One thing leads to another..

[Steven Wayne]

A couple of weeks ago my best friend asked if he could work on a woodworking project in my shop. He is the one person I always open my shop to, so I invited him over. His neighbor had given him a bunch of 4" x 4" x 3' rough oak posts that he gets from shipping skids at work. My friend wants to turn them into a base for a coffee table that will have a 1" thick glass top that he found somewhere else. Anyway.. he gave me a few of the bits of oak. I wanted to try my hand at resawing them and see about making some planks to use for some boxes.

This wanting to try my hand at resawing led to me purchasing this:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1QZddhnZdng/TpFEiUtRShI/AAAAAAAAGFg/M_ZV04bfL3k/s800/IMG_4818.jpg

It was barely used and a pretty good deal. Once I started playing with these bits of oak I got to looking for some more wood to work with. That lead to me buying this:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Y6YtB0VrQrM/TpFEjNZNRWI/AAAAAAAAGFo/jFBA5ReYsqQ/s800/IMG_4820.jpg


The posts on the left are 5.5" x 5.5" x 9' white oak. The planks are 2.75" x 11.5" x 10' redwood. This all started life in a brewery a very long time ago. The brewery was disassembled at one point and the wood used for some projects. The guy I got it from only knows about the last 20 or so years of its life. I cut a 3' section of both and turned it into stuff that looks like this:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-puK9D-0s8pI/TpFEi97zSJI/AAAAAAAAGFk/EfQ9Qv0xa_s/s800/IMG_4819.jpg

Resawing with the smaller saw lead to me looking to see what was for sale locally used. That lead to a relaxing Saturday morning rural drive to buy this:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-U16gmiW74OI/TpFEhkMNfWI/AAAAAAAAGFc/kS1SBqVQ4QA/s800/IMG_4817.jpg

It included several 1" blades and has had very little use. It makes very short work of resawing the oak and the redwood. Tomorrow I am picking up the rest of the wood. All told I'll have about 400 bd ft of the oak and 500 or so of the redwood. All of the wood I have sampled is about 15% and seems very dimensionally stable thus far. The redwood has really, really tight grain and is gorgeous. I plan to make some very nice pieces with this wood. I'm starting with a machinist's tool chest. I might sell a portion of the wood to help recoup some of what I have spent.

I welcome any thoughts, suggestions, tips etc on the wood, especially good project ideas for it, etc.

[Cyrus Brewster 7]

No tips just yet. Just wondering he make of the big BS. Sounds like one thing lead to some some pretty awesome things!

I am away from home so this is making me drool a bit. I just saw an 18" BS for sale on CL for $200 in my area. I already have a 14" one, but boy, I would like to pick it up.

The only tip I can think of right now is that you may want to buy/build a taller resaw fence for the big guy. It will definitely give you more confidence when reawing larger boards.

Still drooling. Have fun.

[Steven Wayne]

The bandsaw is made by Sagittario, model PS 450. From the previous owner told me this was one of the early saws imported and sold by Laguna model LT18. The owner's manual says Sagittario on the cover. I also got a Laguna brochure for the saw that says LT18. The saw in the brochure looks exactly like my saw. It has triple bearing upper and lower guides, a good size table, very solid construction and can use 1/4 - 1" blades. It is a great running saw.

I already purchased a Kreg precision bandsaw fence for it.

[Cyrus Brewster 7]

Don't have it myself, but I have heard that the Kreg fence is pretty nice. I actually bought the Carter magnetic fence - got it from my local Woodcraft several months back for less that $60 out the door. I think Carter either discontinued or updated it so it was on the clearance rack. It is working out OK so far.

I would have bought the Kreg but the slot to change blades is on the front, not the side of the table (Rikon 10-325). The fence rail would have gotten in the way.

Anyway, enjoy the new toys.

[Bill White]

Just an idea....
Have you built your workbench yet? Gotta have a good bench, and some of that oak will make some swell legs and aprons.
Bill

[Mike Cruz]

Can NEVER have too many BSs...so long as you have the room for them! Don't stop now...you need a 20+ incher, too. :)

[Steven Wayne]

I would have bought the Kreg but the slot to change blades is on the front, not the side of the table (Rikon 10-325). The fence rail would have gotten in the way.

Anyway, enjoy the new toys.

My blade slot is on the front too. I am not sure what I am going to do for a fence. The stock fence is not very good. I am considering the Laguna Driftmaster fence. I would have to heavily modify the Kreg fence to get it to work.


Just an idea....
Have you built your workbench yet? Gotta have a good bench, and some of that oak will make some swell legs and aprons.
Bill

I do not have a woodworking bench yet. I have a Festool MFT and am using that as my bench right now. Building a bench is a great suggestion!


Can NEVER have too many BSs...so long as you have the room for them! Don't stop now...you need a 20+ incher, too. :)

I have two metal working bandsaws as well as the three wood working band saws. I plan to sell the old import 14" saw soon. Getting this big saw has really opened my eyes to what the big saws can do.

[Steven Wayne]

I spent all afternoon picking up the rest of the wood I bought. I hauled home two full truck loads of redwood. It has very tight growth ring patterns and is really good looking wood. I know it is really soft and not suitable for furniture. I like the idea of using it to decorate and contrast with other species. Time will tell..

Photos..


These two stacks are 6' long, straight sided redwood arc's.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Oqbp5lE85m8/TpJhXaE0IpI/AAAAAAAAGF4/LNU2xKxPkf0/s800/IMG_4821.jpg

The left stack is the redwood planks. Right is the oak I got on Friday.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-tJA7bMNR5ug/TpJhX71yXhI/AAAAAAAAGF8/nAHrh0Qa-ls/s800/IMG_4822.jpg

Side shot of the redwood planks.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Z8vYSa3T3Sg/TpJhYlQ-Q6I/AAAAAAAAGGA/PczTn2n_KDA/s800/IMG_4823.jpg

[Mike Cruz]

Steven, you are my hero... :)

[Steven Wayne]

I have a good friend that had to shut down his shop due to economic hardship. I've been helping how ever I can. Tonight, I came home with the truck full of this:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-l5pEQsZsSJA/Tqe1u_Uz72I/AAAAAAAAGH8/chHjSOBvzZE/s800/IMG_4804.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-smcUay9rIGk/Tqe1vq_BA8I/AAAAAAAAGIE/61iT9hud-HU/s800/IMG_4806.jpg


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B52kgSS6M_g/Tqe1zg2tqGI/AAAAAAAAGIM/6esavZJ6ZGk/s800/IMG_4809.jpg


There are several sections of a japanese maple tree. All of the logs have been air drying in doors for years. Plan is to rough saw and sticker the wood in preparation for making a bench.. I have a full truckload of wood tomorrow. And earlier today I hauled a truckload of lumber. I have more wood than I know what to do with! Lots and lots of project material for the winter.

Now, I need to get a set of those Laguna ceramic guides and a good resaw blade for my big bandsaw.

[Steve Kohn]

Actually my parents had a set of redwood yard furniture. Included were several chairs, benches, and table. Since redwood is naturally rot resistant it was a pretty good application. The set lasted for years.