Ever consider using asphaltum as a dark brown/blackish stain? Something I learned and used at Don William’s Historic Finishes workshop. I used it to accent mahogany on an 1812 Federal hall table that I then French polished. I used non-fiber roofing tar heavily diluted with mineral spirits. You can effectively get the same stuff as liquid asphaltum from Renaissance Graphic Arts or other art supply stores. I also tried powdered asphaltum and lump asphaltum, just messier to deal with. DM if you want more details/photos at bableck@gmail.com
Given there’s a 99.9% likelihood you’ve already experimented with & rejected it, nevertheless I’m curious if you’ve tried van dyke crystals for staining. The real ones, not the crappy aniline dye based version. Non toxic, water based. Make a thick pastey version for finger painting play, thinner for staining. Goes over shellac with a light touch. Vary your shading with a damp cloth. Seal with shellac or just wax if you’re feeling daring. Very satisfying complex shade of crusty brown.
Ah Kubb is the woodworkers game. Most of the sets you can buy outside of Scandinavia are softwood trash. Got to know a woodworker to get a quality set.
They have croquet at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Maine though!
Thank you for the insight, and permission, again and again and again, to be imperfect and exploratory.
Curmudgeonly would be a compliment about me in my current IT career field, but…. BUT! I hope and pray that I still have my wide-eyed excitement and wonder in woodcraft, that I think I still keep in book and paper conservation.
That’s what I love about reading your work, thoughts and seeing what your skills bring forward.
One day, I might be able to make my mentors proud, as I believe you, and Megan, have made yours.
Lots of thoughtful comments here. But I just want to say that “red-butt baboon in a field of edelweiss“ made me laugh out loud. My inner Beavis thanks you for that day-brightener.
"..examining their environment and circumstances." I tell my 18yr old son that in some ways he has more opportunity than I had ( endless knowledge in your pocket), but WAY more distractions. I wonder if my younger self would have ever done anything if I had access to every show/film/music on demand instead of The Price is Right reruns or listening to one of my ten CDs.
I can't say enough about how much I enjoy the way you run your classes. The sense of community you create with your "food tours" makes your classes stand apart from others I've attended.
Plus ça change... When I was in my late teens/early 20's folks of my age - 60's growled about us and our work ethic. I work college students. Yes, some are "lazy," many "lost" as I was, but most work hard and are trying to build a life for themselves. They myriad of distractions they face with technology are exacerbated by the opportunities they present. I'm a bit more comfortable with their future stewardship than my generation's. The vital work of mentorship, listening to younger folks, and respecting them as you do will better our nation and world.
You might consider petanque/boules, if there's a park nearby. It's a great excuse to build cameraderie through public drinking and arguing, err, friendly conversation.
Ah, but what if the polyurethaning dipshit was a teenager just learning about finishing? Some of the first projects I did was stripping and (badly) refinishing pieces for my parents.
Your bullshit chair had me reflecting on when I started woodworking. What advice would I give my broke, younger self? I know your Anarchist books provide a great foundation for someone getting started, but I've not seen anything in the literature intelligently written for young would-be woodworkers. One piece of advice I'd give myself is to scrounge pennies for a decent relatively inexpensive bandsaw. Screwing a circular saw underneath a piece of plywood was probably a bad idea for a makeshift tablesaw.
It’s hard to believe but I am periodically called an old curmudgeon, however, the effort to promote young woodworkers does not require much effort. I have two former Scouts who I provide with tools that I no longer use or have upgraded from on the condition that they never sell these tools but pass along the favor.
Ever consider using asphaltum as a dark brown/blackish stain? Something I learned and used at Don William’s Historic Finishes workshop. I used it to accent mahogany on an 1812 Federal hall table that I then French polished. I used non-fiber roofing tar heavily diluted with mineral spirits. You can effectively get the same stuff as liquid asphaltum from Renaissance Graphic Arts or other art supply stores. I also tried powdered asphaltum and lump asphaltum, just messier to deal with. DM if you want more details/photos at bableck@gmail.com
Yup. Been using roofing tar since 1998.
