After a few chaotic duck drive attempts, Julia started transferring the ducks to their daytime fence in this purple bucket. We plan to move them to their permanent full-size house tomorrow, so they’ll be able to let themselves out from now on. But this was fun while it lasted.
#bucketofducks #ducks #homesteading
Today I made the wedge and fitted the iron to the bed of the fore plane I’ve been working on a bit each day. The test planing is such a rewarding step in the planemaking process. All that’s left is to make a tote and to do the final aesthetic detailing.
I’ve long been determined to learn how to make my own planes, not because I couldn’t get a good one otherwise, but because this was something pre-industrial woodworkers seemed to think was normal. I mean, we are woodworkers, aren’t we? It’s just a wedge and block of wood with a hole in it. This is the second plane I’ve ever made, and I have to tell you, the process is not rocket science. I read one Popular Woodworking (Nov 2017) article by @voigt.planes, and that was all I needed. You can do this too.
#handplane #planemaking #walnut #howtouseyourquarantine
The subscription window with Issue Eight is now closed, and we’re starting to apply labels already. This shipping operation is a family affair – my boys have been pleading to get up to the shop each day to help ship out your magazines. There’s nothing like a family-run business!
Thank you all for your continued support! My boys are loving the work!
(p.s. If you were waiting to order Issue Eight by itself, it’s now available for purchase in our store linked in our profile.)
#mtmagissueeight #independentmagazine #smallbusinessisbeautiful
Ahead of schedule. Both Mike’s family and my family have been super helpful as we move through this enormous pile of magazines. Readers, our families are so grateful for your support of our super small-scale family-run business. Especially in times like these, we think it’s important to support those we believe in. So thank you for believing in what we do, friends. We are through-the-roof excited about Issue Eight and know you will be too.
Remember, today is the last day to order a wrapped copy.
Link to get your copy:
https://www.mortiseandtenonmag.com/collections/magazine/products/magazine-subscription
#mtmagissueeight #independentmagazine #smallisbeautiful
Late last night. My wife, Julia, putting the last few wax seals on trade cards for Issue Eight.
#waxseals #mtmagissueeight #independentpublishing
“One form of intermediate technology employed in my shop, the human-powered machine, provides an alternative to both the hand tool and the power tool. At this time, my tools in this category include a treadle-powered band saw, a hand-cranked drill press, a pedal bench grinder, and treadle metal lathe. The lathe and drill press are more than 100 years old and were manufactured to be human-powered. The 12" band saw is of more recent manufacture and came to me with a 1/4-horsepower electric motor. I use all of these tools regularly. However, I will describe the band saw in some detail as it is by far the most used.
The saw is mounted on a purpose-built stand equipped with wheels. Without an electric cord, it can be easily moved around the shop or into an adjoining room. In place of the V-belt pulley driving the lower wheel is a cluster gear/freewheel mechanism from a 10-speed bicycle. A bike chain connects the freewheel sprocket to the treadle in such a way that for every 1" of treadle movement there are 2" of chain movement at the sprocket. This gives a higher speed to the saw and a better balance of power available. As the treadle is depressed, it spins a spool, winding up a cord which flexes a spring. The energy stored in the spring returns the treadle to its starting position. Four small lead weights are screwed to the perimeter of the band saw’s lower wheel, giving mass to the aluminum wheel and helping to smooth out the discontinuous application of power.”
– Harry Bryan, excerpt from “Intermediate Technology in the Shop: Inspiration from E.F. Schumacher’s Small Is Beautiful” in Issue Eight
Link to subscribe in our profile.
#mtmagissueeight #harrybryan #humanpoweredtools #bandsaw #efschumacher
This morning, my book co-designer, Adam (@wearefrankdesignco) and I worked out the final nitpicky design details of “Another Work is Possible.” With Adam’s insightful help, this book is looking top-notch. The presentation is the result of many hours obsessing over every bit of minutia from typography pairing, to layout of text and images on each spread, color selection, hand-drawn illustrations, how the end sheets work with the dust jacket, etc. Each aspect has been debated amongst us many times over.
