Website Changes

This blog is used by the Web Administrator to list updates to the website. This blog is summarized on the front page to make it easy for the members it locate new material without having to go  through the entire site. 

  • October 31, 2022 9:24 PM | Vincent Valvo (Administrator)

    Preparation is More

    than Half the Battle

     by Rob Carver

    Reading Rob's article this month, I realize preparation lasts longer than I expected.  In fact, it's probably a lot more than half the battle.  For me and especially for a new project, preparation starts with the first inkling of wanting to make a piece. I design cognitively for a while before putting anything down on paper or screen.  I guess my thought about preparation was the first step immediately followed by the last step. Yep, two serial steps and you're done.  Seems simple and efficient.  Right?  The concept here is that if you prepare well, the intended outcome is successful - don't skimp on preparation.  But now I'm thinking, preparation continues until you say "Done".

    What is your take on Preparation is More than Half the Battle?


  • October 28, 2022 8:59 AM | James Russell (Administrator)

    Bandsaw Setup - by Ellen Kaspern - September 10, 2022


  • October 10, 2022 8:41 PM | Vincent Valvo (Administrator)

    Meeting was held at Lincoln-Sudbury H.S. with the presentation title " Bricking Curved Furniture Element."

  • October 01, 2022 10:45 AM | Vincent Valvo (Administrator)

    Pay Attention to Proportion

    Rob Carver

    When thinking about proportions...wait, let's stop there.  Maybe you don't go around thinking about proportions.  But it's in your face (literally, as per Leonardo) and figuratively around the world.  It's not a thing you can touch but you can touch what has proportion.  It's a characteristic for some, it's a relationship for some, it's a ratio for some.  But, moreover, it's a principle. While it may be all Greek to some (ha, it's symbolized with the Greek letter phi), it's as ubiquitous as common sense and uncommon sense combined.  It forms beauty, stability, moderation, balance.  I'll leave it there.  Rob has more to say.  Read Pay Attention to Proportion.

    You can reach Rob for comments and additional information, by clicking Rob Carver.


  • October 01, 2022 10:44 AM | Vincent Valvo (Administrator)

    Finishing Frustrations

    by Andrew Davis

    There is no argument for many woodworkers, their woodworking Achilles' heel is finishing.  I always thought this last stage was ill named because you have to ask yourself, how many times does it take to restart "finishing" and fix problems before you are satisfied?  Only the last attempt should be called Finishing, i.e., when you are FINISHED!

    When something goes wrong with finishing, the result can be a double whammy.  Not only is the piece visually unappealing, sometimes it ruins the piece after laboring ever so carefully during it's construction.  It seems that within the skill set of woodworking, such as cutting, drilling, carving, hand planing, dry assembly, gluing, measuring, and so on, finishing is one that is the black sheep in that family.  So relax and enjoy some laughs while commiserating with Andrew in his latest article Finishing Frustrations.


  • October 01, 2022 10:42 AM | Vincent Valvo (Administrator)
    A Coffee Table For M.C. Escher!

    by Jim Allen

    You may remember when President John F. Kennedy challenged the Aeronautics space community with the Moonshot Program, he said, "We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard."  Over the course of bringing Featured Pieces to you, I've been amazed how that quote can be paraphrased for woodworking.  We all have our Moonshot Moments and as we develop our skills we reach for greater challenges.  Here Jim Allen takes on a dizzying piece that fits that challenge.  When you read his A Coffee Table For M.C. Escher!, you will be amazed and, hopefully, not too dizzy.

    Further information can be requested by clicking Jim Allen.


  • September 30, 2022 2:13 PM | Vincent Valvo (Administrator)

    Clicking the graphic displays the recent additions on a new page.

  • September 13, 2022 10:18 AM | Vincent Valvo (Administrator)

    The featured speaker at the September meeting was Ellen Kapern, a graduate and instructor of N. Bennet St. School in the Cabinet & Furniture Making program and now a member of Charlestown Furniture Makers where she designs & builds custom furniture, built-ins and small objects. Ellen is an author and a blogger who has shown her work at various museums, art shows, and galleries.

    The topic of the presentation was "Maintenance and a Band Saw Tune-up".

  • August 31, 2022 2:15 PM | Vincent Valvo (Administrator)

    Given the plethora of online series being streamed, the MTCO column is showing Season 2 Episode 1 A Poor Workman Blames His Tools written and starring Rob.  This essay brings a thoughtful drama for introspective woodworkers to consider.  Rob reveals a little about himself but enough to demonstrate that he knows about what he's talking.  In this episode Rob gives some historical understanding of the titular proverb stated above.  The plot expands into other fields of interest not only woodworking (although one could imagine the flying piece of wood that was miscut and thrown in disgust) and climaxes with insights taken from an obstinate computer student who could not imagine the problem he encountered was actually between the "chair and keyboard".  

  • August 31, 2022 1:58 PM | Vincent Valvo (Administrator)

    When we last left in June, the Featured Piece was a Bow Front Table Package consisting of an overall description, a working plan and a supporting SketchUp file of a Seymour Table.  As we resume the series of Featured Pieces, Bruce Wedlock has provided another project for engaging members.  Bruce offers a working set package of detailed instructions to build a replica of the popular Eli Terry Pillar and Scroll Clock.

    This package is written and organized such that at various steps in the build process embedded links are provided to display external files providing more detail, dimensions, patterns/templates, sources for obtaining materials, and more.  It's a clever method of following the instructions and accessing any needed external files on-line when it is needed.

    Further information can be requested by clicking Bruce Wedlock.

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