tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62751624817706688512024-03-12T16:47:06.649-07:00Pat MegowanStories from the shop and beyond. Wait, there's a beyond? Pat Megowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845885750953421169noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275162481770668851.post-49300470029399356422014-11-05T21:41:00.000-08:002014-11-05T21:41:02.160-08:00New website and blogAfter five years here on blogger I have moved. Please visit my new site and blog at <a href="http://patmegowan.com/">patmegowan.com</a>, and thanks for your interest!<br />
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<br />Pat Megowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845885750953421169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275162481770668851.post-49186432179662408122014-10-05T15:38:00.004-07:002014-10-05T15:39:28.161-07:00Closing in<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Carving the bridge comes near the end of the build, and is a pleasure--careful work with super sharp tools, but not as stressful as some of the other steps, and an opportunity to leave "fingerprints"...traces of the hand-building process. </div>
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I will leave the subtle facets created by the carving gouge here on the back of the tie block:<br />
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while the other surfaces will be comparatively sleek.<br />
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Pat Megowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845885750953421169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275162481770668851.post-37465306790252469182014-10-05T15:29:00.000-07:002014-10-05T15:29:13.915-07:00Tunes in the Dunes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's not just anyplace that you can experience this--Cascade Head on the Oregon coast...</div>
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And real hula...</div>
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But at the wonderful <a href="http://tunesinthedunes.com/">Tunes in the Dunes</a>, a uke event created by Melanie Berry, it all comes together beautifully. We also enjoyed classes with a lot of wonderful teachers and performers, including James Hill, Anne Janelle, Craig Chee, and Sarah Maisel,</div>
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Steve Einhorn and Kate Power (here with Sarah),</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxI1y_l-EOW_Sj3ADuBB7xV4NARvh-COSP1hyphenhyphenUTRFUP7RG9JEiwdYfRqKJ7KagKHcJV-vc_279q7b0G-6NDxyzsrOTtaIv6gcWowXjjV4wn4MS2mHWNmSNmk0qOiWTcOhgNZaqpQavvw/s1600/10679897_364551580365286_4115479639192104887_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxI1y_l-EOW_Sj3ADuBB7xV4NARvh-COSP1hyphenhyphenUTRFUP7RG9JEiwdYfRqKJ7KagKHcJV-vc_279q7b0G-6NDxyzsrOTtaIv6gcWowXjjV4wn4MS2mHWNmSNmk0qOiWTcOhgNZaqpQavvw/s1600/10679897_364551580365286_4115479639192104887_o.jpg" height="357" width="400" /></a></div>
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Andy Andrews, founder of the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz, with with his wife Pam (one of the hula dancers above), </div>
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Corvallis' own irrepressible Wallop Sisters, whom I not-so-secretly aspire to play with, </div>
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the super versatile Diggers, and uke ambassador Bryan Holley (no pics, sorry guys. And thanks to Craig Chee for some photos, seems like he is everywhere with a camera). </div>
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A weekend full of aloha spirit and music, and as a bonus some great information on what makes a really good uke, as there were more than a few at the weekend. Thanks to everyone involved, hope to see you on down the road. </div>
Pat Megowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845885750953421169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275162481770668851.post-33157953935674538352014-09-12T22:23:00.001-07:002014-09-12T22:29:08.062-07:00Up to my neck<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
With the English walnut uke having gotten its first coat of finish...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrtZMVY3awt_rtRQ5Ei1U0KAnViiCpztZ0746M9PjSnBiUq1-r6tNgJwdAYe41KCKMl0Aji-AJNNuZyerH8pezGcH9QOKbTodQBpvE-C5ma3azxacstKFBimkkjn4znsxBLo9dALwXBU/s1600/IMG_0741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrtZMVY3awt_rtRQ5Ei1U0KAnViiCpztZ0746M9PjSnBiUq1-r6tNgJwdAYe41KCKMl0Aji-AJNNuZyerH8pezGcH9QOKbTodQBpvE-C5ma3azxacstKFBimkkjn4znsxBLo9dALwXBU/s1600/IMG_0741.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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it's time to get busy shaping the neck. The black lines in English walnut are called "marblecake", in case you want to work that into your conversations. </div>
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The key to good shaping for me is raking light, as the following photos show. Good or bad, the shape jumps out, and even a single stroke of a fine file makes a clear change. </div>
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It makes for cool textures too: <br />
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For complex locations like the heel, I often hold the light in one hand and the tool in the other, moving the light back and forth to examine every bit of the surface.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAhszFPe09c7fPuvsjRbmrMmwJu7Urtheb2Lnz5Kt9LuVbFAJwIVroCL-bu_aIEbvMPrqbsPhW2Bwo9GXa2Fl8qDXqqG5S2E4KcrZKxbq2kPXuRKMfIh6gEZI0M_oljS0gN-s0J5njt4/s1600/IMG_0752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAhszFPe09c7fPuvsjRbmrMmwJu7Urtheb2Lnz5Kt9LuVbFAJwIVroCL-bu_aIEbvMPrqbsPhW2Bwo9GXa2Fl8qDXqqG5S2E4KcrZKxbq2kPXuRKMfIh6gEZI0M_oljS0gN-s0J5njt4/s1600/IMG_0752.jpg" height="281" width="400" /></a></div>
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In this photo I've just cut in the facet on the right with a carving chisel--which takes two hands, so the light is on a stand nearby.<br />
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<br />Pat Megowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845885750953421169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275162481770668851.post-3468574527629756292014-09-05T00:03:00.000-07:002014-09-05T00:06:20.444-07:00The wide net of J. R. R. TolkienI've been thinking about this wood for a long time:<br />
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One thing keeps coming to mind--Mordor. Anyone else feel it? The volcano palisander in previous posts does too. </div>
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Yes? Mt Doom perhaps? </div>
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And this: </div>
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Orcs painted for battle (...work with me here).</div>
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Admittedly, I re-read the Lord of the Rings this year, but I don't see Sauron's eye in the clouds or orcs in the grills of cars (think Target commercials). Nonetheless, these bring to mind Mt. Doom, Barad-Dur, the Misty Mountains, Cirith Ungol, Frodo's troubled dreams. Orthanc too, so I guess it's not just Mordor. </div>
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It's an odd association for ukuleles, but one that's been calling. Running with the idea, though at the risk of trauma to LOTR fans, I freely adapt Tolkien's ring inscription to my own sensibilities about life and music: </div>
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One love to rule them all,</div>
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One love to find them,</div>
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One love to bring them all,</div>
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and in the music bind them. </div>
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I feel that love is the core "energy" of life in all its fantastic diversity. Music (also amazingly diverse) springs out of love as a powerful force to join (bind) us; to catalyze connections, community, gratitude, and, in a great circle--or <i>ring,</i> if I may--love.<br />
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No doubt this is ripe for psychoanalysis, as well as accusations of extreme sappiness and fuzzy-headed thinking; but sappiness seems quite fitting for a woodworker, while fuzzy-headed is merely accurate;-).<br />
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<br />Pat Megowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845885750953421169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275162481770668851.post-76450980129854855112014-09-03T21:28:00.000-07:002014-09-03T21:38:28.170-07:00Eugene UKEtoberfest - the auctionI will be bringing an ukulele stand to the UKEtoberfest auction; it's time to start thinking about it. My design process usually starts with the wood, and while winding through the thickets of planks around the shop these jumped out as candidates:<br />
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(Those who compulsively check the backgrounds of photos will notice that the humidity was 43% in the shop today--just right.)</div>
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From the left: curly and colorful Oregon black walnut; a tall plank of extra curly bigleaf maple with a few burl patches and unusually fine texture; a narrow plank of curly eastern black walnut, and finally a chunk of Cuban mahogany on the bench top. </div>
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Cuban gets the nod for rarity and historical lineage--it was the glory wood of the Chippendale furniture era, and has been commercially "extinct" for over 200 years. This piece is from Florida, where folks with special permits can harvest trees that have blown down in storms. It carves like a dream, and the orange-brown tones and deep luster are yummy. </div>
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Walnuts are rich--for many, walnut is the color wood <i>ought</i> to be. The Oregon walnut is so...Eugene;-) - colorful, expressive, free-spirited next to the eastern walnut, which seems by comparison reserved, even thoughtful. Here's some western walnut: </div>
