Happy New year...Jamie Hubbard Creative Woodwork

And if you are new to my blog, welcome.

On here I will be going through some of the items being made in my workshop at the Ruskin Glass Centre.

Every now and then I will be covering some of the work that I will be doing on our house.


So while you might have been taking some well deserved time off over the Christmas and New Year, Lynn, myself and the girls were in and out of the workshop, taking some of the smaller bits and pieces over. Then on a couple of occasions my brother Stuart, came over in one of his trucks and we filled it up to the top of the sides, then off to the workshop. So before I forget I'd like to thank Stuart, Lesley, Dean and Adam for their help.

One of the many things that I have had to sort out is the insurance cover. let me tell you that that, in itself is a bit than a pain, but after all the shopping around it came down to the insurance company that most of the others in the building use. But I'm glad that I did the comparisons, there was a huge difference between some of the premiums, so it was well worth the effort.

I have had all sorts of checks, the reason for this is the workshop is owned and run by the Ruskin Mill Trust, and part of my tenancy agreement is that I have students (aged between 18 - 25) with learning disabilities for at least one session of work experience per week. I'm looking forward to this, and I think that the session could be broke down into small chunks of time, cleaning and checking work on display, keeping the workshop tidy. Onto assisting with making some of the work, keeping a check on some of the tools, just to see if there are any chunks out of chisel edges that may have been used in a class or workshop.

I've moved into what I feel is a pretty well set up workshop space as far as, there are plenty of double sockets around, lots of light through the windows and roof, the walls and underside of the mezzanine are all painted white and there is a sink unit up the corner. Toilets are located in the passageway down the hall, so, all in all a pretty good space.

Down the left hand side as you walk in, there are alcoves between the supporting pillars and in the first large alcove I have put some shelving to display some of the work being made. Stuart had some old flooring, 40mm chipboard from his works, that was not needed, so I jumped at the chance of having it, and you can see in the pictures that it works really well. I didn't want just plain long shelving...So I thought back to a picture I saw on Twitter of Laura Jane Clarkes shelving in her living space in some disused toilets in Crystal Palace London.



Anyhow the new name for the workshop is...

Jamie Hubbard Creative Woodwork

So this is the entrance to the building, my workshop is in the middle of the shot,

on the outside corner of the building...

 

all the best

Jamie

 

more pics to follow when Google Blogger have sorted out their problems.

It's been about a week now, and Google Blogger still have not got the button for downloading pictures working, I'm soory about this but it is out of the authors hands...


all the best
Jamie

Last post for 2012...

So, an eventful year.

One that has ended with the start of my working full time in my own quite large workshop. In fabulous surroundings with a really positive and forward looking group of people.

As I write now, there are more things in the car, ready to be moved into the shop, shelving. That will be just inside on the left in an alcove that could have been built for the job. I'm fitting this tomorrow, so don't expect to see many people on New years day. But that's one of the reasons I like the place so much, because just as you feel it's time to lock up, or your standing there in between jobs, someone comes in and there is another person or couple or family that are keen to see what you do, learn how to make something or chat about the similar one they had or parents had.

Whilst the house is on hold, it still feels like home and will take a bit longer than we thought, but it pays to be patient and with patience come more improved methods or storage or something really special, so I would like to thank Lynn and the girls for their patience for the last few months and with me through the next few months as we go on the next journey into 2013.

I hope you have a happy new year, and if you get to stop by the workshop, please take the time to tell me if you read my blog.

I would also like to thank my customers of 2012, you have helped me on the start of a journey that I'm sure will continue for the next twenty or thirty years.

all the best for 2013

Jamie

The new workshop...

Finally, after quite a few weeks of waiting, I now have the keys to the new workshop.

I will be based at the Ruskin Glass Centre, Unit 1. A brilliant place for me to be set up and I hope to bring another audience to the centre. Based in old factory workshop buildings, bringing life back into this corner of an old site, in Stourbridge.

Here you can watch glass blowing, cutting, copper wheel engraving to name just a couple of the things going all the time, it's just the best, most creative atmosphere that I have seen in a long time.

