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Saturday, February 22, 2014

Where To Buy Office Chairs

There are numerous places that you can buy office chairs from. You can buy from a dealer, direct, or even from a superstore. There are however, a few things that you should know.

Buying from a dealer

Many companies that purchase mid to high end furniture will go through a dealer to furnish their office. Dealers will normally sell chairs from one of the three largest vendors, then compliment with a number of smaller lines.

The advantages of buying from dealers include their ability to obtain many designs. Businesses that plan to order many office chairs will be able to bring a few models into the office for evaluation purposes.

Buying chairs direct

Buying your chair direct is an option for companies that are interested in purchasing budget or middle ranged office chairs. Because direct vendors dont have the high costs of maintaining showrooms, youll find office chairs to be priced 20 - 40 percent lower than the actual retail price. When you purchase multiple chairs, the price will get even better.

Keep in mind that buying direct means you wont be able to try the chairs out before you make the purchase. If you plan to purchase office chairs through a vendor direct, be sure that you try out at least one chair before you purchase several.

Buying from superstores

A superstore will offer many advantages for companies that buy office chairs. They buy in bulk, which allows them to sell their chairs at extremely low prices. In addition to this, chair models are available right there on the floor, which allows you to try before you buy. A superstore will often times provide free and immediate delivery.

Despite everything they offer, superstores tend to be a poor choice for many companies. The furniture thats on display is normally designed for a home office, and therefore doesnt offer the comfort and durability of the better designs and models. In addition to this, the selection often tends to be limited.

If you happen to be looking for office chairs, any of the above is great. You can even look on auction sites such as Ebay, or local trading newspapers as well. Office chairs are popular these days, with some being more well known than others. With new chairs coming out all the time, the perfect chair for you is out there and waiting.

All you need to do is decide which method of buying is best for you company and your needs. There are many available methods, all you have to do is find which one has the best quality office chairs for the price.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Well I figured out what to do next! Discussion and plans

Hi Everyone,

Now, you know it doesnt take much time for me to figure out what to do next and this time isnt any different.

Heres our next project: Im going to glue up a really large block out of some hickory and a couple of pieces of black walnut and rock maple. Here is a picture of the pieces of wood lined up into a block:

After its glued into a block Ill cut it into an octagon, or an eight-sided shape and then Ill place it on the lathe for turning. If I dont mess up well have a platter with scalloped edges instead of one continues round shape.

Here we go again! Another adventure in the wood shop beckons. Take care and see you soon.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

4 22 The Duck Bed Has Flown To Its New Home

Update 4/22 ... Usually, after a long and complex project like this one, Im glad to see it go. You know, time for the next one. This one was different. Its been in the works for about six weeks, involved a lot of old and new skills, and everyone in the shop pitched in ... I give Will the credit for the turning, carving, fussy inlay fitting and finishing; Trevor gets the credit for the complex cnc work on the headboard and walnut overlay with the inlay pockets, and Sam, well, he did a great job with the metal shaping and patina work ... Ill take a little credit, for the CAD drawing of most of the ducks and for leading the parade, but it was overall a shop wide effort. Jim pitched in too but mainly his job was to keep our other projects truckin along. The clients were happy today and I thank them for their trust in us to commission and support us on a challenging project like this. Whew ! Ill also miss the ongoing duck puns ... ducks in a row, all ducked up, just ducky, duckinaround, what a bunch of quacks ... and so it went ... The whole project was a great one .. Click the photos to enlarge them ...

The whole shebang ...

To the right

To the left

At home

Other posts
Waterjetting the inlays
A Bed Update
A New Bed Project

Update ... Tax Day ... 4/15 ... Glad I have an accountant ... Jim had to leave early to do his ...

Inlay update .... Almost finished ... Sam has done all the chemical patinas on the ducks and I think he has just one or two more wing parts to wrap up tomorrow ... Will will be applying the final coat of varnish to the wood parts and well epoxy the inlays into the finished headboard next week. Cant wait ... Gonna be cool ... Click the photos to enlarge them ...