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Finally, the bigleaf maple. Another highly lustrous wood, the curl on this tree looks positively 3-D once it has finish on it. The back side has some burled texture, which could be interesting, though I'm not sure how to work it in. "Reserved" is not a term that leaps to mind for figured maple like this, here combined with koa in jewelry box: </div>
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Decisions, decisions. If you have opinions feel free to drop me a note. </div>
Pat Megowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845885750953421169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275162481770668851.post-12502333338841694392014-09-03T01:22:00.001-07:002014-09-05T00:09:46.425-07:00UKEtoberfest - under the hoodA few behind the scenes images as UKEtoberfest draws closer.<br />
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Record keeping. These notes satisfy the curious, but also help a luthier in the future should the instrument be damaged. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJ7dAqRXI51eguxkHcsMSGwqk0SDJ-ptILy3sq5Ag4V4sWdh8l95AVKO7GYukBU3tppQ0sKTmfy09O2Vtc-ZWBuJhJ323o_6fgGEDb_R63GDwJWLVQg4NxA3zfntWdFsX6PJaIG5Bcy4/s1600/IMG_0682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJ7dAqRXI51eguxkHcsMSGwqk0SDJ-ptILy3sq5Ag4V4sWdh8l95AVKO7GYukBU3tppQ0sKTmfy09O2Vtc-ZWBuJhJ323o_6fgGEDb_R63GDwJWLVQg4NxA3zfntWdFsX6PJaIG5Bcy4/s1600/IMG_0682.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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The silking on this Carpathian spruce top is lovely. "Silking" refers to the hazy gently waving lines that are roughly right angles to the growth rings, going up/down in this pic. They are the trees ray cells, and their prominence indicates nice quartersawn wood.<br />
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Next, a shout out to the good friend who ordered me back to lutherie. I resisted, but Tom was right. </div>
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Those small holes will index on pin in the neck block to align the top perfectly, and will be covered by the fingerboard. The centerline is marked in pencil because the joint is virtually invisible, a combination of preparation with an ultra sharp hand plane and the use of hide glue, which shrinks and pulls together as it dries. </div>
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This view shows how the end block is beveled to provide a bit more free vibrating surface on the all important top plate. The block itself is baltic birch plywood, a very high quality material that will prevent splitting if someone bangs the end of the instrument on the strap pin or pickup jack. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxbfRDyNGETMEJtD_xvEyEIpKXyaor4iRz5t6l46_aBmQSXte0m7Z0YB3yF3HY5qr5y2APQxGL5oludv529aAOAIvul3YullBee3ghzw4_zVxQSeBNJfK776EtfYfu-nrRcAvV07vPH5s/s1600/IMG_0680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxbfRDyNGETMEJtD_xvEyEIpKXyaor4iRz5t6l46_aBmQSXte0m7Z0YB3yF3HY5qr5y2APQxGL5oludv529aAOAIvul3YullBee3ghzw4_zVxQSeBNJfK776EtfYfu-nrRcAvV07vPH5s/s1600/IMG_0680.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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The red clamps below are mashing together (laminating) pau ferro and curly european maple, which will become bindings after I slice them with my sushi knife. Or bandsaw. It took an inordinate amount of time to find a plank that would yield bindings to compliment the English walnut and Scottish beech that establish the dominant colors of this uke. You can see in the foreground where I spot-applied finish to the plank in order to preview the color. </div>
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Coming together nicely. I love this spalted beech! Spalting (the black lines and mottled colors) comes from fungi setting up shop in the wood; as competing colonies grow and meet each other they secrete melanin "battle lines" (zone lines--see Dr. Sara Robinson's northernspalting.com for lots on the subject). Don't worry, the fungi are gone. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HsKxt5Wx8N1VMxoPR-jQZwQ3rZrwRvjRhWRdFu62xkH5Xcn3ZmmtIMCusdTh13vsFkRNiO692pr7NjW39BWeWBSD7XVrOQf5ZI0mZ-4_DYPJjKc6dJj46rz4RCeF437Loq7TkoGlAYo/s1600/IMG_0691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HsKxt5Wx8N1VMxoPR-jQZwQ3rZrwRvjRhWRdFu62xkH5Xcn3ZmmtIMCusdTh13vsFkRNiO692pr7NjW39BWeWBSD7XVrOQf5ZI0mZ-4_DYPJjKc6dJj46rz4RCeF437Loq7TkoGlAYo/s1600/IMG_0691.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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The first of the volcano ukes!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnW063slovT6bbHGbR3N_TBduOoIayCeTYxXBfdyF0kzcw0Q_0Hh0LUpxDy_y7tgQsaB81HP8U5r1jb9_ZG2G2uBxzRcpqePq5QLr3AJWHUc_ehf0ryWSHI2JAMsBsQnAcSRkBGGeKSc/s1600/IMG_0659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnW063slovT6bbHGbR3N_TBduOoIayCeTYxXBfdyF0kzcw0Q_0Hh0LUpxDy_y7tgQsaB81HP8U5r1jb9_ZG2G2uBxzRcpqePq5QLr3AJWHUc_ehf0ryWSHI2JAMsBsQnAcSRkBGGeKSc/s1600/IMG_0659.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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And what is this potato chip? A test bend (the tightest bend on the sides) to see whether one of the "Holy Grail" woods of the classical guitar world will scale to the more compactly curved uke. </div>
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I'm interested in this species partly because of its remarkable sustain and resonance (even this little scrap!), and partly to scratch a Lord of the Rings itch. It will be difficult to finish it by UKEtoberfest, but we shall see. </div>
Pat Megowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845885750953421169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275162481770668851.post-86342441634803389262014-08-14T23:06:00.000-07:002014-08-14T23:09:28.435-07:00Composition, with volcanoesLong ago I got a a few small planks of Palisander (Dalbergia barroni most likely), including one with volcanoes. Having seasoned them for a good many years, I cut some recently, with a good deal of trepidation to start. This is the volcano plank:<br />
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The worry was misplaced, it sawed like butter and stayed perfectly flat and tame. And what colors and graphics! </div>
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It's too narrow for 2 piece tenor ukulele backs, which is perfect!--I've been wanting to do three piece backs for ages, inspired by my beautiful Don Musser steel string. </div>
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Here are a few of the combinations I tried, starting with bookmatched volcanoes and quilted maple between: </div>
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Opposite approach, ebony instead of maple, with chalk to simulate pale stripes between the different woods:<br />
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What about a single volcano surrounded by darker palisander from a different tree?<br />
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And tie-dye! Amazing "tiger" myrtle from the same tree as the end graft in the previous post, with the darker (volcano-free) palisander:<br />
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A different pair of volcanoes--though more like Belknap crater to the previous North Sister--and how about blackwood with a simulated sapwood stripe? You can see actual sapwood at lower left center. <br />
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From my lethal wood collection, wenge, savage with burrowing splinters.<br />
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Wouldn't you know it, the cruelest wood looks great. It turns the rosewood color scheme inside-out; the rosewood is mostly warm brown with picturesque black lines, the wenge is dense with black lines interleaved with subtle browns. </div>
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Back to the wood shelves--maybe some Morado, or a bit of Macassar ebony, both of which are far kinder. </div>
Pat Megowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845885750953421169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275162481770668851.post-4584259781182197112014-08-14T22:23:00.000-07:002014-08-14T23:07:49.814-07:00Composition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Composing--figuring out which pieces of wood, cut which way, combined and arranged this way or that, will fulfill all the functional needs, celebrate the materials, and bring delight to an instrument or piece of furniture--is one of the best parts (and most crucial) of my work.<br />
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The wedge shaped end graft in the picture is some super-amazing myrtle from the southern Oregon coast, combined with oak from the historic Hackleman grove via the Lumber to Legacy project spearheaded by Mark Azevedo and Albany Parks and Recreation; see the story here: <a href="http://democratherald.com/news/local/from-oak-grove-to-dining-room/article_b24085fe-acce-11e3-ab40-001a4bcf887a.html">Lumber to Legacy</a>.<br />
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Yes...it's an <i>oak-ulele</i>, to be auctioned later this fall along with contributions from many other regional craftspersons and students to raise money for oak habitat restoration.<br />
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I love the way these look together, with a bit of black/white/black purfling to draw the eye to the transition. The oak has strong straight grain with squiggly pale lines called "ray fleck" (from the ray cells, which help make oak split easily for firewood); the myrtle varies the theme with squiggly dark lines, and adds a soft undulation to the dominant straight grain of the oak.<br />
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It often takes a shockingly long time to arrive at a satisfying combination, at least shocking when I'm fretting that progress only happens when cutting, joining, gluing, and shaping wood. But the time spent imagining the insides of planks or burrowing in wood supplies for yet another candidate pays back a thousandfold, not just in the finished project, but unleashing the energy and perseverance I need for the seemingly infinite number of operations, detours, false starts, and train wrecks that inevitably go with building things well.<br />
