A forum for discussing woodworking, specifically furniture making. Feel free to post comments and questions about your current projects, tools, studio set-up, or whatever is on your mind.
This blog is moderated by Jamie Yocono, owner of Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry in Las Vegas, NV. Her website is wooditis.com. If you need to speak to an actual human... call 702-672-8981!
Now...let's talk wood!
There is an extremely disturbing article in Woodshop News that I've been thinking about for the last couple of hours. You can read about ithere. As someone who runs a woodworking school and routinely teaches people how to use a tablesaw, I get chills from this story. It also makes me think of personal responsibility and people who refuse to take it.
This judgement is wrong on so many levels, it's frightening. I agree with every point that the author makes, but my bigger issue is that the employer wasn't found to be at fault. Who removed the guard? Who showed the worker how to turn the saw on? You can bet that everyone that cuts a board in my shop has far better training than this worker; it's my responsibility to provide that training. And the buck doesn't stop there. Everyone who approaches the saw must have their ducks in a row - safety glasses? Check! Push stick? Check! So I'm sitting here at my desk, trying to organize my thoughts about this. My two "children" (OK, schnauzers) are at my feet, trying to get me to play with them. Yesterday, while at the store, I picked up a couple of new doggie toys, and damn! How do they know I have two new toys sitting on my desk? As I was cutting off the tags from the toys, I glanced at the label on them.
Looks like a pretty fun toy, right? Well, check out the back of the label.
Now don't you think if they show a dog chewing the toy on the front of the label, you should be able to correctly assume that it's a chew toy? Did you read that second line - "not intended as a chew toy?"
WTF?
I better close this for now, as one of my dogs just chewed off a small chunk of the toy, and is trying to swallow it. I'm calling my lawyer!
One of the best books out there is Tage Frid Teaches Woodworking, Book 1 on Joinery. When I graduated with my degree in Furniture Design, I was smart enough to know how much I didn't know!
Oh, I knew the basics, but there were a lot of joints that I'd never cut.That's where Tage's book was so helpful. Not only did he write about each joint, but there were step-by-step photos to go along with each one. I put this book on my saw and cut every single one of those joints - like this finger joint.
It was like having him in my shop, giving me private lessons.
At the time, his information on compound miters didn't particularly seem that interesting. But they've now become one my go-to joint when I want to make something really interesting.
Yes, they're a little difficult to master the first time you cut them, but they're really worth the effort. And since the Wixey Digital Cube has become a permanent part of my woodshop arsenal, these joints come out dead on perfect.
Tage includes a chart for the various blade tilt and miter gauge settings you'll need. You pick the number of sides and the degree of slope you want, and the chart will tell you all you need to know. I have to say that in some cases, I've found that I've needed to tweak his numbers a bit, to get the corners to fit tightly.You don't want inside corners that don't meet, like this sample.
Splines really help out, too.
They make this joint strong, and help keep everything from slipping when clamping it together. I've used both band clamps and spring clamps, but prefer band clamps, as they don't mar the wood. But because of the slope, the band sometimes wants to slip right off the piece.
So... what can you do with this cut?
How about a trash can,
with a cool detail on the front?
Or a simple box
flipped upside down for a nice planter.
I love graceful angles, they're so nice to use when building things for your home.
I'm working on a post on the actual cutting of these angles. So if you don't have Tage's book, or you can't get the hang of cutting these, the upcoming post should be quite helpful. Start thinking of some things you want to build with this joint, because once you see how easy it is, you'll be hooked!
This list of some of my favorite restaurants has already been updated once, but as time goes on, we discover more great places to enjoy here in Las Vegas. So I'm adding some new favorites, and dropping a few that have turned into a disappointment.
The first full year that we lived in Las Vegas, we counted 34 different weekends that we had company! You'll discover friends and relatives you never knew existed when living in a resort destination! And although most of our guests stay on the Las Vegas Strip, dining there doesn't always guarantee you're going to find the best meals in town. There are so many hidden jewels for dining, some just a short drive away from the Strip. The places listed below feature some great food, and much more reasonable prices than what you'll find on the Strip.