To see how we made the parts for these inlays, check this post on waterjetting

This is the headboard today, after the gel stain coat ... top coat tomorrow ... Out the door soon ....
4/13/2010

Previous blog posts on the bed here and here

Close up of the center inlay for the headboard below .... Sams adding the color now ....

Inlays for the duck bed are underway ... click the photos to enlarge them, ... more later

Cad drawing of the headboard

Waterjet cut inlay parts ... see this post here

Trevors sample mdf headboard overlay ... Always best to test. You can quote me on that.

In the test pockets

Fitting, filing, and beveling where the pieces meet. Some of the individual pieces (beaks, wings and feet) were also made thinner to create an illusion of depth ...

The first sample center inlay ... cut in aluminum, just to see if it would work ... who knew?

The brass grass was rounded and the inlay pockets were pointed by Will with an Exacto knife.

Unpatinaed redhead

More on the inlays for this bed coming soon .....

First test assembly .. twist and pinecone carvings by Will see previous bed posts linked above

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

An Enjoyable Way To Recuperate

Occasionally, since starting this blog, I have allowed my love for cars to creep into its posts. I dont think that is a bad thing as I dont remember meeting too many woodworkers that arent into cars to some degree. Two that quickly come to mind are Chris Schwarz, with his restored Karmann Ghia and Jim Bode, who once was a car dealership manager. I guess it makes sense as fitting wood and messing with tools is in the same area as fitting metal and messing with engines.

I used to change cars as often as I changed my socks. As a kid, I would buy an old junker for $25, mess with it enough to make it unique and at least run reasonably, then sell it for anywhere from $100 to $200, making a small profit on most. Where I used to loose money on the deal was when I decided to swap engines, dumping the old flathead 8s (most were old Fords) for more current power plants. I didnt do this often, but when I did, I usually went overboard, which never surprised anyone. I must add here that there is no better feeling of accomplishment and power than dumping the clutch and feeling the front end of the car lift two feet into the air.

As I grew older, my income grew enough that I could finally afford to really mess with cars. The problem I had was that, to maintain that income, I didnt have the time to do a build. During this period of my life I got in the habit of changing cars every four years, instead of every four months.

When I closed my business and turned to teaching, I had the time but not the inclination to build a car. Getting my hands all grimy and burning my butt with a torch all the time no longer appealed to me, so I took another route that allowed me to still call myself a "car-guy". I started buying a car and keeping it, doing most of the maintenance myself. I kept my last car 11-years and put 350,000-km on it, or 218,000-miles. That doesnt sound impressive until you realize that I am talking about a 1995 Ford Taurus Wagon that never had a head off of it or any work done to the tranny. It probably ran better the day I sold it than it did the day I bought it.

I replaced it with a 2007 Ford Fusion, which, due to its size, my wife likes much more than the Taurus, although I miss the extra cargo area of a wagon. Given my wife is the driver in the family, it is important that she be happy with it. While on the road Im just the navigator, but when it is sitting in the driveway, Im the primary maintenance man, and that is the part I truly love in this arrangement. The Fusion is 6-years old now and has 130,000-km, or 81,000-miles, but with luck and a bit of elbow grease, it might surpass the life of the Taurus.

While I mainly maintain the car for my own enjoyment, the reality is, we save a fortune each year by doing so. A car takes its biggest hit with depreciation in the first four years of its life. We bought the Fusion for $32,000 and after 4-years, it was worth, retail, about $11,000. Three years later, it is down to $7,000, so you can see how much the depreciation factor is slowing. In another couple of years it will be worth $3,000, and that is where it will sit for the next four or five years. At this point in this Fusions life, depreciation is no longer a factor in the cost of owning it. Now, the only number that counts is how much is spent on maintenance and repairs.

I believe the better a car is maintained, the less it will need in repairs, and it is the repairs that cost the money. Maintenance needs to be consistent and properly scheduled. The Fusion, like the Taurus, receives a going-over four times a year. The oil and filter is changed, using synthetic for its higher lubricating properties and its longer life. The air cleaner is changed, belt inspected, all levels checked and topped up, and the tires rotated. Once a year the radiator is flushed and refilled with new anti-freeze, the brake pads are replaced, every system is inspected, adjusted or replaced as required, and the engine and transmission are shampooed, as a clean engine runs cooler. Every 3-years, the transmission is flushed, the gasket replaced and new fluid added (this is why the Taurus transmission lasted, unlike every other Taurus on the road), as well as replacing the fuel pump filter.

