One of the simplest ways of making your home slightly bigger and giving it that classy look is to install a conservatory. The sole purpose of a conservatory is to enjoy the surrounding landscape within your home whilst being sheltered from unpleasant weather conditions. As are mostly made from glass it is important that they last for a long time which means they withstand external conditions such as severe weather. They should also insulate your home and provide security and comfort. For these purposes it is beneficial for your conservatory to be made from double glazing.
Double glazing was filed for a US patent in October 1989 by inventors Dariush Arasteh, John Hartmann and Stephen Selkowitz and the patent was issued just over two years later in November 1991. Double glazing works by spacing two or more sheets of glass apart and then hermetically sealing them to form a single glass unit with air between each sheet. The technical term for double glazing windows is insulated or thermal glass as the production of such windows was not solely exclusive to two panes of glass. However as most of the windows were manufactured using only two sheets of glass the term double glazing stuck.

Double glazing is one of the simplest ways of saving energy in your home as they greatly reduce the amount of heat that is lost in your home. Due to this they can be classed as a very sustainable piece of technology as the use of central heating in the home is immensely cut. Moreover the troublesome condensation and damp problems caused by single glazed windows is non-existent in double glazing. Condensation is created due to the contrasts of the air within our home and the outside environment. The air in our homes contains many droplets of water resulting from the use of kettles and even our breathing. The warmer the air gets the more water it can hold until it reaches a limit and becomes saturated. When the saturated air comes into contact with a surface which is cooler then itself it forms vapour on the surface. Double glazing combats this as the trapped air within the two panes of glass does not mix with either the room air or the outside air, and therefore creates an insulation barrier.

For the same reasons double glazing also prevents the amount of noise that enters the home. The trapped air or 'insulation barrier' also creates a vacuum of air which prevents the majority of sound frequencies from entering our home. In a world of increasing noise pollution created from cars on our roads and airplanes in our skies this is another perk that double glazing offers. This is important for your as there is a large amount of glass meaning that a lot of noise can enter the home.
Double glazing windows also give your home a heightened sense of security. The robust frames that now come with these types of window feel much more durable and the fact that they are visibly more secure gives you a much added sense of comfort within your home. For these reasons double glazing windows are ideal for windows in your home or business and are a very good for conservatories which require many groups' windows within a confined space of the home. Aesthetically double glazing is also superior to its predecessors in that they come in many different styles and materials and so really make your look modern. They do commonly come in UPVC which is what may spring to mind if you think of double glazing however they are also come in wood which gives them a more traditional look.

Modern design should really take into account sustainably in a world where there is apparent global warming. Double glazing is the way forward now and is not just an investment in improving your home and standard of living but also an investment to improve the future.

James Forbes is a specialist in conservatories having worked for many years in Yorkshire for a company specialising in conservatories. More information can be found at http://conservatoryoutlet.co.uk

A humble ring which honors all of the women and men that have made they life's work of clothing and sheltering the human race.

See more like this ring at http://www.simplywoodrings.com.

If you've been turning pens, you'll have begun collecting odd sized drill bits. 27/64, 15/32, etc. Even the cheapie ones are $5 or more each.

Ugh.

Last week I purchased a Navigator rollerball kit from Woodcraft. $10 for the kit, $6 for the bushings, and $35 for the two drill bits! $51 just to make a $10 kit.

So I was standing there in front of the rack of expensive drill bits at Woodcraft when I noticed a box at the bottom. Drill bits in 64ths. A whole set. $25.

I opened it to ensure it had the sizes I needed, and it did! I put the $35 pair of bits back on the rack and grabbed this bad boy.

It's the Wood River 29 Piece Fractional Inch Brad Point Set. (Link here but it's $31.99 online.) I've been using them like mad this past week and loving it! Having all the odd sizes is great! For example, I was doing one of PSI's penlight kits that calls for a 1/2" hole. Well, 1/2" was a sloppy fit, so I went down to the next smaller size and the tube was a great fit!

Grab one of these kits if you can. I'll be getting the metric one next.

When the toolbox came upstairs for repair work last week, the cat appointed herself job-site supervisor. Notice the calm assurance that indicates her complete control of the project.

