Highland Woodworking Blog

The change in seasons will soon bring cooler weather. That means the start of turning season for many parts of the country.

Now is a good time to take care of a few shop maintenance chores. Last week, I accomplished the following:

1. Restocked the first aid kit. Fortunately, I only needed to replace a few band aids. I think it is important to have a good first kit in the shop, even if your shop is in the garage. Also, the kit should be visible and/or your frequent visitors should know where the kit is located.

2. The second most used machine in my shop is the grinder. (The first being a lathe.) I tend to neglect this important machine. The grinder gets covered in wood and metal dust. The clean-up for me was a quick once over with a shop vac.

3. The third most used machine in my shop is the bandsaw. This required a little more effort to clean. However, the time is well spent to protect this investment. I started by vacuuming off the exterior and interior top to bottom. Then I readjusted for the drift. Next, I waxed the table and ensured the guides operated properly. Unfortunately, I noticed rust forming on the blade guard. I used a Scotch Brite pad and Sandflex medium grit block to remove most of the rust. I found the Sandflex block worked the best. You can see the difference in the photos. I then waxed the blade guard to help prevent more rust from forming.

4. This is a reminder for those with heaters in the shop. It is wise to vacuum off any dust that has accumulated on the heater since last year. Wood shavings make for great tinder.

Welcome to our 2015 Woodworking Resolutions blogger series. Every year we invite our bloggers to share their resolutions specific to their woodworking goals for the new year. Click each link below to read our bloggers resolutions!

• Terry Chapman
• Steve Johnson
• Matthew York
• Lee Laird

Curtis Turner

My turning goals for 2015 are mostly about learning new techniques. I hope you will set a few turning goals for yourself in 2015. Have a happy and safe new year.

1.      Improve my metal spinning skills.  I have recently began experimenting with spinning metal on a wood lathe.  While the lathe is the same, the tools and techniques are completely different.  It’s more challenging than I expected.

2.      A sand blasted lidded box is high on my priority list.  I hope to create several boxes for the purpose of experimenting with paint and patinas.

3.      I want to try a few different projects just for fun.  For example, I would like to make a tall pepper mill.  Also a yo-yo or perhaps a few more gavels.

4.      I want to test turning a sphere using a vacuum chuck.  I think I can make the seal work in a way that makes the final turning (reverse turning) process simple.  The vacuum chuck has become my favorite new tool.  So, I’ll be thinking up new ways to utilize this function.

5.      Donating several turned pieces to a charity auction for my state’s arboricultural conference.  You might consider establishing a relationship with your local forestry or parks and recreation departments.  They may be able to assist you with securing some interesting material.  You could in turn offer to give back a few items to display in their offices or to use as a fund raisers.  This could make for a community service project for a turning club.

6.      Finally, my never ending goal of cleaning the shop!  I have chips, dust and logs everywhere.  It always seems that when the logs are mostly processed another batch shows up.  I know, a nice problem to have.

Curtis was the 2012 President of Central Texas Woodturners, a member of the American Association of Woodturners, and a member of Fine Woodworkers of Austin. Curtis teaches and demonstrates nationally for Lie-Nielsen Toolworks. He also owns a studio where he teaches and works. Curtis lives and works in Central Texas with his wife and four young children. Take a look at his website at www.curtisturnerstudio.com. 

Click below for more bloggers 2015 Woodworking Resolutions:

• Terry Chapman
• Steve Johnson
• Matthew York
• Lee Laird

This is the time of year many woodturners dust off the lathe and gear up for their winter activities. While it’s not even close to fall in Texas, I recently began the process of cleaning up my shop. Fortunately, I do this sporadically throughout the year. This tends to make this job a little less daunting.

This is my process and I hope you find it helpful and maybe inspiring. I am sure you learned to start at the top and clean your way down. So, I began by vacuuming off the light fixtures. Once the lights were cleaned the shop seems a little bit brighter. I also, vacuumed off the air vents.

Perhaps you don’t have HVAC in the garage, but consider cleaning any heating or cooling device you do have in the shop. A thin layer of dust can reduce the efficiency of any device. I am not a fireman, but I think dust build up on motors and heaters would be a fire hazard. Now that I mention it, check your fire extinguisher to ensure it is up to code. If you don’t have one buy one now!

This is a good time to reevaluate that old bottle of finish you’ve been saving for the last decade. Most finishes, glues and stains, once open, do not have an infinite shelf life. You should properly dispose of these old products. It will free up storage space and reduce the risk of a leaky container creating a fire hazard.

Another suggestion is to completely clean off your lathe. This is something that should be done more than once a year. I vacuum off the lathe first, reaching into every nook and cranky. Then I apply Renaissance Wax on the bed and under the banjo. This helps prevent rust and ensures that the banjo and tail stock move smoothly. I also apply wax to various metal surfaces around the shop such as my bandsaw and table saw.

I also vacuum off other equipment such as the grinder, and even inside my bandsaw.

Before…

…and After!

Okay, I think that is enough for now. I’ll save cleaning the floor for later.

Curtis was the 2012 President of Central Texas Woodturners, a member of the American Association of Woodturners, and a member of Fine Woodworkers of Austin. Curtis teaches and demonstrates nationally for Lie-Nielsen Toolworks. He also owns a studio where he teaches and works. Curtis lives and works in Central Texas with his wife and four young children. Take a look at his website at www.curtisturnerstudio.com.