National Hardware Show - don't miss it next year...

There are times when I think the National Hardware Show is actually better than the AWFS show, mostly because it's held every year, and it's bigger and more encompassing. 

Sure, it doesn't cover woodworking per se, but it sure does have something for everyone. 

The rules were switched up a bit this year - absolutely no pictures were allowed, so my photos here will be a little lacking. But when this scene greets you as you're ready to enter, you know something big is about to happen. 

This year's show featured two HUGE rooms of  vendors, showing off their latest and greatest products. Especially interesting were all of the booths promoting newly invented items, where you could actually meet the inventors and get samples of their wares. 

I thought it was very smart that you could go to the Match Me booth and have your NHS experience tailored to exactly what you wanted to see... if plumbing was your specialty, you could have your day mapped out, to include all of the plumbing vendors. Smart.

Outside, there were outdoor entertaining items, 

from grills to coolers, 

hammocks to tiny homes. 

Once inside the main hall, I had an agenda to follow....navigating the crowds was a little tricky! 

The Wooster booth was packed with just about very paint brush and painting accessory you could imagine. 

An interesting trend was material management - there were tons of dollies, roller carts, plywood and drywall carts, casters and more.

Viva el carro!

This may sound dorky, but I've been looking to find a screw vendor to supply the shop with square drive screws. My old local vendor went out of business, and the backup supplier I've used has raised their prices so high it's just not possible to keep using them.  I managed to find a supplier that might be a great fit, and these samples will probably seal the deal, if they work out. 

Somehow - I missed my meet and greet opportunity with Martha!

Another item on my agenda was a swamp cooler for the shop. The fellows at Portacool made me an awesome offer, and we wheeled out this Cyclone unit 

and this beast...

should be pretty easy to cool the shop this summer!

One of the best connections I made at the show was meeting the people from the Jorgensen/Pony clamp company. They've been MIA for a while, but are regrouping and coming out with their new and improved product line. We had a nice conversation about the world of clamps, and I encouraged them to re-examin this discontinued bench hold-down clamp. 

It's the old 1623 model, and we use the heck out of these! 

They even hooked me up with some swag... sweet. With a little luck, we'll be testing some of their new products at the shop soon.

How big was this show? Here are some exhausted attendees, napping outside one of the exits. 

After the show, it's always nice to head to Grimaldi's for a slice and a beer. What a terrific day! 

It's finally here - the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas

When I was younger, I loved puzzles like this! 

What am I saying?... I still do!  

Look what I found when I was poking around Pinterest today... these two videos for making puzzles. 

You know what I'll be working on this week.... 

Meanwhile, the National Hardware Show is in town, and I'll be attending it tomorrow.  

It's always a fascinating glimpse into the latest trends in hardware, finishes, tools and more. I'll be shooting some photos and hopefully getting some great ideas for upcoming projects. 

Stay tuned!

Here's an update on those broken blow guns...

Happy to see that Flexilla stepped up and replaced those two blow guns that recently broke. 

Well, to be specific - the gun itself didn't break, but the hooks that are molded into the cast metal body are the part that failed. They snapped right off, and that makes hanging them up around the shop a little difficult. 

This delivery came right in the middle of my work day yesterday.

The shop was a mess, but I was happy to receive the box! 

And BAM! Just like that, we have two new guns to add back into our arsenal. The Flexilla people took care of this one quickly, and without any objections... I appreciate that!  

Next delivery expected? 

A new base for the Powermatic sander... stay tuned!

So much for the Gold Standard...

Classes have just ended and it's time to buckle down and finish up some projects I'm building in the shop. 

But... it feels like there has been a gremlin in the shop, wreaking havoc on some of the tools. 

About a month ago, I bought a new belt / disc sander, and the first time I blew the dust off of the base with an air gun, the paint blew off of it, too. 

The surface underneath revealed some pretty significant rusting, and sure... the manufacturer agreed to send out a new base, but that's not the point. It's going to take some muscle and time, both of which I'm doubtful of having, to replace the base. Furthermore, I shouldn't have to do it... it shouldn't be peeling in the first place. 

Like I said... so much for "The Gold Standard"....

Do I sound irritated? A day or so later, that same sander flopped backwards, smashing this knob. Another call, another warranty replacement. 

 But the gremlin wasn't done - both of the blow guns in the shop decided that they didn't want to be hanging by their hooks, so ... well, let's just say we had a double failure. 

Sure, Flexilla agreed to replace them, and yes, this is an easier repair, but there are a hundred other things I need to be doing. 

And finally - the weirdest one... the handle simply snapped off of the Sawstop elevation wheel. 

Now - if you felt the heaviness and quality of this handle, you'd understand why it's so weird. This handle is solid and strong, and I have no idea how it could have snapped. 

