I'll second what Jim said earlier - I love this place! I've been hanging
around for about two years, now, and have always found the discussions to be
interesting and informative. Reading the previous evenings e-mails are the
highlight of my morning. Granted, an extended discussion of plywood is a bit
off-charter, and the GN thread bored me, but my delete button works fine. At
the same time, I learned something about wood and wood as art and what can
go into selecting the appropriate wood to "show off" its soul.

At the same time, certain discussions of blacksmithing tools and methods
bore me to tears, and those are completely on charter - that's just a matter
of taste and interest. Also, some days there are only a dozen or two
e-mails, some days close to 100. Everything ebbs and flows, including
discussion topics. And never forget that a topic that was beat to death a
year or two ago could be the Holy Grail to a newbie who has more enthusiasm
than experience.

The long and short of this is that the list is what we, the list members,
make of it. If anyone wants more discussion of old tools and methods of
work, then start a thread. In that spirit, here's what I've been working on
lately and I believe that there is plenty of room for comment for the
Gathered Galooterati (my personal favorite cognomen for porch sitters).

2005 is in fact turning into the year of the saw for me. I've purchased five
from the Bay this month - a 26" Jennings 6-pt crosscut, and much shorter
10-pt crosscut with Fulton on the etch but a Jennings medallion; two bishop
10: backsaws, both 15-pt (twins, in fact). One is going to be filled rip and
be my dovetail saw - the other crosscut for tenons. Finally, and the only
one not to arrive, yet, is a Disston D-23 rip saw that I am anxiously
awaiting.

One of the Bishops need a new handle, which I'm looking forward to tackling.
I need to figure out where I'm going to get a small piece of (cherry,
probably) to use for a blank. One of my local borg's (Menards) sells 4s4
(pricey) cherry and mahogany and walnut along with the ubiquitous oak and
poplar, but only in 3/4" thickness, and I need 7/8". Woodcraft and another
local (30-minute drive) woodworking store have thicker cuts, but the length
(at WoodCraft, at least) are much more than I need. I'll figure it out.

Finally, I spent some of last night and even this morning (waiting for my
ride) shaping the teeth on my larger, no-name Warranted Superior 14" back
saw that I picked up with a no-name miter box last summer. I first jointed
the top and finished shaping this morning. I've been following Pete Taran's
article on his site. When shaping, I held the file perpendicular to the
saw - I hope that was correct. Tonight I'm going to set the teeth (maybe -
they have pretty significant set even after shaping) and file the fleam. I
can already feel that they are sharper.

The big Jennings was shipped sharp, but all the rest need attention.
Nicholson files are cheap, and the hardware store just down the street from
me carries them, so I'm in for several evenings of filing fun! Next step,
SAW TILL!!!

Rob in Peoria
1960 Anniversary Shopsmith Mk V Brownie
www.geocities.com/momentsoffaith2004

Wood shavings on the floor! Wood shavings on the floor!

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