ShopNotes magazine has finally given its readers a practical reason to download Google’s design and drawing software — SketchUp. In Issue No. 102, the magazine features a great plan for a Cabinetmaker’s Workbench. And for the first time, they’re providing an Online Extra feature that I think is really cool — a SketchUp model of the workbench in 3-D.

If you’re familiar with the program, you know how powerful a tool it is. And if you’re new to it, Google has provided dozens of video tutorials, an extensive Help Center and even live training classes that make it easy to start modeling your own projects right away.

ShopNotes associate editor Randy Maxey came up with the idea to add the model to the magazines’ website. He thought it would be fun to provide readers with a professionally-designed project that they can actually take apart to really get a feel for the way it goes together before deciding to build it. And best of all, if you want to modify the workbench — make it taller, longer, or even change it to feature an edge-grain top — you can take the model and make any changes you want to reflect your particular needs

Other free downloads at the website include plans for the drawers, a short video animation of the workbench’s best features, and a fraction-to-decimal conversion chart.

We played with some saws on Friday, the tenth day of my 12 week course.

As usual some of the students had turned up ...

Erich Lage has been a senior illustrator (and editor) for Workbench Magazine for 12 years now.

Before that he owned his own remodeling-design business. In 1977 he started his journey in residential construction as a concrete finisher and ultimately worked as a trim carpenter and service manager in the Home Building Industry in the Midwest. During this month’s Woodsmith Woodworking Seminar Podcast, Erich will provide you with suggestions on how to troubleshoot all your home repair questions. During the seminar he’ll talk about everything from basement window repair to installing box beams in a family room.

Once again, the seminar guide is available for sale at the Woodsmith Podcast Store.

In this episode of the WoodworkersResource.com video podcast we're going to be looking into building simple bookcases. In this first part, we look at different joinery methods to construct our bookcase. We'll talk about advantages and disadvantages of using butt joints, rabbits, and pocket hole joinery to construct bookcases.

In part II we'll look into constructing face frames and ways to make sure that they fit perfectly, everytime.

If you would like to be alerted to when we release new episodes, simple go to our website and sign up to receive our newsletter. Just for signing up, you'll receive a special "Bonus" from us as our way of saying, THANKS!

www.WoodworkersResource.com

Craig Stevens

It's the beginning of a brand new month and I'm fully back from the "vacation".  So let's get everything started the right way by beginning with Router Bit of the Month!!!

And this month we have something a little extra special.  Whiteside's 1/2" Straight Cutting Bit is what I consider to be an essential router bit profile, this is one that should be in everyone's collection no matter what kind of woodworking you do.

And considering that I happen to already own one of these, because like I said...this is an essential profile...rather than keeping another one for myself why not share it with a second lucky winner??

So that's what we're doing, now there's double your chances to win this month.  If you weren't one of our two lucky winners this week that doesn't mean you can't take advantage of the great discounted price at Woodcraft all month long, just click here to buy yours...Whiteside 1/2" Diameter Straight Cutting Bit.

WIN AN iPOD TOUCH!!  If you have the time, please take the new listener survey, and when you do you'll be entered to win an iPod Touch.

If you'd like to enter for free schwag or just have a comment, question or suggestion drop me a line at mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com or  head over to my website at www.mattsbasementworkshop.com or call our Skype Voicemail at 231 354-2338.

To download directly to your computer Right Click on direct download, choose "Save Target as"

It's the first Friday of the month and that means it's time for ROUTER BIT OF THE MONTH!!!

This month we've had a chance to try out Whiteside's 3 Flute Flush Trimmer Bit.  A really great bit for when you're working with veneers, laminates or any thin material that can easily splinter and tear when you're trimming it flush.

Just like with all the other Whiteside Router Bits we've tried before, this one is no different when it comes to construction and reliability, they're well worth the money.  And considering they're on sale at Woodcraft for the entire month of March the price is even better.

So if you're interested in picking one up for your next veneer or laminate project head to your local Woodcraft or just click on the picture below to find it at Woodcraft.com

Don't forget to get your name in for upcoming schwag drawings if you haven't already, or if you have a question, topic suggestion or feedback.  Send them all to mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com .

Do you have questions about wood movement, acclimation or storage?  Submit them soon for our next talk with Hendrik.