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All in all a pretty good return for a 3" slip of myrtle, a fragment from an orphan ukulele side. It makes it darned hard to get rid of scraps though.Pat Megowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845885750953421169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275162481770668851.post-61205470727679488852014-08-13T22:58:00.003-07:002014-08-13T22:58:50.391-07:00A Christening7:30pm, day three, Guild of American Luthiers convention, Tacoma, Washington. Where seemingly well adjusted folks who make musical instruments poke their phones inside of other maker's guitars to see how they're put together...<br />
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...ah, Kasha bracing, and a <i>very</i> thin top at right center.<br />
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Early evening light bathes the clock tower courtyard at Pacific Lutheran University.<br />
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Kimo Hussey, a master of the ukulele from Hawaii, is jamming with Jay Lichty, who makes beautiful ukes and guitars from (as he puts it) "that hotbed of ukulele music, Asheville, North Carolina". Kimo is playing one of Jay's ukes, and the night before had given a concert with it.<br />
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I'm carrying the first ukulele I built, having just come from the exhibit hall where I have a display table alongside many <i>real</i> luthiers.<br />
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[I am so insecure at the exhibition that my table was mostly covered with woodworking tools; I taught folks how to quickly sharpen their planes and scrapers to a high standard, something I do daily in the shop and teach almost non-stop when I work Lie-Nielsen Hand Tool Events. My uke was wedged over to the side, constantly at risk of being splattered by swarf (a muck of water, iron filings and abrasive particles generated during sharpening on waterstones).]<br />
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Kimo and Jay are making great music--swing tunes, pop, rock, you name it. I'd like Kimo to play my uke, but no way I'm interrupting. There's a lull, my heart rate doubles...but I keep my mouth shut. They play some more. 7:50, time to pack up soon for the evening concert.<br />
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If not now, when? There's a tiny lull, and my voice cracks as I ask Kimo if he'll play my first uke. He says "you mean you want me to help christen your first ukulele?". I manage to blurt out yes, that's it exactly. He says "I'd be honored to help christen your uke". I try not to let my jaw bounce off the ground, pull it out of the case, and he looks it over closely before starting this:<br />
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Wow! I was walking on air the rest of the evening.<br />
<br />Pat Megowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845885750953421169noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275162481770668851.post-33442457814858423282014-08-06T23:44:00.001-07:002014-08-06T23:44:49.872-07:00The dog ate it...No blog entries for nearly two years, and it's tempting to craft an excuse. To be clear, it was my daughter's dog, Loki--with a name like that he's obviously guilty. You can see it in his body language:<div>
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Alright, it's not Loki. It's been an intense period, with a painful injury in the shop (no missing fingers thankfully) and a difficult recovery, a marriage in the family, an untimely death, and the crux of a long metamorphosis--actually, more than one. </div>
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One involves lutherie: making and working on stringed instruments. I started nearly 40 years ago, but made some horrible choices on a beat up but innocent Gibson Melody Maker (electric guitar)--even now I feel shame. </div>
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Instrument making has been stalking me ever since, though I evaded it by channeling the impulse into other design areas. It cropped up nonetheless, with instrument references and materials sneaking into my furniture designs, such as this 2005 piece: </div>
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Again and again woodworking mentors and friends told me to quit fighting, that my instincts and abilities pointed obviously toward lutherie, but fear dominated year after year. No matter that I designed and built pieces that were at least as difficult as a guitar--by this time I had convinced myself that one needed a "Stradivarius gene" in order to build a beautiful sounding instrument. </div>
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Life, however, continued to lay groundwork. </div>
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My good friend Tom Dufresne, physical therapist and trainer extraordinaire for the Nebraska women's gymnastics team, and my most influential guitar teacher, visited my shop and concluded that I should build instruments. This was...appalling, because historically when Tom said something like this it was essentially impossible to avoid even if it appeared impossible to accomplish. </div>
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Then I became friends with Lynn Dudenbostel, who makes mandolins and guitars that shake the earth. His mandolin no. 5 (!) was Chris Thile's primary instrument (!!) for many years and recordings, though it now shares space with Dude no. 15 and a Loar. Lynn looked at my woodwork and put it to me simply one day at the Mandolin Symposium--"you can do this!". No Strad gene excuses. </div>
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I went to the handmade instrument show at Maryhurst (in Portland) each year, and the Guild of American Luthiers convention, where I discovered repeatedly that delightful instruments were made by a wide variety of people, <i>not one </i>of whom appeared to rely on supernatural assistance. They too were generous and encouraging. I bought good wood. Then some more. </div>
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But I didn't build. Some stubborn part of me still didn't believe. Instead I built even more challenging furniture, with gentle curves everywhere (like an instrument), touchable surfaces and modeled details (like an instrument), and re-purposed instrument wood (alright already). </div>
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The shop injury finally pushed me into it. My shoulders were almost useless, so I couldn't handle the large timbers needed to work on my furniture commissions. Staring dejectedly one day at the wall of huge planks that line my bench room, someone/thing quietly said "musical instruments don't weigh much". Fate, guardian angel, subconscious?--I don't know, but it was as if it was said to me. Another (less sanguine) suggestion took shape later; "take the hint--there are worse injuries if necessary". </div>
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Now that sounds ridiculous, and it's true that the shoulder injury was wreaking havoc with my sleep, but that's how it came across to me. So I took the hint and built an ukulele, because Tom said he preferred it to a mandolin when I gave him the choice. I fought it all the way, but completed it out of desperation when I realized there was nothing else to enter in the annual show of the local woodworking guild.</div>
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Here it is catching morning sun in the shop: </div>
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It sounded terrible to me, though others argued otherwise. Then I heard someone else play it, and--wait a minute!--it sounded <i>good</i>, nicer (to me) than the instrument he had just given the concert on. It wasn't the worst ukulele ever! This was confirmed at the Langley workshop, a Canadian ukulele orgy (if you can imagine) where gurus like James Hill, Peter Luongo, Chalmers Doane, and Gordon Myer of Mya-Moe put no. 1 under the microscope and offered congratulations, advice, and encouragement. </div>
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So naturally, I began to doubt that I could do it again. The 2nd instrument slowed, then stopped. </div>
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Rescue came from Hawaii, in the form of uke and classical guitar maker Woodley White, and performing legend Kimo Hussey, both of whom attended this year's Guild of American Luthiers convention in Tacoma--the subject of a forthcoming post. </div>
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Pat Megowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845885750953421169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275162481770668851.post-71408439018794617792012-11-23T16:08:00.001-08:002012-11-23T16:08:29.884-08:00Every Hand Plane Needs a Tuneup - a ReplyI did not intend to go into video, in fact I fought it...but in the end it was no use.<br />
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The problem is, I know smart, careful woodworkers who read Fine Woodworking (FWW) closely, and when they see an article from an apparently gold-plated authority--Tommy MacDonald has his own woodworking how-to show on PBS called Rough Cut, does it get any more legit?--they are liable to follow it diligently.<br />
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In this case, though, the magazine and author are the ones that ought to be <i>liable</i>. Exhibit A: <br />
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http://www.finewoodworking.com/toolguide/toolguidearticle.aspx?id=35026<br />
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No disrespect intended, as both the author and FWW have inspired and taught many, but in this case some really bad advice slipped through, advice that could easily ruin a $400 handplane while attempting to improve it.<br />
