. Now I'm ready. I have competed several carvings of birds and animals but never cared a caricature before.
The book I picked out is called: Caricature carving from Head to Toe. A complete step by step guide to capturing expression and humor in wood. The author is Dave Steton. Published by Fox Chapel Publishing.
I picked this book because it has step by step pictures of how to carve. It has information on carving knives. How to make models in clay, how to carve faces with expression and goes into painting.
After reading the book, I found it teaches both composition and technique. It also teaches you much more than just he projects in this book. I will start the project today, starting with a rough out.
Randy Please visit my web site.
http://nokeswoodworks.com/

Box Making as a woodworking craft business

BOX MAKING AS A HOBBY OR BUSINESS

Here is the question: Can box making become a profitable woodworking craft business?

Boxes have always held a fascination for me even when I was a small kid. From the pirate treasure to my treasure chest which held all my valuable stuff.
I still have a wood wood that I keep my so called treasures in. I have build boxes for both of my boys to store there treasures and they both use them.
So I think there is a market for boxes. A box needs to be something special for it to sell. By special I mean it has to either be decorative or it needs to be build to hold something special and needs to be marketed that way.
Decorative may mean use of a beautiful wood grain or combination of woods. Now special means it needs to cater to a need , such as i have listed below. These are just a few of the special box needs out there.

1. Wedding Box : to hold wedding cards, pictures or memories from a wedding, can be marketed through wedding shops.
2. Tea Box : To hold those special teas. Can be marketed as a gift box or direct to hotels and restaurants.
3. Toy box : Every Child need a toy box.
4. Jewelry box.
5. Keepsake box.
6. Bible box.
7. Men's Valet box.
8. Spice box.
9. Wine bottle boxes for special gifts.
10.Treasure chest, of course.
A box can be built for almost any hobby or collection out there. So built and market products to customers for a reason. Even my wife uses a box to store her sewing and quilting stuff in.
I have pen boxes, salt boxes, and candle boxes all over the house.
So the answer to the question is yes, if one puts there mind to it and builds something beautiful or something useful, there can be a market for it.
I will be doing articles on how to market on my web site. Please visit often : http://nokeswoodworks.com/

Tips for buying a Mini Lathe for wood turning

The use of a mini lathe to turn wood projects has become an extremely popular hobby for both money making and enjoyment. If you are looking to purchase a mini lathe, here are a few points to consider.
Decide what projects, you will want to make, this will help determine if a mini lathe is right for you. Mini lathes are great for pen making, wine stopper making, small bowls or plates, tool handles. Christmas decorations, small table legs, small turned boxes.
There are a lot of brands of mini lathes out here which will do a good job. My lathe is a JET which I am very happy with. I have had it for a number of years and it has been put to good use and worked well.
The things I would look for in a wood lathe are as follows:
a. Good speed range from 500 to at least 3000 RPM's.
b. MT-2 headstock and tail stock taper, there are more add-ons that fit this size.
c. Spindle nose of 1X8 TPI.
d. Cast iron bed.
e. 1/2 HP or better.
One thing that is a must when buying a lathe is make sure the head stock and tail stock line up perfectly. Check it the store if you can, or as soon as you get it home. If it does not line up take it back. You can check alignment buy putting a center in the head stock and tail stock. Pull the tail stock up close to the head stock and make sure they align.
Variable speed is nice but not necessary. Changing speed on the belt drive is not hard and there is one less electronic thing to go wrong.
Indexing head is a nice feature which can be used to enhance lathe projects but again is not necessary feature for a lathe.
Make sure to have sturdy place to mount the lathe. You will want as little vibration as possible. Make sure you buy a face shield when you buy the lathe. Buy the best tools you can afford to buy. Visit my web site for more information.
http://nokeswoodworks.com/

Wine Stopper or Bottle Stopper

Turning a wine or bottle stopper is similar to turning a pen. Use the same lathe, same turning tools.

Start with a blank of wood 1 1/2" X 1 1/2" X 2".
This will be placed in a drill press vise ready to drill, you may want to start with a Foster 3/4" drill bit to recess
the hole depending on type bottle stopper you are using. If you do recess the hole, then center Fostner bit on
the blank and drill down 3/8 of an inch.
Next insert a 6mm drill bit and drill down 1". This will be the first step if you decide not to recess the hole.

You will need a bottle stopper mandrel, attach the mandrel to the head stock. Then screw the stopper onto the
mandrel using the 6 mm hole just drilled. Now pull up the tail stock and tighten to secure.

Using a skew and spindle gouge turn the stopper to desired shape. Sizes and shapes may vary.
Remove tail stock and finish turning. I use a spindle master for most of my turning work.

