The Work Schedule- It is not Amazon.

I am finding myself a bit behind at the moment.  A bunch of new orders came in at the end of last summer and fall.
Here are a few shots showing the leaf edge that mates to the end of my Trestle Table w/leaves.  I use an antique molding plane to make the concave edge.  This is just another example of details that cannot be made by pushing wood over a power tool. The extension portion of this table has set my schedule back a bit so I want to apologize if this has caused any inconvenience to my other clients who are waiting for their work.

There do not seem to be many businesses like mine these days.  One person, just getting work done as it comes. At times, I am right on schedule but other times a job takes longer than expected and I do understand that that can be frustrating.  Today we (myself included) expect to a quick response from those we contact or place orders with.  
I have learned though that those who work on their own live with a different time structure.

I just contacted a sawer about buying a live edge slab of walnut and I did not hear back for about a week.  I almost completely forgot that I had contacted him when I did eventually get an answer.

I have one supplier of sand paper who I have never spoken to.  I have worked with them for the last 16 years or so.  I used to leave a phone message (they never answered) and a week or so later I would get my stuff.  It always made me nervous since they never acknowledged that they had received my order until I got it.  Now, I order by email but the same rule applies. No response.  Sometimes they email to say that it has shipped.  Sometimes not. The trust factor is interesting and satisfying that it works.  This supplier has been a welcome mystery in my life.

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So, this is what I have next on the schedule.

Currently shaping seats-   8 New Waltham arm chairs for the state of Washington

Just glued up seats for -  

1- New Waltham side chair rocker for California
                                      
1- Custom desk Chair for Nova Scotia
                                      
2- Cod Rib Rockers- one for Washington state and one for Germany

Then a Cod Rib Arm Chair for MA, 4 New Waltham Side Chairs for NJ, a dining table for MA,  2 Waltham Rockers for RI, and a Low Post Bed for ME.

The finished concave surface.

A bit to my chagrin, these latest posts about this table have netted some interest.  I have recently received three inquiries about this Trestle Table.  Hopefully, I will move a little faster on the these next tables since it is fresh in my mind.  Orders seem to come in bunches.  I did a few beds last fall, then it was benches, then a gaggle of chairs and now the tables are having their turn.

Raining today.  A good day to grind out chair seats.

Tim

Cherry Trestle Table Making Progress

This table is almost completed but here are some shots from a week or so ago.  I like to have a breadboard end on my Trestle Tables but they are a lot of work to make. The full width tenon is a job to do.  The table which is quite heavy must be flipped over and back countless times in order to properly fit the breadboard end. 

The "end" before trimming to size.  The extra length makes it easier to  remove the end with a mallet during the fitting process.  

cherry pegs are shaped from scrap stock.

working on the extension slides for the leaves

the raw leaves sitting in place.

Next blog will be about the fitting of the leaves.

Soccer practice started today. We had a bit of rain but it was warm so it was comfortable.

Enjoy the new growth with the rain.

Tim

My Brother the Artist: Steve Clark

My Brother Steve has worked as an architect for the past 30 years or so but long before that he was a very skilled artist.  For some reason he has the ability to draw what he sees or imagines. I am very envious of that skill as drawing does not come easy for me.  Don't tell him I said that.  I am the little brother and competition is rooted deep from our younger days. 

These few samples of his work are all about sailboats but he does a lot of landscapes, and other topics, many of which include buildings.  Barns of the Vermont countryside are one of his favored topics.

The fleet of catboats below is my favorite of this bunch.  All of the paintings below were recently sold but if you like what you see, he can do something similar.  Also, feel free to send him an image of your boat and he can bring that to life.

He is updating his website you can see other examples of his paintings at his old site here http://stclarkdesigns.com/paintings2.htm

The email on that site is out of date but if you are interested in his work, you can email him here.

sclark100@comcast.net

Of course, don't order too much work from him or he won't be able to help me in the shop as he has been doing lately to help with my backlog of work.

Happy Easter,

Tim

Busy Spring- Trestle Table and Many Windsor Chairs

Lots of things going on in the shop these days.

I am building one of my Trestle Tables w/ Leaves as well as around 20 chairs for a few different orders.

checking the surface during the process of hand planing the table top

My brother, Steve,  has been helping me out a bit lately with the work load. Thanks Steve.

all of the parts of the trestle table get a hand planed edge treatment. Just one of the details that set it apart from a  factory made table.

trestle through tenon joint ready for wedging

trestle clamped glues and wedged, (upside down) leaning against the table top

post and base of trestle

roughed out parts before shaping.

Below are a couple of shots of my new project boat. I have had plans to build one of these for 10 years but this one became available at a good price.  The name is Siri and it was built in Africa in 1981.  That's when I graduated from high school.  

It is hard to believe that we were in a deep freeze not long ago.

Enjoy the new weather.

Tim