Industrial Storage Racks

Well I never thought I would need a storage rack of this magnitude. But here I am. This racking system is rated for 2300 pounds per shelf, measures 42 inches in depth, 12 feet in height, and 16 feet +/- in length. This is rack number 3 for shop storage. But its the first metal version in the racking system. I wish I could say this would be the last of them, but realistically I need another wall full. Except that wall will be 30 inches in depth and will run at least 16 feet in length as well. 

 This is the trailer that was used to haul the load from NH. I am very grateful beyond words for the kindness of my friend Brian. A relationship developed from my wood lathe purchase. This is Brian's trailer and it worked like a dream. Thank you Brian!

 Strapped and loading. Happy to say the racks didn't weigh much. I think 5 toddlers can move the racks without supervision. We didn't have any toddlers to help but if we did we didn't have the space or booster seats. So that meant Brian and I had to move them. It took about 15 mins to load! It was amazing.

This is Brian! As always prepared and ready to help! Again thank you Brian. Lets hope I convince him to help in the next load.

Cheers!

Its all in the details....

There is something special about old stair cases in a home. I love the overall statue, the details, and the overall construction. Its easy to see why these stair cases have lasted so long! Today sadly the majority of the stair cases are being made or restored to a lower quality. 

Can you blame the contractors? My answer is yes and no. Some contractors simply don't know how the makers of the past made stairs, or simply there isn't enough money in the budget. But if there is a budget to restore a stair case than I think they must make them how they once were versus simply toe nailing balusters in place and making round tenons. 

Below you will find a stair case with dovetailed balusters. Its simply a thing of beauty. I was luck to bid on this job but sadly I didn't get the job because the contractor didn't budget the cost and necessary work involved. 

But I am happy to say that I was able to educate the contractor and now he will have me bid on staircases before hand. Today my interest in the woodworking world is more in houses and architectural details. While I love furniture there is more money in house work and for me to continue  living the dream I must do what I can to save the pass and make money as small business. 

If you have a staircase that needs a little TLC, than contact me. I will happily travel to the site if the money is right. 

Cheers!

Sanding Block

Sanding, some of us hate it while others so call love it. Either way we need to do it. So why not sand comfortably with Time Saver Tools, Preppin Weapon Sanding Blocks.  The blocks came to my attention by furniture maker Clark Kellogg from Texas. These blocks were in the back ground of an image on Instagram. Well one day while strolling through Woodcraft Supply I found this sanding block on the shelf. Once in my hand I knew why Clark loved them. Now I wanted them! 

This lead me to find them online and buy every color. Why all the colors? Well I can set them all up with different grits. The coarsest is red and the finest is blue. The color line up is red, yellow, green, and blue. The blocks feel amazing in my hands and I can happily say these are a great investment and a joy to use. 

I may even say I like sanding. Ha! Yeah right. Well at least my hands don't hurt as much anymore. 

Cheers,

FR

Sanding in the round.

In the field of furniture making and repair there isn't any tricks but rather tip and techniques. Today I will share a tip with you that I learned from Master Will Neptune. Will Neptune if you don't know him is one of the best makers I have ever had the chance to see and work next to. This isn't me bragging of an opportunity (I was called out on this once so its a sore spot and always will be). This is me sharing a tip I lucky was able to learn while sharing a shop with a master. 

As yo many know I do a ton of refinishing. Sore tired hands are always looking for anything to speeds the process along. Sanding is bad enough but sanding in the round is even worst. Especially when it comes to not ripping the sand paper as you slide it side to side. Well that isn't the case anymore. Simply add some duct tape to back of a sheet of sandpaper and rip the desired width. Now you won't tear the paper, but you surely will wear that sand paper down. 

Happy sanding. I hope this tip will be helpful to you in the future. 

Cheers. 

Simple Scribe Tool Recommendation

Over the years in my repair, custom, and install work there was a need to scribe a detail to an exact dimension. While you can use a square, your finger, or whatever to scribe. But often I need something exact and consistent. This is where the Simple scribe comes in. The multi faceted tool helps scribe a variety of common dimensions like a breeze. Since I have been using the tool so much I decided to share it with you all. If interested in purchasing please visit the following link https://www.amazon.com/shop/periodcraftsmen. The link is a listing of all the items and tools I commonly use in my day to day work life. 

Cheers. 

Banding Mockup for Colonial Williamsburg

Recently I was asked my mentor and Master Craftsman Patrick Edwards to make some banding samples other wise known as Toppo in French.  The image above was one of two large examples showcasing the possible options with simply adding a series of different colored wood, cutting them in different angles, thicknesses, flipping, and shifting. 

Its amazing the possibilities there is in this art of banding making. While this all appears difficult, in reality it is not. Often what is necessary is just patience. 

Cheers.  

The New Workbench Top

In 2004 as a student of the Furniture Institute of Mass I needed a bench and only had 5 days to draw and make the bench. The size of the bench at the time was 32 inches wide and 5 feet long. The bench served me perfectly, but I wanted something longer and a tail vise. 

Long ago I thought I would always make my bench, but I quickly realized there are makers out there who can make them quicker and priced well. So I ended up buying a new bench top that will last me the rest of my life. 

I might still make the bench wider to fulfill my dream of making it in the European style bench on one edge and a Roubo style bench on the other edge. Essentially I will be making myself a smaller version of the Patrick Edwards bench. But for now this will serve me well. 

The bench top is made from Rock Maple and in dimension is 4 inches thick, 7 feet long, and 32 inches wide. The tail vise hardware comes from Lie-Nielsen Tool Works. Lets just say this bench top weighs a ton and I love it. 

Many thanks to my two friends Jasper and Brian for helping move the top and for helping me install the tail vise. 

New Book! Crafting Excellence: The Furniture of Nathan Lumbard and His Circle

    I'm happy to share that another book on a great maker named Nathan Lombard is going to hit the market shortly. Pre-order your copy from Amazon ( < Click).

   

    When the inscription “Made by Nathan Lumbard Apl 20th 1800” was found in the late 1980s on a chest of drawers, the identity of an unknown craftsman suddenly surfaced. Crafting Excellenceintroduces the striking achievements of cabinetmaker Nathan Lumbard (1777−1847) and a small group of craftsmen associated with him. Working initially in the village of Sturbridge, Massachusetts, these artisans fashioned an array of objects that rank among the most colorful and creative of Federal America. Recent scholarship has revealed Lumbard’s connection with the cabinetmaker Oliver Wight, from whom he likely learned his trade and gained an understanding of neoclassicism. Careful study of objects linked to Lumbard, Wight, and nearby artisans has produced a framework for identifying their work. The discovery of Lumbard’s name three decades ago led the authors on a pioneering journey, culminating in this handsome volume, an insightful contribution to American furniture history.