Holiday woodworking @ Wood It Is!

 Wondering where I've been? 

We're making so many things in the shop these days, that this blog is at the bottom of my energy list. I'm really sorry about that, but there are only so many hours in a day!

Every single day is different, but one thing is certain - people want their "stuff" now! - whether it's a repair, or a new project. Or a replacement part for something that's broken... the list is never ending. 

I'm amazed at the volume of work we handle at the school - Saturdays are the only day the shop is open to the public... people can stop in and bring projects that need help, like this fellow who stopped in with a sculpture that needed a base. 

When it was finished, I got a high-five!

So many of the projects involve repair - and in this town, there's virtually no where to have wooden parts made.

 This rocker needed a new arm support spindle, not too difficult.

But this bench needed completely rebuilt. 

When someone shows up with random parts and asks to have it re-built, a little research was in order. Luckily, I had worked on a similar bench about a year ago, and I was able to refer to my notes to find the dimensions of the wooden parts.

Christmas is always busy, but this year is a little different - lots of corporate orders, like these gift crates that will be filled with goodies for one company's customers.

We've also been doing a ton of turning lately - from duplicating these small parts 

to making these massive (and ridiculously heavy white oak) table legs.

We're doing so much lathe work, that we bought a lathe duplicator... it's pretty handy. Although it doesn't work exactly as advertised, it works well enough to save a ton of time. 

All of this doesn't even include the classes going on - 30+ students come to the shop each week... and this time of the year is all about Christmas gifts.

This pecan charcuterie serving board is simply stunning!

We scooped these boards on the tablesaw, and created some really amazing pieces in the Instant Gratification Woodworking class. 

And Andrew, from Reclaimed Secrets, sent over some small boards with resin in them, for us to sand and finish. Gorgeous pieces!

Our Thursday night class, in conjunction with Clark Country's YO Court, produced some very nice handmade 4-in-1 screwdrivers...  a quick turning project that everyone loved.

All in all - it's been a remarkably creative session! Here are a few more happy students...