Now sand using progressive grits of sand paper to 600 grit. Apply finish, this can be wax, sanding sealer, wood
turners wax or a CA finish.

Remove the turned piece and glue the head to the stopper with thick CA glue. I always use epoxy

There are a couple of different types of stainless steel stopper. Some people use a dowel in the hole and glue a
cork to the other end. See my web site for more on turning.

Randy
http://nokeswoodworks.com

The most used hand plane in my shop.

In my shop , there is no doubt which hand plane is used the most. I collect hand planes an have over 100 panes in my shop. The most used is the Lie Nielsen 103 standard angle block plane. I use it daily to trim , make things fit and to make my projects look good. It has a small body, only 5 1/4" long. Which makes it fit easily in my hand. It is simply amazing the amount of uses I find for it. It is made of bronze and the blade is 1 1/4" wide. It fits in my apron pocket and does everything I ask it to do. The plane most people think of when asked what is the most popular hand plane is the Stanley number 4 plane, but I have many more uses for this little block plane than I do a number 4. If you can only afford one plane, get this plane. I have at least 5 or 6 other brands of block planes in my shop but none compare to this little baby.
Randy
http://nokeswoodworks.com

Chisels used on the mini lathe to make pens

Which lathe tools do you use to turn pens on your mini lathe? There are four main chisels I use when turning pens.
1. A parting tool 1/8"
2. A roughing gouge 3/8"
3. A. Skew 1/2"
The 4th tool is more a choice than something you really need.
4. A spindlemaster by Robert Sorby tools.
All tools should be made of (HSS) high speed steel, they will stay sharp longer and will have less heat build up. I use a Delta slow speed grinder to sharpen my tools.
And you will need sharp tols if you every turn plastic pen blanks.
Let's go back to the spindlemaster, I have both the 1/2" version and the micro version. The micro version has become one of my favorite tool for turning pens and other small projects. The advantages over the skew are: easy of use, no sharp corners to dig in, it will plane, cut coves and beads and it is easy to sharpen.
Randy
http://www.nokeswoodworks.com

Glue for Outdoor Projects and Furniture

Now for the sticky stuff.
When building outdoor projects that need to be glued. It is best to use a glue suited to the outdoors and moisture.
The following glues can be used on outdoor projects:
1. Titebond II Premium glue, It passes ANSI type 2 water specs. Use above 55 degrees, assembly time is 10-15 minutes, designed for outdoor use. It is unaffected by finishes , has excellent sand ability and cleans up with water.

2.Titebond polyurethane glue has 20 minute working time and a 45 minute clamp time Dries yellow, use above 50 degrees, Passes type 1 and type 2 ANSI spec for water resistance. Bonds to virtually anything. Has epoxy like strength with no mixing.

3.Titebond III dries to light brown, use above 47 degrees has a 10 minute working time. Water clean up and passes type 1 ANSI std for water resistance.

4. Gorilla Glue , 100% water proof passes ANSI test for type 1 1nd 2 std for water Resistance. Unaffected by extreme heat or cold. It is sandable, paintable and stainable working time is 10-15 minutes with 1-2 hour clamp time.

There are others but these I have used and they all work. For more information on outdoor projects or furniture , please visit my web site.
htt://nokeswoodworks.com

Wood Type for Outdoor Furniture and Projects.

What type wood should you use for your outdoor furniture or wood projects. There are several types of wood you can use. Here are some of your choices.
1. Pressure treated Lumber ( Use only ACQ treated lumber) It is moisture and insect resistant. It is available in most home stores. Can be painted after the wood has dried well. Used mostly for fences, decks and landscaping. May warp or twist.
2. Western Red Cedar which is naturally durable. It has good dimensional stability.
It has a natural beauty and will turn silver grey with time. With proper care this can last a lifetime.It has natural oils that act as a preservative. It is light weight and easy to work.
3. Teak is one of the best woods for building out door furniture. It is also the most expensive. It is resistant to bad weather and insects. It is capable of holding up to wet weather and sunshine. The natural wood color is a beautiful honey brown.
4. Cypress has a natural preservative oil which makes the wood resistance to insects and decay. Very durable and stable does not warp. Easy to paint and holds paint longer than other woods.
5. White Oak heavy hard wood which is resistant to moisture and insect. Takes stain well. May check is left untreated.
6.Northern white cedar is a softwood and is naturally rot resistant and insect proof. Weathers to a silver grey. Light weight and easy to use.
7. Southern Yellow Pine is a softwood which is highly wear resistant. This wood requires a good finish and must be reapplied yearly.
All wood furniture except Teak, Cedar and Treated Wood needed to be stored in doors for the winter months. Always use either stainless steel,hot dipped galvanized or aluminum fasteners. See my web site for more information on finishing, plans and care of outdoor furniture. http://www.nokeswoodworks.com

