oldhudson

You might consider a Shopsmith. They are available used everywhere. Prices vary quite a bit depending on the market and condition. But you can get a table saw (often the weakest part by it's critics - but I have modified my SS and can rip an 8 foot board by easily), a good drill press, horizontal boaring machine, lathe, disk sander, belt sander, drum sander, small (4") jointer, and bandsaw. I've had mine since '82 and only repair I've needed to make was to replace the on/off switch twice. They don't take up much floor space when not in use, not much larger than a bicyle and can be configured in a number of ways. It's like the Swiss Army Knife of woodworking. Certainly not for everyone. ----- Just my 2 cents worth. Great opportunity to work with your grandson, I'm jealous!

Very nice job. Wooden things that work are the best.

I thought the last picture was a pretty decent looking bench. Remember it's not forever. My shop changes all the time. Lot's of folks have a tool rack on the bench they use for a lath but I don't think it's necessary, especially if your near a wall. Roly has the right ideas, go to your favorite search engine and look under lath benchs. I think the import aspects are SOLID and the CORRECT HEIGHT you don't want to be bending over or reaching up. I like to be able to get to the back side of the lath especially for sanding. Don't forget to get good eye and dust protection.

Most of the time I spend in the shop is on projects for someone. (Keep in mind most are not scroll saw projects. I understand SSV is first and foremost a scroll saw forum - but so far no one has told me to leave.) I'm working on a bathroom vanity now. Whether I'm making a wine cabinet, coat rack or sliding shelfs for someone's kitchen, each project has home in the end and I know it when I start. With my scroll saw projects each has be done to entertain me. I have the wooden gear clock. I don't even have a place to hang it. It's in a spare bedroom lol. That's what I like about scroll work - it's fun.

Welcome aboard!

I'm sure you are over the moon with your good fortune. Better give your Mom a big hug. You might consider gifting your old equipment?

I have 2, both Shop Vac branded. In the shop I use the 3.5 gallon "hang-up" model. This model comes with a hose that's long enough to reach anywhere in my shop. I like that and the fact that it doesn't take up any floor space. In a small shop floor space is a critical resource. If I have a project somewhere else in the house it comes off the wall easily. Like all Shop Vacs they are noisy and a pain to change filters and empty. Anything with propritory parts is always a pain. I have a second one, a 5 gallon (that I keep clean) for use when we get water in the house. I have two corners on the north end of the house that get some water in the spring. I also have a ShopSmith dust collector that's on wheels and I use it on most of my equipment, the table saw, jointer, router table, disk and belt sanders and scroll saw. Pictured it's attached to my shopmade downdraft sanding table. Here I'm using it with the scroll saw. The dust collector hose is at the bottom right, drawing air/dust from the bottom of the saw. I think you can see the clamp holding it to the bench. I also use a 12" box fan that has a 3M furnace filter attached. It sits just to the left of the saw. I don't spend time thinking about "what I'd really like because it ain't gonna happen".

I sure am impressed with your inlay work and someday I'll give it a try....

A very generous and thoughtful donation. Well done!

I've never tried this but I know an artist who makes a mixture of distilled vinegar, coffee grounds, and rusty metal bits (like old nuts, bolts, hinges etc.). She lets the solution sit for 3-5 days, mixes it with water 50/50, and then paints it on to wood and just let's it dry. I've seen this done on "new" wood and I've not see it side by side on barn wood, but I think it would work ok.

I don't do nearly as much scroll work as most of you. But when I tilted my saw 5-6° and got an ajustable stool it made scrolling much easier for me. I have my saw mounted on a bench 39" from the floor and the seat of the stool is 29" from the floor. The next time I move things I'm going to tray a bit more slope.

My Delta is a 40-540 but here's a pdf of the manual, I'm hope this helps. http://www.mikestools.com/ownersmanuals/DeltaScrollSaws/40-150.pdf You'll have to search around for a Delta outlet that can sell you whatever parts are missing. Good luck.

Well thought out and nicely done!! Can you provide any construction details on the box? I wondered how the top and botton were attached and if walls of the box go into groves in the corner blocks or???

Great use of materials, it certainly has a strong sense of melancholy. Nicely done!

Brilliant!

Excellent use of those 'scrap' pieces. My mother would say, "Waste not, want not."

I've not done much scrolling but hope to do more. Mostly I've stored whatever patterns I've gathered I've put in a manila folder and keep in the file cabinet with all my woodworking stuff. No organization whatsoever, just in the folder. Recently I was introduced to Microsoft One Note. I played with it the other day because my wife asked if I could organize her receipes. She has hundreds. Some appear on the table with regularity and others, well they sit in a basket on a shelf in the dinning room. One Note came with Windows Office in my newer computer. It's like a digital 3 ring binder. You set up tabs, many as you like, and drop stuff onto a page. No limit on the number of pages. The info is not stored on your computer but on or in that thing they refer to as the Cloud. That allows you to sync a couple computers or your phone. One feature I think makes it particularily useful is the search function. I could scan a printed recipe or open a pdf file, or copy and paste from a web size like ALLRECIPES. Anyway you can search on ANY term in your 'notebook'. That makes it pretty easy to find stuff. For patterns it would require a person to create key word serarch terms to be useful, but I'm going to give it a go. I'd be interested to know more about One Note from any of you who have experience with it.

Good looking piece, you did a nice job with it. Thanks for sharing.

Nice work. It sounds like you have a real plan - good for you!

I usually use the 3M 77 product but recently purchased a can of Elmers Craft Bond. I can't tell the difference. Gotta follow the direction on any of them to work well. I hate reading directions - agh!

Nice job on that Dan!

Very unusual use of mdf. Very creative!

I'll second Roly's comment. MDF is the 'dirtiest' sheet good you can work with.

Very nice work!

I just finished a clock project. I purchased the movement and an engraved plaque, with the anniversary message. Reading the message is really difficult. The text is quite small and there is no contrast for the letters. What can I do to the plaque to increase contrast so the message is easier to read??? The clock is supposed to be a "A" and a "C". Can you see the letters? I know this isn't the typical scroll saw project but I've always colored outside the lines. Hope you like. Comments welcome and thanks for reading. (Enjoy the cold and snow while you can, it won't last forever.)