I just completed ten days of woodworking overload!!
Jo Ann gave me a two day dovetail workshop at the North Bennet Street School in Boston for my birthday. Talk about hands-on ... I was one of two students. Both of us had equal skills, so we were learning all the time. The instructor was a NBSS grad and has his own shop now. We did all work with a dovetail saw, chisels, and mallets. No power tools.
We cut five pins on one board the first day. Obviously we learned quality / not quantity! We learned the importance and the technique of creating flat and square pin surfaces. We cut the tails the next day and did final fitting to the pin board. We also cut about 90% of a three-pin half-lap (half-blind) board. I'll finish the pin board, cut the tail board, and fit it to the pin board next week here at home.
While at the dovetail workshop, I stayed in a 1909 house that was the first house that the Silva Brothers worked on for PBS's "This Old House", about 1985. The owner had known the brothers and their mother for years. Heard a lot of good stories.
Jo Ann flew to Boston on Friday and we set off for Bar Harbor. We stayed in a mid 19th Century home overlooking the bay. We toured a number of buildings and houses in Bar Harbor, Portland, and Portsmouth areas, most were pre-revolutionary war. Got to inspect and touch some of the furniture. (I made sure that I wiped the drool off after I looked at them!)
We drove and hiked in Acadia National Park. Hey old guys like me: I learned that we can buy a lifetime pass to all Nat’l Parks for $10. One pass is good for everyone in the car.
A highlight for me was a visit to the "The Hulls Cove Tool Barn" near the Hulls Cove entrance to Acadia. It was hand tool overload. Too many great old tools to comprehend. I held planes and other hand tools that I had only seen in books. I bought an early smooth handle Stanley Sweetheart 51 Raised Handled Spokeshave. Most of the Japanning is still on it. I don't think it was ever tuned up. The owner has other shops that I did not get to visit.

Click for review by Woodwork's Guide
We stopped in Lie-Nielsen's show room and factory the next day. Another hands-on experience, but I didn't buy anything. That is really nice stuff.
We arrived back home in Orlando last night. I'll be in the shop most of next week trying to decompress.
- Lonnie
Jo Ann gave me a two day dovetail workshop at the North Bennet Street School in Boston for my birthday. Talk about hands-on ... I was one of two students. Both of us had equal skills, so we were learning all the time. The instructor was a NBSS grad and has his own shop now. We did all work with a dovetail saw, chisels, and mallets. No power tools.
We cut five pins on one board the first day. Obviously we learned quality / not quantity! We learned the importance and the technique of creating flat and square pin surfaces. We cut the tails the next day and did final fitting to the pin board. We also cut about 90% of a three-pin half-lap (half-blind) board. I'll finish the pin board, cut the tail board, and fit it to the pin board next week here at home.
While at the dovetail workshop, I stayed in a 1909 house that was the first house that the Silva Brothers worked on for PBS's "This Old House", about 1985. The owner had known the brothers and their mother for years. Heard a lot of good stories.
Jo Ann flew to Boston on Friday and we set off for Bar Harbor. We stayed in a mid 19th Century home overlooking the bay. We toured a number of buildings and houses in Bar Harbor, Portland, and Portsmouth areas, most were pre-revolutionary war. Got to inspect and touch some of the furniture. (I made sure that I wiped the drool off after I looked at them!)
We drove and hiked in Acadia National Park. Hey old guys like me: I learned that we can buy a lifetime pass to all Nat’l Parks for $10. One pass is good for everyone in the car.
A highlight for me was a visit to the "The Hulls Cove Tool Barn" near the Hulls Cove entrance to Acadia. It was hand tool overload. Too many great old tools to comprehend. I held planes and other hand tools that I had only seen in books. I bought an early smooth handle Stanley Sweetheart 51 Raised Handled Spokeshave. Most of the Japanning is still on it. I don't think it was ever tuned up. The owner has other shops that I did not get to visit.

Click for review by Woodwork's Guide
We stopped in Lie-Nielsen's show room and factory the next day. Another hands-on experience, but I didn't buy anything. That is really nice stuff.
We arrived back home in Orlando last night. I'll be in the shop most of next week trying to decompress.
- Lonnie

LCHIEN
Loring in Katy, TX USA

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