Woodworking and Crafts, sell on line at Etsy.com

Ae you looking for a place online to sell your woodworking, pens or other crafts without actually setting up a web page? Well the anwser might me a web site called http://www.etsy.com/ . Etsy has been around since 2005 and is an online make place for buying and selling all things hand made. Over 100,000 sellers worldwide have opened shop. Etsy really is a cool place to sell your crafts and it's easy to use. There are lots of categories to sell your goods. A few are candles, jewelry needlecrafts, quilts, pets, toys, supplies and woodworking.
Make sure you read and follow there terms of use.
http://www.nokeswoodworks.com

Lathe Speed, Pen Making and Bowl Turning

What speed should you set your lathe to when turning different projects.
I have guidelines that I use when selecting what lathe speed to use. The speed you use should allow the blanks to turn with little or no vibration. So if you turn the lathe on and there is vibration, shut it down and lower the speed.
I always wear a face shield, which is a good safety practice.
My guidelines for turning wood are as follows:
Pen Turning 3000 RPM or higher
Stock smaller than 2" can turn at 3000 RPM
Stock which is 3" can turn at 2000 to 2800 RPM
Stock which is 5" can turn at 1200 to 1800 RPM
Anything over 6" should be turned at less than 1000 RPM
When sanding I always slow my lathe down to 500-600 RPM
When applying finish, I set it to it's lowest speed. Which for me is 500 RPM
These guidelines are for wood, if you turn other material, these may not be right for you.
These are only guides, try different things and see what works best for you.
Always wear a face shield or at least safety glasses when turning. And if it doesn't feel right shut it down. Do not turn wood with defects, cracks or knots.
http://nokeswoodworks.com/

Pen Making and other Mini Lathe Projects

A mini lathe is great for Pen turning. I have a Jet mini lathe I use for all of my turning and woodworking. In addition to turning pens on my lathe I have also made the following projects.
1. Wine stoppers
2. Small bowls
3. Candle Holders
4. Tables legs for shaker tables (can be seen on mt web site)
5. Small birdhouses
6. Knobs for other woodworking projects
7. Tool handles
8. Duck call
9. Lidded boxes
10. Key rings
11. Small plates
12. Doll house furniture
I'm sure there are other items but this list may give you an idea of what a small lather can be used for. I have an extension for my lathe but rarely use it. In fact the only times I have used it, is in turning table legs and one time I made a cane. So an extension is not something I would buy right away. Be careful with a mini lathe, it can become addictive.
http://www.nokeswoodworks.com/

WOODWORKING, GLUE SPOT PROBLEM

Glue Spots, Ways to avoid when woodworking.

One of the problems most woodworkers have is glue spots which show up during the staining or finishing process. Once a project is stained and spots start to show up, it can be very difficult to correct or touch up...
There are a few things we can do to help with this problem.
Some woodworkers solve thee problems but pre staining there wood parts before assemble. This way any glue squeeze out is on top of the stain and can be wiped off with a wet rag. I don’t like to use this method. I always seem to do something to the finish during clamping or assemble that is almost as hard to touch up as the glue squeeze out or the spots.
The next helpful thing is to tape around joints before assemble, so that glue squeeze out goes on the tape and not the wood. Be careful not to get the tape into the joint. It makes for easier removal.
The last thing we can do is to let the glue squeeze out semi dry to a gel. Once this has happened, you can use a scrapper on a flat surface to scrape away the glue. If you are in a corner or at a joint, you can use a chisel to remove the glue.
One thing you do not want to do is use a dry rag to wipe away glue squeeze out. I do noe even like doing this with a wet rag. You still can have glue spread around on the wood which makes matters worst.
Please check out my web site http://nokeswoodworks.com

Pen Making with plastic blanks

Plastic Blanks
When drilling blanks made with acrylic plastic, you will need to go very slow or the plastic will melt and clog. This could cause the blank to split.The drill bit needs to be very sharp or you may tend to oval the top of the hole. I like to use a twist drill on plastic blanks. A brad point bit is my favorite on wood but on plastic the brad point seems to skate around a lot.

I have switched to epoxy for gluing the brass to the pen blank but gap filling CA glue will work as well.

I sometime use a sander to round the blanks prior to putting them on the lathe. It seems to help a little.

