from Wordpress to Blogger

Shop Stool Build Off

The Results by Chris Wong

Posted on February 14, 2014

This is a long post because there are lots of prize winners for the Shop Stool Build-Off! If you are listed as a winner, but have not received an e-mail from me, please contact me to organize the delivery of your prize!

Thank you to all the participants, sponsors, judges, and everyone who voted. Nearly 750 votes from readers of my blog were tallied and the Shop Stool Build-Off was a success well beyond anything that I had imagined!

Sponsors

Please visit the websites of the sponsors and check out the prizes they have provided:

• Black & Decker
  • DeWalt Cordless Oscillating Tool
  • Porter Cable 20V Lithium Ion Drill
• Bridge City Tool Works
  • Signed edition of Quality is Contagious: John Economaki & Bridge City Tool Works, 36 Years Through the Lens of Joe Felzman
• Canadian Woodworking & Home Improvement Magazine
  • 1 year subscription to the magazine
• Hand Tool School
  • any 1 semester of The Hand Tool School
• Hock Tools
  • Spokeshave kit
• Microjig
  • Advanced GRR-RIPPER (GR-200)
  • GRR-RIP Block (GB-1)
  • MICRODIAL Tapering Jig (TJ-5000)
• Lee Valley Tools
  • Veritas Pullshave
• Milwaukee Tool
  • (5) Shockwave Drilling & Driving 35-piece Bit Sets
• Popular Woodworking Magazine
  • 1 year subscription (or extension) to the magazine
  • a copy of Marc Spagnuolo’s Hybrid Woodworking
• Scott Meek Woodworks
  • Make a Wooden Smoothing Plane with Scott Meek DVD
• Time Warp Tool Works
  • (3) Sets of 3″ Bench Dogs
• The Wood Whisperer
  • 1 year guild membership

Judges

I hand-picked a panel of judges to evaluate the stools on a variety of criteria with which I provided them. Their job was not easy and they deserve a big “thank you”!

• Judson Beaumont & Straight Line Designs
• Rob Brown of Equinox Interiors and Canadian Woodworking Magazine
• Megan Fitzpatrick of Popular Woodworking
• Jessica Hall
• Robert Hitzig
• Morgan Holt of Earth Art Landscape & Design
• Vic Hubbard of Tumblewood Creations
• Tom Iovino of Tom’s Workbench
• Paul Limewski of Canadian Woodworks
• Scott Meek of Scott Meek Woodworks
• Meredith Nicole of Oden Gallery
• Dyami Plotke of Penultimate Woodshop
• Marc Spagnuolo of The Wood Whisperer
• Fay Wong
• Stephen Z of Stephen Z Metal Designs

Andrew Coholic’s CNC-cut shop stool earned the title of Best Concept Among Canadian Stools and won him a Shockwave Drilling & Driving 35-piece Bit Set from Milwaukee Tool.

Forty-two percent of judges agreed that Alex Leslie’s T-stool was The Most Daring Designand for that, he won a 1-year subscription to Canadian Woodworking & Home Improvement from Canadian Woodworking & Home Improvement Magazine.

He had an interesting description of his design, too.

The art of balancing and pivoting on this stool keeps the user alert and awake. If one dozes off, the resulting fall will either awaken the user or cause more prolonged unconsciousness.

An Upcycled drawer..

 Julie and Mark had bought an Oak chest of drawers that was perfect in every way..
..except it was one drawer too tall..


I had been told that they wanted some shelves, and have the wood to make them. So we went to see them, first to view the space where these shelves were going to fit, secondly, to see the wood, and thirdly to have a look at Julies wonderful collection of Salt & Pepper pots.

And what a collection..

click on the photos to enlarge

Just a few of Julies collection of Salt & Pepper pots..

Then I saw the images she had printed off, they were different.. with angles, not horizontal etc.. as we discussed it we started laying out some ideas that would work with the cruet sets.

I was going to make about six horizontal shelves, using different thickness parts of the drawer. With 'uprights' in a fan shape, supporting the shelves.. nothing uniform.. just a spot of wonderful, random madness, that would suit some of the pieces going on the shelf unit.
The drawer was from a new chest of drawers that Mark had cut down and sorted out, all I had to do was take the spare drawer, Julies ideas and turn them into reality.

and that was it..

Here are some early photos

This is the drawer, modern drawer made from laminated Oak

Stripped down into component parts.

Different thicknesses will add interest to the shelves

The finished photos

The finished shelf unit

I think they look great, even with nothing on them..

I love the shadows in this shot

click on the photos to enlarge

With just a few of my bits to show how it will look..

I just need to get them over to Julie, and maybe get a photo of them with her collection set out on display.

Its wonderful that Julie and Mark could see past the drawer as a box and come up with something quite unique, from what could very easily been thrown away ..

I hope it makes you think ..

All the best

Jamie

Music Award..

This was done over twelve months ago now, and has sat in a drafts folder in Blogger. Not many photos either.. I really needed to publish it to clear out the drafts folder.

