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From the Publisher
Paul Fulcher
The 2006 Wood Show season has started, and it's going to be
another great round of shows across Canada.
Watch for upcoming shows in your area, including: Saskatoon (Sept. 15-17),
Winnipeg (Sept. 22-24), and Woodstock (Sept 29-Oct. 1). For a complete list of
all Canadian wood shows, visit our
Woodworking Shows
page.
I've spoken to all of the promoters of the upcoming shows, and they are telling
me of new venues, new exhibitors, great deals and excellent seminars. Make sure
that you don't miss the wood show in your area!
I will attending every wood show in Canada, meeting woodworkers and talking
woodworking. While you're at the show, I hope that you will drop by my booth and
say 'Hi'.
Also, if you've got any photos of your woodworking projects, be sure to drop
them off, and I'll publish them in a future Newsletter.
Wood shows are always a great place to meet (and make) friends, so I look
forward to seeing you there!
Thanks, and enjoy!
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Lithium Ion Battery
 Hitachi Koki Canada., (aka
Hitachi Power Tools) recently
addressed concerns over the safety of Lithium Ion Battery technology after
recent media reports regarding the recall and free replacement of Sony
lithium-ion batteries used with certain personal computers. The HXP
batteries used to power Hitachi’s cordless Lithium Ion power tools are not
manufactured by Sony. Sony has assured Hitachi that the few lithium-ion
batteries that it does sell to Hitachi are problem free.
To further ease concern, Hitachi emphasizes the inherent safety features
built into its HXP battery technology and universal charger to ward off and
prevent any safety issues. Hitachi’s proprietary technology provides
multiple safety features from the battery itself and the charger. For
example, Hitachi HXP lithium-ion batteries are equipped with current
interrupt detection systems, thermal protectors and electronic switches to
operate against over charge and over discharge so the batteries will not
overheat.
Hitachi recently introduced it new line of HXP Lithium Ion Cordless power
tools in June of 2006. Hitachi maintains that Lithium Ion batteries are safe
when used properly according to the manufacturer’s owner’s manual. |
Liftbox
 Liftbox
manufactures lift systems for flat panel televisions, plasma
displays, and computer monitors for furniture installations. The lifts have
a safety shelve, that will stop the lift from lowering if there is a object
in the path of the lift. There is a sensor in the control box, that will
raise the TV back up if the customer doesn't turn the TV off before lowering
it into the cabinet. The motor for the lift will lower the TV at three
speeds. The slowest speed is when the TV is lowered into the bottom of the
cabinet. Liftbox offers a two year warranty of its lifts. Lift prices range
from $650 to $950 F.O.B. North Carolina. |
Ontario Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program
 Landowners
in Ontario with more than 10 acres of forested property can qualify for up
to 75% in property tax reductions under the Ontario Managed Forest Tax
Incentive Program (MFTIP).
The Ontario Forestry Association is
hosting free workshops on MFTIP. These workshops will show you how to apply
for tax relief under MFTIP, set objectives for your property, prepare a
forest stewardship plan and identify local resources to assist you in
achieving your management goals. The workshops are sponsored by the Trees
Ontario Foundation. To enroll for a workshop or to find out whether your
property will qualify for MFTIP, call toll free, 1-800-387-0790, or contact
the OFA by email.
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Stanley FatMax® Xtreme®
Line of Hand Tools
 Stanley
Canada has announced a new line of hand tools. The FatMax Xtreme line
includes a multifunctional demolition tool, 24 and 48 inch levels with
greater accuracy and durability, fixed and retractable utility knives, a
redesigned chalk line, heavy duty demolition screwdrivers and a best in
class tape rule featuring an industry first 13 feet of continuous blade
standout.
The FatMax Xtreme line was specifically designed to meet the
demanding needs of professionals. The tools are available in hardware stores
and home centers across Canada.
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| Trees |
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| Item: |
ISBN: 0-7566-1359-0
360 pages, softcover, 2005, 5" x 9" |
Rating: |
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| Source: |
Order through your local bookseller |
Price: |
$32.00 |
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I think it's fair to say that woodworkers not
only love wood, but its source - trees. If you do, this book will likely be of
interest to you. Trees, part of the
'Eyewitness Companions' series from DK Publishing, is an excellent guide to the
world of trees. The first 24 pages provide a clear, concise description of the
nature of trees - how they are classified, their evolution, their organic
structure, the basics of growth and reproduction, and the distribution of trees
across the world into the four broad forest zones (coniferous, temperate,
tropical and rainforest). The next 22 pages
talks about how human interaction with trees has evolved over time, touching on
the topics of resource harvesting, the complex balance between environment and
forest, and the the issues of tree and forest conservation.
The main part of the book provides a description of over 500
trees, grouped into two main categories - conifers and flowering trees, roughly
what we (incorrectly) refer to as 'softwoods' and 'hardwoods'. |
You may be interested to know that there are two other distinct groups of trees
- ginkgos (also called the maidenhair tree), occasionally planted as an
ornamental tree in the milder climates of Canada; and cycads, which resemble
ferns and palms. Who knows, with global warming we might yet see cycads
successfully cultivated in other parts of Canada.
