***SURVEY: THE IDES OF MARCH***

Re: ***SURVEY: THE IDES OF MARCH***

JL

I did make one excursion - I went and bought five sheets of plywood (4 oak and one Sandeply).

"In the event we may be "sheltering in place" in coming days, whether voluntarily or by edict, how will this affect your woodworking habits or plans?"

It's Spring - I can now work outside to rough cut plywood and such. So I am starting on my backlog of projects. My wife wants a storage cabinet for the kitchen. We ripped out the other one when we replaced our floors.

I have other projects lined up that I wanted to work on.

"How can we make the best of the situation? Are there any humanitarian or socially conscious outlets for our woodworking efforts?"

Tough call. A lot of the call for woodworking is for repairs and such. People are reluctant to invite strangers in for the repairs. I have a few projects I am working on for the local public library - that don't really involve me going to them - until I deliver the project.

"Are there things we can do online that would be worthwhile?"

Another tough call. IDK about online - we do have a neighborhood access site where we keep in contact w/ each other. I have volunteered to pick up groceries for several couples. I can hit the grocery store when it opens and there aren't many people. Other than that?

Re: ***SURVEY: THE IDES OF MARCH***

Michael van pelt

They cancelled the last two woodworking shows and watching the news makes me angry and depressed so I am turning to my “Happy Place”. My shelter against the storm. Major shop clean! Putting a new Byrd head in my 8” jointer. Going to fire up the sharpening system and sharpen and tune up all my edge tools. Listening to CD’s and going to hide from the world a little bit! I have several elderly neighbors so will keep an eye out to help them! God Bless and hope all this is short lived. Be careful and be safe my friends!

Re: ***SURVEY: THE IDES OF MARCH***

Joe shelton

In part, staying in the shop fits your 'socially conscious ' goal. Personally, I've renamed my own behavior 'respectful distancing', and I hope it helps.

Time in the shop also affords some introspection, and so far I'm getting comfortable with using what I have and learning to think my way out of a problem instead of buying a new solution.

Don't hold me to that last...

Beware Indeed

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In New Jersey

[Thanks for the warning, Willie]

We're "hunkered" to help limit the spread of this thing. I'll miss my Saturday breakfast group.

Have several neighbors who are older and less robust that we, so checking on them and sharing what they may need in order to limit outside trips for groceries or meds. Turns out they have been wanting to refinish their kitchen table top since their grandkids have outgrown the "markers-stickers-glue" crafts phase. We'll bring the top into the new shop and prep and refinish it now that daytime temps are improving to the point of being able to spray waterborne coating outside.

Meanwhile, our own little ones are due for big-boy beds. Memsahib bought two bunk bed sets (Costco via Viet Nam) so I'm elected for the night stands, etc. The new Moxon vice will get a workout doing the DT joinery.

Between/Betwixt the Stubby beckons to reduce the pile of red and spalted maple log sections stacked by the big shop door not to mention the big-leaf maple burl.

Stay safe everyone.

Re: ***SURVEY: THE IDES OF MARCH***

Jim in Burlington Ont.

Interesting times,

My hockey leagues were cancelled last week and working from home is now on rotation with work.

I'm able to walk my dog without issues and the neighbours on our court are looking out for each other. Local food stores are now limiting quantities of some items so as not to create a hoarding rush of sorts. Some stores are only allowing 65+ during specific hours as well.

With retail mostly closed here people are taking things with a good degree of respect, low gas prices and no where to go .. of course.

I'm working on setting up my new shop again, so some slow times will let ne go there to sort out some boxes etc, The cyclone goes up next week!

Take care, Jim

New Shop - Cleaner

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In New Jersey

Hi Jim,

The cyclone is great, but consider also using something to clean the shop air to get the fines that the DC misses as well as other sources like sanding and turning.

Here's one made from a 20" ($16) box with a couple of 24" furnace filters and some scrap plywood.

I use two of these to get a circular flow around the shop. They're plugged into a timer switch that turns on at 7am and off at 8pm. Normal speed is on low but when sanding I kick them up to medium for a while. The outside filter gets changed every two months, with the 2nd one changed every 6.

Re: New Shop - Cleaner

Mark Nowicki

I am stealing that, ( design, not the fan :-)).

Go! Thief!!

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In New Jersey

That's what it's here for!

Yup, clever idea...

John in NM

Good set up that they are designed to get the air going in a circle too. Nice use of readily available parts.

Whoa!  Ho-da-fone!

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In New Jersey

A compliment from John in NM?

Be still my beating heart!

Don't worry...

John in NM

I'm sure to argue with you next time around

Re: New Shop - Cleaner

Jim in Burlington Ont.

That's brilliant!

I do have fine filter system I built about 24 years ago from a plan in Wood Magazine, I LIKE YOURS!!

Take care, Jim