I hope you like it, Jamie.


July 2013.

It started with an accident..

We went to an awards ceremony at our local school. And during this special night where students were getting recognition for their hard work and effort, someone dropped one of the awards..a glass one..and yes it broke into two pieces..

In the Ruskin Glass Centre, where my workshop is. We have one of the countrys best glass repairers, Richard, who very kindly repaired it in record time for me ..(considering he has a very long waiting list, and people come from all over for him to do their repairs. Well the best is worth waiting for).

On return of the award, the music teacher Michaela asked if I would be interested in making a very special award for a very special prize. It was to be for Outstanding Contribution to Music..

One evening I went to school after the children had all gone home, Michaela had already got the idea of what she wanted, we just had to discuss design,size, scale and timbers etc.

This was the start of our design session, a simple design, treble clef onto the five staves, 

with the small loop around the G (second line up)

And this is what I sketched up to show Michaela what I was thinking..

and she loved it..

So while it was still on the white board, I put some dimensions on, then took photos..

This was Michaela's drawing, so when I transfer it onto print, it will still have been drawn by her.

Here the drawing is printed off and stuck onto the Mahogany. I've had to thicken up where the wood will be short grain. This will give the piece strength where it would normally be weak..so it's a must really, but will add to the piece by appearing to be as a nibbed pen would write.. The base part is drawn out, with size of the brass plate chosen and noted. From this front view, lines were transferred around the piece for the staves.

And this is the bit that makes it look easy. 

Yes, the slots for the staves are cut through the back, set out and grooved

One of the staves is shown in place

Cut out..with the paper still on the face.

After plenty of shaping and a couple of coats of wax...

Here's Ashley with the award and his certificate.

The award will stay within the school and only be used for photographing with the winner.

All the best

Jamie 

Art in Action review

Yesterday..

My first time and thoughts of this very high profile, top event of the year..


A couple of times I've heard about this event.  "Why aren't you going, Jamie..."    
 "You must go..."       "It's just the best event..."   "..The work and the quality.."  "...ooh this and ooh that.."

Okay... I get it.. thank you..


I was chatting to Vic Bamforth, and then up came the Art in Action event again.. That was it, when Vic said he was going and if I wanted to go..I just had to.

Not an early start, got there around 10:30 (it opened at 10am) and to the most unusual parking system I've ever seen, but more on that later.

It was seen that the day was going to be the hottest of the year, and it was living up to the radio and TV  hype..one word ...    HOT.. or two REALLY HOT..

The map we had from their website was very useful, showing places to eat and the different marquees, in alphabetical and numerical order (someone had done this before, it made it so easy to get around)
The food and drink stalls were brilliantly positioned, so when we needed a drink, we didn't have to go far.. and the food was fabulous Red onion and Tomato on a beautiful Ciabatta bread, with Elderflower juice.

First stop for us was the Glass tent, this was Vics area of expertise, and it was great to be introduced to some of his old friends and some of the Glassblowers that I have met  at the Ruskin Glass Centre, who have used the blowing studio.

Christiaan D. Maas with Vic Bamforth in front of Christiaans work

So that was great to walk around the tent with so much fabulous glass on show,  and the quality was exceptional, I was blown away by some of the work, trying to get your head around how it was done...

 (yeah, can't help it, I just feel the need to understand some of the process, then it all makes sense) 

I do appreciate the beauty first..

Catriona  MacKenzie was showing people how she works beads over a flame.. 

some beautiful work, great earrings and other jewellery.

I've met Cat a few times now, she comes to the glass blowing studio to make larger pieces. I'll put a bit more about Cat's work later..

In the Textiles tent were some beautiful and unusual pieces..

I liked this, and know that my Mom would like it too..it's just mad.. but seriously cool

notice the standard lamp behind the chair..

Love the Dog, but the newspaper was marvelous, the detail..

Not in the woodwork tent, but in the Practical Class Teachers Exhibition tent

so, while there are classes going on, the teachers work can be seen (and bought) from this varied  range.

This is one of the pieces that welcomes you into the Sculpture Park

I'm not the biggest fan of sculpture work, I appreciate it, but don't really warm to it..

This wire piece was very cool..

This was huge. The guy who made these was working on a massive laminated block.

3ft square 7ft high.. 6 months work..gulp

Here's more of his work.. very traditional skill and style. 

But skills that we need more people to get into, if not for new work, for restoring pieces.

This piece by James Morton-Evans, was in the Best of the Best tent,

Vic and I had already seen his fabulous work in the Woodwork tent..

Exceptional quality, the timber was beautifully worked, this in Sycamore, looked bleached.

His interiors were superb.. For me this was the most outstanding piece of woodworking at the show

These little guys were great, Penguins in the state we've seen them in on the nature programs, 

keeping warm, huddled together..

These were very natural..I loved the use of the driftwood,

I think this piece was called 'Under and over the Waves'

Here's a detail of under..great fish..

