Toolmaking Art

Seriously, I love this tool rack system! It looks to be economical, flexible and functional.  Plus the modular system allows you to rearrange things as you get more tools.  The only real down side, is that tool storage systems that you can’t close are a bit more suseptible to dust and rust.  If  your shop is air conditioned and has good dust control, then this is not so important.  For me it is a bit of an issue.   Not that my  current methods are any better.

David Pickard, the designer sent me an email offering router bits for linking to his site’s, http://www.woodshopics.com/ and http://www.woodshopbits.com/ (carbide router bits).

Here is the thing though, I like David’s work, but I don’t like tailed, screaming, wood manglers.  (Routers)   I own three of the damned things, and I have fortunately been able to avoid using any of them for the last two years.

I am not a purist, I love my cordless drill and my bandsaw, but I prefer  to be bathed in quite peace, without hearing protection, goggles or risk of motor based finger mangling.  If you do use routers, by all means check out David’s goods, in any case, be sure to check out his storage system.  He is definitely a clever designer!

Don’t think for a moment that this is a show of integrity and resistance to selling out, if Clark & Williams, Lee Valley, Bridge City, or Lie-Nielsen made me an offer, I would sell out in a moment!

Bob

Here are the tomato varieties that I will be trying from seed gathered at the Tomato Festival!

#1 Tipsy and #2 Green Giant x Yellow Submarine F1

#3 Dice’s  Mystery Black

#4 Jaune Flamme a wonderful French heirloom tomato

#5 Sungold

#6 Purple Haze F1

#7 OSU Blue

#8 Paul Robeson

#9 Tennessee Green

#10 Morovsky Div

#11 Golden Gem

#12 Redfield Beauty

#13 Tony’s Italian on the left and #14 Momotoro on the right

#15 Black Cherry

Bob

When I started out exploring and sharing experiences on woodworking using the web, I took the handle ‘Cedar Slayer.’ Between allergies and my enjoying the smell of the wood, I was cutting and using a reasonable quantity of the stuff. I grew to love this wood, and was surprised at the variability of it. As I researched and read up on the stuff, I found out how to cure cedar fever, and how valuable a tree cedar is. Mind you, I don’t want it everywhere, but am actually encouraging the plant to grow in a few places in my yard now. I found out that a lot of cedar we use is not even cedar. If it holds up in weather ok and smells cedary, we call it cedar. The ‘cedar’ used in cigar boxes is actually a hard wood. The cedar in my yard is juniper.

Lovely stuff juniper. in the middle of summer it grows pretty powder blue berries. In late fall, in my yard, the berries ripen. Most fall before you can pick them, but the ripe ones are actually quite sweet and tasty. if they are not ripe the taste pretty much like pine smells. The story is that if you eat five or so berries, you will be immune to cedar fever allergies. My family tried it this last year, and for us, it worked.

Here is a site with a lot of good information on cedar.

My current plan is to put a windbreak of cedar at the north end of my yard.  The more I work with and learn about cedar, the more I love it.  The trees can be real itchy though, and I am not fond of itchy.

Bob

This weekend, I traveled to Washington on the Brazos to see the South East Texas Tomato Festival!

The bridge was out, so we had to take a detour, but it was all worth it. The folk there are testing, and comparing heirloom and a bit more recent varieties of tomatoes.

They had a huge range of tomatoes for the tasting. Seriously they had tables covered with a wide range of samples that they were quite generous with. I came away with a bit more than I can manage, but I will have to try. I have never seen so many different tomatoes side by side.

I am rather used to reinventing the wheel whenever I start researching. These wonderful folk have done major research and have produced wonderful data and evidence side by side, that I could see, touch and taste!

I managed to give a few Magenta Spreen plants away, and a few I’itois Onions as well, so I don’t feel too guilty. But indeed I am in these folks debt! The enjoyment, information and seeds that I came home with are treasures indeed!

Here are the tomatoes they gave me to take home and get seeds from!

Most of these are small to medium. I prefer smaller because they mature faster and I am more likely to get some before the bugs and birds consume them. The big one in the middle however was too much to pass up. It is a near perfect balance of tomato qualities and it is named in honor of the great Paul Robeson! I had to have it!

There are 15 varieties here for me to try out. Two of them are mysteries, since I managed to fail on documenting them.

Mystery Tomato number 6, Purple somethingorother.

Mystery Tomato number 12, labeled Red Odd. I guess that is it’s name now.

After extracting seeds, these tomatoes made a wonderful fresh tomato sauce!

I saved the seeds in their juice.

Then I covered the juice and seeds with plastic wrap.

Within three or so days mold will have covered the juice, and the goop will be really slimy and very acidic. This will kill most tomato diseases. Then I will wash the seeds in a strainer and spread them on cloth to dry. After they no longer stick to things, I will put them in packets for next year and plant a few of each for this year.

And yes, I made the rack for the shot glasses. A chunk of cedar with holes drilled in it. I added feet to it so the shot glasses don’t touch the table below. Simple enough, but it will keep the seed ordered and manageable.

Bob

I could not resist posting this delightful game. It is a work of art!

What is it in us that lets us create and enjoy such pass times?

Bob