As my family would say - Mangia! __________________________
Lotus of Siam 953 E Sahara Avenue Las Vegas, NV 89104 (702) 735-3033 www.saipinchutima.com
A writer for Gourmet Magazine said this might possibly be the best Thai restaurant in the United States. Who knows if that's true, but this one must rank among the top. There isn't a bad meal on the menu, and there are some dishes there make me want to curl up and purr. Try the Catfish Salad, and don't forget the desert of Mango, coconut ice cream and sticky rice.
When you order, you'll want to specify the degree of spiciness, from 1-10. Somewhere around 1-4 is palatable, anything higher and you might want to bring a fire extinguisher. There isn't enough Thai beer in the city to put out that fire.
The location of this isn't far from the Strip, it's located in a funky, seedy-looking strip mall. If you look to the East, you'll find the infamous Green Door. Ask any Marilyn Chambers fan and you'll know what I mean.
This restaurant was just received a "Best of Vegas" listing, and I couldn't agree more. Their food makes you feel as if you're sitting in the middle of Ella's kitchen, and she's cooking just for you. I'm working my way down the menu, and everything I've tried has that "homemade" taste. If you're taking their food home, ask for some extra sauces (barbecue or gravy) or you'll be sorry. __________________________
How did I miss this place in my first review? When they advertise their fare as "Twisted Farm Food", they're not exaggerating. Forget about taking visitors to the brunches and buffets here in town, THIS is the place that will wow them.
The Tractor Driver Combo is amazing, as are any of their breakfasts. When you see camera flashes going off all over the dining room, it's not because someone's taking pictures of a celebrity. It's because the plates are so outrageous, someone is sending picture of their breakfast to their friends back home. VERY highly recommended.
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The Florida Cafe Inside the Howard Johnson Hotel 1401 Las Vegas Blvd. S Las Vegas, NV 89104 (702) 385-3013 www.floridacafecuban.com/
Who even knew that there are still Ho Jo's in America?
I'd been hearing good things about this place for a while, but we only recently dined at the Florida Cafe. It's located in the wedding chapel district, where many of the 24 hour chapels are, just up from the Stratosphere. Imagine getting married by an Elvis impersonator, eating Cuban food for your reception, and then hopping on one of the rides atop the Stratosphere for the beginning of your honeymoon. Talk about memorable.
Speaking of memorable, the Cuban sandwiches here are tasty and filling, and the cafe con leche will make you feel like you're in Miami. To add seven years to your life, try the crispy plantains. Yum. __________________________ Roy's (Two locations) Summerlin or East Flamingo http://www.roysrestaurant.com
Chef Roy Yamaguchi opened his first Roy's in Hawaii and luckily, there are two locations here in LV. If you're craving a meal to remind you of your last Hawaiian vacation, you can always count on some fabulous food here. Their presentation and recipes are amazing, but their extra attention to detail is what really makes this place outstanding. Put your name on Roy's mailing list, and you'll receive discount coupons throughout the year. __________________________
Firefly (two locations) 3900 Paradise Rd or Downtown Las Vegas, NV 89109 (702) 369-3971 www.fireflylv.com/
I'm sort of on the bubble about this place - some meals there have been absolutely fabulous, and others, mild disasters! But they serve great food, and the people watching possibilities are endless.
Did I mention the liquor?Try a pitcher of Mojitos or Sangria for starters.
Then... DO NOT MISS the stuffed dates or the roast pork and red pepper Empanadas. Or the Filet Mignon Sliders. Much of the menu features tapas, smaller, appetizer sized portions meant for sharing. It's often noisy and the service can be iffy, but it's great for a different Las Vegas experience.
Major gourmet grub. Try not to rubberneck too much!
Even though this is a chain, their locations have a very "homey" feel to them, and their menu has enough variety to fill your every craving. This is my go-to place when I don't feel like cooking, but I want a "home cooked" meal.
Try their fattouche and the Ahi sliders for a real treat.
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Viva Zapatas Mexican Restaurant & Cantina 3826 E Craig Rd North Las Vegas, NV 89030 (702) 643-8888
Don't judge the food by the exterior! This little gem is sandwiched between a gas station and a muffler shop. It's at least a 10-15 minute drive from the Strip, but I think worth the trouble. What you'll save by not dining on the Strip will pay for the cab.
