Wooden Money...

 Source:

In today's selection -- over the last few thousand years, contrary to popular belief, the predominate form of money was not gold or silver coins, but instead such things as clay tablets and -- in the case of England -- notched tally sticks. However, metal coins survive more readily than tablets and sticks, and so many historians have falsely assumed that most money was in the form of coins. In the case of England, a lack of understanding of this led to the wholesale destruction of one of the most important collections of source material in the history of money -- and indirectly led to the construction of London's beautiful Houses of Parliament so familiar to us today:  

 

"[Almost all the money that survives] from earlier ages [is] of a single type -- coins. Museums around the world heave with coins, ancient and modern. Coins and their inscriptions are one of the main archaeological sources for the understanding of ancient culture, society, and history. ...

Chainsaw Carving on Long Island

Sculptor gives new life to remnants of Sandy destruction

July 17, 2013 by JAN TYLER. Special to Newsday

Gregg Klewicki sometimes travels off the beaten path. It helps explain how he has carved out a career as an artist-sculptor despite no formal training and using little more than a chain saw.
"I was a truck driver and I just got tired of working for someone else," said Klewicki, 45, of Huntington.
He came to his new profession by experimenting and allowing his latent creativity to emerge.

How to make a wooden necktie...

Find out how to make a wood necktie - CLICK HERE
PS GET A FREE TEMPLATE AS WELL!

New, Easier C P R !!!

II have seen this before, but you might learn something new that may save a life. 

 

 

Here is a demonstration of the new, easier CPR which takes the complication out of the method that was taught and  practiced a few years ago.  Please Watch - It's easy to remember and you don't have to be certified to use this method, and it may save a life!  This is a  great demonstration, done by the doctors who developed  the procedure at the University of Arizona Sarver Heart  Center.

I urge you to watch and then share it with those you care about. 

CLICK HERE

Carving a Sweet Potato

SWEET POTATO

 

BUY 2-3 TATERS SO YOU WORK THEM IN DIFFERENT STAGES DURING THIS 30+ DAY FUN PROJECT.

* BUY BIG ONE'S, IT'S GONNA SHRINK AND MUTATE FOR A MONTH AFTER YOU SKIN HIM. BEFORE BUYING, LOOK AT A FEW TATER SHAPES AND PICK THE ONE THAT YOU SEE A CARICATURE IN. I CARVE FACES, CABINS, CARS, SOMETIMES DRAGONS. KIDS GET A KICK OUT OF DOING THESE. GUYS NOT OLD ENOUGH TO USE A KNIFE ARE ASSIGNED TO THE SHRINKING DEPT., MUTATE DEPT. AND MUSHIN INSPECTOR.

1. SKIN HIM OUT, REMOVE A PAPER THIN LAYER OFF.

2. SOAK IN HOUSE HOLD BLEACH 75% / 25% WATER. USE SOMETHING TO HOLD HIM UNDER. PURPOSE; SOLUTION WILL REMOVE MOST OF THE SUGAR. DON'T DO THIS AND ALL YOU GET IS A GLOB OF BLACK MOLD. SOAK FOR ABOUT 1/2 HR.

3. REMOVE AND DRY W/PAPER TOWELS, SUBMERGE #2

4. WITH A MAGIC MARKER, DRAW YOUR PATTERN OR A PENCIL. DON'T WORK, LET EM DRY A LITTLE LONGER

How Much Do You Know About GLUE?

Thank you to: http://www.sunflowerwoodworkers.org

Woodworking Glue Quiz:

1. All glues are the same; they all work on wood. - TRUE or FALSE
2. There is not one great glue that will do it all. -TRUE or FALSE
3. All white/yellow glues are the same. - TRUE or FALSE
4. Yellow glue is strong-White glue is only used by schoolchildren. - TRUE or FALSE
5. There is no glue like the old hide glue. - TRUE or FALSE
6. Aliphatic glue is superior. - TRUE or FALSE
7. Formaldehyde glues are waterbased. - TRUE or FALSE
8. Water based glues are harmful because they will swell and twist wood. - TRUE or FALSE 
9. Thick glue is better and fills gaps and voids. - TRUE or FALSE
10. More glue is better. - TRUE or FALSE
11. More pressure is better. - TRUE or FALSE
12. More catalyst is better. - TRUE or FALSE
13. No glues will take a stain. - TRUE or FALSE
14. Mechanical help such as biscuits or dowels is needed for best edge gluing strength. - TRUE or FALSE
15. Miters and other end grain can be glued with any thick glue. - TRUE or FALSE
16. Moisture content is important; gluing air dried lumber is not a good idea. - TRUE or FALSE
17. Pieces should be assembled as soon as possible after spreading the glue. - TRUE or FALSE
18. There are glues that will set in 3-5 minutes allowing very fast edge gluing of hardwoods. - TRUE or FALSE
19. It's OK to machine immediately from press/clamps. - TRUE or FALSE
20. Heating the glue line will not speed the cure. - TRUE or FALSE
21. "Water Resistant" on the label means the glue isn't affected by water. - TRUE or FALSE
22. Glues with toxic chemicals in them shouldn't be used. - TRUE or FALSE
23. Water based glues can be used as long as the temperature in the shop is above freezing. - TRUE or FALSE
24. Shops don't need to be humidified in the winter. - TRUE or FALSE
25. It's OK to glue bowed, bellied or twisted stock as long as it's pulled tight with clamps. - TRUE or FALSE
26. Glue performance can be easily tested in the shop. - TRUE or FALSE
27. Powdered glues that require water for mixing are more likely to bleed through veneers than PVAs. - TRUE or FALSE
28. Glues last forever; there is no shelf life. - TRUE or FALSE

 

Answers:

1. False There are hundreds of different adhesives formulated for thousands of different applications. Choosing the correct glue for your project could determine its eventual success or failure.