While this isnt a complete list, you get the drift. I keep the car on a consistent maintenance regiment, changing out parts before they fail so the drivetrain components and the parts they mate to are protected.

One of the things I do when I replace parts is look to the aftermarket for a better product. Because the brake pads got changed every year since the car was new, the brake rotors never needed turning as they didnt get heavily scored. While changing out the pads this often costs me more, for me, it was worth it to avoid turning the rotors as I believe once turned, they are not as effective. Now, going on 8-years of use, it is time to change those rotors out.

I dont understand why anyone would play loose and fast with their brakes. When my son came to me to ask me to help him hop-up his Scion, he asked me what was the first thing I thought we should do to it. I told him that the brakes are first, and after he could stop, then he should look at going faster. He changed his brakes out with drilled and slotted rotors with ceramic pads and then we added a supercharger, custom exhaust and other modifications. He took the car from 160hp to about 250hp, and while it will go like scat and corner like it is on rails, it has a shorter stopping distance than it had when it left the factory, and to me, that is more important than any improvements in its numbers on the track.

Searching the aftermarket, I came up with a company just outside of Toronto that produces and sells drilled and slotted rotors, as well as ceramic pads for the Fusion. I ordered a complete set, which were delivered last week. The cost of these aftermarket rotors are not much more than Ford replacement parts, but this aftermarket set-up fades less, runs cooler and as a result, stops the car in a considerably shorter distance. This last point makes any extra work and costs well worth it as my wife drives this car, not me, and if I can give her an edge to keep her safe, Im going to do it.

Replacing the stock brake set-up with this aftermarket one is for my wifes benefit, but making them pretty is strictly for me, so before they go on, I want to paint out the areas where the pads dont touch, but the rust can grow. Obviously, I really dont need to do this, but it is just one of those little touches that makes my older car look better than it did when it was new.

Once the weather breaks, Ill change out the rotors and pads, painting the callipers with the same heat-resistant brake paint I used on the rotors. At that same time Ill swap out the summer wheels and tires for the winter ones that are on it now.

The one on the right is an untouched front rotor. The one in the
middle is a rear rotor taped for painting, while the one on
the left is a finished rear rotor, ready to install.

Given I am supposed to be taking it easy, recuperating from the instillation of a pacemaker, I cant think of a more enjoyable way to spend an hour or so a day then messing about with some car parts.

Peace,

Mitchell

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Woodworking projects to build

For you Woodworking projects to build

Woodworking Projects To Build

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How To Choose A Table Saw For Woodworking

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Tuesday, January 28, 2014

To the Teeth

in the hand saw valley

5 1/2 rip tooth on the left and an 8 point x-cut on the right. The Disston D-8 duet.

This week I’m shipping saws and receiving saws, some for review and some for wood class work and student aids. I’ve been teaching sawing techniques this week and last, ( thanks again Dave ), reading about saw design through history and into more recent years, speaking at lengths on saw design with actual hand tool manufacturers and if that wasn’t enough I’m working out details on some new hand sawing ‘items‘... ( more on that over the summer )
You could say I’m up ‘to the teeth’ and enjoying every minute of it.
The shipping portion of my week involves panel saws destined for Southwestern Wisconsin.
I did an over haul on these two beauties last week and thought I’d share it with you. After putting in the elbow grease I’ve decided their worth sending out to get ‘dressed by a professional’.
I do enjoy ‘putting the file to the plate’ and sharpening my own hand saws when they need it. My rip saws aren’t too bad ..??.. but cross cut tooth geometry is a little more complicated and I’m the first to admit my saw sharpening isn’t my strongest point.
It’s something I practice but felt these two worth the extra effort.
They’re antique Disston D-8′s and both family saws. They had fallen into that dark place under the stairs and in bad need of some work. They’ve been on my to-do list for years and years and I’m happy to finally see them again and anxious to get them back to work. I’ve held onto them as ‘family heirlooms’ but never took the time to set them up. That changed.