One again when on the lathe, you must use very sharp tools. The sharper the better.
Please visit my web site for more information.
http://nokeswoodworks.com

Drill Bits, A quick run down

Drill Bits
There are several types of drill bits out on the market today. The drill bit on the left is a twist bit and comes in steel which is inexpensive but does not stay sharp very long. You can also get these in High speed steel (HSS) which will last much longer. You can also get them titanium coated and carbide tipped which will both last longer but cost alot more. The next bit is a brad point bit which prevents skating and has wide flutes keeping it cooler longer. These are my favorite bits for drilling in wood. Especially wood pen blanks. The third bit is a bullet point drill bit, the ones I have are from Dewalt. These are also very good bits for drilling in wood and I would highly recommend for all wood projects even pen blank drilling.
The 4th bit shown above is a forstner drill bit. Used for drilling plug holes, clock inserts or any where a flat bottom hole is needed. The last bit pictured is a spade bit, used for drilling wood. I don't use this type bit very often. It is something I use if I have to drill a hole in a 2x4 to pass wire through.
The most common drill bit is the twist bit, which is very versatile and when purchased in HSS is a good all round bit.
Please visit my web site under general for more information on drill bits.
http://nokeswoodworks.com

New Sharp Chisels

When you go to the store to buy chisels , the first thing you have to do when you get them home is to sharpen them. Looks like if you bought a new chisel they would come sharp. And the truth is I hate to sharpen chisels. So why don't they come sharp. Well my guess is cost. Well last week I was bought a couple of new chisels and guess what they were sharp! Yea right from the store they were sharp. I have been using PFEIL Swiss made carving gouges for years, now they have come out with a set of bench chisels and they are great. First they are sharp and ready to use. And IF they hold an edge like the carving gouges they will be a pleasure to work with. If you get a chance try one of these babies out, I'm sure you will like it.
Please visit my web site at http://nokeswoodworks.com

New Laptop Sony CR320 UPDATE

Update, 2 months later...this is the best laptop I have ever had.

Update 3 weeks later, I am still very happy with this computer. Works well, and looks good, very stylist. I have found one good/bad thing. The graphics board is a little light for game players. My son wanted to use it to play a new game and the graphics board would not handle it. So that is bad but it's good for me. I have the computer all to myself. It does handle all my graphic needs. I run corel draw and paint on my computer with no problems at all. I also tun google sketch up with no problems. So yes I still really like it. Visit the offical sony site to get more specs. There is a link to the right.
http://nokeswoodworks.com
Well I finally broke down and bought a new laptop. I really looked around before deciding on a Sony and now that I have it at home. WOW it is great. It did take a little while fr me to remove all of the unwanted software and install what I really needed and wanted but now that I have it in going, I couldn't be more excited about a computer. It seems to be study and well build has plenty of speed and disk storage. So now maybe I can get a few more blogs outs. I got a Sony camera for Christmas and this new laptop has a slot for the camera card, so maybe I'll get a few more pics on here as well. I know this is off the subject of woodworking but if you need a new computer, I would highly recommend this computer. I have placed an amazon ad in the section to the right, you can go there and see all the specs. In the next few weeks I will be adding a page to my website about building web sites and doing blogs.
So check out my web site. http://nokeswoodworks.com

PEN MAKING TIP

Sometimes when I turn an acrylic blank, the brass tube shows through on the finish turned pieces. If the blank is say black and white and the brass shows through the white, it does'nt look very good.
There is a way around this problem. You have to paint the brass tube before gluing it in place. Yes you can paint the brass tubes. You need to sand the outside of the tube with sandpaper. Make sure you sand the entire tube. I then use a wire inserted through the tube and bent at the end to hold the tube. I then use spray paint to paint the tube, then hang the other end of the wire up till it dries. Use a spray paint for metal like Rustoleum. Use a color of paint that matches the lighter color in the blank.
Once the paint has dried, you can glue it in normally. I use an expoy glue, seems to work better for me than CA.
Please see my website for information on pen making. http://www.nokeswoodworks.com

Milk Paint a child safe finish

I like to use old fashion Milk paint on any project that needs to have a non toxic finish such as a child's toy. I also use it on almost all of my early american country projects. It comes in a powder form and is easy to use. You just mix it 1 cup of water with 6oz of powder and stir. Best mixed at room temperature. On most projects you will need two coats. You will need to wait two hours before appling the 2nd coat. It is soap and water clean up. If the wood has been sealed or painted you will have to add extra bond to the mix or it will peel off. So best used on clean new wood projects.

After the 2nd coat has dried you will want to seal your project using Clear Coat another product from old fashion milk paint company. It is a water borne acrylic. It will protect your project from water spots, dirt and wear and tear. It will dry clear and leave no odor. It takes abour one hour to dry. It comes in several colors and colors can me mixed to come up with even more colors.
You can purchase Old Fashion Milk Paint at : Wood craft , see sidebar for a link.