Also, I got the copy edit suggestions back from Nancy Hiller (@nrhiller), and am just rolling up my sleeves to put them in the document. We only have a few days left and then it goes to the printer – super excited to see the light at the end of the tunnel on this one!
You can order a copy of this hefty, 240-page labor of love at the link in our profile…
#mtmagcsf #carpenterswithoutborders #charpentierssansfrontieres #anotherworkispossible #timberframe #independentpublishing
“The provision of bread was actually something Julia and I particularly worried about in the early planning phases. We had heard how highly the French value their hearty loaves. What American in their right mind would feel confident offering bread to French guests? Even though we bake sourdough bread at home, we rarely make more than a few loaves a week – a fraction of what CSF would require. Fortunately, Kinga is a professional bread baker, and has been involved in several of the past projects to keep the gluten levels topped up. As we worked out the details of baking, we connected Kinga with Tim Semler and Lydia Moffet, who own a wood-fired bread company called Tinder Hearth just 10 minutes away. They graciously allowed Kinga access to the oven between their bakes and their famous pizza nights (which are booked days in advance). Kinga determined that for this many people for this long, she would need to bake 80 loaves. When we told Tim this number, he laughed. “I love the French,” he said “For them, the bread is the meal.” I can attest to this – 110 pounds of flour makes a load of bread! Kinga’s loaves were absolutely delicious and each required diligent surveillance at mealtime, lest it disappear too quickly. In fact, Kinga’s bread has become such a staple for CSF projects that it was among the first things I heard about their work. I mean, what kind of self-respecting carpentry team doesn’t bring their own baker?”
– An excerpt from Joshua A. Klein’s forthcoming book “Another Work is Possible” now available for pre-order. Footage from the documentary film.
#mtmagcsf #carpenterswithoutborders #charpentierssansfrontieres #anotherworkispossible #timberframe #woodfiredbread #painsansfrontieres @pains_sans_frontieres @tinder.hearth
Andy Hyde tells us this way of working is about the most basic of human needs – the need to make shelter, and Jordan Finch (@finchwoodworks) explains the importance of hewing to create square regularity in the construction process. An excerpt from the forthcoming documentary film “Another Work is Possible” available for order and immediate streaming and download on Friday, January 17th
#mtmagcsf #carpenterswithoutborders #charpentierssansfrontieres #anotherworkispossible #timberframe
Horse-logger Jon Ellsworth talking about his approach to sustainable forestry. An excerpt from the forthcoming documentary film “Another Work is Possible” available for order and immediate streaming and download on January 17th
#mtmagcsf #carpenterswithoutborders #charpentierssansfrontieres #anotherworkispossible #timberframe #horselogging
Mike and I have just given my brother, filmmaker Sam Klein (@sam_klein_film), the final approval of the documentary film “Another Work is Possible” about our timber frame build by Carpenters Without Borders this summer! Sam is now sending me clips to share with you all in order to hold you over until the official release on January 17th.
This first clip features Jon Ellsworth, the horse logger that harvested the logs for our timber frame, and his son Walker in the woods.
Stay tuned, folks. We’ll be regularly releasing snippets of this incredible film. It’s amazing to think about this now being complete since Sam began shooting in August. It’s been a long time coming with lots of back-and-forth to smooth out the minutia. After all his hard work, we couldn’t be more pleased – there is lots of celebration over here!
#mtmagcsf #carpenterswithoutborders #charpentierssansfrontieres #anotherworkispossible #timberframe #horselogging
This morning, Mike and I recorded the narration/interview segment of the upcoming documentary film that my brother (@sam_klein_film) is putting together about our Carpenters Without Borders timber frame project. We discussed many different aspects of the build, but for now, here’s my explanation of the title “Another Work is Possible.”
#mtmagcsf #carpenterswithoutborders #charpentierssansfrontieres #anotherworkispossible #timberframe
