Distraction Action
George Murray wrote in with the sort of complaint we love to hear.
“Your eZine constantly messes up my work schedule, because as soon as it shows up as incoming mail, everything else goes on hold until I’ve read it from beginning to end. Seriously, a lot of very useful content, very well written.”
“Just want you to know that even when I am too busy to read a print magazine, I will read the eZine — great, clean format, easy to navigate. And let your advertisers know that the readers appreciate being able to click on an icon and get to their site, unlike a print journal. Keep it up!! And thanks!” – Dan Schechter
Is Free Cheap Enough?
Several folks responded to a questioner’s request for a simple, affordable CAD and cut list program.
“I make a free cut list program available for download. Just go to http://www.delphiforfun.org/Programs/CutList.htm and click on the “Download executable” link near the bottom of the page. You need to “unzip” the downloaded file to get the executable program and several sample project files. I wrote the program several years ago for my own use but make it freely available for non-commercial use. I welcome bug reports or suggestions for improvements – just use the Feedback link at the bottom of each web site page.” – Gary Darby
“I saw the question regarding woodworking software and wanted to alert you to a great package for MacOS called Design Intuition. It’s not perfect yet, but rapidly approaching that level, and it generates a cut list. It’s written by a cabinetmaker, instantly renders a 3D view, and can rescale the entire project in a flash. I have no affiliation with this company except that I am a user.” – Andrew Hendrickson
“There was a question about wanting a simple CAD program for woodworking in your recent eZine page. I have been using DeltaCad for several years and love it. It is a simple two-dimension program that only costs $40 at www.deltacad.com. They offer a free demo download and you can store the drawings from this free time period and access them later if you end up purchasing the actual CD. I’m not affiliated with them in any way.” – Jim Elliott
Awlgrip Not For All
“Living here in the Caribbean within a strong boating community we think Awlgrip is the cat’s meow for fiberglass boats. It is, in spite of the outrageous cost, the best we can use on boats. We used this product on some mahogany chairs and tables a few years back, thinking it would answer all our needs for these exterior pieces. To our dismay, within a few months of use the finish began to crack and peel. It all came down to the difference in the stiffness of the Awlgrip and the flexibility of the wood.” – George Smith, British Virgin Islands
Poetic Justice
“I am a writer who occasionally builds something, and I just have to tell you how much I loved your ‘hunkering down weekend’ editorial. I live in Connecticut and I adore not being able to do anything except whatever I want to do. This weekend it was stalking a cordless drill on the Internet. The poetry was hilarious. Please have more contests — a little volume of woodworking poems would be perfect for next Christmas.” – Mary Lee Grisanti
The Plane Truth
“I keep a dull set of blades for when I need to plane painted boards. After the paint is planed off with the dull blades, I change back to the sharp blades.” – Mike Baker
“I have a planer with throwaway blades. I ran a couple of boards through it that had oil-based enamel on them, and it dulled the blades so badly that I could not use them.” – Bill
“There is another consideration for eliminating snipe. Insufficient support on the infeed or outfeed allows a lengthy board to sag below the surface of the planer bed. Be sure the outermost edges of both infeed and outfeed extensions are at, or a couple thousandths above, the principal planer bed.” – Richard Shoemaker
“The secret to avoiding snipe is to raise your infeed and outfeed support rollers (the ones at the ends of the two tables) slightly above the level of the tables. When planing shorter stock, I hand feed each piece with its tail slightly higher than the infeed roller and wait for the pressure rollers to grab it. Try it it works!” – Al Rutherford
Shop Share
“As a 26-year career insurance agent and part-time woodworker, I would caution anyone against renting out their home shop. Most home insurance policies exclude coverage for the building and property if any part of it is used for business. Any injury liability would also be denied as business liability is not covered under home insurance policies either.” – Jim Beehler
Thanks for the excellent homeowner advice, Jim, but the original post was from a gent who runs a commercial cabinet shop. He was thinking of renting space in it, not in a home hobby shop. – Editor
