My messy workbench

It's huge, my plan was to make a sensible sized Nicholson style bench but didn't want to shorten the panels I used for the top, so it's just over 2 metres long. 

Sorry blog I have missed posting here

I never did forget my blog just that to promote the business Facebook and Instagram work better for me. Still like posting here just haven't had the time. How to fill in two years!

We still fish, have a boat but now live at Tascott, the suburb next to Koolewong. We have a pool and Frank is still with us. The biggest change really is a for me trying to come up with an alternative to gardening. So woodturning and wood work could work. I now have a complete workshop. I switched the Hare and Forbes lathe for a Nova 3000.

To adequately catch up is impossible so I thought I might just post some photos of some of my projects.

Sunrise coverage of Cyclone Debbie

Disgraceful coverage by channel 7 again, who flew themselves into the storm, and who then made themselves the main story huddled in their expensive hotel. #cyclonedebbie #sunriseon7

Wood turning

I found a lathe on Gumtree a few months ago. Have always wanted to try this for a long time and am hopeful that I can develop a product good enough to sell through my

Etsy shop.

Camphor laural cutting board

Finished this board a few weeks ago but just got around to putting it up for sale on my Etsy site. Struggled to work it into a shape I wanted.

Finished with mineral oil as I wanted a clear finish.

Huon pine chopping board

Huon pine has such a unique natural lustre and silky feel. If interested in this board go to ButcherBirdWoodCrafts

First board to go up for sale

Blogger might like to make arranging photos a bit easier on day. Early bird prices for my first boards but good to finally start to sell them and I'm sure their new owners will be very happy.

The wood is Blackwood, a piece I picked up at the Wood Show in Sydney a few months ago.
See my Etsy shop, ButcherBirdWoodCraft

Tassie oak end grain cutting board

Finished this board yesterday. There were many problems, apparently Tassie oak can be a difficult wood, it takes on water easily and is not  stable. Very surprising to see such a light timber turn bright red when oiled. Again finished with tung oil. Glue job was not as I had hoped. 

Rows were cut in the rain, finished board is only 35 mm and could twist. I have two other boards in the kitchen so it's not going to get heavy use.

Bye Koolewong

Wow, we didn't get to live there very long, under two years. The leaving was difficult, at least the boat is happy as it dominates the car port. Still lots of sorting out to do.

Our kitchen is smaller and there is no dedicated space for my spices and small bottles, so I made a rack on wheels that fits in the gap beside the fridge. Small fixed castors were attached to the bottom.

The timber was re-purposed, Brett had two unwanted paintings, we removed the canvas from the frame which I re-cut and laminated. The timber used is oregon, the shelves pine,  6 mm dowels for the railings.

I used dowel butt joints to assemble the main frame and was my first attempt at using dowels as a construction technique. The shelves have two dowels at each end. The concern was drilling straight, I used the Haron dowel jib available from Bunnings. The frame came out square, flat, everything it should be. Accuracy is critical and I was worried that the frame would never come together but got it basically right first time!

I used two coats of Feast Watsons hard flooring oil because it needed a strong finish as it will get a lot of use. Basically it's not a favourite, produces an uneven surface and slow drying. Never use a brush with this product, use a clean rag. I then applied wax and buffed. In hindsight, tung and wax would have been better and still have achieved a satin finish.

Generally happy overall, finish disappointing. I used a pencil to make my lines which I thought had been removed but reappeared when I applied the flooring oil. So my marking out tools will change.

Next job is a new workbench for outside. My old bench is a shocker, screw heads protruding, uneven boards and wobbly.

Made in Koolewong! End grain cutting boards

I have a workshop in my garage and have made a few end grain cutting boards. The first was made from pine, the second one which I kept is American red oak and the most recent spotted gum. A local Sydney species.

My first board was the easiest. Just 30 x 30 mm pine in a checker board pattern.  I was very pleased with my first board and really didn't want to part with it. My mother is testing it for me. Finished with olive oil!

Now using Tung oil. Olive oil is not used anywhere else in timber work as a preservative as it oxidises very quickly. Definitely food safe but not so good for you when it goes off. Tung oil provides a much better finish, penetrates more deeply into the timber and polishes up extremely well.

My favourite board is made from American red oak, the colours are intense and I love the tonal variability. It does burn easily, so I adjusted the belt sander to half speed to stop the timber from burning. This board looks a bit dry right now and could do with a sand down and re-oil. I only applied a single application of oil when it should have had at least two coats.

This board has a running pattern which I like very much.

The colour is lost here, the timber should appear blood red. I love the rays, they shine like silver.

As the timber is so chunky and heavy the handle becomes essential for picking up the board from the kitchen counter. I will incorporate small feet on future boards, I like the idea of making non slip feet from timber and leather and I will also replace the steel handle with one made of leather. 

Finally my last board completed today. Spotted gum is a more difficult timber to work with, it cuts and polishes up well. My concern is the grain is going to raise very easily and it will need regular rubbing back and reoiling. The colour is worth it.

I made the mistake of not buying enough timber, the extra timber was not quite the same size so I ran it in on alternative rows to create a running random pattern. 

Hopefully with some practice will be able to use my router to carve handles etc in my future boards. My next project is to strip back our coffee table and make some shelves for my art supplies that have laid on the floor for just over a year.

Oranjeboom

This is my case for January, very cheap at around $40. This Dutch made lager is quite enjoyable with light hops and good malty flavour. Smooth mouth feel and soft carbonation. On pouring this beer has a short lived head which is my preference.

Easy drinking, perfect cold after mowing the lawn. A bargain, not as good as my normal beer, Chang and Tui.