Please visit my web site for more finishing information: http://nokeswoodworks.com/

New Pens, pen making

Just wanted to share a couple of new pens I made. The

ones on the outside are made with Rosewood. The center Pen is made of acrylic plastic. These pens look great and have a nice feel to them when writing. These are one piece pens which require a longer blank but only one blank. These are a great starter pen even tho most people start out with a slim line pen.

I have added a lot of new links to my web site and will being adding alot more so feel free to stop in and see, as if grows. http://nokeswoodworks.com

Cast Iron Rust in this weather, WOODSHOP TIP

During this time of year, one of my shop concerns is rust, which may start forming on my cast iron table tops or tools. My shop is in the garage and there is alot more moisture than I would like in my shop. There are three things i use to try and keep my tools rust free. I like a spray on product sold at woodcraft called TOP-COTE. I use this on tools, that I my not use for a couple of weeks at a time. It is fast and works reasonably well. During normal times, when I'm in the shop alot, I like to use car wax on my tools. This is a good preventive measure. I use turtle wax.
There is one other product which will work in a pinch. That is baby powder. In fills in the small holes in the cast iron and prevents moisture. It will not affect wood finishing and it makes the surface very slick. So it is a good low cost choice as well.
If you do get rust on your table tops or tools, get a rust eraser. These work great, they come in fine, medium and corse grit. Just use it like an eraser on the rust. Use only when light rust occurs. You can pick these up from Lee Valley, Woodcraft or Rockler.
Visit my website for more infromation http://nokeswoodworks.com

Do I need a plan for woodworking project?

Well, I always start out with a plan. Somehow my plans always seems to change before , during or after I get into a new project. Sometimes I have to make adjustments to the plan based on the wood I have, I may only have enough matching wood to make a 34 inch table top instead of a 36 inch top. I sometimes change plans based on a mistakes. I sometimes change plans to make it fit where I want it to go. Somehow it seems I always change the plan. But yes I need a plan. It tells me how to buy my wood. It tells me how to layout and do a cut plan. It's what I use to make sense of what order Im going to cut pieces and assemble pieces. Could I make a project without a plan, maybe but it would be much more dificult. Like the time I made a glider rocker for my wife. Well I mounted the feet wrong and she hit her toe everytime she came near it. It looked great but she hated it.
Next time I'll use a plan. There are alot of good plans out there. I some times get free plans from the internet. I sometimes get plans from books I have bought. I have even bought a few plans. I do make my own plans, which I find the most enjoyable. Check out my links page on my website for a place to get your plans or to get google sketchup to draw your own plans.
www.nokeswoodworks.com

New Woodworking Web Site

Well, I am now starting my own web site in addition to doing a blog. In my new web site, I will try to cover alot about woodworking, furniture making, pen making, toy making, carving, scroll saw and home repair. As well as the home shop. Please let me know if there are pages you would like to see or information you would like to have. I am just starting so I have alot of pages to built and a lot of work to do on the site. So keep checking back. I will be updating it as often as I can.
The address for my new site is www.nokeswoodworks.com

I'd love to hear from you.

Jet Tool 50th Anniversary

Jet Tool Is having there 50th Anniversary this year. As a result if you go to there web site, you can enter to win a prize every month. This month is a jointer, next month a lathe. It may be worth the few minutes it takes. http://www.jettool.com/

Please visit my web site http://nokeswoodworks.com

Buying wood cheap for projects or Pens

If you havn't noticed wood is expensive. Here are a few tips on buying wood that have helped save me money.
1. Shorts - I buy from a company on the web called Wall lumber. They sell usp bundles which are 20bf feet and include shipping to my home. They also sell what they call shorts. They sell shorts in cherry, walnut, oak and maple. The shorts are boeard which range from 36" to 52" in lenght of random width. These are great for small projects and the cost is half the price of regular lumber.
2. Lumber grade - I sometimes buy number 2 grade instead of number one. The big difference is that number 2 will have a few knots ot sap wood. On some projects I can cut around that or may even built it into my project.
3. While shopping on ebay for lumber, which is the best place to buy reclaimed chestnut, one of my favorite woods. I can across a local cabinet shop selling cherry, at great prices. I bought some and now when in need of wood, i drive by the cabinet shop and see what they have to offer. Wood can be 60 % od regular pricing.
4. As you can tell , I do shop the internet for wood also. I use ebay, and other wood sources on the internet will offer deals from time to time.
5. Use a lower grade of lumber for hidden parts such as drawers or backs or framework. I often use popular for these parts instead of cherry or oak.
6. A local saw mill can be a source for cheap lumber also. Since you are buying wholesale and not retail. I even found one who through out the spalted lumber because it was no good for the flooring he was producing.
7. Pen makers can save a ton buy cutting there own blanks. Larger boards or scarps from your last project can be cut into pen blanks saving a lot or even getting them free.

