woodshopcowboy

This Week in the Shop: Fixing a Broken Jet Table Saw Fence

In the classroom, I stress safety at all times. After a few incidents my first year as a woodworking teacher, I changed the way I teach sawing. This year, as I’m teaching brand-new students to woodworking, I’m starting from scratch. At home, I apply the same principle. This blog post, though, revolves around a factContinue reading “This Week in the Shop: Fixing a Broken Jet Table Saw Fence”

Parenting: On Making Kids Who Make Stuff

1. Determine your child’s level of interest. A child who’s fascinated by tools or electrical equipment typically demonstrates an almost obsessive interest in them, pays attention, takes direction well, and instinctively focuses on the job at hand. I’ve taught soldering to children as young as eight, and their ability to concentrate is astonishing. If you’re aContinue reading “Parenting: On Making Kids Who Make Stuff”

This Week In the Shop: Point and Shoot Camera Mount, V. II

Just a short slideshow this week. Took a second shot at the camera rig. It’s a little long, but the hardware’s been upgraded and it stays put. I especially enjoy the mounted 1/4″ nut for the wrist joint. Make it safe and keep the rubberside down this week.

This week in the Shop: Dead Simple Jig for Drilling Bottles

For the last two years, I’ve spent one weekend before Christmas drilling holes in glass blocks to create lighting stands which look like something like this: photo credit: ike4014 via photopin cc This year, he’s asked for me to drill the same hole in a wine bottle. In order to make this happen, I neededContinue reading “This week in the Shop: Dead Simple Jig for Drilling Bottles”

This Week in the Classroom (and the shop): Time Lapse Photography or Filming Rigs

In my second period this semester, I’m moonlighting as a video producer. I don’t get to do any fancy music videos or full-feature movies, but I do get to make a documentary. We’ve got the backdrop ordered, the lights rigged up and a the interview stool picked out. I even have a low-slung directors chairContinue reading “This Week in the Classroom (and the shop): Time Lapse Photography or Filming Rigs”

Check out WoodshopCowboy @ www.toolmonger.com

I almost feel I’ve arrived! Some kind words from http://www.toolmonger.com, the best tool site around. So kudos from the TM crew, ‘Cowboy. And if you other Toolmongers have a sec, check out his blog as it’s full of other interesting thoughts, collections of fun finds, and slick projects So make it safe & keep the rubbersideContinue reading “Check out WoodshopCowboy @ www.toolmonger.com”

Why I Do This: Monday Nights

Why I do this is a continuing series of education..er…ahhh…editorials. If you don’t like ’em, check out my projects! I do a lot of woodworking here, but I do more teaching in real-life. Teaching, whether a reader on these blogs, or at TX/RX labs, or at my work, is what I really love. I’m a self-proclaimedContinue reading “Why I Do This: Monday Nights”

Tool Primer: How to Select and Use Power Drills

The first power tool I probably ever used (and owned) was a power drill. The lowly power drill can do a whole lot of things if you know how to use it. A power drill can strip paint, drill big holes, little holes, create dowel joints, sand curves and screw stuff together. It makes pocketContinue reading “Tool Primer: How to Select and Use Power Drills”

This Week in the Shop: Merchandise Display

It’s taken me a few years, but I’ve begun accepting commissions. A friend of mine came with a project I couldn’t refuse. He wanted a chest to haul around the merchandise related to his rock band. He said he wanted something that light up the event and highlighted the band’s name. I knew just whatContinue reading “This Week in the Shop: Merchandise Display”

Popular Woodworking Editors Blog: Your Guide to Butt Hinges

Stamped vs. Extruded vs. Cast hinges • Inexpensive hinges are usually stamped out of thin steel or brass plates. • Extruded hinges are molten metal forced into a die under high pressure. They are thicker, sturdier and more expensive. • Cast bronze hinges are among the most expensive — bronze is melted and poured intoContinue reading “Popular Woodworking Editors Blog: Your Guide to Butt Hinges”