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Here is my response, with very amateur production values and as one friend said, narrated by a homeless person--ouch! Another said the shop looks too clean--can't win.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pLhQEikIa5w?fs=1" width="459"></iframe>Pat Megowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845885750953421169noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275162481770668851.post-87500951158648833162012-08-26T21:51:00.000-07:002012-08-26T22:03:30.300-07:00Writing desk revisitedAt last: a picture that doesn't make the writing desk look bowlegged. Sure wish I could work outside like this all year, but alas, even in August it was sprinkling two hours after taking the picture.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81StEHluF6X_n59A5B5yaAYZj6yNZopIgiZ_trQX6c4nxzdd0RMB7-bSSLb-KID7F5RDkRgXVXVX9eLpqaqbtertAKz8xv1Ua3YKe1Myi0V6RrTkESQBe3Eonb3xUwOV897Ep-fZQW-0/s1600/DSCN0537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81StEHluF6X_n59A5B5yaAYZj6yNZopIgiZ_trQX6c4nxzdd0RMB7-bSSLb-KID7F5RDkRgXVXVX9eLpqaqbtertAKz8xv1Ua3YKe1Myi0V6RrTkESQBe3Eonb3xUwOV897Ep-fZQW-0/s400/DSCN0537.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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These drawers aren't quite square because of the curving desk front, but they still slide like butter; I admit, it's quite gratifying; please pardon me while I pat myself on the back.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYIGmmVewAf9sEYCGNUMmQ5EN4botVC1EmnZVtx5o9fgcL7HVvYMPqEANVdvoJtO45RYQo_aTWb6NlpRjGvchw0HKUCatS1jYKlq2HabXFw6P_ZzILeOQVXpLuyP8mNNzsJYwAfkt200/s1600/DSCN0560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYIGmmVewAf9sEYCGNUMmQ5EN4botVC1EmnZVtx5o9fgcL7HVvYMPqEANVdvoJtO45RYQo_aTWb6NlpRjGvchw0HKUCatS1jYKlq2HabXFw6P_ZzILeOQVXpLuyP8mNNzsJYwAfkt200/s400/DSCN0560.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The little Macassar ebony pulls are scooped out deeply underneath for a secure two finger grip. Because the drawer fronts are angled and curved in two planes, the pulls are slightly recessed into the front in order to appear flush all the way around. Fussy work, didn't think ahead that far during design.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuk0Zcr0L7oYwuxR9_pa4SrkPfmkoHeF5ixYjtITRq5FRALX4v9G2k3U2QS9Ya7jPyjfvl1kHi-A3MGi3c_xGlNPJQcucYSs5snt0ptVvFQlFxSFs5Rs0F4wKxJRDV59knwzInwFg-L_M/s1600/DSCN0564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuk0Zcr0L7oYwuxR9_pa4SrkPfmkoHeF5ixYjtITRq5FRALX4v9G2k3U2QS9Ya7jPyjfvl1kHi-A3MGi3c_xGlNPJQcucYSs5snt0ptVvFQlFxSFs5Rs0F4wKxJRDV59knwzInwFg-L_M/s400/DSCN0564.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Use testing. This piece will have another home, but I want to gather ideas for building it again...which I was ready to start the day I finished!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxGZYIEvKnDMgaiF7kFTkLgT1ntN0PEnVLaM__v_eTvSfVYzOEtVaG3-WC68NTC8ohSmlrFL3an5Dfy9S86Wnw-fm-zw_eW8tYZ5PWKk2RXfM0eieY0nXWRTKGiQ2bezhky6jNi7r5dk/s1600/DSCN0576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxGZYIEvKnDMgaiF7kFTkLgT1ntN0PEnVLaM__v_eTvSfVYzOEtVaG3-WC68NTC8ohSmlrFL3an5Dfy9S86Wnw-fm-zw_eW8tYZ5PWKk2RXfM0eieY0nXWRTKGiQ2bezhky6jNi7r5dk/s400/DSCN0576.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Pat Megowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845885750953421169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275162481770668851.post-59819437465041064192012-07-14T22:44:00.001-07:002012-07-14T22:44:49.275-07:00Where's the woodworking?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The long absence of woodworking content is raising suspicions that this blog is just a cover for pretty hiking pictures, but not so--at least not entirely. In the interest of retaining credibility, I offer these: </div>
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Legs for a cherry writing desk, with about $1500 worth of ebony socks (based on the time they took):</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNgilXvinN26WWbzWmaI55BIa3mAZg_DbLM6pYx1XYqxmVQb-I5mspAnXn774H0EG7r_LRBDuf12oT0pRJQGlIQqSBsfoV-e_oehcOC97nVFlCSFht2PQvTTd18taPU8PrNS9Jbd6gWHk/s1600/DSCN0296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNgilXvinN26WWbzWmaI55BIa3mAZg_DbLM6pYx1XYqxmVQb-I5mspAnXn774H0EG7r_LRBDuf12oT0pRJQGlIQqSBsfoV-e_oehcOC97nVFlCSFht2PQvTTd18taPU8PrNS9Jbd6gWHk/s400/DSCN0296.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Nothing else about the desk is flat, so neither are these</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-XDBxtmAhNofe78fBua90fnCt8tdSxBrR9pHUKRSYnpkUgR2CaH5VcoFgCTx38lxXaidppjOfQjVmriOVWce0iSwr_VwDTBV6c0qsVmGIvlzgoyOECJ6dOHc81ChWn4K-qZIsJRw2hM/s1600/DSCN0305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-XDBxtmAhNofe78fBua90fnCt8tdSxBrR9pHUKRSYnpkUgR2CaH5VcoFgCTx38lxXaidppjOfQjVmriOVWce0iSwr_VwDTBV6c0qsVmGIvlzgoyOECJ6dOHc81ChWn4K-qZIsJRw2hM/s400/DSCN0305.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Blending the leg and rail--getting there but not yet sweet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYB81yWHOFmPiMZJ1hDBu-8dRPOycZDZJHAvy055UEV-2ft-Rd5RSWP4pNkCkBHchPGTIO4TvMOp_qSrxRWSwqMbR-4R-tTJZV4c_c-LvLSF_Ase5avLNcwoOyqWTpdahPCSDZccWMGs/s1600/DSCN0329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYB81yWHOFmPiMZJ1hDBu-8dRPOycZDZJHAvy055UEV-2ft-Rd5RSWP4pNkCkBHchPGTIO4TvMOp_qSrxRWSwqMbR-4R-tTJZV4c_c-LvLSF_Ase5avLNcwoOyqWTpdahPCSDZccWMGs/s400/DSCN0329.JPG" width="392" /></a></div>
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Drawer bottoms are cedar of Lebanon, such fragrance...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO80zRDFt4QU2lQV9an8YZemmvwwJ6W3DGFWvXR-4sesydPGsADOcuhuwfbaS-maP2PqcF5r8jvTxo1kfVtvaBmBv3GcpbN8QgIPlS82xH3-KBFoEeiZ7wV4t4b2scxv89IDhBoysCyy8/s1600/DSCN0338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO80zRDFt4QU2lQV9an8YZemmvwwJ6W3DGFWvXR-4sesydPGsADOcuhuwfbaS-maP2PqcF5r8jvTxo1kfVtvaBmBv3GcpbN8QgIPlS82xH3-KBFoEeiZ7wV4t4b2scxv89IDhBoysCyy8/s400/DSCN0338.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Really need a professional shoot for this piece, it's easy to distort the curves, as this picture ably demonstrates. The curves are softer than this suggests, and do not bow in at all. In fact this is downright horrible, but the only pic of the complete piece so far.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTQLE0IiBcrY1yF8vVTfdGt8cqe1BpJuVr8jFndhyphenhyphenkxIqXSIMbazpxUFXkhmo6sNehw2MjtkAzqWj_PdcrwbIJkdL_O0B2py6tCdm8ZCAmBVmyQICWvuQQo-7goRTT0zjvhsjwcYwobI/s1600/P1260569+-+Pat%2527s+Desk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTQLE0IiBcrY1yF8vVTfdGt8cqe1BpJuVr8jFndhyphenhyphenkxIqXSIMbazpxUFXkhmo6sNehw2MjtkAzqWj_PdcrwbIJkdL_O0B2py6tCdm8ZCAmBVmyQICWvuQQo-7goRTT0zjvhsjwcYwobI/s400/P1260569+-+Pat%2527s+Desk.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Don't other folks wear shavings too? This fashionable European maple headband is a handplane shaving from a cello back blank that wasn't quite up to snuff for an instrument, but made glorious drawer sides. Big thanks to John Preston of <a href="http://www.oldworldtonewood.com/">Old World Tonewood</a> for helping with this wood!<br />
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<br />Pat Megowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845885750953421169noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275162481770668851.post-84076719302791453702012-07-14T20:15:00.000-07:002012-07-14T20:16:27.921-07:001000 miles in 6 days<br />
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I set out this summer to walk alone some 1000 miles through
the Sierra Nevada backcountry, a plan built of hero worship, inspiration, gluttony,
and a hint of desperation. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64D36P61mKRmKbdXlGerU6MFC-hPmzpYkwL4KobhqMn7QjLKjdaNY7Yfo3y84RLJaGAUN2mNK6Su3vBQdIcFty_fFnoA8OiuEF9oS_yMXFxLIQCJ0PcuTJPRgeXpIxdm4HZUnVI9oP_g/s1600/DSCN0421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64D36P61mKRmKbdXlGerU6MFC-hPmzpYkwL4KobhqMn7QjLKjdaNY7Yfo3y84RLJaGAUN2mNK6Su3vBQdIcFty_fFnoA8OiuEF9oS_yMXFxLIQCJ0PcuTJPRgeXpIxdm4HZUnVI9oP_g/s400/DSCN0421.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Colin Fletcher wrote “The Complete Walker” in 1968, and his
ideas assumed near-mythic status in my eager teen mind. At the core of his
walking and writing was this:</div>
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“<i>Many experienced
outdoorsmen – and all responsible hiking organizers – contend that the greatest
danger in wilderness travel is one that permeates this book:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Walking alone.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>They may have
something too. But once you have discovered solitude – the gigantic,
enveloping, including, renewing solitude of wild and silent places – and have
learned to put it to creative use, you are likely to accept without a second
thought such small additional dangers as the solitude imposes.”</i></div>
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In hundreds of subsequent pages he imparted the means—well-honed,
intricate, even charming—but I imprinted on <i>his</i>
essence: real walkers walk far, in solitude. Fletcher also
wrote “The Thousand Mile Summer”. You can see it coming...</div>
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Some ten years earlier, following a precipitous
one-lane descent to Devil’s Postpile in my grandfather’s giant blue
Cadillac—including being run off the road once—I had imprinted on the textures
and currents of the young San Joaquin River and the Sierra Nevada mountains, John
Muir’s “range of light”. How can one <i>not</i>
wish to soak in every corner of this magical and extensive kingdom? Inspiration and gluttony are eminently sensible responses. </div>
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Wikipedia informs me that Fletcher was 36 on that epic
summer walk up California. I suppose I should feel better now. Humph. For
several years I have noticed backpackers my age being pruned out of the
backcountry, seemingly with little warning; an injury or illness, a trip with
too many grueling ascents under a leaden and sweat-soaked pack, even demon golf.