I'll be putting more on here from now on, as I start to set up a comfortable, varied and productive little workshop. And make, repair and recycle (or up-cycle) all sorts of wooden items.


Hope you can stop by, there's a great coffee shop too.

All the best

Jamie

Twitter..

Got my old Twitter page running again..I'll still be blogging, but the tweets will be more up to date.

Jamie Hubbard  @jam73e


I've been tidying all of the building stuff away, can't imagine I'll see Clive this side of Christmas, he's got loads to get on with.

Still waiting for news on the workshop, I just can't see past this. I think it will be brilliant, to set up a workshop that will be able to handle my tools, carving, turning, joinery, restoration, polishing as well as driftwood, gardening tools, there is so much that I work, I hope I get it right.

all the best

Jamie

Catching up..

The last couple of weeks have been very wet over here in the UK, but the interest in my work has more than made up for the dreary weather. Some of you have been on 'Google images' and pushed the Olympic torch replica onto the first page.. which is amazing, thank you.

The leather covered bed that I had previously mentioned, has now gone and looked great when it was finished.

This was the bed after a few days work, take a look at what it was like before I started..
It wasn't the most exciting of jobs and repairing the leather was a bit frustrating, as I was getting the colour right, I didn't have much time to work the compound before it would start to cure, so then I would have to mix some more, good fun eh?

On the Restoration page.. in the Previous Work section

I've also been round to see Julian's 1964 split screen VW bus, and it's looking beautiful, there's a final picture added to the camper section.

Take a look...

All the best

Jamie

Julian's Split screen..

Bespoke seating with the best storage...

This gorgeous van belongs to Julian, and the only thing missing is the upholstery.

Julian is having all of the seating and lining work done in leather by
Bromsgrove Auto Trimmers. The intention is to use it for weddings, so a gorgeous interior is a must..


This is what it looked like before I started working on the interior.

Note the masking tape, with lines marked on to show what and where..

First thing Monday morning Pete the upholsterer, and I went through the design of the seating to make it the right height, the depth of seating to work and the angle of the back to be comfortable. The height of the backrest was to sit in a panel detail line, just under the windows.

By the end of the first days work I had the floor down, a master pattern made,

10 backrest sections made and all was good.

and a few days later..   Done..

The cream "Old English" Formica around the bottom,
and in one piece.. so no unsightly joints

The forward seating has the largest storage compartment and as I talked it through with Julian, I suggested that I would line this area out with a soft carpet, for the happy couple to put any items in. That would save things rolling around the floor area.

This corner area is useful for all sorts, the lid/seat squabs have the ply cut-outs screwed to the underside to stop the seats moving around and stiffen them up. It also makes fitting the upholstery too easier, you can't beat a hard base for the upholsterer.

The aft storage floor is not ply lined and good for tools and a jack

Pete and I chose to do the seat cushions with a full, lightweight ply base to make the cushions very crisp and the backrest removable in two parts allowing him to finish the upholstery on the bench and then fit after. I just had to ensure a 2.5mm gap all round each board. This method also allows the base unit to support the whole cushion board and the largest aperture.

Here is the leather covered seating with piping, looks great doesn't it. This photo was taken before the van was completed, so it could only look even more gorgeous later, beautiful.

It didn't take long to do, and by working with Pete, what took me a few minutes longer to do, saved Pete more than double his time..

Hope you like.

All the best

Jamie

Olympic torch in wood..

The Olympic Torch section has all of the finished photos, take a look

This posting shows how it was made

Olympic Torch in wood

A few months ago, I was asked by the headmaster of Catshill Middle School, Paul Essenhigh, if I could make a wooden version of the Olympic torch for some sports events they will be having at the school in July, to celebrate the Olympics.

Of course, I said yes..
I had done some research into the torch and started marking out the template on the day that the flame was lit in Greece the other day. I already knew that the torch is 800mm long and weighs 800 grams, so this was a good starting point. After looking on the Internet for dimensions and being unsuccessful with finding any, I looked at the scale of the torch compared to the people holding it. The torch handle was around 40% of the overall length, and the top looked around 115 mm (4 1/2") from the middle of one corner to the other rounded corner of the triangular shape.

and here it is.

