Chiefwoodworker's Blog

I am pleased to announce that American Woodworker and Chiefwoodworker have teamed to bring in-depth and quality SketchUp training to a greater audience of woodworkers. Beginning March 12, 2013 Chiefwoodworker’s Beginner’s SketchUp Tutorials and Intermediate SketchUp Tutorials will be available exclusively through AmericanWoodworkerTV.

From the day I learned of Google SketchUp (now Trimble SketchUp) I became convinced it was a tool perfectly tailored for woodworkers. I have worked hard since 2007 to provide training to fellow woodworkers in the use of this tool. I have met a lot of woodworkers over the last six years and believe I succeeded in giving them the training they needed to add Trimble SketchUp to their woodworking toolbox.

However, the reach of Chiefwoodworker’s Blog can’t compare to the audience American Woodworker enjoys. American Woodworker is dedicated to providing training to woodworkers in all areas of woodworking with quality videos hosted by knowledgeable and expert woodworkers. It is my hope and belief that reaching a much greater audience with my tutorials will provide a greater service to woodworkers everywhere. I am delighted and proud to team with American Woodworker to benefit my fellow woodworkers.

Chiefwoodworker’s Blog will continue to provide posts, newsletters and videos on woodworking and SketchUp and I will continue to support my fellow woodworkers with SketchUp assistance when asked. In addition, I will continue to develop and provide SketchUp plugins. I also expect that my relationship with American Woodworker will grow. So stay tuned to my website (srww.com, Chiefwoodworker’s Blog, Chiefwoodworker’s Newsletter and look for me on AmericanWoodworker.tv.

American Woodworker Magazine, AmericanWoodworker.com, AmericanWoodworker.TV and Woodwork Magazine are all properties of New Track Media LLC.

The Berkshire Woodworkers Guild is sponsoring a scholarship fund for students seeking a career in woodworking, architecture or related field. Applications must be in before April 1, 2013.

• Applicants should be between 16 and 25 years of age.
• Preference is given to applicants from Berkshire County (Massachusetts) and the neighboring region and who seek to make woodworking, architecture or related fields their professional goal.
• Applications should be submitted at least 30 days before course begins.
• Maximum scholarship amount is $500.
• Money is paid to applicant or to course host after successful completion of course with receipt/invoice and evidence of attendance. Payment made in advance ONLY to course host if guarantee provided for refund (less any deposit required) if student can’t attend or cancels. No payments are made directly to the student in advance of course.
• Scholarships may be used to attend schools, conferences, classes, workshops and other events that meet the approval of the scholarship review committee of the Berkshire Woodworkers Guild. In general, any program that contributes to the education of the applicant in the areas of woodworking, architecture or related fields will qualify. Preference is given for long-term continuous programs that lead to certification or a degree in the profession.
• Scholarship application guidelines and application form are available on the Berkshire Woodworkers Guild website on the SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM page or directly from this link.
• Send completed form via email to willb@heartwoodschool.com, by regular mail to Berkshire Woodworkers Guild Scholarships, c/o Will Beemer, 148 Middlefield Rd., Washington MA 01223 or fax to 413-623-0277. Electronic submissions via email attachments (PDF or Word format) are preferred.
• APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR THE CURRENT ROUND IS APRIL 1ST.

I have written before about The Heartwood School, which is focused on homebuilding crafts, particularly timber framing. Heartwood resides in the town of Washington located in the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts. It is run by Will and Michele Beemer. The school offers a full range of home construction and woodworking courses – including a SketchUp course for timber framers. New courses this year include Build Your Own: Country Windsor Chair.

The Heartwood School’s course list and 2013 schedule is shown below. For a complete course description go to the table below and in the second column locate the course of interest and click the link. For further information or to register contact Michele Beemer at 413/623-6677, www.heartwoodschool.com or request@heartwoodschool.com.

Each year, near the end of March, the Northeastern Woodworkers Association’s hosts a woodworker’s show called Woodworker’s Showcase. It is held at the  Saratoga Springs City Center, 522 Broadway,Saratoga Springs, NY and this year’s show dates are March 23 & 24 (Saturday & Sunday). I attend this show every year. It is by far the best woodworking show I have attended, and I attend a lot of woodworking shows.

Woodworker’s Showcase is heavily weighted to the display of custom furniture, turnings, toys, guitars, chairs and all sorts of pieces made from wood. Whether you are a woodworker or someone who appreciates fine art you will enjoy this show. The is also an exhibitors floor where you can window shop for for all the latest tools and jigs and often make purchases at substantially reduced prices.

