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Price drop on over 1300 Rockler items

A Head�s Up *LINK*

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A Head�s Up *LINK*

#1

A Head�s Up *LINK*

Jim Shaver Oakville, Ont.

>Hi,

I just wanted to share with you a phone call I had today. I gave Howard Card a call to say hello and wish him a Happy New Year. Howard is the fine gentleman who made the wood screws I used on my work bench. His wood screw business is largely a one man show and Howard makes wonderful bench vise screws in mostly hard maple.

Howard is now 80 years young, in good health and fine spirits.

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I am posting this to let you know he is well, but as many can attest that life is short and full of change. I am offering �some� advice to those who have thought about his work and have thought about buying supplies for a bench project that, if it were me I would not wait long. I have enjoyed the esthetic quality of these wood screws in my bench and I know others have similar feelings as well.

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Now I am not advertising for him, he does not have email or a web site. If you are interested in reaching him please send me an email and I will forward his contact information to you. I would be disappointed if I knew having not shared this information with you would have been a missed opportunity for a shared experience of appreciating his fine work.

I know he has a wider range of product than I have used, so if you were looking for a face vise or other I know he can make it for you. I am a happy customer and having no gain to be made from this post other than to share it with you.

Take care,

Jim


Bench

Re: A Head�s Up *LINK*

#3

Attn: Chuck Nickerson

Jim Shaver Oakville, Ont.

>Hi Chuck,

I have tried to email you three times but each time it bounces back...not sure why, email and we can try again,

take care,

Jim

Re: A Head�s Up *LINK*

#4

Jack Guzman from Maine

A great resource

Jack Guzman from Maine

>I totally Agree Jim. I bought a couple of screws from him for a bench I built for a local museum. At the same time I ordered two extra screws that are going to replace my ugly green front vise and end vise. Howard does beautiful work and his prices are surprisingly cheap considering what you get.He won't be around forever so if anyone is considering building a bench you really should give him a call.Besides wooden screw vises are so much nicer in function and feel.---Jack

Re: A Head�s Up *LINK*

#5

Help needed...short rant

Joe Rogers, Northern Virginia

>Ok Let's make sure this technology application isn't lost. Can someone close sort of ...kind of ...ask to be sort of apprenticed so the tooling and skills won't be lost. I don't know of anyone else that does large format wood screws. Will we have to reinvent the wheel here? Where is Howard located? With this information maybe someone can pick up the ball and run with it.(sorry for the football anology)JR

Re: A Head�s Up *LINK*

#6

Jack Guzman from Maine

Re: Help needed...short rant

Jack Guzman from Maine

>Howard Card is located in upstate New York near Schenectady. His company is called Crystal Creek Mill.---Jack

Re: A Head�s Up *LINK*

#7

Re: Help needed...short rant

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native, Presently Away

>Thanks for the heads up Jim. One my first bench I fiddled with making a tail vise for years, but was never satisfied with it. I think the biggest problem was that I was using 3/4" threaded rod for the screw and it just wasn't adequate. I can see where that much thicker screw would be just the thing.

One my new bench I didn't bother with a tailvise, but would like to have one, or something along it's lines. I have an idea for using a Jorgensen pipe clamp head to make one. I've been in no hurry to bore dog holes into my bench, but I'd like to have a tail vise of sorts, so I just might do it yet, but I'll see if I can get around it if I can buy merely clamping a stop to the bench.

Agree that this technology needs to be passed on. wish I lived close by to him.

Todd O.

Re: A Head�s Up *LINK*

#8

Lots of skills down to last practicioner.

Chuck Nickerson

>There's an Austrailian book, "Rare Trades", that has short biographies on 40 or so such people. We live in an age where even if we can't get people apprenticed, we can videotape. If it weren't so expensive one of the better WW magazines (PWW or Woodwork)could at least record the images.

Re: A Head�s Up *LINK*

#9

Good Point Chuck

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native, Presently Away

>What kind of trades are going by the wayside in Oz?

T.O.

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