A brief recap of the November meeting is on the Bulletin Board. After you log in, Click Bulletin Board on the Members Menu then click on Here's What You Missed (at the last meeting).If you have not Registered, Click Register at the Log In screen and fill out the simple form. That way you can access the Members Only features.

Start with a perfectly straight edge on a shortish board, say 15 to 20 inches long.

Take 10 full length, reasonably ...

Have you ever designed a project from scratch and tried to decide what molding profile to use on the edge of the top? Why is it some moldings make a project appear “heavy” and some make a project seem light, like it defies gravity? Here’s a web site I ran across that’s got a great article and graphics on architectural moldings. It’s written by Donald M. Rattner, Director of the Institute for the Study of Classical Architecture at the Real Estate Institute of New York University. The article is a bit technical, but I found it interesting to see the different styles of moldings and how they affect the overall look of a project. The article is focused on architectual design elements, but the basic principles apply to your projects around the house, too.

Every fall for the last 15 years or so, the Woodsmith Store has ended the month of September with two events — the annual Fall Fair and the start of the woodworking seminar season. This year is no exception with one small difference. This will be the first year that several of the presenters at the seminars will also be cast members on America’s newest woodworking TV show — The Woodsmith Shop on public television.

As many of you know by now, the first episode of The Woodsmith Shop will air on Iowa Public Television at 6:30pm on Friday, October 5th. And hopefully, by the end of the year when the feed will be available to the rest of the country, the show will be picked up by stations around the U.S. (For more information, go to WoodsmithShop.com. Randy Maxey will also post more about the show soon.)

The same tradition is being carried on every week during the woodworking seminars at the Woodsmith Store in Clive, Ia. They’re held each Thursday evening (from September through April) in a 200-seat auditorium with a fully-equipped shop. Seminar topics for this fall range from “Top 5 Shop-Built Router Jigs” to “Tips for Working with Plywood.” Season and single tickets are on sale now at the store. Plus, this year the one-hour seminars will be supplemented by two 4-hour hands-on workshops held in December. Space is limited to six for these sessions though, so sign up soon.

This time, I´ll give you a complete tutorial to make a very nice sweater.

The first rows: double elastic stitch (10 rows).
After that rows: start the desing.

1st design row:

1 -Pass the first loop from left needle to right needle. (pic. a - b)

pic. a

pic. b
2 - Make one lace, as you can see in pic. c.
pic. c
3 - Pass another loop from left needle to right needle. (pic. d) (*)

pic. d
4 - Knit one stitch. (pic. e)
pic. e
5 - Pass the third loop (the one you made on step 3) over the las one you knit. (pic. f)
pic. f
6 - Knit three stitches (no pic)

7 - Knit two stitches together (pic. g)
pic. g
8 - Make a lace.

9 - Knit one. (*)
10 - Make a lace

11 - and start all over again since the first * to the last *.
Lace.

The last stitches of the row are: - Knit 2 stitches together - one lace - Knit one. (you have to finish like this if you want to follow this pattern)
2nd row: Purl all the row (including the lace loops - that way the little holes appears)
3rd row:

1 - Pass the first loop from left needle to right needle.
2 - Knit one
3 - One lace
4- Pass another loop from left needle to right needle. (*)
5 - Knit one
6 - Pass the fourth loop (the one you made on step 4) over the las one you knit.
7 - Knit one
8 - Knit two stitches together.
9 - Make a lace
10 - Knit three.
11 - Make a lace (*)

4th row:
Purl all the row.

5th row:

1 - Knit three.
2 - make a lace
3 - Pass one loop from left needle to right one (*)
4 - Knit two stitches together.
5 - Pass the third stitch over the two stitches you knt in step 4 - this way you close the upper angle of the triangle.
6 - Make a lace.
7 - Knit five stitches.
8 - Make a lace.
repeat from (*)

6 a 12 row : rice stitch

Start all over again from the first row of the design.

Here you can see a complete view of the pattern:

And here a closer view of the “Lace” design.

You have to use a thin yarn and thin needles to make this pattern.

Try it, it´s not so difficult and the outcome it´s great.

Kisses,

Fran

Visit this sites for more ideas: Knit n Purl Zen , Little Purl of the Orient.

For anyone interested in learning the right way to prep and sharpen their hand plane blades this DVD from Lie-Nielsen is a great tutorial.  David Charlesworth is already known for being a great woodworking instructor and "Hand Tool Techniques Part 1" just reinforces it even more so.