Trees is an enjoyable, informative and educational read. The photos are
excellent and you find all kinds of interesting tidbits of information. For
example, the fruit of the Jackfruit tree weighs up to 50 kg (or 110 lbs for the
unconverted) with upwards of 500 seeds in a golden yellow aromatic pulp. Then
there is the Double Coconut tree, whose leaves grow up to 15 feet wide. And, the
Midnight Horror, whose flowers bloom at night and give off a harsh, musty smell
that attracts pollinating bats. |
Make Your Own Woodworking Tools
Mike Burton |
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| Item: |
ISBN: 978-1-56523-306-5
121 pages, softcover, 2006, 8 1/2" x
11" |
Rating: |
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| Source: |
Order through your local bookseller |
Price: |
$26.95 |
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This book is written by a woodworker who has a
lot of experience in making his own shop tools. He writes in a conversational
style that is very easy to follow, and illustrates most of the operations he
talks about with photographs. The book is written for novices - you don't need
to have any previous experience using the equipment and tools he discusses.
He begins with an overview of the kinds of metal
that you can use, from salvaged steel to manufactured steel, and follows this
with a discussion on the basic equipment and tools you'll need to get started.
About the only item most woodworkers will have to purchase is a heat source - a
MAPP torch is likely the most economical route. (A MAPP torch can be had at Home
Hardware for about $50, and a canister of gas for about $10). |
There is a chapter on safety, which you should read, if for no other reason than
you'll be working on an open flame in a woodworking shop!
The next chapter explains how to make a few simple tools
without using any blacksmithing techniques. Once you read through this section
you'll be pretty well equipped to make a shop knife, marking knive, or some
bench chisels and turning tools. The following two chapters show some basic
blacksmithing techniques. This is followed by a section on sharpening and
dressing, and another section on making handles. Five projects round out the
book.
If you have ever though about making some basic shop tools,
then this is a very good book to start out with. You'll have fun making your
first tools and won't be intimidated by the process.
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Carpenters' Pocket Companion
Barry Tabel |
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| Item: |
ISBN: 0-9758833-0-5
99 pages, softcover, 2005, 4" x 5" |
Rating: |
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| Source: |
on-line |
Price: |
$22.50 |
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This little booklet is a reprint of
Thomas Moloney's 1878 booklet of the same title. Essentially it's a compendium
of tips, techniques and rules for carpenters and builders. In fact there are
over 100 'items' in this slender manual. I found some useful information,
particularly in the first section, which covers 'practical geometry' - how to
bisect a line and an angle, how to draw an ellipse with a string, and how to
determine the circumference of a circle. But, a lot of the information that
might have been relevant in the late 19th century is only of historical interest
today. As such, this isn't a booklet that you'll likely find yourself reaching
for on the job or in the shop. There are better reference books out there (see,
for example, our review of "Woodworkers Pocket Reference" in
newsletter 13.
However, if you are interested in the kind of information that a
tradesman of the past would have been expected to possess, then this booklet may
be just the ticket. |
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Brahm Friedlander
Evergreen Design Workshop
Hailing from Chatsworth, Ontario, Brahm
Friedlander turns sculptural and functional wood
objects. He manipulates the surfaces of the turnings in a number of ways: carving, leafing (gold
and
copper), burning, sand blasting and painting. Over the past several years
he has been experimenting with manipulating copper covered surfaces to produce
interesting and unique patina effects.
Brahm is also a self taught guitar maker and
furniture maker, and his work has been featured in Fine Woodworking Magazines' Design Book
3 and 7.
Visit Brahm's
web site to see more of his
fine work.
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Hollow vase: wormy butternut, solid copper patinated rim, 14"
tall, 2005. |
Bowl: curly hard maple, 14", 2005. |
Bowl: black walnut, 16", 2003. |
Hollow vase: wormy butternut, 16" tall, 2005. |
Black Cherry Kitchen Island |
Black Cherry 7 Drawer Dresser |
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Gaspe Dresser
Roger Pitre
Roger built this copy of the Gaspe Dresser from
plans in issue 40 of Canadian Woodworking Magazine. Job well done Roger.
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Bench
Alan Ashcroft
"Here is my first piece of custom furniture,
done for a friend of mine from work. I did the design and plans from scratch. It
is all red oak, the legs started out as a 2" thick slab and the rest was 1"
thick rough lumber that I planed down to the finished sizes. All of the parts
are put together with mortise and tenon joinery, the only fasteners being used
are to secure the hinges."
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Candle Holder
Marg Harris, Hamilton
"I have just started woodworking as a hobby and
am really excited about it. The attached picture is my first project. I tried to
route the ends as well, however I found that the wood splintered going across
the grain, so I settled for the sides being routed. I trimmed them off using my
new bandsaw, which gave a nice smooth cut on both ends. The materials are: Red
Cedar - 2x3x17-1/2; Minwax Polyshades - Natural Cherry-Satin (3 coats); 2"
Sawtooth Bit (varies depending on the size of the glass candle holders you wish
to use; Router with 3/8" beading bit."
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If you would like to see your work in
this newsletter, send us an image along with information about your
project. Images look best with an uncluttered background. Use the highest
setting on your digital camera - we will reduce the image to fit in the
newsletter.
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Issue #27
Sept 2006
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