BEWARE shopping at the local home store will cost you and is not the place to shop for lumber used in furniture or pen making. It is great for 2x4's buy try buying an oak board..wow
I do buy some ply wood there, which I use in the drawer bottoms.

One place I had yet to find saving is the pen blank market for stabilized woods. These are my favorite to turn but also are very expensive. If any one has a cheap source please let me know.
Please visit my website for more information http://nokeswoodworks.com

Plate Shelf, early american country

I just finished my latest project. It is an early American plate rack. If has two grooved shelves for plates. A top shelf and under the rack are pegs. I made this from clear pine. Most of the detail was cut on the band saw. I used an oak stain first, then painted it barn red using latex paint.

I sanded and roughed up that a bit before finishing using a black latex paint. Letting some red show through. I then applied a coat of wax.

My wife had me hang it in our kitchen. This is an easy weekend project. Looks good an can be finished in colors as well as natuaral.
Please visit my website for more information http://nokeswoodworks.com

Pen Making as a craft business

One of my hobbies which I have turned into a sell-able craft is my pen making. Pens are made using a mini lathe to turn a block of wood or plastic to shape to hold the pen workings, which I buy as a kit. I will use this as an example of my costing process. Pen Kits can vary from $2.95 a kit to 59.95 a kit depending on what kind of pen you want to make. The pictures below are of cigar pens. The cost for this kit is $ 5.95. The wood blank will cost from $1.00 to 6.95 depending on type of wood or plastic. I will use $ 3.00 in this example. The pen kit is $5.95 plus $3.00 for the pen blank will total materials of $8.95. It will take me 1/2 hour to make this pen at $15.00 per hour labor. Now my labor and material total $16.45. I them add overhead and profit. I figure my overhead and profit to be the same as material and labor which is $16.45. This give me a total selling price of $32.90. I i always throw in a case and sell them for $34.95. I have pens which sell for more and I have pens which sell for less.
Please visit my website for more woodworking and craft information
http://nokeswoodworks.com

Bandsaw

The Bandsaw is the most overlooked tool in the shop. My bandsaw has become a do everything machine. I use it many times instead of my tablesaw. Especially for smaller projects. Its the tool of choice anytime I am cutting curves. I use it to make some cuts on dovetails. I use it to trim pen blanks to size. I also use it for Bandsaw boxes. It can resaw thick wood to give me the thin wood I need for small projects. Its great when making pen boxes or candle boxes. I have even used it to cut table legs.
My bandsaw is the Jet 12" floor model. Most people go for the 14" model but to date the 12" model has done a great job.
Any time I want to prepare wood for the lathe for bowl making my first stop is the bandsaw.
For me the bandsaw is a must have tool in the shop.
Please visit my web site for more information http://nokeswoodworks.com

Mini Lathes projects

I have a Jet Mini lathe. When I first bought it, I was sure I would not use it that much.
It has become a very useful tool in my shop. I use it for pen making. I have made hundreds of pens using my lathe. I have made them from wood and plastic and horns.
I mostly give them away but I have sold a few.
I have made bottle stoppers,game calls,knobs, and letter openers. I have made mini birds house to hang on the Christmas tree, as well as wood christmas decorations. I have made several shaker candlestick tables. See picture above. I have even made a custom walking cane. I have made a number of small bowls.
Turning is fun and can be additive. Once you buy the lathe, the next big purchases are the tools with which to turn. Chucks or mandrels will also be needed. Please email me if you would like more information on lathe tools. I have made a lot of projects using my mini lathe.

Google Sketchup

Today I woke up and it's 9 degrees outside, so there is no woodworking today. Today I will be trying out google sketch up. I have heard it is great for woodworking projects. Best of all it is free. Just go to google sketchup and down load your free copy. It says it is easy to learn, and after what little I have played with it, I think it will be easy, but will still take several hours if not a full day to be able to really create anything usefull with it. It can do 3D modeling, it has video tutorials and an on line users guide. as well as a quick reference guide.
As I said I have played with it a little and it is very easy to start drawing. It has presective guideline which will help with the 3d aspect. It will work in inches or cm.
One of the really cool things about sketchup is the tape measure. It has a little tape measuse use to measure any line or any point on the drawing. It really looks like a little tape measure. It will measure to 1/16 th of an inch.
Overall I cant wait to get started. i have a few projects that i want to create working drawings, so that when it does warm up , I can get back to the shop and start building.
If you have every wanted to get into computer adided drafting or drawing. This is the easiest way I know. It free, its easy, its great.
By the way it has now been 8 weeks since my knee replacement and everything is going great. I have not had a pain pill in two weeks. I am really getting around good now.

