tpww's Podcast

Another reason to blog and podcast is to share one's experiences about a certain topic.  For me, this is woodworking and setting up a workshop.  While in the shop today, I realized that I have again made another mistake.  The mistake is in some new shop lighting that I put in last year.  Instead of using 4' lights I should have went with 8' lights.  One of the major problems with lighting is the building's architecture.  Keep in mind that this was an old timber framed barn that was built over 100 years ago.  The floor joists for the loft are 4x4's spaced about 2' on center, however, they are not centered across the width of the building.  Next issue is the 12 x 12 timber framed beams that run about every 10' along the length of the barn.  It gets better.  When the concrete was poured many years ago, it raised the floor up a good distance.  This has limited the floor to ceiling height to a little more than 7'.  In Episode I, there is a picture of the lights running in between the floor joists.  This was done to limit the lost of floor to ceiling space.

Parting thought:  Like clamps, you can never have too much.

In this show we take a brief tour of the shop and history behind it.  We will discuss some considerations of setting up and maintaining a workshop, such as lights, heat, doors, windows, insulation and much more.  Approx. run time is 23 minutes.

On Sunday, I started to film the first episode of the podcast.  All was going fine until half way through the filming, then Murphy struck.  The camera will film about 1/2 of the show then cuts off.  Loosing the footage and reporting file error.  I tried different memory cards with no luck.  Tuesday I will go back to the shop armed with a different camera.  Hopefully better luck will follow.

Description of Episode 1
A brief history of the shop, tools, layout, projects that I am working on and what the future holds for the Procrastinating Wood Worker.  Also I will show off a very special machine leftover from the early to mid part of the last century.  It was a  machine that was designed for  another purpose and I kind of realize  its potential  in wood working.  A  sample of the first  project  that was done on this will be shown along with a picture of the finished project.

1986 - Carved Wooden Bible Cover, designed by myself.  It features a carved cross and sword in the center of the front cover.  However, the picture is not available at this time.

1986 - Wooden 3 Ring Binder.  Made for myself to put wood working information in.  However, the picture is not available at this time.

1984 (?)  Postal bank, featuring a post office mailbox door.  This was a gift for my father.  I believe it was for Father's Day or his birthday.  However, the picture is not available at this time.

1983 (?) - Coffee table designed by myself.  This was done for my parents. However, the picture is not available at this time.

1982 (?) - Mallard Mug Rack.  This was done for my parents. However, the picture is not available at this time.

1981 (?)  Set of four wooden place mats.  This was done for my parents. However, the picture is not available at this time.

5/15/2006 - This workbench was designed for the Auto Zone portion of the garage.  Designed by myself using a piece of bowling alley for the top.  It was finished with Gloss Black paint and a marine grade varnish.

9/11/2005 - Here is my first pen that I turned.  It's made from Bubinga.

Good question. I've been a wood worker for over 24 years, completing many projects, furniture repairs, carpentry and many other items. I will post a page with items (pictures and descriptions) of things that I have made over this time period. Somewhere I will list commercial projects, and general carpentry that have been as well. In this digital era, I have found several websites, podcasts and other references for wood working. Many I have found entertaining, enlightening, and resourceful. So I would like to share my experiences as a wood worker for others to benefit from.

The Goals for this site are, however not limited to:

1. Promote wood working as a hobby.
2. Share knowledge among woodworkers.
3. A stepping stone for a Video Podcast.
4. Photo Galleries for woodworkers - Shop, Tools, Projects, Videos.
5. References for the craft.
6. Q & A sessions

So lets get started!

Welcome to the start of The Procrastinating Wood Worker. So why am I called the Procrastinating Wood Worker you ask. Well I've been in my current shop for 16 years and have never finished setting it up. This has been due to many reasons. When we first moved into our new house, built in approximately 1890, it needed some (a lot) of work, we needed furniture, time for family, work and the list goes on. My biggest problem is lack of time? Procrastination? Lack of money and motivation have also played a part. All things that a inspiring woodworker deals with. As I sit here tonight putting my thoughts to paper, I realize that many things in my life have changed including extended periods of not doing anything in the shop other than making plans for how I want to set it up.

So my musings begin.