Happy Saturday to everyone. It was a wet and dreary day here, cool but not cold. It was comfortable in the shop but I ran the heaters for about 30 minutes to knock the chill down and warm up the rollers on the planner. Hope everyone had a good week and a great Saturday. I was able to get all my homework cut out this week….the roses for the Memorial Box (Paduk, Yellow Heart & Purple Heart), the base brackets for the Web Clock and the crown & pediment for the Web Clock.
Today was a short day at the shop because I have a run to do in the morning. I have been running since 1979 and racing since 1980 and tomorrow’s run is planned to be my last one. It is the Trolley Run, a fast mostly downhill 4 miler….the largest in the country. When I did the 1st one 25 years ago, there were 86 runners…..this year over 11,000. The years and miles have taken a toll on the old body and after 5 foot surgeries….it’s time to say ‘Good Night Gracie’. I’ll still run and enjoy it but not go through what it takes to get ready for a race. These day’s I enjoy chasing little animals through the woods on my mountain bike….although those misplaced trees can hurt as well.
My day started by stopping in at Metro to pick up some wood. I needed to get the wood for the overlays on the 2 anniversary clocks (floor & wall versions) and the Memorial Box. I had decided on 1/8″ walnut for the clocks and 1/8″ hard maple for the Box, well…..’The best made plans of Mice and Men’. Some really nice Ash caught my eye for the Box but it was almost cherry or birch. And I picked up the walnut (only had good 1/4″) and looked at the ‘last 2 pieces’ of Shedua. I paid for the ash and walnut and as they were cutting it down for me….I caved and went back for one of the pieces of Shedua. I’m so weak…..
So after I got to the shop, I cut the Walnut and Shedua to rough sizes and planned them down to 1/8″. Then my Buddy stopped by to drop off our new note pads. I’m really proud of how these turned out….Kyle did the graphics and George printed them. George owns Countryside Printing in Lee’s Summit Missouri. The problem I have is too many friends that own/work at printers and wood suppliers….all I can say is to be sure and check them all out and support them. George is one of my riding buddies. I enjoyed showing him around the shop and sharing that part of what I do with him.
After he left, I cut all the overlays to size for the 2 clocks head sections and the Box. For the clocks that would be 4 side overlays and 2 front overlays. For the Box that was 4 lower, 4 upper, 4 mid lid and the lid overlays. I also prepped all the brackets for the Box which will be made from Paduk. I also started on a wedding gift I need by mid May. You can see it in the picture with the Anniversary overlays. I finished up the base for it. The base will be Shedua and the overlay Ash….and a Paduk heart.
The last thing I did was finish up the Web Clock. I sanded the head brackets flush with the roof pitch and then I glued the roof panels on. To clamp them I used a couple of large rubber bands ..these work great. After the roof panels were dry I sanded the flat on the peak for the crown. This is tricky and you have to be really careful doing this. I finished up by gluing on the pediment and the crown. Next week there will be some minor sanding to prepare it for the finish. This clock will be donated to a charity that my work does to support the Leukemia foundation. It will be raffled off at the company picnic this fall. My way of supporting the cause. This weekend the final 2 pages will be put on the website so if you haven’t downloaded them yet….they are free what are you waiting for? Also we are going to have a contest with this one. When you get it complete, send me a picture and we will have your peers vote on the best one and that person will receive the pattern for the Anniversary Clock when I get it ready to sell (there are some things I’ve changed and added as I’ve went). Also the first one I receive will get a pattern (haven’t decided on that pattern yet).
As a final note today…..we have something new this week. Since it is difficult to put the update with pictures on Facebook, Kyle has added it to the home page of the website. The latest couple will be started there and when you click on ‘Read More’, it will take you to our new blog page where the entire update with pictures will be. The plan for down the road is to go back and add every update I’ve put out since I started. This will give people a chance to go back and see things they need to know from a previous update and also open this up to so many more people. I still plan on doing this weekly mailing though and we will also put a link on the Facebook page weekly for those folks. It is crazy how this has taken off since I started and the few people that received those. I enjoy writing this weekly and the conversations it generates during the following week. I love talking to everyone so keep those e-mails coming.
Well that about wraps it up for another week. Kyle and I were able to get all the pictures taken for the mini clock book but with everything else going on this last week, we really didn’t get to do much more. Soon though…I promise. Please check out our approved vendors and us on the web and Facebook. Hope everyone has a great Sunday and a good start to your week. And as always…Until next time, Keep the sawdust flyin’…