I often bring my camera to the show and capture some of the pieces on display. To see what has been showcased in the last few year follow these links:

20th Annual NWA Saratoga Woodworkers Showcase 2011
The 19th Annual NWA Woodworkers Showcase 2010

Chiefwoodworker’s Talk at Woodworker’s Showcase

This year, like I have for the last two years, I will be giving talks both days on Trimble SketchUp. The talks are introductory in nature; SketchUp can’t be taught in two hours. I demonstrate both beginner and advanced drawing techniques intended to give the interested attendee a thorough idea of the capabilities of SketchUp. My talk is centered on the free version, which is all any hobbyist woodworker needs. The Pro version has features a professional woodworker may want and I hit on some of those features in my talk too. There is an admission fee for the show, by my SketchUp talk is free, as is all the lectures at Woodworker’s Showcase. You can download the lecture schedule at http://www.nwawoodworkingshow.org/information.htm and click Demo Schedule in the menu at the bottom of the page.

I hope to see you there. Please join me in one of my talks.

As most of you already know, Trimble acquired the SketchUp division from Google. Fortunately, Trimble SketchUp 8 is still free and a powerful tool that is being used by woodworkers everywhere. The Pro version is used by professional to model and design everything from bottles to skyscrapers.

Yours truly will be giving two fall courses in Beginner’s SketchUp. In these courses we will use the free version to model a Bedside Table complete with tapered legs, mortise and tenon joinery, beveled top, dovetailed drawer trimmed with bull nose cock beading and a Shaker style drawer pull. We will begin by learning how to install SketchUp, setup application preferences, choose model defaults and customize a template. Next we will tour the work area and become familiar with its tools. The heart of this course is modeling the Bedside Table and producing dimensioned shop drawings and photorealistic textured images. At the course end each student will have completed a textured model and shop drawings; the textured model is shown above. Finally, we will learn how to extend the functionality of SketchUp through the use and customization of Ruby scripts. A notebook computer with SketchUp 8 installed is required for this course.

Sign up and join me for a fun filled learning experience. One that will pay dividends for many years and woodworking projects to come.

New England School of Architectural Woodworking (NESAW)

The NESAW Introduction to Google SketchUp course is a series of five Thursday evening meetings at NESAW in Easthampton, MA. Classes run from 6:30 – 9:30 pm October 11th through November 8th. No materials are needed beyond a notebook with SketchUp 8 installed. Go to either of the following links to register or seek further information.

http://www.nesaw.com/

http://www.workbenchschool.com/

Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking (CVSW)

The CVSW A Beginners Guide to Using SketchUp in Woodworking is a two day course given Manchester, CT. Classes run from 9:30 – 5:00 pm on Saturday & Sunday, December 8th & 9th. No materials are needed beyond a notebook with SketchUp 8 installed. Go to the following link to register or seek further information.

http://www.schoolofwoodworking.com/

I just released my June 11, 2012 Chiefwoodworker’s Newsletter. In it are a couple of graduation stories, appropriate for this time of year, a new SketchUp Ruby Script tool (beta release) and some modeling techniques. The Table of Contents is:

1. Installation and Graduation Time at the New England School of Architectural Woodworking
2. New England School of Architectural Woodworking Class Schedule
3. Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking
4. Lie-Nielsen – An Exceptional Quality, Made In America and Customer Conscious Company
5. Jesse Moy Graduates
6. CutList Bridge – an Export tool for Flexible Cut Lists with Special Features for Cabinetmakers
7. SketchUp Home Construction Is Proceeding On Schedule

Check it out.

Some Days You Should Just Stay Out of the Shop!

Saturday was a bad day in the shop. I was working on drawers for my cherry bedroom chests, cutting dadoes and rabbets, when the lights dimmed and the table saw came to a halt. A quick look uncovered a tripped breaker. I also smelled burning. That was late in the afternoon. I was depressed because I knew I had big problems, so I just left the shop without cleaning up. When I have problems like this, running from them is what I do. It’s either that or throw something.

I got back in the shop around noon on Sunday. It took me 2 1/2 hours just to free my table saw from my built in cabinet and table top, and to free the motor from the Delta cabinet. I opened the motor up, praying non-stop as I did, that the problem was just a  $10 centrifugal starter switch.

Well, God didn’t listen to my prayers (I’m sure God is a she). You can see that from the photos. The starter winding is burned up and the stator and rotor are severely ground and burned. After a number of phone calls I located a motor company that sells and equivalent Delta 3HP motor – Delta doesn’t stock and sell the motor anymore. I had never heard of the company I located, Leeson Motors, but it is the only one I could find after a long internet search. Hopefully my new $560 motor will arrive on Friday so I can get back in the shop next week. I’ll keep you posted on my recovery.

Some days you should just stay out of the shop!

If your experience is anything like mine you are tired of the companies that intentionally avoid human contact and feedback. I curse those telephone ladders that never lead to a human voice. When a human does answer you are speaking to someone who’s English is their second language and you have no hope of understanding them.

If you are lucky enough (some call it unfortunate enough) to make it through all that, and explain your problem with the company’s product, you are likely to be sorry you ever contacted them. You are treated to onerous procedures put in place to avoid correcting the situation. Some companies are honest enough to simply say “we don’t support our product with replacements” or “the problem is of your making and we can’t support you”.

Not Lie-Nielsen. You see, Lie-Nielsen was somehow created from an old company mold; a mold I thought was broken and lost a long time ago. They talk to their customers, never fearing to meet them and listen to their feedback. In fact their factory is open to customer visits on most days (see my visit to the factory). They even have an annual Summer Open House where you can meet and talk with the entire staff including Tom Lie-Nielsen and family. And for a small fee you can enjoy a lobster bake dinner.

Not only does Lie-Nielsen talk to their customers, but they also surprise their customers with above-and-beyond support. I dropped my #5 Jack recently and broke my tote. I went to the Lie-Nielsen website to purchase a replacement. Disappointed not to see a replacement part I emailed the company. I want to share with you two emails, unedited; one that I sent to Lie-Nielsen and the return email.

To: toolworks@lie-nielsen.com
Sent: Wed 5/23/2012 5:23 PM
From: Joe Zeh [jpz@srww.com]
Subject: Jack Plane Tote

Hi,

I dropped my #5 Jack Plane and broke the tote. Fortunately I have a wooden floor in the shop and nothing else broke. Do you sell replacement totes?

Joe…..

From: Lie-Nielsen Toolworks [mailto:toolworks@lie-nielsen.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2012 2:41 PM
To: jpz@srww.com
Subject: RE: Jack Plane Tote

Good afternoon, Joe.

I am sorry to hear about your No. 5!  Fortunately in situations like this, we can supply you with a replacement handle at no charge.  I’ll have one sent out to your address today.

Thank you,
Kirsten

Kirsten Lie-Nielsen
Lie-Nielsen Toolworks
1-800-327-2520
www.lie-nielsen.com

Lie-Nielsen didn’t simply replace my broken tote, which I freely admitted was due to my mishandling, but look at who replied, and note the cheerful and helpful voice of that reply. OK, Lie-Nielsen is not a multi-billion dollar corporation, and so you might argue that a multi-billion dollar corporation can’t afford to do these things. To that I would ask you to compare this customer’s response to Lie-Nielson in this situation to the same customer’s response to a new Grizzly G0586 8" Jointer. It is in a company’s best interest to support its customers – its peril when they don’t.

I have bought many Lie-Nielsen hand tools- and even a bench – over the years. Their trademark exceptional quality has always been present in those tools. When I told my wife about this situation she replied “Unfortunately, people need to understand that they have to buy, and pay for, quality up front instead of expecting a free replacement part for a plane they get at Wal-Mart.”.  It’s true. If you buy an object based on lowest cost you will replace it numerous times over your lifetime. On the other hand, you can buy a Lie-Nielsen plane, have it for life, and pass it on to your children and them theirs. Quality is always the best, and cheapest, investment.

As I said, I have been buying Lie-Nielsen tools for some time and will continue to look first at Lie-Nielsen when again in the market. Not just because of their exceptional quality and customer consciousness, but they are Made-In-America. This is not a political site and never will be. But I sure wish our leaders would figure out what Tom Lie-Nielsen knows; it is in this country’s best interest to make real, physical things.

Lie-Nielsen, you have my respect and my business.

I teach SketchUp in a number of the local colleges and woodworking schools. If you live in the area, plan to vacation in the area or would like to stay in the area for a class, check out my schedule below. Anyone who wishes to visit the area for a class, or any reason, contact me and I can help you make arrangements at very reasonable rates.

Beginner’s SketchUp Courses

Berkshire Community College, Pittsfield, MA – Wednesday Evenings, 6 – 8pm, Intermodal Center Room 1 beginning January 25,2012. See http://digital.turn-page.com/issue/50000/2 Career Enhancement – Design section on page 34. Contact Linda Pierce at (413) 236-2122.

Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking, Manchester, CT – Saturday & Sunday workshop, February 18th & 19th, 2012. Contact Bob Van Dyke at (860) 647-0303. See A Beginners Guide to Using SketchUp in Woodworking below.

Berkshire Community College, Pittsfield, MA – Saturday May 12th & Saturday May 19th, 2012 from  9am to 5pm. See http://digital.turn-page.com/issue/50000/2 Career Enhancement – Design section on page 34. Contact Linda Pierce at (413) 236-2122.

Advanced SketchUp Courses

Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking, Manchester, CT – Saturday & Sunday workshop, April  14th & 15th, 2012. Contact Bob Van Dyke at (860) 647-0303. See Google SketchUp for Furniture – Advanced Techniques below.

Other SketchUp Appearances

I will also be giving introductory SketchUp talks at the Northeast Woodworker’s Association’s Saratoga Showcase on March 31st and April 1st, 2012 at Saratoga Springs City Center, Saratoga, NY. This is the best woodworking show I have ever attended and a must for any woodworker within distance.

Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking

Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking is a premier woodworking school dedicated to teaching excellence in craftsmanship. CVSW has a wide range of woodworking courses and many of them are taught by its director, Bob Van Dyke, pictured right. Courses range from woodworking fundamentals to ten week fine furniture projects, wood turning, finishing and focused woodworking skills. In addition to Bob, CVSW provides courses taught by world class woodworkers such as Chris Schwarz, Glenn Huey, Phil Lowe, Mario Rodriguez and many more. Courses range in length from one lecture to weekend, week long and ten weeks. Check out the 2012 course schedule. In the schedule, under Specialty & Weekend Classes you will find yours truly. I will be teaching a beginner’s SketchUp course. I have copied that section below. If you live in the Northeast of the USA, I promise this will be a course that will add significantly to your woodworking skills. I look forward to meeting with you and talking shop and SketchUp.

A Beginners Guide to Using SketchUp in Woodworking

Computer aided designing has become more and more widespread and consequently- a lot simpler than when it started out. Google SketchUp 8 is a free and powerful tool that is being used by woodworkers everywhere. The Pro version is used by professional to model and design everything from bottles to skyscrapers. We will use the free version to model a Bedside Table complete with tapered legs, mortise and tenon joinery, beveled top, dovetailed drawer trimmed with bull nose cock beading and a Shaker style drawer pull. We will begin by learning how to install SketchUp, setup application preferences, choose model defaults and customize a template. Next we will tour the work area and become familiar with its tools. The heart of this course is modeling the Bedside Table and producing dimensioned shop drawings and photorealistic textured images. Finally we will learn how to extend the functionality of SketchUp through the use and customization of Ruby scripts. A laptop computer is helpful for this two day class. Basic computer knowledge is helpful. If you have any questions please contact the school’s director, Bob Van Dyke at (860) 647-0303. Sign up today. Tuition: $255.00 Materials are included

Section 021812B: Saturday & Sunday, February 18 & 19, 9:30 – 5:00pm

Google SketchUp for Furniture – Advanced Techniques
This is an intermediate course in Google SketchUp. The beginner’s course, A Beginners Guide to Using SketchUp in Woodworking, is recommended prior to taking this course. The free version of SketchUp will be used primarily, but the students will be exposed to the Pro version also. The focus of this course is modeling non-linear components; i.e. components with circular and complex shapes. The format of the two day workshop is six sessions, each session a one hour lecture followed by a one hour lab. Students should bring a laptop (notebook) to class with SketchUp 8 already installed.

Session 1 will begin with an arched rail for a clock door, the arch being a simple circular curve. Each session will progress to more complex shapes. Session 5 will focus on modeling cabriole legs using Bezier Spline curves. Each session will include an introduction to new tools – including a few Ruby script extensions to SketchUp – necessary to create these ever increasing complex shapes.

Finally, Session 6 will introduce the Pro version of SketchUp. The instructor will detail the differences in the free and Pro versions and even demonstrate a few of the new tools in SketchUp Pro 8. In addition, the student will be introduced to LayOut 3, a 2D presentation application that comes with the Pro License. Students will be shown how LayOut 3 can be used to create professional looking shop drawings and marketing materials. If you have any questions please contact the school’s director, Bob Van Dyke at (860) 647-0303.

Section 041412B: Saturday & Sunday, April 14 & 15, 9:30am – 5:00pm