Disston D-8 after 3 decades unused. Rusted and tarnished but lots of life left in it.

The 5 1/2 ppi rip saw was my Uncle Johnny’s. John Pier who lived on Keltic Dr. in Sydney River, Nova Scotia. He was a WWII veteran and growing up we were very close to him and his wife, ‘Aunt Ivy‘. When I was young my father and I would visit Uncle Johnny’s basement work shop and now thinking back you could have filmed horror movies down there!
The low ceiling clinging cob webs on bent nails, a few bare light bulbs to accent the jars of food preserves, empty and now recycled into storage containers nailed to the floor joists above holding ‘sets’ or ‘collections’ of nails, fasteners and other unimagined horrors. Uncle Johnny and Aunt Ivy both died during my first year of middle school. Johnny died one night while I was at a ‘social event’ on Argyle st. in the Ship yard area of Sydney. It was Grade 7, I still remember that night like it was yesterday.
He used to wear a Tartan vest, a nice old guy with a big belly and big smile to go with it.
Funny, I had a Tartan vest for a few years…

The second hand saw is also a vintage D-8 but filed at 8 ppi, It’s a bit of a mystery in that it either belonged to my Grand Uncle, Stan Wadden from Matilda St. in Whitney Pier, or it came from my wife’s side of the family who also had Wadden’s. I don’t remember when or where I got this one. The initials almost look like FW. ?

A second Disston D-8 from a family member. Im a lucky man indeed.

Nelson Wadden, ( my son’s namesake) was my wife’s grand Uncle from Wadden’s Cove on Cape Breton Island. This was where a couple of my old hand tools came from. He was a fiddle player and lobster fisherman. I got to meet him a couple of years before he passed away in his little work shop in the back yard next to the vegetable garden. You can see the initials end in W but I’m not sure about the first. Looks like an F but still need to figure out the origins.
Interesting that Johnny’s was made at Disston Canada and the other in Philadelphia, USA.
That is what’s leading me to think my wife’s side of the family due to her connections in Massachusetts. The mystery will continue for now.

Here’s a photo journal from last week. I’ll call this bit,
‘How to prepare an old hand saw for another generation of work.’
Isn’t that just the best feeling in the world?
; )
A hand saw resurrection.

Cheers!

Rust Never Sleeps while Im confident the green slime took a few years off of my life, it did a wonderful job at removing the rust and wear from the saw plate.

Creeping along through the green and the grey.

Shining like a new dime.

5 1/2
Close to home.
8 ppi
Brotherly love.
The toxic avenger.
Made in the USA
After a little brushing and sanding I trace my fingers to fine tune the fit for my hand.
Both sides.
Lest we forget. I carefully deepen the initials using an awl before the final finishing.
ACHTUNG ! Purists close your eyes-; )
One for Uncle Johnny
Working through the oil and wax.
Ready for sharpening.
The resurrection.
Still there after the rusty vinegar bath.
Ready for another generation working wood.

Back to Love Spoons

Nos ultimos tempos tenho andado ocupado na realização de alguns retratos personalizados, que por questão de privacidade não posso apresentar aqui. Para variar um pouco resolvi hoje esculpir uma Love Spoon.

Esculpi esta colher simples em madeira de Pinho nórdico e pela primeira vez usei betume da Judeia no acabamento. devo confessar que gostei do resultado e vou voltar a usar em madeiras menos nobres, em que a beleza dos veios não é a melhor. O resultado final foi este,

Lately Ive been busy working on some custom portraits, that I will not display here out of respect for the customers privacy. I needed a change of pace, so today I decided to sculpt a Love Spoon.

This simple spoon was sculpted in Nordic Pinewood and, for the first time, I used bitumen of Judea to finish it. I must confess I quite like the result and I will use it again with other kind of wood, less noble, where the grain is less appealing.

Heres the final work