My Review of Matched Chip Breaker and Blade Set, 2-3/8″W for Stanley Handplanes #4-1/2, #5-1/2, #6 and #7

Originally submitted at Woodcraft

Matched Chip Breaker and Blade Set, 2-3/8″W for Stanley Handplanes #4-1/2, #5-1/2, #6 and #7

Convert those old Stanelys into high end

By Virginia Woodworker from Weyers Cave, VA on 5/7/2010

5out of 5

Pros: INNOVATIVE, Strong

Cons: HIGH DOLLAR

Best Uses: WOODWORKING SHOP

Describe Yourself: Avid Do-It-Yourselfer

This product can take a $25 old Stanley plane and turn it into a near Lie-Nielsen plane. For a limited time Rob Cosman’s DVD “Rob Cosman The Great Hand Plane Revival” a $32.50 value is included with iron/chip breaker set. While this is expensive it is much less expensive than a high dollar plane and is great for those of us just getting into hand tools.

(legalese)

My Review of Wolverine Flat Tool Sharpening Platform Kit

Originally submitted at Woodcraft

Wolverine Flat Tool Sharpening Platform Kit

Heavy duty sharpening platform

By Virginia Woodworker from Weyers Cave, VA on 5/7/2010

 

5out of 5

Pros: Durable

Cons: See no apparent cons

Best Uses: SHOP

Describe Yourself: High-end Shopper

I Am A: Family Older Kids

My use for this is to sharpen woodworking tools such plane irons and chisel! Highly recommended by Rob Cosman.

(legalese)

Are you a PERFECTIONIST?

Are you? I am, kind of, with certain things like woodworking. I buy the best tools, a Starrett combo square here, a Lie-Nielsen dovetail saw there. I want to be accurate, I want perfection, I want it RIGHT! But it doesn’t happen. Why? I search my brain for the answer. I listen and watch The Wood Whisperer and Christopher Schwarz. I read Popular Woodworking and Fine Woodworking. I have all the books from finishing to setting up my bandsaw. So why aren’t my creations perfect? Why doesn’t my cabinet look like Charles Neil’s?

Sure we all strive for perfection! The goal IS perfection. But we have to make some mistakes to get their. That piece of tiger maple you bought may end up in the scrap box. In other words we have to get to the shop and do something rather than listening to podcasts or watching videos or reading books. Before you slam me for that statement, I’m not saying not to listen to podcasts or watch videos or read. What I am saying is you got to get your feet wet in front of that tablesaw not day dreaming about it. Make those 45 degree miters for that box and if they don’t fit nice and tight figure out why. That’s what is going to make you a better woodworker. Here’s where I’m preaching to myself (BTW, I used to be one; a preacher that is). I get all hyped about what I just learned, I go and give a try and it doesn’t work and I get discouraged! How about you? Maybe we need a support group! DISCOURAGED WOODWORKERS ANONYMOUS. We’ll meet in private and console each other and give each other a slap on the back and  a word of encouragement. Get the shrink there to probe into the inner most recesses. NO! and YES! We need all the support and encouragement we can get but the one thing we have to do is get to the shop and make those mistakes. So if you want form that support group let me know but we’re going to be making mistakes and continuing to strive for perfection.

Larry Parker – In the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

PS: Please don’t make mistakes when it comes to SAFETY!

A review of the SPOKEN WOOD podcast

Now I may have no business doing a blog as a woodworker. I am by many opinions an old man as well as someone who has just gotten serious about woodworking, but I want to use this blog to give my thoughts on what’s going on in the woodworking world and maybe help some others who are “set in their ways” to open there minds to the tons of material available to them on the web.

Matt Vanderlist, who has hosted Matt’s Basement Workshop for years as well as being one of the dynamic duo of  Woodtalk Online along with Marc Spagnuolo of The Wood Whisperer fame, is the creator of the Spoken Wood podcast (http://mattsbasementworkshop.com/spoken-wood-podcast/). In Matt’s words this is “a show dedicated to bringing to life the writings of some of my favorite woodworking bloggers on the internet.” After only six episodes he is doing just that. Matt is bringing some of woodworking big hitters’ blogs to one location where we can listen to them on our way to work, while we work in the shop or wherever you take your IPod. Just this morning I listened while I worked on a quote at my 9-to-5 job. The podcasts are short, interesting and to the point. You will hear blogs by the likes of Christopher Schwarz (“the Schwarz), Ron Hock, Tom Iovino just to name a few. Many feature the authors themselves.

These podcasts can only get better and I encourage anyone in the woodworking community to check them out. That’s it for now!

Larry Parker – In the heart of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia