Issue 165
Issue 165
The Way of All Flesh
Did it seem to you that there was a worldwide overabundance of really good chocolate this holiday season? I’m not talking about your down-to-earth Hershey’s or Milky Way bars; I mean really fancy (so I am thinking extra fattening) chocolate, with names that you don’t pronounce half of the vowels written on the packaging. Anyway, I couldn’t walk my dog this festive season without someone giving me a piece of chocolate – and usually more like five or six pieces. (Which I would feel obligated to eat, just to be polite.) Hence, the way of all my flesh is expanding.
But I have a good weight loss plan that I think you all might be interested in. If I go into my workshop after work and stay there until bedtime — just think of the snacking I will avoid. And I will be bending over and lifting heavy stuff: that’s called exercise, my friend. As far as an aerobic workout goes (you know, where you get your heart rate elevated): how many of you have experienced that palpitating feeling after you cut one of four table legs a half-inch too short? It’s a sure bet that my heart rate will race at least once an evening. And here is the beautiful part of the whole plan, if someone — for example, someone you may be living with — mentions how much time you are spending in your workshop, you can reply that you are not out there experiencing self-centered enjoyment: no, no, no! You are doing the hard work of living healthy and losing weight, and you know, you might just need a little support in that activity.
No need to thank me now — later will be just fine.
Rob Johnstone, Woodworker’s Journal
What's In Store
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Woodworking: It’s What to Watch
Wondering what to watch on that new plasma TV you got for the holidays? With the SmartFlix web site, you can answer that question.
Today's Woodworker
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Mark Lackley: Gambling on a High-end Niche
In the world of high-end woodworking, choosing a specialty niche is always a bit of a gamble, but the one Mark Lackley and his wife Kim have staked out is definitely a winner.
Q & A
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Trimming Laminate along Wall
When trimming new laminate from an existing countertop, how do you get that last three inches up against the wall?
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Outdoor Flooring Finish
Is there any finish available with UV protection for outdoor flooring?
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Mahogany Pallet Wood
We were told it is probably contaminated with huge amounts of pesticides and dangerous to cut or use for anything. Is this true?
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HVLP Coarse Spray Droplets
I own a 3-stage turbine HVLP unit. The gun delivers coarse droplets at the outside edge of the spray pattern. This problem is particularly noticeable when spraying dye which is very thin.
Industry Interviews
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Roberto-Venn: Three Decades of Training Guitarmakers
Ask any guitarmaker to name a school where you can learn that craft, and odds are he or she will say “Roberto-Venn.”
Feedback
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MDF and Router Bits
A thread in the last issue mentioned that MDF can quickly dull router bits. In particular, one post insisted “the pallets are used nails and all, and there is a pretty high metal content in MDF.” That inspired the following question.