It's one of my favorite places in the city. You MUST order guacamole made tableside, and don't forget extra cilantro! Great food, great margaritas, and friendly staff. __________________________
Agave 10820 W. Charleston Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89145 (702) 214-3500 www.agavelasvegas.com
Speaking of Mexican food, if you find yourself out in Summerlin, you might want to check out Agave, if for no other reason to see check out the beautiful interior of this place. It's beyond fabulous, and worth the trip to this part of the city.
Their food is more "Americanized" and some people complain it's a far cry from authentic Mexican fare.
Whatever.
Try the Chile Rellanos stuffed with Rock Shrimp, or the Lobster Empanadas. Or the Barbecued Duck Quesadillas... authentic? Probably not, but damn delicious!
Did I mention the Tequila Bar? It's ginormous. __________________________
One of the nicest things about King's is that they offer some fish that you won't find in the more mainstream seafood restaurants - like Sandabs, for one. Never had them? You MUST! on your next visit. Their oyster selection is vast, which is great considering we're in the middle of the desert.
Our only complaint EVER (and we've visited their place quite often) was with their sauteed spinach. After ordering some fried fish, it's nice to trick yourself into thinking you're eating healthy by ordering the spinach. But we've found that the garlic is not only plentiful, but often nearly raw. Great for keeping the vampires away, but not so great when it's oozing out your skin for the next three days.
My advice? Ask for it well done when you place your order, and you'll be fine. They've finally updated their website to include a menu, and they even have a few recipes, as well. You may want to visit their site to see if they have a location near you. You'll be dreaming about the Sandabs for days.
A fun brewpub that not only serves great beer, but is kid friendly. Huh?
BJ's is a chain from SoCal, and serves some great meals, so that you can wash them down with their hand crafted beers. Try the beer sampler, if you can't make up your mind. I'm partial to the deep dish pizza, but hey- if I were sentenced to die in the electric chair, pizza and beer would be my last meal.
Do they serve beer in prison?
BJ's is also located in Summerlin, in fact, it's nearly next door to Agave (see above)... those people in Summerlin are damn lucky!
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Lindo Michoacan Multiple locations http://www.lindomichoacan.com You can tell by the menu similarities that the owners of Lindo Michoacan are related to the people who run Viva Zapatas. The good news is - the food is wonderful at ALL their locations. Everything I've ever ordered here is excellent, but shrimp lovers should try their Camarones Sarandeados for a really great meal.
As their t-shirts recommend - Save Water, Drink Margaritas! __________________________
Jimmy's is my new favorite place to grab a quick bite. Don't be confused, this location is a grocery store that includes a deli inside. You know their food is good, when people drive across town just for their fried catfish or peach cobbler. (While standing in line waiting to order, one woman told me she orders a couple of extra pieces of fish to eat in the car, on the drive home. I wish I'd followed her advice!)
The store is undergoing a major renovation, but you can still pick up fried chicken, shrimp dinners, or the catfish, which is sold by the pound. Leave the frying to them, you'll be happy you did.
And don't forget to pick up some cobbler for dessert. __________________________
Capriotti's are located all over the Vegas valley, and feature outrageous sandwiches that you'll crave long after you've left Vegas. Unless you have an appetite like a Kobayashi, order a small. Their large sandwiches are off the hook, as Guy Fieri would say.
They have a HUGE selection of vegetarian "meats" not to mention the Bobbie, a Turkey dinner on a bun. It includes turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing and mayo. Forget about a traditional Thanksgiving meal- pick up one of these and head to Red Rock for a picnic. URP!
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Roberto's Taco Shop Various locations
This little gem also started in SoCal in the mid 1960s and spread to Las Vegas, making many people here very happy. Besides being open 24 hours, and having numerous locations all over the city, their food is very reasonably priced, delicious, and authentic. The first time I visited, I ordered a TON of food, wanting to sample everything because it smelled so good! They packed up 5 huge bags of food, and charged me around $30. I thought they made a mistake and had undercharged me! Or had forgotten something. But they checked the bill and assured me it was correct. It was probably enough grub to feed 8 people.