Looks great doesn't it..  frayed fabric joints worked really well, great to match the loose cushions

So in the Best of the Best tent, people get to vote for their favourite

Not an easy task, there can be many different ways of choosing, 

Which one would you like to take home, the most skilled. 

Comparing one skill against another, that's never going to be easy.

Other things going on.. Workshops and classes

A teacher just going through some of the lesson, brilliant isn't it.

You can prebook before the event and there is a tent (25 this year)

where you can get your Practical class tickets

a class in full swing

A life drawing class from one side, where the same model is being sculpted from the other

Peter Wood (appropriate name) demonstrating some pole lathe techniques to the class

Michel Del Campo.. this guys work is absolutely out of this world.

Both Vic and I just couldn't stop looking at it, 

this piece is the same as the painting he has in the Best of the Best, he's seriously talented.

and this is his work..

I didn't crop some of these so that you can get a feel of the atmosphere and surroundings

So almost back to the start again. Christiaan was demonstrating his wonderful glass blowing techniques.

That Apple on the marver is what he's making..

when he asked if anyone wanted to help make some twists in his piece..

well I had too, would have been rude not to..

This is Nicki Steel, and her first time in front of a large audience 

Nicki 'spun' this plate, she was great. Well done Nicki.

And to end this piece is one of Michel Del Campo's paintings,

this also tell's you about the weather we had too..

So,  that was my first experience of the Art in Action event..

I thoroughly enjoyed the day, and have to agree with Vic, that you could quite easily spend a few days here. Wonderful, till next time.

Oh, one last thing. Did I mention the car parking. Well It was a little mad, I've only ever parked like that when I've had to park on a ferry. Yes.. parallel parking, our whole line was wrong and we had to all reverse back n forward to get closer to the line next to us.. A big concern, no but in those temperatures, we could have been in the event quicker and maybe the road wouldn't have been so blocked up with traffic as we were coming on to the site.

Hope you enjoyed, 

All the best

Jamie

Bespoke Oak Box for the Guild of Enamellers

A custom box made to hold a very special piece..

 Tea Caddy Spoon made by Rachel Gogerly.

And given by the Guild of Enamellers  Memorial Award (for best finish)

A certain amount of free reins on the design of the box but some notes..

• It must have a very good quality finish.
• The spoon has to sit inside and be protected...
• What do we do with the lid..? Hinges means the lid would have to be supported.. Loose means it can be lost or misplaced.
• Simple, clean lines

A block of Oak, finished with an oil to a mat finish. This way the spoon stands out within the box.

 The centre carved out to take the spoon..

with a small piece of green suede to stop the silver spoon getting scratched.

The lid, lined inside the top with matching suede.

The lid is a little different. It tapers.. from the one corner to the opposite corner..

There is good reason for this..

The lid on the box, you can see some of the taper here..

The box sits inside the top of the lid, this way the lid is part of the display..

The tapering lid displays and 'presents' the block with the spoon towards you. 

The Tea Caddy spoon sits beautifully on the Leather, with an even gap around to 'set off' the piece

Everyone was really pleased with it..

The presentation.. photo taken from the Facebook page of the Guild of Enamellers

All the best

Jamie

Glass Blowers Blocks

So it was bound to happen.. Glass Blowers blocks

My workshop is in the heart of the glass making industry for the last few hundred years, Stourbridge. in the West Midlands. And now there are glass blowers and glass artists here, rather than the old big firms .. link to brief history of Stourbridge glassmaking

I'm inside the Ruskin Glass Centre, an old factory building of Webb Corbett and within a hundred yards or so are a number of glassblowers who either work for themselves or within the Glass House College
making and teaching glass blowing.

One of the staff of the college asked me if I could make a block.. one of the tools used to shape and even out some of the lumps and bumps in the process of blowing the glass..

He had a couple of Cherry tree logs for me to use and they were getting low on these tools.

click on the photos to enlarge

Here's one being used, the glass is on the end of the iron, which is rotated on the rails of the bench.

The block is held beneath applying pressure to the glass to get the required shape.

During the process..

When not in use and between shaping, to keep them from burning to a cinder, the blocks are dipped into a bucket of cold water, then after they just sit there, in the bucket ready for the next session.

Here are some of their 'well used' and now 'out of action' blocks...

I love making tools, and to make one that has nothing to do with woodworking is a little different..

But chatting to those around me, I got a feel for what was needed... Oh.. and no one could show me a block in perfect new condition, because from the first time that you 'burn in' the tool, it starts to get worn out..

So, here it is..Cherry Wood with an Ash handle..the handle was part of a chair leg,

 from the college that had got broken and could not be used for anything else.. 

I took it round to show the guys. Even with the finish on the inside of the bowl straight from a gouge, 

they said it was like a Rolls Royce version.. and I didn't need to shape the outside so well.. oh, and don't bother with the decoration around the handle.. (this was already on the chair leg) so it was a freebie..

The 'burning in' process.. love the colour of the wood..

and.. if you hadn't noticed yet, all of these used block photos are of the one I made 

Thanks for looking

All the best

Jamie