So if I sound a little crabby, it's because I'd much rather be building the cool commissions that are on my schedule, than making repairs to tools that shouldn't be breaking. 

OK, I'll quit whining now..... back to the sawdust...

This is mind-blowing! 3-D print a home in 48 hours

Things that artists put up with!

So this text thread appeared on another blog, and it caught my eye. 

A potential customer contacted an artist, to purchase one of her quilts. Check out this interaction between them...  

Any comments?

Guy Somehow Turns a Roll of Aluminum Foil Into a Kitchen Knife

Is this even possible? 

My secret weapon... for staining wood, that is....

Remember the last post, where I wrote about working on this old RCA cabinet?  

I had to line this old shelf with a new skin of walnut plywood, and (hopefully) match the stain to the existing cabinet. 

I'm not sure how you feel about it, but matching stains give me a headache. It's difficult, and sometimes impossible. And customers don't care how hard it it, they just want it done. 

Enter Mohawk finishing products... 

my secret weapon. 

They make a variety of spray stains/toners that are PERFECT for matching stains. In fact, I bought a full spectrum of their colors - so that I could layer them onto existing pieces, matching the stain PERFECTLY.

I recently had someone stop by the shop and drop off a set of 36" table legs. He re-did his dining area, and fell in love with some different chairs. chairs. So he wanted these legs lengthened by eight inches. 

My metal magician, Hugo, fabricated some collars that slip over the existing leg, and allowed me to bolt on the extension. He's a master! 

I laminated some hardwood that I had on hand, and planed and squared it to the right size to just fit into the collar. 

(Well, one of them took little coaxing with a hammer.)

(Well, one of them took little coaxing with a hammer.)

They look fabulous, and all that's left is staining them to match, Which is where the Mohawk toners come in. I sprayed them with a red walnut toner, but then touched them up with the brown walnut toner, to blend and match. 

Honestly, these lower extensions look like they've always been there!

Some decorative screws to attach everything finished off this project, just it time for my client to re-assemble his kitchen table and get ready to host his Easter dinner. 

If you've never experimented with Mohawk toners, I suggest you buy a spectrum of colors, and keep them in your shop for jobs like these. They allow you to layer colors and blend just about any hue that you need to match.

 Here's a link to check some out.

At around $7 a can, you can stock your shop pretty nicely. 

And that is my secret weapon for matching finishes... you can thank me later!

A quick follow -up on the old RCA console TV cabinet

This was a fun little project to work on, and I was sorry to see it leave me shop yesterday.   It's always interesting to have a glimpse into how pieces were manufactured years ago. 

The sides of this cabinet were only 1/4" thick, and were basically just a skin around  a wooden carcase.  It was not very durable, but the care with which they applied the veneer was remarkable. 

 

Adding these shelves for electronic components was a vast improvement to its functionality. 

I applaud the owner of this piece, who wanted to resurrect its place in his home.  I'm fortunate enough to have the opportunity to build another piece that goes with this...  stay tuned!

World's largest push stick... and an old RCA cabinet - the old and the new!

The best way to describe having a Glowforge laser engraver is that it's a complete distraction (in a good way) from my normal woodworking. Even though I go to the shop every day with tasks at hand, I'm completely distracted and thinking up ways to make cool things for the shop.

On a whim, I cut and engraved this push stick. It was a little small, so I re-designed it.

 I forgot to resize it, so I ended up with a 18" push stick - WAAAAYYYY too big, but very fun to have in the shop.  (It may not look like it, but this is a beast!) 

Meanwhile, some classes have started, and more classes are starting back up next week. 

That means a lot of prep at the shop - glue bottles to be filled, 

and boards to be planed. 

But I wanted to share a cool project I just completed - working on a mid century modern TV cabinet. The TV has long since quit working, but the owner wanted to resurrect the cabinet and turn it into something more useful. 

It's beautiful - walnut veneered and book matched doors, and gorgeous details.

 Like decals 

and name plates. 

 The inside was unfinished, and once the electrical components were removed, the exposed surfaces needed some TLC. 

This is where the TV once sat, with power and speaker wires running through this opening. This opening was just the start of the process.

 I measured and cut some panels, fitting them into the cavity - with holes drilled for adjustable shelves. A little stain and lacquer, and this cabinet was ready for resurrection. 

This bottom panel looks like it was always there; the stain and sheen match perfectly. 

I'm finishing up the cabinet tomorrow morning, and the owner is over the moon with its process. In fact, he could barely contain himself when I called to say it was finished. I'll post a few pics in the next blogpost... stay tuned!

Meanwhile, I'm going to fool around with the laser for a few more hours before this day is over. Hope your woodworking is as fun as mine is!