Given there’s a 99.9% likelihood you’ve already experimented with & rejected it, nevertheless I’m curious if you’ve tried van dyke crystals for staining. The real ones, not the crappy aniline dye based version. Non toxic, water based. Make a thick pastey version for finger painting play, thinner for staining. Goes over shellac with a light touch. Vary your shading with a damp cloth. Seal with shellac or just wax if you’re feeling daring. Very satisfying complex shade of crusty brown.
Ah Kubb is the woodworkers game. Most of the sets you can buy outside of Scandinavia are softwood trash. Got to know a woodworker to get a quality set.
They have croquet at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Maine though!
What about a soft-serve ice cream machine?
I'd love to help out young woodworkers. But I'm a pretty extreme introvert, and unless one stumbles into my house, I don't know that I'll meet one.
Thank you for the insight, and permission, again and again and again, to be imperfect and exploratory.
Curmudgeonly would be a compliment about me in my current IT career field, but…. BUT! I hope and pray that I still have my wide-eyed excitement and wonder in woodcraft, that I think I still keep in book and paper conservation.
That’s what I love about reading your work, thoughts and seeing what your skills bring forward.
One day, I might be able to make my mentors proud, as I believe you, and Megan, have made yours.
Critical skill “And try to understand the actions of others by examining their environment and circumstances.”
Lots of thoughtful comments here. But I just want to say that “red-butt baboon in a field of edelweiss“ made me laugh out loud. My inner Beavis thanks you for that day-brightener.
"..examining their environment and circumstances." I tell my 18yr old son that in some ways he has more opportunity than I had ( endless knowledge in your pocket), but WAY more distractions. I wonder if my younger self would have ever done anything if I had access to every show/film/music on demand instead of The Price is Right reruns or listening to one of my ten CDs.
I can't say enough about how much I enjoy the way you run your classes. The sense of community you create with your "food tours" makes your classes stand apart from others I've attended.
Plus ça change... When I was in my late teens/early 20's folks of my age - 60's growled about us and our work ethic. I work college students. Yes, some are "lazy," many "lost" as I was, but most work hard and are trying to build a life for themselves. They myriad of distractions they face with technology are exacerbated by the opportunities they present. I'm a bit more comfortable with their future stewardship than my generation's. The vital work of mentorship, listening to younger folks, and respecting them as you do will better our nation and world.
You might consider petanque/boules, if there's a park nearby. It's a great excuse to build cameraderie through public drinking and arguing, err, friendly conversation.
Dictum is in Bavaria, didn't they also have a beer fridge in the workshop?
Most likely.
Bavarians don't do much of anything without Bier being involved in one way or another....
It's a lovely way of life!
I'm sure there is room for a kegerator for that last afternoon when students are ahead of schedule...
The finish looks great. It's a color match for my curmudeonly soul.
I like young people, especially the one with cool tattoos.
Ah, but what if the polyurethaning dipshit was a teenager just learning about finishing? Some of the first projects I did was stripping and (badly) refinishing pieces for my parents.
Your bullshit chair had me reflecting on when I started woodworking. What advice would I give my broke, younger self? I know your Anarchist books provide a great foundation for someone getting started, but I've not seen anything in the literature intelligently written for young would-be woodworkers. One piece of advice I'd give myself is to scrounge pennies for a decent relatively inexpensive bandsaw. Screwing a circular saw underneath a piece of plywood was probably a bad idea for a makeshift tablesaw.
I’m fascinated by india ink as a finish and hope to see a Never Sponsored with notable options.
It’s hard to believe but I am periodically called an old curmudgeon, however, the effort to promote young woodworkers does not require much effort. I have two former Scouts who I provide with tools that I no longer use or have upgraded from on the condition that they never sell these tools but pass along the favor.