I don't recommend eating in their various locations, I consider it more of a carryout, since there are only a few tables, all of questionable cleanliness. But their food is great, and you'll find yourself wanting to stop there on the way home from a long day. You can't make a meal this good for yourself at home. No way.
My favorite is a chicken burrito with guacamole; it's the size of my forearm and feels like it has a pound of chicken in it. For about $6.00 Talk about a deal!
I'm just guessing, but I'd say the average Las Vegan doesn't visit the Strip, unless they work there. Too much traffic, too expensive, the reasons are numerous. And while some of the Strip restaurants there are just wonderful, you can't live here and regularly drop a few hundred on a meal. It's insane. There is one place, however, that I feel deserves a mention here. It's a restaurant, yes, but it's also a bar, and that's the real reason to visit Red Square.
If the decapitated statue of Lenin outside isn't enough to draw you in, nor the 25' bar made of ice, the vodka vault might do it. Borrow a fur coat and hat and step into the 10 degree cooler, sampling one of 200 vodkas with your friends. The martini list is awesome; for something sweet, try a Key Lime Martini. For a severe buzz, try the Chernobyl.
Just be sure you're not driving home!
This place is everything that's fun about Vegas and more- great booze, lots of fun people, a truly amazing experience. I went there with a group of friends for my birthday celebration one year, and ended up doing shots with 4 tourists that were in town for a convention! I'm not sure, but I may have crawled home. Who can remember?
And I don't even consider myself to be a big drinker!
I could write about this place for two hours and not capture the true essence of this place. Try this link and see what everyone else has to say: Yelp:Red Square
One last thing- this place is expensive.... but it might be worth every penny.
__________________________ A couple of final thoughts-
First- what a great city if you love food, like I do. I feel particularly lucky to have been raised by parents who exposed me to a huge variety of food at an early age. Foodwise, everything about this city is superb. The Asian markets sell sushi grade fish at very reasonable prices, and there's a Hispanic store here that has a produce department to die for.
Did you notice that I didn't include any sushi bars or pizza recommendations? That's because I'm very picky about those foods. I haven't found a really good sushi restaurant here, although there are many decent ones. The same thing goes for pizza - there are some decent pizza places here, but nothing that makes me want to drive across town, just for a slice.
Bottom line... the sushi I make at home blows away anything I can order at a restaurant. Same with my pizza. If you want some recipes, let me know.
Finally, when I just reread this, checking it for errors, misspellings, etc., it dawned on me that I sound like a big drunk! I'm not, but I do enjoy pairing food with an appropriate libation. In fact, I have a copy of Modern Drunkard magazine on my coffee table, but only because it has a killer martini recipe in it.
Note: this post is my opinion, and mine only. I have no intention to tick anyone off, or offend any readers, and I certainly don't own stock in any of these places! Please drink and eat responsibly!
This chair cracks me up every time I look at it. I'm just guestimating, but the height of that seat looks like it's about five feet off the ground.
If the average height of a chair seat is around 18", look at the front stretcher, behind her legs. If that dimension is 18", then the space underneath it looks twice that size.... hence, about 54". It looks taller than that to me, so I'm guessing 60".
The biggest question I have - how the hell did she climb there? There must be a ladder somewhere, possibly built into the side?
WAY cool. Wouldn't you love one of those in your yard?
Is there anything worse than constantly fumbling for your glasses while working in the woodshop? Let's face it - being able to see what you're doing is not only important for safety reasons, but also for quality assurance.
Once, before I had my eye surgery, I sanded an entire dining table top without my glasses on. It was a warm summer evening, and too hot for me to be bothered wearing them - they were constantly sliding down my nose with all the sweat.
Well, imagine my horror when I finally put them on and looked at the table top. I had to start the sanding process all over again, since I'd missed so many blemishes on the wood.
This box came in the mail today.
I was really excited, because my eyes have been slowly failing me, and once again, it's time to admit that I might need some vision correction. Oh, I'm lucky enough that most days, I can see just fine. But in the woodshop, I want to see everything.
