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We published our woodworking-related wish lists just before Christmas…and perhaps we waited until it was a bit too late. Note to self: next time, provide links. To my mother, a diamond is something that goes on a finger, not on a sharpening plate. She did, however, select a nice book for me, “Wood: Craft, Culture, History,” by Harvey Green. Thanks mom! I also showed her and my stepfather, Jim, our shop, and we picked out a hanging cabinet I’m going to build for them (it might get done in time for her April birthday, but no promises there). And Chris (that would be Editor Christopher Schwarz), kindly gave me one of his several router planes (now I have to goad him into teaching me how to properly sharpen the blade).
Publisher Steve Shanesy writes:
Well, I didn’t get a single thing from my woodworking Christmas List, but in truth, I have no room to complain. No, none at all. That’s because Christmas actually came early this year (like Thanksgiving) and I got something spectacular-a whole new shop space with more room than a woodworker has a right to.
Yes, my puny 400-square-foot basement shop moved to a new location where I now enjoy some 1,300 square feet complete with generous-sized windows, hard maple flooring and all-new electric service with good light and ample 110v and 220v outlets. The new location is in a very old (and largely run-down) part of town less than 15 minutes from home. And while it’s on the second floor of a 140-year-old building, it does have an ancient freight elevator for lifting lumber, machinery and finished projects easily.
But that’s only half of it! I’m sharing the space with my 27-year-old son who has recently taken a much greater interest in the craft. So he gets the benefit of my equipment and experience and I get the pleasure of spending a lot of high quality time with him. It was a wonderful Christmas, indeed.
Editor Christopher Schwarz writes:
My mother surprised me with four pairs of antique dividers , two of them are wing dividers, one is clearly hand-forged and probably made in the early 19th century. And the fourth one is an enigma , I’ve never seen one like it. I’m cleaning them up now to use. Blasphemy, I’m sure.
The best gift I received, however, was getting to spend two full days in the shop with my youngest daughter to build a pine box to hold craft supplies for her fellow students. Katy learned about prepping stock with handplanes and clenching cut nails.
Senior Editor Bob Lang writes:
My son Hunter didn’t come through with the Veritas Low Angle Jack plane, but he did come through with the next-best thing. Considering his budget he did even better. He did some research and headed off to the antique mall. He came up with a Sweetheart era #5C Stanley that will be a good user with a little work, along with a #4 “Made in USA” plane of the same vintage and condition. It did my heart good to see the effort and thought that he put into getting me something I would like and use even if it wasn’t brand new and shiny.
And finally, though Art Director Linda Watts didn’t provide a woodworking-related list, months ago she mentioned that she’d like to start a plumb bob collection , and thanks to Chris’s prodigious memory, she’s now well on her way.
So did you get any new woodworking stuff? Leave a note below and let us know.