ALERT! Time Running Out!</div>
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And so out I went. </div>
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I chose the first leg with moderate mileage and elevation change
compared to my 400 mile hike in ’09: from Tuolumne south to a quiet corner on
the edge Yosemite where the Merced River arises, then north and west as it
swells (and hosts a prodigious quantity of mosquitoes), and finally zig-zagging
to an airy bivouac on the summit of Cloud’s Rest, 6000’ above the floor of
Yosemite Valley. </div>
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Those 6 days and 60 miles were a flash flood of experiences,
I’m still awash in it. That’s good, because the miles also devoured my knees;
there’s plenty of time for reflection. </div>
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On the final descent into Tenaya Lake I summoned maximum
grit when passing oncoming hikers so they wouldn’t stop me and call for a
rescue. In retrospect they were probably occupied by their own suffering,
but I was moving so slowly and awkwardly it was embarrassing. On the return
shuttle bus my kneecaps threatened to burn right through the skin. I’ve been
here before, just before my surgeries when I toasted my knees reffing too many
soccer games. A few days of lounging and care only confirmed that I needn’t
restock the bear canister with food for the next leg. </div>
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I texted my nieces Jen and Nicole about going to their
favorite Irish bar in Sacramento—to learn to drink whiskey. Pub crawling in
Ireland seemed like a hiking frontier still within reach, and if not the
whiskey would provide a fuzzy glow, so WTF. I made a last very flat walk in the 90 degree morning air of Yosemite Valley,
drank from an ancient spring for luck, had a pastrami sandwich at Degnan’s for
old time’s sake, and headed out of the mountains to Sacramento. </div>Pat Megowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845885750953421169noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275162481770668851.post-83197005880883319882011-05-23T23:52:00.000-07:002011-05-23T23:52:39.574-07:00Well whadyaknow, take twoLast September in a <a href="http://patmegowan.blogspot.com/2010/09/well-whadyaknow.html">blog entry</a> I celebrated a personal first--my mahogany sideboard's appearance in a book--and commented "only 5 billion more publications to catch up with Sam Maloof".<br />
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A few weeks ago a friend mysteriously ordered me to do a Google image search on "Maloof trestle table". Incredibly, one of Maloof's trestle tables looked <i>EXACTLY</i> like my sideboard, even down to the lighting and backdrop. Well whadyaknow!<br />
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Oh wait...it <i>is</i> my sideboard, courtesy of Google's search algorithm and my silly comment. A timely coincidence with NPR's "On The Media" this evening, which had a segment on personally targeted search results that Google and other search and social media programs increasingly deliver.<br />
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Having mentioned Maloof four times in this post, perhaps someone will order one of his famous rocking chairs from me. I'll do a nice job...Pat Megowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845885750953421169noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275162481770668851.post-33962344798001010072011-05-23T23:15:00.000-07:002011-05-23T23:15:19.986-07:00New York styleMy dear friend Emily showed me how truly hip woodworkers prepare their sharpening stones:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMu9YOcL3Qf_N8QSokXzhsOxfNyqXVQYgEpKi3df7c8EdJM4BlQGDbh292k15JYaR5uxp8LmpuiuIDCvLhyGCAoSIr5NlWL89LcX6QzqETfk6sxzunjVyoeoWUIN49rGN_Rf7_7cnqDw/s1600/IMG_3126%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMu9YOcL3Qf_N8QSokXzhsOxfNyqXVQYgEpKi3df7c8EdJM4BlQGDbh292k15JYaR5uxp8LmpuiuIDCvLhyGCAoSIr5NlWL89LcX6QzqETfk6sxzunjVyoeoWUIN49rGN_Rf7_7cnqDw/s400/IMG_3126%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
For clarity she has not yet added the organic greens: butter lettuce for the 1000 grit, tatsoi with nasturtium blossoms for the polishing stone.Pat Megowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845885750953421169noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275162481770668851.post-72403759933604468692011-04-27T10:44:00.000-07:002011-04-27T10:51:23.946-07:00Repeat offense<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What is it about March? Our perennially late February daphne coming into full bloom, the Ides of March, St. Patrick's <i>and</i> St. Joseph's days, the start of spring, the first restless geese heading north...and the urge to make a dining table. Naturally. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Or maybe it's the annual guild show falling on the first weekend in April, and a notion that designing and building a table in a week isn't as obviously ridiculous as a chest of drawers or china hutch. If the woodworking referees gave yellow cards for foolishness, I'd have been sent off the field last year after on a second yellow for this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSDZeWTXUU7uGni9vj3n0s3ml67g4ksp1OehaRW-hYBt6ydhcxf2pquOjWkzrtVoBIZ34hyDakrLUD-7kdiivd2WfR1K0cwf7gVN7rUU0872QjSG9QsXRowzER-ie8gIDWAtyswBVYRo/s1600/IMG_1138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSDZeWTXUU7uGni9vj3n0s3ml67g4ksp1OehaRW-hYBt6ydhcxf2pquOjWkzrtVoBIZ34hyDakrLUD-7kdiivd2WfR1K0cwf7gVN7rUU0872QjSG9QsXRowzER-ie8gIDWAtyswBVYRo/s400/IMG_1138.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Maybe the ref was looking the other way. In any case, the third year running was the tightest schedule yet, six and a half days until the show load in. The goal was a pedestal table that would look good with last year's trestle table. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These boards from local sawyer Stu Hemphill were just the right size for a generous cafe table.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPo6jr6PnISe3ZZph7wE0trawReGmtC3zK0GlwZFJsAOlHFABRyNeIJVSaY2Peiu0TxB4itqWDXIri8Gcya0koKJ-TWA5sw_HT0ZLa4nIhyphenhyphen01qlOehpdnZqBYMInmYg49nRgzeUgDPIxI/s1600/P1000500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPo6jr6PnISe3ZZph7wE0trawReGmtC3zK0GlwZFJsAOlHFABRyNeIJVSaY2Peiu0TxB4itqWDXIri8Gcya0koKJ-TWA5sw_HT0ZLa4nIhyphenhyphen01qlOehpdnZqBYMInmYg49nRgzeUgDPIxI/s400/P1000500.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
So it was off to the races. After trimming the planks were 17" wide, proving yet again that whatever size jointer you get--mine is 16", enormous by small shop standards--it's never enough. Nonetheless day one ended with the top glued up, a key milestone given how long finishing takes.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqcIg2DttpP3eIwE9ZnAjv3iAW3-BwBrdvQiYvOGUks7Oh6lOLLIuHSk3m1CZj9-InGD8H4WtE-gyoz67V4VJ76VuxYG3zEsOhA49BY8T5ROZWObv9MWj65mkF1o7zWE4y6n_19XsJEc/s1600/P1000502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqcIg2DttpP3eIwE9ZnAjv3iAW3-BwBrdvQiYvOGUks7Oh6lOLLIuHSk3m1CZj9-InGD8H4WtE-gyoz67V4VJ76VuxYG3zEsOhA49BY8T5ROZWObv9MWj65mkF1o7zWE4y6n_19XsJEc/s320/P1000502.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The following day I prepped the top for finish with a secret weapon: a high angle smoothing plane from my friend <a href="http://sauerandsteiner.blogspot.com/">Konrad Sauer</a>. Cute as a bug, smooths wild wood better than magic.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Bt4g3dxYXI8s_vjKxLfrDzQIWSaS_kKuUcFa7CuW1RJnZidgRh4Gz8JPhB6-WbxO2ywHrW7SkYLWd3r2GqzgAAUGO8IasvBtbuva5fgzScd8rRfWwuQl3CfqdikTv-E8iKmG9fG5lV4/s1600/P1000504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Bt4g3dxYXI8s_vjKxLfrDzQIWSaS_kKuUcFa7CuW1RJnZidgRh4Gz8JPhB6-WbxO2ywHrW7SkYLWd3r2GqzgAAUGO8IasvBtbuva5fgzScd8rRfWwuQl3CfqdikTv-E8iKmG9fG5lV4/s320/P1000504.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