Covering topics from truing and prepping waterstones for sharpening to accurately setting up a honing guide repeatedly.  Other topics inside include flattening waterstones, understanding which ones to use and also setting up chipbreakers for your blade assemblies. 

The demonstrations in this DVD will have you sharpening your plane's blade in no time and getting scary sharp results right away.

To order your own copy  from Woodcraft just click on the DVD cover below:

Or head over to Lie-Nielsen to order directly.

Don't forget coming up in April, Hendrik is back and answering our questions about dealing with cup, bow, twist or other lumber imperfections.  So get your questions in soon.  Send them to mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com, that's also where you can submit your name for free schwag, questions for the show or feedback.

And don't forget to head over to Chris Schwarz's blog to learn more about his classes, Lost Art Press.

Listen to today's show by clicking on the player below

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In this interview we have the opportunity to speak with John Economaki, founder and president of Bridge City Tool Works. John started out as a designer/craftsman, but after developing allergies to wood dust, had to find a new career.

John has always been a designer at heart and soon discovered that woodworkers were interested in many of the designs and improvements he had made to tools while building furniture for a living.

Fast forward to today, and you have one of the most innovative companies in the world when it comes to woodworking tools.

We hope you enjoy!

Craig

P.S. Be sure to check out our website for all kinds of other resources to help in your pursuit of this craft.

www.WoodworkersResource.com

What does a furniture maker do in his spare time except spending even more time in the shop? Sometimes it's good to get away from the woodworking environment altogether and just do something completely different. In my case I like to get back to nature and do some hiking or kayaking in summer, skiing in winter, or anything outdoors for that matter. This past week my wife and I were away in the mountains for a few days of just this, getting away from everything, clearing our minds, and regaining focus. I have to admit, it's very hard for me to pull myself away from my studio and from my love of making furniture, but in the end I'm always glad I got away. Shifting focus is a good thing and often puts things into perspective.

We often head to an area two hours or so away, in the mountains, which prides itself on a very outdoor way of life. The surrounding towns and villages offer great craft and art type shops which open up the mind to new design possibilities. Something both my wife and I love to see is other crafts people's work, regardless of the media. We both have a soft spot for crafts and craftspeople in general and their typically modest, rewarding and fulfilling lifestyles.

While visiting some small shops, I found this beautiful small irregular shaped bowl, handmade in Central America. An ideal small piece to complement one of my small cabinets. The workmanship that went into this decorative bowl is amazing and I had to have it. I already have it placed in one of my cabinets.

I also had the opportunity to read parts of a good book, it is furniture related, but nonetheless I had the free time to be able to sit down and focus on this book, which I've sort of read before, but never really in depth. I find I need to set aside an hour or so every day to be able to catch up on my reading, usually much later in the evening at home. This doesn't always work out, and I begin to accumulate partially read books, etc. I'm a book hound and have shelves full of interesting books that I've read, but also a few small piles of books in the process of being read.. I still hope to address this dilemna somehow, maybe I'll just pack a pile of books into a bag and get away for a few days to do just this.

Hi Folks
Brace yourselves - I have actually done some woodworking! Yes, non-planemaking stuff.
Remember the acoustic guitar project I've been slowly building? It's a Weissenborn lap steel guitar, and I made pretty good progress until I came to making the sides. Yes, the tricky part......;)
A couple of weekends ago I made a small bending iron from some steel pipe and a blow torch. Worked fairly well but the pipe was too small a diameter to give me the gentle curves I required. Rather than purchase some suitable pipe I decided to go for Plan B - build a former and laminate the guitar sides in the vacuum bag.
So I built a one piece former from some poplar and laminated the sides from 6 pieces of veneer. It was simple work and the vacuum press did its usual amazing job of flattening things while the glue set. I made a pair and then set them aside to cure. Now I can get on with assembling the guitar, when it finally looks like a "real one"!
Cheers
Philly

"Two peas in a pod"




For that couple that have that unique bond of having so much in common. I have made this set "Two peas in a pod".

The Box is made of White Oak wood and Red Oak wood.

The rings shown are single wood Walnut (men's) and Mahogany (women's)

Click Here To See The Listing.