They're very similar to the safety glasses I'm currently using, but the bifocal area lets me see close up, which is sweet. The even come in a micro-fiber bag that serves both as a storage bag and as a cleaning cloth. Well done, folks.
The only slight thing I would change is that the ear pieces on these glasses are a gray color, and I prefer my glasses to be completely clear. Still, that's a small price to pay for the benefits I get from these.
Great glasses for a great price (about $20) - how can you put a price tag on your eyes? I highly recommend these. One thing though - you'll never be able to blame any poor sanding on your projects on the fact that you can't see.
Springtime in Las Vegas - one of the best times of the year. People who live here say this is is the reason we're here - it's simply gorgeous. I've been spending a good deal of time working on ceramic pieces - finishing up a small tile commission, and working on a set of platters, like the one shown below. I call it my Ultimate potsticker platter, as it has a small bowl incorporated into the platter, perfect for holding the dipping sauce. Someone visited my Etsy shop and asked if I would make a couple of these of these for them, only with two bowls, so that they could use these for sushi serving platters. The two bowls could hold ginger and wasabi.... smart! I've created a plaster mold that I use when making these platters - and everything was going well until one of the feet fell off! These feet are made using an extruder, and are attached later, when the clay has set up a bit. Attaching two pieces together is usually pretty straightforward, you score the clay (scratch it up a bit) and then use a little slip (liquid clay) as a "glue" for attaching the two pieces together. This usually works very well. But I wasn't watching what I was doing and knocked the foot off. I could have thrown the whole piece in the scrap bucket and started over, but this platter had some very interesting texture on it, so I didn't want that to go to waste. Then I remembered a recipe for repairing clay, and thought I'd give it a shot. I've used it before with very good results. Basically, you make a "glue" of one-third vinegar, one-third Karo syrup
and one-third clay slip. Those two pictures of our dogs were painted by my friend, Stacey Campbell, who does amazing portrait work. The top one is of my Weimeraner, Ipo. And the other is of Lily, our miniature Schnauzer. Both passed away recently, and we keep Stacey's paintings in the kitchen, as a way of keeping them near us. (We sort of drew the line at keeping their ashes in the kitchen.) I just love walking into the kitchen in the morning and seeing Ipo and Lily in there, while I'm making a pot of coffee. To make the ceramic repair, mix the three ingredients together dampen both pieces of clay that will be attached, and then spread a little of the mixture, like a glue. This stuff hardens like cement, rather quickly, so make sure you position it correctly the first time. I wiped away the squeeze-out, and cleaned the bottom of the platter. You can barely tell it's been repaired. As long as both pieces of clay were moist enough, the piece will stay in place without any problem. If it pops off, one of the pieces probably wasn't wet enough. l let the piece completely dry before putting any weight back on the foot.
A simple and effective repair! I wish repairing wood was this simple! OK, back to the studio... I have 200 pounds of clay calling my name today... oh, one more thing - if you're interested in having a portrait painted by Stacey, you can contact her here.
There's nothing like warmer weather to make you feel closer to nature. Putting in a garden, cleaning up the yard, working on the sprinkler system, taking the lawn furniture out of storage - it all points to summer coming. Our summers here feel like they last forever, especially around August, when the temps can hit 115˚ and there is no break in sight.
Working on handmade tile makes me feel closer to nature, too. There is an amazing amount of inspiration free for the taking, right in your own neighborhood.
A few weeks ago, we had friends in town, celebrating one's birthday. They had some amazing things planned, including a scuba dive at Mandalay Bay's Shark Reef exhibit. Although I had to teach a class that morning, I managed to get out of the shop in time to join everyone, see the exhibit, and watch our friend swimming with the fish.
Yes, that's a real image of her in the shark tank, she's on the right. Very inspiring, which led me to these new creations in tile...
Well, that last tile was actually inspired by watching The Godfather the other day, and hearing that "swimming with the fishes" dialogue.
A friend of mine suggested some new ideas for tile, and I've been researching some new shapes and styles, before I commit them to clay. Meanwhile, leaves seem to be running through my brain.