Pen Making Pictures

Here is a picture of some of my pens.
These are all Cigar pens.

Time for a new Project

Well I'm looking for a new project to start. I have not been in the shop for two months. This was due to the fact, I just had a total knee replacement on my right knee. I had the surgery the week before thanks giving. It has been eight weeks now and I am getting around pretty good now. I'm also itching to get back into the shop.
I think I need to start with a few small projects since I still can't lift much. I also can,t do alot of standing.
I think maybe a scroll saw project or two might just be the thing. I got a Dewalt scroll last fall and really have not done much with it other than cut out a couple of name plates. I used 1" cherry and scrolled the name with a base, so it would set on a desk.
I have a good comfortable stool to sit at the scroll saw. The biggest problem I have with scroll saw projects is that everything seems to be copyrighted. Either you have to make your patterns, pay some one to use there pattern or break a law. Even the books I buy with patterns say, I can make 3 or for copies for personal use only. Does that mean if I wanta make something and sell it for profit from a book that I am not allowed. Even the scroll magazines have a copyright to there pages. Seems if I buy a book with pattern or a magazine, I should be able to make and as many as I want and sell them if I want. As long as I'm not coping the patterns and selling them.
I belong to a yahoo group on scroll sawing and alot of the members as for patterns but I'm afraid to sent them one, because I might break a law.
The whole pattern issue is very complicated. Sure if I make a pattern , I don't want someone stealing it either. But a the same time is I write book with patterns or have a magazine article with a pattern. I can not expect people who have bought the book to make projects and give them or dell them to other people. This woodworking not rocket science.
Any way back to my knee. as I said I'm getting around pretty got now. I do still have some minor pain but I'm off the pain pills, so now I can operate machines. If any one has comments on copy right or on knee surgery please leave a comment with email address.
OK, I'm off to look for pattens. That I can use.
I will spent the day looking for projects.

Inspiration in wodworking projects

Inspiration ....where do you get inspiration to make your projects.. What caused you to make that new side table, or that coin box or that wood toy.

Inspiration comes from several places for me.

I have an 8 year son. He sometimes has given inspiration to me. I made a ride on tractor when he was smaller, I have made banks and a treasure chest for him to keep him good stuff. I have made trophy cases for his baseballs and trophies.

Of course my wife has her way of giving me idea's and inspiration. Such as showing me pictures of this great dinning room furniture set. Which in turn caused me to build a Mission dinning table, chair, sideboard and china cabinet.

I have also seen what others have done and that makes me want to produce something equally as great. I love to visit antique stores and see what was made in yesteryear. there were some truly great woodworkers in our past.

Sometimes the wood will give me inspiration. Such as the time I got some 100 year old reclaimed chestnut wood. It had nail holes and had turned color. I used this to produce a smaller shaker style sewing table. It came out fantastic.

When I produce something that turns out really great it just makes me want to make more. And gives me the knowledge not to make the mistakes I have made in the past.
And yes I make mistakes, I think we have all cut a board short, or drilled a hole in the wrong location.

I love to look at every woodworking book, every woodworking magazine, so I can to gleam new projects. I also look at almost any magazine that has wood furniture or projects to get that one project that I just have to make.

I now have a large collection of books and magazines. I'd love to see pictures of stuff you have made. Maybe you can give me inspiration too!

Pen Making

PEN MAKING

One of my favorite woodworking projects is Pen Making.
The Tools required to make Pens are as follows:

1. Lathe .... I have a Jet Mini Lathe and it is perfect for pen making.
2. Lathe Tools You will need a 1/2 Gouge for rough cutting, a skew chisel for fine details and Parting tool for making tendons.
3. Pen mandrel This holds the pen blacks between centers while turning
4. Pen Bushings These are used to hold blanks but more for sizing the blanks. You will turn the wood down to the size of these bushings. There are different size bushing for different size or kinds of pens.
5.Barrel trimmer used to square up the ends of the wood before putting on the mandrel. A disk sander can be used instead of a barrel trimmer.
6. CA glue (super glue) or epoxy used to glue the brass barrel into the wood body.
7. You can buy blanks already pre drilled but if you cut your on, you will need the following:
Drill press, Vise to hold blank while drilling, drill bit (7mm for slim line kit), ans saw for cutting blanks to size.
8. Sanding paper 150-1000 grit
9. wax finish like HUT or Shellwax
10. Pen Kits, there are alot of pen kits out there most people start with a slim line kit.
these kits contain all the pen parts you need except for the wood.