On to joinery, lots of it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6bXXGgJyJV981Mn0A1BsxC3KMhiMKIjEbTw70QZutFFgmR-VhCfUmc1PD6VFfwSQzVS7T9tFnBYpsGVHpaWBbV6h_S95s9zHZRlL9hjXjEuQloOAkE6cb0TANrRfpSY158E3dhnqtfU/s1600/P1000516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6bXXGgJyJV981Mn0A1BsxC3KMhiMKIjEbTw70QZutFFgmR-VhCfUmc1PD6VFfwSQzVS7T9tFnBYpsGVHpaWBbV6h_S95s9zHZRlL9hjXjEuQloOAkE6cb0TANrRfpSY158E3dhnqtfU/s320/P1000516.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And then the apparently mandatory dyslexia moment--can you see what went wrong on the crosspieces that support the table top?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozOcz1HEnZ4CZxjF94sMcB3HyRBES9D-YO3M0gHlEinL86H724d1j2wnINhOxUGdVp7KlthzDtlAgtoKDLe1E4L5vp9TeBB3r5k-kchhQLtlZoBSUm0ABvlpx-_pafGNIq_XhTL9H-58/s1600/P1000518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozOcz1HEnZ4CZxjF94sMcB3HyRBES9D-YO3M0gHlEinL86H724d1j2wnINhOxUGdVp7KlthzDtlAgtoKDLe1E4L5vp9TeBB3r5k-kchhQLtlZoBSUm0ABvlpx-_pafGNIq_XhTL9H-58/s320/P1000518.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Yep, I cut the curve on the wrong side of the lower piece. The attempted repair<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLw0Dozzo4tD9WdHkzdgjRVOpv2AbuLgMt71uTM-qjD3N_JYfXIsF2gcqtK_FNzKk1vF88SvP3R9s6yZbRPW6KivZIyN9zJxY2hWZHE1efIjgfP5qNqPzbUdaUWnWhyphenhyphenM3kIYXHNvboWmk/s1600/P1000520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLw0Dozzo4tD9WdHkzdgjRVOpv2AbuLgMt71uTM-qjD3N_JYfXIsF2gcqtK_FNzKk1vF88SvP3R9s6yZbRPW6KivZIyN9zJxY2hWZHE1efIjgfP5qNqPzbUdaUWnWhyphenhyphenM3kIYXHNvboWmk/s320/P1000520.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
would have been strong enough and inobvious to most, but I'd have regretted it forever so instead made a new piece ever so carefully.<br />
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Given how things interlocked it seemed best to glue up the entire bottom in one go, an exciting but hazardous prospect. Old Brown Glue made it possible; it has a long working time and lubricates rather than locking up like the more common white and yellow glues. It requires gentle heating to get the right consistency and strings out like hot mozzarella, but after a glue up like this the subliminal suggestion of pizza is best acted on at once.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kmuJS1WERrN8UWptikHanFAE7HjrISuZVqjO5ozbPOd_j8KW92DCjb7voCZLMxwXwE9O-XP1s4MbWiy8P7R1KvmWTt4T0i18-2VBYUJ4Qc3AV9ANn_GPZjubbKhPsO9fOKR3QhSlfgo/s1600/P1000523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kmuJS1WERrN8UWptikHanFAE7HjrISuZVqjO5ozbPOd_j8KW92DCjb7voCZLMxwXwE9O-XP1s4MbWiy8P7R1KvmWTt4T0i18-2VBYUJ4Qc3AV9ANn_GPZjubbKhPsO9fOKR3QhSlfgo/s640/P1000523.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
By the time glue had dried the show setup was barely 30 hours away, not enough time to carve the foot to leg joint as I had envisioned. But it was appalling to consider leaving it like this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDGlLEHden4Wvwy7Ui3xW2IFagO7GlQ-AGFB9uqzef_Fw1BBN06_OpDjnxaIwQshpubzjsrAdorKtc5TtqkyvdQab2jSrDR_QeBnRjNh8CzhFZROugjzBDPvk4iv_QsWQxcV-E7v4AhI/s1600/P1000524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDGlLEHden4Wvwy7Ui3xW2IFagO7GlQ-AGFB9uqzef_Fw1BBN06_OpDjnxaIwQshpubzjsrAdorKtc5TtqkyvdQab2jSrDR_QeBnRjNh8CzhFZROugjzBDPvk4iv_QsWQxcV-E7v4AhI/s640/P1000524.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
Oh well, it'll have to be a bit late. This would have been easier <i>before</i> glue up, now it was tricky to approach from a workable direction.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAqCuhUfCjCmGnDYcZERpFZP14dqoG3oleQXw9zRFvZ2Ln_rVZH8an2l4LZVcHC8OkAjEkjICOJmCLjkHLXwurTQ_tnFtlNBgFts8F4Ojfx6YwhJtsvY7krLIGPI2MyaI1VgG0eWIvXk/s1600/P1000526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAqCuhUfCjCmGnDYcZERpFZP14dqoG3oleQXw9zRFvZ2Ln_rVZH8an2l4LZVcHC8OkAjEkjICOJmCLjkHLXwurTQ_tnFtlNBgFts8F4Ojfx6YwhJtsvY7krLIGPI2MyaI1VgG0eWIvXk/s640/P1000526.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
Although it doesn't show here the cherry is quite curly, which makes the carving trickier. I went through quite a few tools looking for solutions.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1T0Dyh4AhUAk3m6vSj6INAMAKdKYR81oXKwOutNtNWXfizmyBi5QooZX2zWR2-nsKXRZjgvbsZXCdOjmPNUJsa3yjlQ5Ah64i9yAy_Xgvt5BAUSQ5nuthGAUuwk9rUQQ2ZmqHyJ-Ssz4/s1600/P1000527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1T0Dyh4AhUAk3m6vSj6INAMAKdKYR81oXKwOutNtNWXfizmyBi5QooZX2zWR2-nsKXRZjgvbsZXCdOjmPNUJsa3yjlQ5Ah64i9yAy_Xgvt5BAUSQ5nuthGAUuwk9rUQQ2ZmqHyJ-Ssz4/s400/P1000527.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Much nicer!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasn5s5TsshoA8JDbprTmzyhNh4x8OkegsOCE5MtU82l-jqt5rgEk7h0UMz21btDWiZH5vaS9_DsxeQnv3zsnjbKOxEuuL98I8SooT2jjXYqQ9rUr6HnCcn41y4gFzOT727TICxjcci7I/s1600/P1000528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasn5s5TsshoA8JDbprTmzyhNh4x8OkegsOCE5MtU82l-jqt5rgEk7h0UMz21btDWiZH5vaS9_DsxeQnv3zsnjbKOxEuuL98I8SooT2jjXYqQ9rUr6HnCcn41y4gFzOT727TICxjcci7I/s640/P1000528.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Fast forward: at the show, one hour after the doors opened. Tables look lonely w/out chairs, so I snatched some from my friend Bill Storch's table. Bill puts up with a lot--he'd already sprayed the table top finish and cured it in his sauna, a story for another time. But he got the last laugh, his table with chairs won best in show. Nice work!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvI7YylAe8NTveVb2OrMTLshfTtUJo2QmefkENi_3-mrHzoKbb7P3-fo7ABF5h6jtPWSe2HpVYABAMz_cUn5B7O35yOAt1jOfzuMzSGTHiGGpcVFYSx1aVgdQrMZUMrh5H5a4SnoWLPe4/s1600/Table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvI7YylAe8NTveVb2OrMTLshfTtUJo2QmefkENi_3-mrHzoKbb7P3-fo7ABF5h6jtPWSe2HpVYABAMz_cUn5B7O35yOAt1jOfzuMzSGTHiGGpcVFYSx1aVgdQrMZUMrh5H5a4SnoWLPe4/s400/Table.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Konrad, commenting on the subtle wood choice this time around, said that a red air raid siren would be a perfect finishing touch.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisF9Hfta_BAQIstQRwfJCRafCbeA9Y3y0heSrjgLb6RbPgqrw_84HjzQMBVTxDk-l7xpTIYMxoRV8Z5J7k-iR_9rfMKoDyNETHGLiohio8czQgd-hrWnoiBXyD7HEu4FrBwEthN4x3Eo/s1600/Table+top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisF9Hfta_BAQIstQRwfJCRafCbeA9Y3y0heSrjgLb6RbPgqrw_84HjzQMBVTxDk-l7xpTIYMxoRV8Z5J7k-iR_9rfMKoDyNETHGLiohio8czQgd-hrWnoiBXyD7HEu4FrBwEthN4x3Eo/s400/Table+top.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Here's a piece of his work:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HPbITQhaIDzbtvv_tbL4lGVypUPFs3H9x_gM9z2v38mwEoSlf-dCW2XkQaeZ3wXrTbJxxJzliw4ojVSjWX8MfeUmu94kvtH_MRCd9z82eYX5t3f1YdQBlevLaUOJ3CKXto1Qy-5nWpA/s1600/PMSNo4reardetail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HPbITQhaIDzbtvv_tbL4lGVypUPFs3H9x_gM9z2v38mwEoSlf-dCW2XkQaeZ3wXrTbJxxJzliw4ojVSjWX8MfeUmu94kvtH_MRCd9z82eYX5t3f1YdQBlevLaUOJ3CKXto1Qy-5nWpA/s400/PMSNo4reardetail.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Pat Megowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845885750953421169noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275162481770668851.post-33806634387660704682010-11-01T22:57:00.000-07:002010-11-01T22:58:39.953-07:00What might have beenThe Cuban mahogany box is now in the care of UPS, speeding to Seattle for a just-in-time appearance in the Annual Box Show at Northwest Fine Woodworking. The last few days had more adventure than I might have wished, including an out-of-proportion circus concerning the bottom of the tray.<br />