If you've got a great glaze, even the simplest shape of a leaf can be amazing. Check out the crystal formations on the glaze below!
Like I said, inspiration is everywhere. Hope your Spring is coming along nicely.
There are three types of people in the world - people who honestly love winter (like Jen) or those who tolerate it, like Julie. Then there are those who despise it, like me. If you've noticed that I've been a little absent on the blog lately, it's because it's been in the high 60's here. I'm getting my Spring on.
Here are the blooms on our nectarine tree in the back yard.
So woodworking is taking a backseat for a week or two. Well, my sore back is another reason I've stayed out of the woodshop, but that's OK, the garden is calling my name...
My favorite local gardener sent out word that tomatoes have to be in the ground by April 1 in order to set the fruit. He's never steered me wrong, so I went to the nursery and bought some plants to get the ball rolling.
Remember last year, when I had eggplants coming out my ears?
Well, this year, the bumper crop might be spaghetti squash.
I planted those in three different spots, and I have no idea what they'll do; I've never planted them before. Our neighbors and friends might be sick of them by the time August rolls around.
What Italian gardener doesn't have this? Or this?
Later in the summer, when avocados are calling my name, I'll mix up some guacamole, using fresh cilantro. But I've never had luck growing it in the ground, so this year, I decided to try it in a pot. When it gets too hot, I can bring it inside.
Last year, I tried growing artichokes for the first time. I had no idea what I was doing, but by the end of the summer, the three plants were absolutely huge. I cut them back, almost flush to the ground, but never got around to covering them with mulch, as my local expert recommended. Good thing we had a mild winter - they were no worse for their nekkidness. They sprouted up like weeds; here's the largest one, it's about three feet in diameter already!
To all my fellow gardeners out there - get your bottle of Advil ready... and stay tuned for round two in the garden...
When I was a child, I used to build elaborate tents in the family living room. I would create my own little "fort" by draping blankets over the various tables in the room. It was even better when my sister or cousins joined in - the more, the merrier!
That's why I love this table - I just wish I knew more about it.
Sorry that there hasn't been much activity here, but I've had an incredibly busy schedule at the woodworking school lately. Luckily, things are back to normal once again. Well, as normal as things ever are around a woodshop...
Which brings me to the latest thing running around my head - music in the woodshop. Here's a confession - I really love rap music. And I think it gets a bad... well, rap, for being nonsensical and angry. Sure, much of it is. But there is a ton of interesting rap out there that deserves your attention.
Last week, I had music playing in the woodshop and students arriving for their last Basic Woodworking session. One student walked in a started complaining about the music playing in the shop. "I hate rap!" What a shame. She's missing some great music.
This is a current favorite. If you're offended by salty language, here's a censored version. Try to look past the lyrics and listen to what he's saying. You have an open mind, don't you?
Getting this radial arm saw cleaned, adjusted and back in good working order wasn't an overnight project. It took the better part of a couple of days, but it was well worth it. Once the new table was installed and leveled, most of the work left involves truing up the blade in relationship to the table and fence.
You've heard me gush about the Wixey cube and the digital protractor, and once again, these two devices make set-up very simple. Set the Wixey on the table, and zero it out.
Then flip it onto the blade, and check your angle.
If I was using a regular framing square, I wouldn't have gotten nearly the accuracy that I'm getting with this. I'm telling you, it's the best $25 you'll spend for your woodshop ever.
Then I used the protractor to adjust the blade square to the fence.
Last, I checked to see if the blade was had any heel in it. That's when the yoke of the saw is slightly twisted on it's carriage. Yes, you can still get a square cut from a heeled blade, but it will give you a wider kerf, as the blade is cutting through your wood at a slight angle. Mine needed a slight adjustment, which was simple.
All that is left is to add a thin, sacrificial table on top of this new one. If I'm lucky, I'll never have to replace this table again. I fully intend on keeping it free of any kerfs.
Just a little too porn for you...
There is some excellent information available, should you decide to tear your saw apart and fine tune it. If you Google "Radial Arm Saw Tool Tune-up" you should come across some helpful documents.