Many of you in the US are familiar with the unique video rental service SmartFlix.com offers.

They are putting on their first woodworking contest. You have until October 10 to get in your entry and could win $250.

Voting will start on October 11.

Some people are luckier than the rest of us. When it comes to winning contests, Patricia and Mike Mortimer fall into the lucky category. Patricia entered Highland Woodworking's Win a Festool Package Sweepstakes and was the lucky winner out of thousands of entrants. She's shown here being congratulated by Chris Bagby, Highland Woodworking's owner and co-founder. It wasn't just the first contest Patricia has won. Among other things that she's won are a flat screen television and an all-expense paid trip to Bejing, China to attend the 2008 Olympics. We asked her how she did playing the lottery and she replied "I don't play the lottery. You have to pay to do that!"

The Mortimer's new power tool package includes Festool's Kapex KS120 Sliding Compound Miter Saw, the first miter saw with variable speed, which enables the user to match the speed of the blade with the requirements of the material. The Kapex Sliding Compound Miter Saw combines a large cutting capacity with a compact lightweight design. Of course the perfect mate to their new Kapex Sliding Compound Miter Saw is the Kapex MFT3 Multifunction Table which is designed specifically for use with the Kapex Sliding Compound Miter Saw. It features additional holes in the perforated top plate for positioning the feet of the Kapex and for mounting with clamps. Also included as part of their Kapex prize package is the Festool CT22E Mobile Dust Extractorwhich comes with HEPA filters that remove dust particles down to .3 microns. A tool-triggered switch with smooth start-up and shut-off delay, and adjustable electronic suction control make this the ultimate vac to connect to any hand power tool.

Mike works professionally doing commercial repair and finish restoration on furniture, cabinets and interiors. He is actually known for being quite the "magician" when it comes to recreating grain patterns and surfaces that have been damaged or distressed. When asked, both admitted that they were not really sure what projects they would attempt first with their new woodworking equipment. One thing for certain is that they'll definitely have room for it, as they have a 2400 square foot shop! After mentioning projects like chairs and end tables, they both joked that given the space they have, perhaps they would make a gazebo for inside the shop.

Since Highland Woodworking is well known for its Education Program, which includes a wide variety of classes for both beginners as well as advanced woodworkers, hopefully we will see both of them soon in some of our
upcoming classes for a chance to study woodworking with our knowledgeable instructors.

Visit Wood News, our monthly online woodworking magazine

I just found out Paul Newman died.

I have mentioned Cool Hand Luke more than once during the history of this blog, so regular readers probably know that I was one Paul Newman’s biggest fans.

I suppose Paul Newman was what I always wanted to be when I grew up. Somewhere between racing cars or shooting pool or getting away to South America against the backdrop of a Burt Bacharach score… Paul Newman embodied everything that was considered to be cool by a kid like me. Then, just when you thought he was great… he started selling his favorites recipes and giving the money away.

In the world of baby blue eyed hero types, some people lean more toward Steve McQueen, and I was a huge fan of his, too. However, what always pulled me over to Paul Newman was that smile. When I was a little younger I discovered for myself the power of a good smile, and I learned it from watching Paul Newman. He has helped me defuse many hostile situations in my career, when I strolled into a conference room where the table was surrounded with angry people filled with a “sense of urgency� and rather than launching into a defensive speech about why my company wasn’t at fault…I took a couple of moments to make eye contact and let the angry folks get to know me.

Paul Newman taught me that it is hard to hate someone when he shows you the gleam in his blue eyes and flashes you “’dat ol' Luke Smile.�

A Greeting plaque for mom - A gift that lasts forever. $97

When it comes to finding a tool(s) that can speed up your set up of router bits or blades I've been very skeptical. 

But I've been won over by the brass height gauges from Whiteside.  These little pieces of brass allow me to accurately set up bits so quickly I'm still convinced I'm doing something wrong, but the fact is these accurate results are repeatable over and over...

If you're interested in learning more about these gauges click here Whiteside Brass Height Gauges.

If you'd like to enter for free schwag or just have a comment, question or suggestion drop me a line at mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com or  head over to my website at www.mattsbasementworkshop.com or call our Skype Voicemail at 231 354-2338.

If you have the time, please take the new listener survey.

Listen to today's show by clicking on the player below

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