Click on the pictures to enlarge

The finished torch, in wood, with an Aluminium tube in the centre, with a shaped Aluminium piece on the top

 

Thursday 10 May 2012,

News Headline

Olympic flame lit in Greece ahead of torch relay across Britain before the 2012 London Games

So today I started marking out the Olympic torch onto some waste fibre board. Using all of the pictures that we see on the Internet. On the day that the flame was lit in Greece, I started marking out the template, I had done some research into the torch and already knew that the torch is 800mm long and weighs 800 grams, so this was a good starting point. After looking on the Internet for dimensions and being unsuccessful with finding any, I looked at the scale of the torch compared to the people holding it. The torch handle was around 40% of the overall length, and the top looked around 115 mm (4 1/2") from the middle of one corner to the other rounded corner of the triangular shape.

So 60% is tapering to the top, there are more and more pictures in the media now. But when I did this I was really uncertain about the top width or diameter. I had a few attempts at the size and marked the options on the board. After checking one more time, that was it, I'm going for it.

The timber for this torch will be Medium density fibreboard and pine reinforcement in the corners, painted in gold, using an Aluminium tube down the centre with an Aluminium plate bonded onto the top.

Here is the master pattern for marking the height, width and shape.

I cut out the shape and planned it to a smooth finish

From a piece of 6mm MDF measuring 12220 x 600mm, I cut out seven rough oversize shaped pieces, I kept the off-cuts for trials on the painting later.

Here I am routing all seven from the master pattern. I always had at least two cramps on the timbers at any one time to ensure that their was no movement.

I also made a section of the top that I thought was about the right size..

Fortunately for me, one of the teachers at the school has handled one of the real torches. Brilliant, it's just a matter of getting on the phone to see if he can have a look on his way home after school.

Mr Hewitt, the games teacher came over to look at the template and the section of the top that I had put together to give an idea of what it will look like. He said it looked great, success, now I can really get stuck in.

Two hours worth of marking out the drill sizes and hole positions

So if you wondered why I had made seven sides, one was for marking out all of the holes.

The other six will make two torches, one for Catshill Middle School, the other will be given to Chloe after she plays her part in the opening ceremony.

Friday 25th May

Before I could drill any of the holes, all six of the MDF pieces had to be glued together with paper joints, this will keep them tightly packed together, and make the holes much tidier.

Glueing up..

Today I took the Torch into school to get some assistance from some of the school pupils and teachers. Mr Essenhigh and I had discussed this at a previous meeting and decided to get some of the children involved and the best way to do that was to let them drill some of the holes. So I set the drill press up with the correct bit, set the torch in place and after the headmaster had explained to the students, a little about what was happening, the queue formed. Each child drilled at least one or two holes and some of the teachers and teaching assistants joined in. Together we drilled about 30 holes...over six rows, a good start.  

Lots more to do though...

I shaped the one corner of the top piece and marked out the holes around from one face to the other to see how the holes lined up... pretty good

Over the next couple of weeks I went and used my pillar drill to get some more holes done, two hours worth on a Sunday, while Lynn and the girls went walking with Clive and Sheila. Then I went to finish them of on a wet Monday, done.

The next thing to do was to fix the sides together using some off-cuts of Pine I had from the Garden room.

Here I have dry fitted the MDF together to see how it's all working out

If you read my Blog you'll know that I don't have a workshop yet, and try to get my work done while the sun is shining...I love this picture

This is the last dry fit, just checked that all was looking good

Planing down the corner joints to ensure flat across the two surfaces

Painting the insides, once together I wouldn't have been able to get the paint in here

After painting in two parts, ready to glue together

5th July 2012.

Today, the big day.

I attended the school assembly at Catshill Middle, for the handover of the Wooden Olympic Torch that I had made for the school to help celebrate the Olympics.

But it was so much more than that, Paul Essenhigh, the Headmaster had arranged for a local torch bearer Dawn Bayliss, who had carried the torch through Droitwich a few weeks ago, to be there as well.

Mine below Dawns genuine Olympic Torch

Me, Julie Pask and Dawn Bayliss

Paul with both torches

Thank you to all that have helped make this a wonderful day, and to you Lynn.

all the best

Jamie