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Read Time: 5 mins
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I think it's a good thing I have a few close-by neighbors because that is all that prevents me from making a full-size log milling machine for my back yard. I just love milling wood, and I can see why the people who collect logs and mill them, either full time or even just as a part-time job ... love their work. Every log you open up is a mystery until you see what's in it. I always liken it to opening a present ... you never really know what's inside until you open it and everyone is different.

Watch it on Youtube: https://youtu.be/pFF3vhdJ76Y

It's even more fun when you can find special logs that "might" contain special features like figure or spalting, and even if the longs are short, I still get that same thrill ... and the wood is every bit as useful, you just use it for smaller projects, or for feature wood on larger projects ....

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One of the nice things about wood is that it comes in so many different varieties and because it's organic, all of those varieties can be further modified in structure by heat, fungi, and various other elements. In this video, I took my electric bike into the forest to harvest, what I hoped would be some spalted wood.

Watch it on Youtube: https://youtu.be/BkjjVNQL7u4

The one thing I was counting on was that even if the wood was not fully spalted, it would still be modified in its coloration and therefore would be another interesting wood to work with ...

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Over time, some jigs need modifications and adjustments to give them more flexibility and to work better. Such is the case with my mini log mill for my bandsaw. I have made 3 of these mini-mills in the past few years and this one was made for another bandsaw, but it still works on the one I upgraded to, but I find the base of this one is a bit short because sometimes the logs I am getting recently, are a bit longer.

Watch it on Youtube: https://youtu.be/QEDeG4WpJTA

I also have a few other related things to do, like cut another plastic miter slot blank for the new base, then I also need to trim the slide on my shop-made ... 

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It's always fun finding new ideas and new ways of doing things to save time and frustration and sometimes even tips and ideas that seem the simplest are in fact the most valuable, so I never underestimate their value ...

 Thanks to everyone who submits these ideas to me. I am surprised how many are new ideas or modifications of ideas that we hadn't thought of and a few are just to complex for me to replicate so those are in a different file and I may be able to get to them someday too ... but they are all enlightening and fun ...

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Dovetail Joints look cool and add an element of detail and elegance to wood projects like drawers, boxes, cabinetry and more. Traditionally they have been made by hand which is time-consuming for some woodworkers, therapeutic and rewarding for others and frustratingly difficult for many. Many, many years ago became somewhat efficient at making them, but when you don't practice periodically, you almost need to start all over again.

Watch it on Youtube: https://youtu.be/gaU3GeHJdqw

For those of us who only want to produce dovetails once every few years, re-learning and practicing to make them can make us turn to alternatives like ...

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The global pandemic of Covid-19 virus has affected everyone on the planet, and while we practice isolation and social distancing during this time, we also look for things to help occupy our time and allow us to be productive too. What a great time to think about, and maybe even try wood carving. It's fairly inexpensive to get into, you can purchase much of your tools and wood on-line and there are a variety of internet carving resources to give you ideas and help. 

I would venture a guess that wood carving is probably the earliest form of woodworking, and for you and me, it may have been your earliest form as well. If you are like me, and received your first jackknife as a youngster, and were told: "it's very sharpe, be very careful with it" ... but sure enough, didn't many of us cut ourselves ... I still remember that foray into "whittling" and how my mother came to my rescue with a bandaid ....

  1. Bad Ideas in Woodworking Episode 5 / Workshop Fails
  2. Woodworking with Thin Plywood, like Baltic Birch Plywoods
  3. Wood Router Tips and Tricks
  4. Building a Table Saw L-Fence / DIY Table Saw Jig
  5. Subscriber Submitted Workshop Tips and Tricks - Episode 11

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