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</div><div>I like to open a box and find a prize inside, kind of like Cracker Jacks. Lacking time to make an elaborate tray I scoured my wood supply for something special and stumbled on some maple left from a tree taken down for the renovation of Kearney Hall at Oregon State. Most of that wood went to a gift commissioned by OSU for the major donor in the project:</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrvbeskW3qoagObCgeZeH7ZvjJERL9uu3VkDWIrwmJtt64ULo_ZfA9Fy8jXpwghUJ0T8H9C58GGBbXvkrVWpW3nnJi9a78sJhJtpuD1x_xEnIWO-_53scUHrUDVnZhEOtiQtfFkhYkEI/s1600/IMG_0644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrvbeskW3qoagObCgeZeH7ZvjJERL9uu3VkDWIrwmJtt64ULo_ZfA9Fy8jXpwghUJ0T8H9C58GGBbXvkrVWpW3nnJi9a78sJhJtpuD1x_xEnIWO-_53scUHrUDVnZhEOtiQtfFkhYkEI/s400/IMG_0644.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">but a single sawn veneer remained. Its strong graphics complemented the Macassar ebony of the tray sides and provided a satisfying surprise when the lid was raised. I made up a panel with the veneer (an overnight stay in the vacuum press), but it tore out badly when I planed it to thickness the next day. I tried to remove the tearout in the usual way with a handplane, but the panel was small and warped slightly from the pressing and resisted. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anxious to get this minor piece of the project complete, I tried to emulate my friend Bill Storch--who can perform miracles with a belt sander--and safely sand the tearout away. The panel tried a new trick: each time I sanded a side, the panel would warp the opposite way, presumably something to do with the heat that sanding generated. Stopping often to check the work and flip it for a balanced result, I gradually removed tearout until, just as the last torn fibers were disappearing...a ghostly pencil mark appeared in the center. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A pencil mark? How can a pencil mark <i>appear</i> while sanding? Sanding makes pencil marks <i>disappear</i>, and anyhow there wasn't a pencil mark in the first place. Except for one on the side I had glued down. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bad words. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yes, even though there appeared to be plenty of margin when checking the process, the center had become so thin that you could see the pencil mark on the glue face, and the bland face of the core. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It would have been nice,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0RQXuJDQ485M58rpS6jsmisn9xvF_EOLmTcQLYOsbQOjv2p2K-KLR9OWh89sPqP44aSErkcxnKPfI7CDO31QZOOPy6MMEF1RvloZm7P0HhJSmH5zHWRH-4yHA0aXSqyf5B7s37nLdho/s1600/P1000369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0RQXuJDQ485M58rpS6jsmisn9xvF_EOLmTcQLYOsbQOjv2p2K-KLR9OWh89sPqP44aSErkcxnKPfI7CDO31QZOOPy6MMEF1RvloZm7P0HhJSmH5zHWRH-4yHA0aXSqyf5B7s37nLdho/s400/P1000369.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
but no luck. I thought about inlays and various other fixes but the sand-through was in an awkward spot and there was nothing to do but cover it.<br />
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This was probably my favorite option:<br />
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but I wasn't sure the gallery would approve, so I went conventional in the end, shown here with the chisel used to carve the handles:<br />
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In this close up you can see a bit of the striped Macassar that I liked with the sadly unusable maple.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DCu70TrpxlnF1EnlT_KBBF-p5jCNt9GWfYbBcqcnl4Fw_jGgQy6C2XrpgUR17-F7BVVuKS9Wxve-5QtauMLRFS3LKVgAVK57iFUbUIzn58hCSWAwZUDJ79K5mLaZmltCbDJl94NB8OQ/s1600/P1000379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DCu70TrpxlnF1EnlT_KBBF-p5jCNt9GWfYbBcqcnl4Fw_jGgQy6C2XrpgUR17-F7BVVuKS9Wxve-5QtauMLRFS3LKVgAVK57iFUbUIzn58hCSWAwZUDJ79K5mLaZmltCbDJl94NB8OQ/s400/P1000379.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
And here is one of the handle/pull/grabber-do things.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2yN1GIQgPCbd_QT7JAArDY8jfTceCTi2rPKDyjVn-SPJmrx8thJqdq0GjQ_rOFRwDnodaEu7-jCYu034CkucsFY7pbH6w1Idg3fQyIBPOGe2qyzWjvvSQG4pU1oo3Yznp6fFyVfdkIeE/s1600/P1000384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2yN1GIQgPCbd_QT7JAArDY8jfTceCTi2rPKDyjVn-SPJmrx8thJqdq0GjQ_rOFRwDnodaEu7-jCYu034CkucsFY7pbH6w1Idg3fQyIBPOGe2qyzWjvvSQG4pU1oo3Yznp6fFyVfdkIeE/s400/P1000384.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I started using these after watching everyone lower the lid on my madrone box (pictured in previous post) by grabbing the corners even though there is a perfectly good handle in the center. They are also fun to make, though they resist being finalized; I recarved them slightly three or four times <i>after</i> applying the finish, the last time barely an hour before packing it to ship. They need to be just so. </div><br />
</div>Pat Megowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845885750953421169noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275162481770668851.post-26068436468142976772010-10-20T21:08:00.000-07:002010-10-20T21:08:33.076-07:00Fine old CubanMahogany that is. An odd shaped scrap broke from the end of a big plank where a bark inclusion had weakened the connection. I need wood for a entry to the rapidly approaching box competition at Northwest Fine Woodworking, a great Seattle gallery. This material is famous for its good working qualities...so it's off to the races.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8AnNbb31omIWkyLJJJdBP5fdHdVUb0sz2wYAZLLp1UvCOPa5i5NYT00lFAxS01OD3ZoqsAzJAfRkZxMIunnYAlS2iyWvkB7oU1GEHReikHtIBAmPDNJlfmrIdTQ2YBestaWPmcYfl0mo/s1600/P1000345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8AnNbb31omIWkyLJJJdBP5fdHdVUb0sz2wYAZLLp1UvCOPa5i5NYT00lFAxS01OD3ZoqsAzJAfRkZxMIunnYAlS2iyWvkB7oU1GEHReikHtIBAmPDNJlfmrIdTQ2YBestaWPmcYfl0mo/s320/P1000345.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
It's hard to see but a big knot makes much of the scrap unusable. On the other hand, when I opened up the plank there were nice pin knots next to the bad knot.<br />
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There they are behind the corner I just finishing sawing.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxZnkIvhV_VbrRh8BmahDeiQlUqihze2MRngtqa0DOIFXKyVOzNMoNnO4FPpAzv99639OD3TasQjFxsxGqwhKoezSUXpkFpwXL2rWvJrBCqsSdJUOO3pDUw8AO59hu69Win1IVlUMCqw/s1600/P1000346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxZnkIvhV_VbrRh8BmahDeiQlUqihze2MRngtqa0DOIFXKyVOzNMoNnO4FPpAzv99639OD3TasQjFxsxGqwhKoezSUXpkFpwXL2rWvJrBCqsSdJUOO3pDUw8AO59hu69Win1IVlUMCqw/s320/P1000346.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
I also decided to taper and curve the corners of the box. However, given the schedule I will refrain from doing that to the inner shoulder of the dovetails, which would add many hours of work as it did to this box:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtoEhCBmrok3Xdxb3ikz9_Q1iR1chh2BWzcgO9_gOGIPAZMGz5Hri9oeYIs9S3jEn9fFLd_pnSkq9okMEZ54S08V7nkrJMlNlqfzzluBBM5MG3P9y_0yb7A8P0XIKvnJ7jtecklhG9fHk/s1600/CR+Pictures+by+Welter+141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtoEhCBmrok3Xdxb3ikz9_Q1iR1chh2BWzcgO9_gOGIPAZMGz5Hri9oeYIs9S3jEn9fFLd_pnSkq9okMEZ54S08V7nkrJMlNlqfzzluBBM5MG3P9y_0yb7A8P0XIKvnJ7jtecklhG9fHk/s400/CR+Pictures+by+Welter+141.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Starting to look like a box<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrMao2Aqxx1H058hEeLSS70d8ChqZHgOUACI20VodZeD05PLXpw1Wr4gv2vBVBfxpDZ-amVqu6nIILlUHE1eNZqODQmjj2KAwnM91WuFmUft-W_uTC1RjFeqnn8JrLYqORlXmc5NLAlM/s1600/P1000347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrMao2Aqxx1H058hEeLSS70d8ChqZHgOUACI20VodZeD05PLXpw1Wr4gv2vBVBfxpDZ-amVqu6nIILlUHE1eNZqODQmjj2KAwnM91WuFmUft-W_uTC1RjFeqnn8JrLYqORlXmc5NLAlM/s400/P1000347.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Here's the top, some bigleaf maple burl left form a box for my big sis Colleen. And more pin knots, why not! I'll blend them somehow. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKwUYgaGJYvDWl-zypy240Ad1AfvDaZG5T2BC1mrbm1M3maNtaQ3YFZC-KDEUJ6RiERtX3kq5eF9CKYq1V7BoYmmpEgE6ATHZ0AL2BLr-TgkPeZSGUF6xSRbK0-6mDN9lj76X9MX938I/s1600/P1000348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKwUYgaGJYvDWl-zypy240Ad1AfvDaZG5T2BC1mrbm1M3maNtaQ3YFZC-KDEUJ6RiERtX3kq5eF9CKYq1V7BoYmmpEgE6ATHZ0AL2BLr-TgkPeZSGUF6xSRbK0-6mDN9lj76X9MX938I/s400/P1000348.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Pat Megowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845885750953421169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275162481770668851.post-3401705168242450782010-09-28T19:39:00.000-07:002010-09-28T19:39:14.815-07:00Well whadyaknow?A cabinet I built a few years back...this one:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislAkzLpiKFAo0OoCzCpT0sWlzqQMD7xT8G1XP961hGmnFb3uVyRcZYetf6-XOG3GNwdwDE2NB6H1WD1MRzdPEfytnFLZorhQnftAJprNTOCU0Fwde_xsH2qNTeB0aetb4RpT5ZYJKCT4/s1600/musicians+sideboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislAkzLpiKFAo0OoCzCpT0sWlzqQMD7xT8G1XP961hGmnFb3uVyRcZYetf6-XOG3GNwdwDE2NB6H1WD1MRzdPEfytnFLZorhQnftAJprNTOCU0Fwde_xsH2qNTeB0aetb4RpT5ZYJKCT4/s400/musicians+sideboard.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
has been published in "500 Cabinets", a recent release from Lark Book's series on contemporary craft and art. <br />