Once you have everything.. you follow these easy steps:

Cut blanks to size for slim line 5/8" square and cut to the length of the brass tube plus an 1/8 inch used to square up blank later.
Drill Hole in the blanks 7mm for slimline kits. this hole must be drilled down the center of the blanks.
Apply glue to the brass blank and insert it into the freshly drilled blanks. You may want to sand the brass tube lightly to get better adhesion of the glue.
Once dry, square up the blanks using a barrel trimmer or disk sander.
Now put the mandrel on the lathe, put one bushing on then one pen blank, a bushing, the second pen blank and another bushing. Now move up an tighten tail stock with live center.
Begin turning the stock until you have the size and look you want. the ends should be turned to the size of the bushing. Well almost leave a tiny amount for the sanding process.
Sand while lathe is running fro 150 to 1000 grit paper.
You are now ready to apply wax for a finish.
Once this is done take the completed wood blanks and using a vise or pen press. Press the pen parts on to the wood blanks.
You now have a completed pen.

Favorite Wood

I would like to talk about my favorite wood types. Actually of course it depends on the project so here is how it goods.....

Cherry is my favorite... I use it on almost any shaker type furniture I build. I have also used in bedroom furniture and in making boxes and treasure chest. It my favorite because I love the beauty of the wood. It is easy to work with the exception that it burns easily when routing or cutting on the table saw. It is fairly easy to get but not cheap. You must be careful when using cherry as it will darken and change color especially when exposed to sun light.

Next in line is chestnut.... to be exact 100 year old chestnut that has been reclaimed. It is easy to work and has such wonderful charm. I have only used in on a couple of projects, as it is not that easy to get. Most of what I have gotten has been from Ebay.

I use alot of Oak, since mission furniture is what of my favorite types of furniture to build. When I build in oak, I always stain the wood to get the honey color that I like. Oak is a very hard wood and very heavy. It is also good for outdoor projects, since it is somewhat rot resistant and insect resistant. White oak also works for steam bending. When making mission furniture I always select quarter sawn white, the flakes in the wood grain really pop and look great.

I have used some maple, but usually in smaller projects and I can get a nice pieces of Birds-eye.

I have used some walnut mostly on smaller projects such as boxes, clocks or pens.

I love to use maple or walnut burls when doing lathe turnings. They make nice pens and small bowls or plates.

I will use pine when making country furniture. Most of my projects in pine get painted with milk paint. Pine is very east to work and is somewhat cheaper than the other woods but it is very difficult to stain. So I almost always paint it.

I do use popular but mostly for drawer sides or frame parts. When I do an entire project from popular , again it gets a milk paint finish.

My workshop

My workshop is my two car garage. I no longer park cars for there is no room.
1. My table saw is a Ridgid TS3650 from Home depot and works very well... I have added an Inca Mitre 1000SE attachment.
2. My Band saw is a JET 12" floor model.
3. My jointer is a Craftmans 6 1/8" professional floor model.
4. My Drill press is a 15"Ridgid floor model from Home Depot.
5. I also Have a Jet Mini lathe.
6. I have a delta Mortising machine.
7. A delta sander and a Delta grinder.
8. My crosscut saw is a Dewalt 8" sliding compound mitre.
9. I just recently got a Dewalt scroll saw model DW788.
10. I have Ryboi planner.
11. Preformax 10-20 plus belt sander.
12. I use a Ridgid shop vacuum to keep it all clean.
I also have several hand held power tools, like routers, drills and sanders.
I will go into hand tools, projects and wood in future blogs.

New woodworking project book for Christmas

I just received a new woodworking book for Christmas.

It's called Early American Country Furniture, written by Dennis Hambucken and published by Countryman Press.

This is mainly a book of Projects, See below for a list of projects. There are 22 projects in all.

The book starts with some history of each project and shows pictures of how it would fit in a natural setting. I enjoyed reading about each project and the associated photos are great.

There is also a discussion of metal hardware, knobs, pegs and turned buttons.

There is also a chapter on Finishing. The chapter includes a section on milk paint application, which is very detailed and very good.

There is a section on lumber selection which is very basic but very good for beginners.

There are instruction on jigs for both panel cutting and tenoning. There is instruction on Dovetail joints, breadboard panels and panel doors.

The remaining part of the book consist of construction diagrams, which are well illustrated but only offer suggested dimensions.

Overall the book is well written and is well illustrated with over 600 step by step illustrations, which make any project much easier to complete. I will build several of these projects and post the pictures in the future.

Here is a list of projects: Candle box, Tavern pipe box, Saltboxes, Wall boxes, Nantucket candle box, Seaman's chest, Fireplace bellows, Hanging cupboard, Chimney cupboard, washstand, blanket chest, storage boxes, Hanging corner cupboard, Shaker bank of drawers, chest of drawers and wide cupboard.

Overall a great book.