Issue 189
Issue 189
Cheers For the New Year
Recently it occurred to me that life is a lot like driving in a Minnesota ice storm: the road is indeed treacherous, but some folks will get through just fine. Others will slide off — but with a bit of help they’ll get back on track, moving forward with more determination and increased caution. And of course some will spin-out and take others with them, while a few will simply not make it.
One thing we Minnesotans know for sure … no one gets home unscathed.
A long time ago, one of my good friends pointed out that we have the choice to view our lives either as a tragedy or a comedy … its up to us to fall on the right side of the thin line that separates those points of view. I think his observation has a large measure of truth in it. My icy road metaphor holds up under that filter: sliding into the ditch can have equal amounts of hilarity or annoyance, providing that nothing more serious than the car or an ego is injured.
Of course, life can present calamities that can only be viewed as tragic, and 2007 has certainly had a few of those for me. My decision is not to focus overly long on those bad times, and to put an emphasis on the good. As Anne of Green Gables once said, “Tomorrow is brand new, with no mistakes or problems.” And while that may be so saccharinely optimistic as to even put Pollyanna into insulin shock, it could not be truer.
So here’s to 2008: unblemished by measuring errors, missed glue spots, gloppy finishes and other shop tragedies or comedies (your call). As you plan out the projects you’ll be tackling and the tools you’ll be scheming for in the coming year, please accept sincere thanks and appreciation from all of us here at Woodworker’s Journal — your partners in woodworking. Without you, we wouldn’t have a job. And even I would have some trouble seeing the humor in that.
–Rob Johnstone, Woodworker’s Journal
Industry Interviews
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The Woodworking Shows: The Phoenix up from the Ashes
It’s been a bit of a rough ride lately for The Woodworking Shows, by far the largest and most well known touring show catering to hobby and small shop woodworkers.
What's In Store
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Porter-Cable 343 Random Orbit Sander
The standby from Porter-Cable is found in woodshops across the country. Powerful 3 Amp motor delivers excellent sanding performance.
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Hitachi 13YA Random Orbital Sander
This new offering from Hitachi features a variable speed control for its 2.4 Amp motor to deliver high sanding performance.
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Bosch Model 1295D Random Orbit Sander
This ergonomically designed 12,000 OPM tool is powered by a 2 Amp motor. The hook and loop pad accepts 5″ 8-hole industry standard sanding disks.
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Wood Werks Supply and Powermatic Launch Custom Saw Program
Wouldn’t it be cool to order a custom table saw, built just the way you want it, without ever leaving your keyboard?
Today's Woodworker
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Del Cover: Awash in Dragons, Rams and Whole Italian Cities
It’s hard to say whether Del Cover’s exquisite woodwork is furniture, art, or simply the fallout of an overly fertile imagination.
Q & A
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Is Stripping Finish a Good Idea?
Is it better to sand the finish off an oak table or strip it chemically?
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Freezing Waterbased Glue
Is water based glue useable after it freezes?
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Applying Oxalic Acid
How do you apply oxalic acid, how long do you let it sit on the wood, and do you wipe it off or wash it off?
Feedback
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On Beans, Scrolling, Ship’s Knees and Sidelined Birds
Rob’s admission of a serious coffee habit drew comments from some fellow bean buyers, and from just plain fans.
Contributing Bloggers
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A Rose By Any Other Word
I was at my monthly guild meeting eavesdropping on a heated discussion about a frequently misunderstood finishing material, wood conditioner, and its raison d’être, blotchy staining.