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Can't complain about that! Only 5 billion more publications to catch up with Sam Maloof (rest his soul), a real woodworking hero.Pat Megowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845885750953421169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275162481770668851.post-89939095700846263892010-09-19T20:41:00.000-07:002010-09-19T20:41:30.791-07:00What do you see?A recent piece in English walnut and Oregon white oak--a lap desk for a Benedictine Abbot. The walnut is so graphic it was like a week long Rorschach test. Depending on the orientation I saw a heron, sturgeon, lion, horse, pelican, lobster claws...but at least no partridge in a pear tree. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDoKCZRIXX2dwrNBnRpwi2a_yEyGScvq1HXlZSjps5fSCSbnrH-nUgqdL9Xu8UDu5xjTpVUAODfz8Wo13tyvjGlcAtx1bjBZhySvjnITzpNPikLvQUct1jaxJen7vV1tIzqqokJmiGF3E/s1600/P1000032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDoKCZRIXX2dwrNBnRpwi2a_yEyGScvq1HXlZSjps5fSCSbnrH-nUgqdL9Xu8UDu5xjTpVUAODfz8Wo13tyvjGlcAtx1bjBZhySvjnITzpNPikLvQUct1jaxJen7vV1tIzqqokJmiGF3E/s400/P1000032.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The pulls are Macassar ebony. Since everyone seems to handle box lids by the corners, I put the handles there--so now they'll use a credit card to pry it open at the middle!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLIl-e7OhkFE6Y9VPHLPLPC6B9bEhiZccxSS-EvgC9IZYTGgvJUEfzGmsLMYAuk79fhTuEra5CtvyXiL5qm_jaCj3IH1ZbnUBczhu05OCRoAXreONLrea212mt4XxTpDQtZCCoAUfd-c/s1600/P1000028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLIl-e7OhkFE6Y9VPHLPLPC6B9bEhiZccxSS-EvgC9IZYTGgvJUEfzGmsLMYAuk79fhTuEra5CtvyXiL5qm_jaCj3IH1ZbnUBczhu05OCRoAXreONLrea212mt4XxTpDQtZCCoAUfd-c/s400/P1000028.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I'd like to use this wood combo again--they both work very nicely.Pat Megowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845885750953421169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275162481770668851.post-47761217521004140292010-09-19T20:20:00.000-07:002010-09-19T20:42:38.746-07:00Narnia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Maybe? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitzSIGH5bqYiAanVPPb47mi8m-4RxCJ7MaGikOUhV_8UfODAYGhlTO4VsWLBQ35T9qa252EnfGOn2ccdQjg-EbXp6Roh_jqQz2XGTstnBw0vKmTU3XnPACeoJWCTKppT_7_cfSEIrFt3k/s1600/P1000212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitzSIGH5bqYiAanVPPb47mi8m-4RxCJ7MaGikOUhV_8UfODAYGhlTO4VsWLBQ35T9qa252EnfGOn2ccdQjg-EbXp6Roh_jqQz2XGTstnBw0vKmTU3XnPACeoJWCTKppT_7_cfSEIrFt3k/s400/P1000212.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJY353MH6yTVoVUfmBaRYLCekSCblGMM4XKfCQMrxzsJcOxlZ16IkKJeGNyVq9h8P6eg3ET4j-hHd1QcNW-zJJ2Iuv81NwbIUV9tcbRJN-EDaQ5AUa513sFdfNmLgUvjrWJn4Bjp-J2E/s1600/P1000230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJY353MH6yTVoVUfmBaRYLCekSCblGMM4XKfCQMrxzsJcOxlZ16IkKJeGNyVq9h8P6eg3ET4j-hHd1QcNW-zJJ2Iuv81NwbIUV9tcbRJN-EDaQ5AUa513sFdfNmLgUvjrWJn4Bjp-J2E/s400/P1000230.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Narnian campsites are somewhat spartan, but Reepicheep would not be fazed:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Meghan the Bold, faithful co-explorer, after an unexpected encounter with lake-effect gravity:<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">And the feasting was grand...peach pie at 10,000 ft. sped Meghan's recovery. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">If these bear a striking resemblance to Ediza Lake in the high Sierra near Mammoth Lakes, and the smokin' fresh peach pie at Saddlebag Lake, that's just a mighty big coincidence. </div>Pat Megowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845885750953421169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275162481770668851.post-24932116683103734062010-08-22T17:35:00.000-07:002010-08-22T17:35:34.969-07:00I must have slept soundlyHiking past campers at Clark lake early the next morning, they said bears had visited camp and that they had used an air horn to drive them away.<br />
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"No, you're joking!". <br />
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"Not at all. We banged pans, yelled, and used an air horn." <br />
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I have to say the new sleeping pad is exceptionally comfortable. <br />
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Day 3 can be summarized as: <br />
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Thousand Island Lake. Foolishly, after several hours I hiked on, planning to return in a day or two. Five miles and dinner later I finished the day by climbing Donahue Pass (which had looked so distant the night before), wandering a few feet into Yosemite National Park to gaze down shadowy Lyell Canyon toward Tuolumne Meadows--it was uncomfortably close to nightfall--and dragging back to camp. I was dragging all the way up as well, looking for any excuse to quit, but the trail is so well graded it seemed lame to turn back. <br />
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Camped nearby were Doug and Joanne, serious travelers and keen on natural history, and we talked as moon and stars took over the sky. They mentioned that the Perseids meteor shower was still happening, and waking later I slipped on my specs just in time to catch a cross-the-sky shooting star. Nothing like luck; I usually see little during the Perseids. <br />
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Day 4 started with slow creekside ramblings in the upper Donahue basin<br />
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but ended with a slow gimpy five mile walk back to Thousand Island Lake after jamming my knee on a mis-calculated jump. Argh! Then again, any day ending at Thousand Island is not a complete Argh.<br />
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My trusty tent echoes the shape of Mt. Banner. Up here near the head of the lake it's not the cast of thousands camping just two miles away near the outlet (first photo). <br />
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Day 5 was a lingering morning at the lake, then a ginger ten mile march to the roadend, where I've since nursed the jammed knee with mochas and easy day hikes. And blogging.Pat Megowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845885750953421169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275162481770668851.post-28810529106283558882010-08-22T16:33:00.000-07:002010-08-22T16:33:07.389-07:00What not to leave behindRecall that the air was pulsing with insects. Many of them wanted my blood. I covered up what I could and reached for the mosquito repellent. Squeeeeeze...squeeeeeeeeeeze...oh no. Seems my DEET had evaporated, or maybe been sabotaged by ninja mosquitoes. Which brings me to<br />
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Day two: leave pack behind, hike back to road, shuttlebus back to car, drive to town, get DEET (and grab the pen, spoon, and cup I'd left in the car), have mocha, reverse travel steps--huff, puff--and after ~11 miles arrive back where I started the day (except now it's 80 degrees). Pack up, move a couple miles into trees and call it good.<br />
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Camped off trail at the top of a pass, there were no bugs.<br />
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The view from camp was nice: the largest Clark Lake due north, backed by peaks along the eastern edge of Yosemite National Park. When the US Cavalry had patrol duty over Yosemite--which then included the Mammoth backcountry I'm traveling through--they came via passes near the right hand peaks. A trail still goes through there, but the famous John Muir and Pacific Crest trails come this way via a pass just left of the leftmost distant peak. <br />
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The watering hole wasn't bad looking either. <br />
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A friendly family camped in the trees purified water for me with a little Star Trek device that uses UV light to kill possible nasties. The owner had to put on dark glasses to use it. Fascinating what you encounter in the backcountry.Pat Megowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04845885750953421169noreply@blogger.com0