2. True Although many glues have multiple applications there isn't one that can "do it all."

3. False White and Yellow glues (Poly-Vinyl Acetates) are formulated with different viscosities, solids contents and chemical modifications, for different applications.

4. False Color has nothing to do with a glue's strength or quality.

5. False There are few, if any, applications in which synthetic glues, such as PVA, can't outperform, hide glues.

6. False "Aliphatic" simply describes a broad family of organic chemicals that includes PVAs.

7. True Formaldehyde glues, although they have different chemical components, are water based just like PVAs.

8. False Most commonly used wood glues are water based and will not harm wood if high solids glues are used, assembly times allowed, and spreads are controlled.

9. False Many applications require a glue that is not thick. Although there are adhesives available that have gap filling qualities, just because a glue is thick doesn't mean it is capable of filling gaps and voids.

10. False Actually, too much glue can result in a thick glue line and, hence, a weaker bond.

11. False Too much pressure could result in a starved glue joint and a weaker bond.

12. False Catalyst levels depend on the glue and specific catalyst formulations. Some catalysts speed cure as they are increased; others slow down the cure rate.

13. True Although some glues appear to take stains better than others, there is no glue that is stainable.

14. False Using mechanical fastening devices when edge gluing tends to weaken the glue joint by disrupting a smooth true edge joint that will provide maximum strength. Devices such as biscuits or dowels should only be used to maintain alignment or to add strength in miters and butt joints.

15. False Gluing end grain may require sizing before gluing and the use of a high solids glue.

16. True Ideal moisture content for gluing is 6.8%, therefore, higher air dry moisture should be avoided. Higher moisture levels also result in wood movement after gluing with accompanying checks and splits. Lower moisture content may interfere with the glue's ability to properly wet the surface.

17. False Often, it is better to allow the glue to set for a little while before applying pressure.

18. False Although there are glues available that will set quickly, strength is often sacrificed.

19. False Regardless of the glue used, it is a good idea to allow it to cure for 24 hours before machining.

20. True When using conventional PVA the cure rate is not affected by heating the glue line, in fact, bond development may be slowed.

21. False Only glues that are "Waterproof" such as Resorcinol Resin will provide absolute protection from moisture.

22. False Most glues are made with some chemicals that may be considered toxic. With normal precautions, most glues are completely safe to work with.

23. False Although many glues are "freeze/thaw stable" many do not perform well at low temperatures.

24. False Many shops become excessively dry during the winter causing numerous gluing problems because of resulting moisture loss from the stock.

25. False Often, gluing bowed or twisted stock results in undue stress on the glue joint and glue lines that are either too thick or starved of adhesive.

26. False Because of the myriad factors involved in gluing and testing, the only way to accurately measure glue performance is through a laboratory testing facility.

27. False Once reconstituted, powdered glues actually have a higher solids content than many PVAs, and therefore are less likely to bleed through veneers.

28. False All glues have a definite shelf life after which their performance deteriorates significantly.

Wood That's Tough as Nails

What natural building material is highly durable, resists flames and doesn't float? It's ipe wood, a material that upscale builders and interior designers are increasingly incorporating into their plans. But density comes at a price. Find out about this wood used to build Jones beach and Coney Island boardwalks...click here

Elegant Bathtubs Made Entirely of Wood

Alegna is a design firm based in Switzerland, best known for their elegant series of bathtubs and sinks made entirely of wood. Building from their many years of experience in yacht building and processing high-quality woods, these elegant bathroom designs are a sight to behold.

To protect the wood from water damage,  CLICK HERE

An Important Carving Tool, The Pencil

 The pencil is increasingly marginalized by technology, we reflect on its relatively recent origin in the army of Napoleon Bonaparte. At least by the reckoning of one scientist, a single pencil can draw a line 731 miles (1178 kilometers) long:

"The modern pencil was invented in 1795 by Nicholas-Jacques Conte, a scientist serving in the army of Napoleon Bonaparte. The magic material that was so appropriate for the purpose was the form of pure carbon that we call graphite. It was first discovered in Europe, in Bavaria at the start of the fifteenth century; although the Aztecs had used it as a marker several hundred years earlier. Initially it was believed to be a form of lead and was called 'plumbago' or black lead (hence the 'plumbers' who mend our lead water-carrying pipes), a misnomer that still echoes in our talk of pencil 'leads'. It was called graphite only in 1789, using the Greek word 'graphein' meaning 'to write'. Pencil is an older word, derived from the Latin 'pencillus', meaning 'little tail', to describe the small ink brushes used for writing in the Middle Ages.

NICHOLAS-JACQUES CONTÉ

"The purest deposits of lump graphite were found in Borrowdale near Keswick [England] in the Lake District in 1564 and spawned quite a smuggling industry and associated black economy in the area. During the nineteenth century a major pencil manufacturing industry developed around Keswick in order to exploit the high quality of the graphite. The first factory opened in 1832, and the Cumberland Pencil Company has just celebrated its 175th anniversary; although the local mines have long been closed and supplies of the graphite used now come from Sri Lanka and other far away places. Cumberland pencils were those of the highest quality because

MAY MEETING

REMINDER...MAY IS THE COMPETITION MEETING....GOOD LUCK!