Posted By RichC on August 30, 2023
Jim Brown played for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) from 1957 through 1965. Considered to be one of the greatest running backs of all time, as well as one of the greatest players in NFL history. (Link)
Posted By RichC on August 29, 2023
There is no plan to buy more stuff, but I’m collecting ideas for the wall behind my newly upgraded router table for the accessories. Previously 
I have either just hung the jigs, etc on the wall individually or put them in a drawer nearby with my table saw parts and jigs.
Now that I finally have a couple “nicer” featherboards, it would be handy to not just pile them on the back of the router table (which is currently what I do). The “hanging on the front of a shelf” idea from this Rockler shelf would be pretty handy as well having as a few slots for 1/2” bits and the collet wrench when I’m changing them. Perhaps this will be a fun wintertime weekend project?
While collecting ideas for workshop woodworking jigs, I’ve been tempted a few time to build or buy a box joint jig for my router table rather than using the one I made that fits to my table saw miter gauge. Here is Rockler’s nicely made Small and XL versions for inspiration.
Posted By RichC on August 28, 2023
While winding down the last of the lazy summer pool weekends (photo from 2016) this August 2023, there aren’t many better songs than those from the singer/songwriter Bertie Higgins.
A few years back his “Just Another Day in Paradise” was 
a Music Monday selection and probably a favorite … but equally enjoyable is “Key Largo.” Of course it triggers our “dinner and a classic movie” Covid19 stay-at-home routine and HelloFresh meals as both Brenda and I enjoyed watching “Bogey and Bacall” in the movie of same Key Largo name.
Posted By RichC on August 26, 2023
Since I now have a few more featherboards to use with my table saw and router table, it seemed like a good idea to add a couple T-Tracks. Most modern woodworking workshops now seem to use these anodized aluminum tracks for a variety of purposes … they will be helpful for hold downs on my small sleds too. I realized the short ones on my drill press table are “the wrong size” to fit my new clamp gadgets, so decided to buy a couple low-cost 400mm ones online and make a couple of my own setups. Nothing pressing at the moment, but I’m looking forward to tinkering with them.
Posted By RichC on August 25, 2023
Our Wyze security cam detection continues to struggle with determining if birds are people. One would think that with artificial intelligence improving that software would be much better at detecting the difference between birds and people? But for years now (one, two, three), our friendly and curious cardinal regularly enjoys getting his photo uploaded to the cloud and triggering a “person-detection” alert. Actually I don’t really mind knowing that all is working on our bundle of cams around the house. Besides, he is a handsome cardinal!
Posted By RichC on August 24, 2023
While visiting with my extended family at my Uncle Sonny’s Celebration of Life earlier this month, a few of us exchanged phone numbers so we could better stay in touch. My cousin Dan forwarded a paper that highlighted my Grandfather Corbett’s Sinclair gas station and Earl’s Auto Service in South Toledo. It was interesting to see a photo of the corner that I mention on my blog before … but “looking so much nicer.” It is depressing to see our once great American cities crumbling without many residents taking pride in their homes and communities.
Thankfully there is a revival in some areas (proud of Taylor for doing his part in Walnut Hills / Cincinnati), but without getting too “left vs right” political, it is going to continue to be a tough go without a change in government, families, enforcement of law and order … and some traditional respect and moral values that were once common traits for being an American citizen. It’s not always about more taxes and and throwing money at problems.
Back to the ThrowBack Thursday #TBT part of this blog post. The paper did not have dates on them, but it did have a few hints from some of 
the photos and events included on the pages. This did make at least the year decipherable: 1937.
The clue that attracted my attention was aviation and nautically related … of course. The Pan American Clipper III was making test flights across the Atlantic with one of the stops at Foynes, Ireland on July 6, 1937 — and here’s a photo from that day (Vanderbilt Cup Races).
This PanAm plane, a Sikorsky S-42B, eventually the Bermuda Clipper had an accident report and was removed from service on July 27, 1943.
Posted By RichC on August 23, 2023
Just filling up some space and using these photos as excuses to post a cicada “live photo” (saved as anigif) AND a cute “smiling dogs” photo from the social network “X” … formerly known as Twitter. I’m enjoying the nice warm weather as long as it lasts — August is disappearing fast.
Posted By RichC on August 23, 2023
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Posted By RichC on August 22, 2023
I really did have the best of intentions to used the new knobs from Rockler to upgrade my existing router table fence, but after putzing around with my 40 year old angled
aluminum non-adjustable fence, decided that an upgrade from the Amazon Warehouse (Outlet) for $133.64 made sense — although I could be wrong?
The dust and chip collection from either the very large (original) or the very small (modified taller fence) was really never really very good. Although I have never used a width adjustable two-part fence like the PowerTec, let alone one with the ability to offset the following fence (jointer-like), it is a feature that intrigues me. Beside I’ve aways wanted to have a track to fit hold-downs, stops or feather boards and “might” even try to adopt using the finger guard (again another feature I’ve never had on the old fence that might save a finger)?
A final item that I added to my Amazon cart was a set of cam clamps to use to quickly adjust the sliding fence halves. I still intend to lockdown the fence to the router table with my new Rockler knobs, but can see how flipping the cam clamps would make sliding the two-halves of the fence back and forth easily to keep the gap for the bit as small as possible. Stay tuned.
EDIT add 8/22/2023: Well that happened fast as the parts arrived as did the fence from Amazon.com.
So I spent the evening in the workshop tinkering with the new fence and decided to drill new 3/8” holes in the aluminum fence base to use the existing bolt with the new Rockler Knobs instead of returning (PowerTec kit included 5/16” slots and wimpy knobs – a little disappointed). I then fitted the “acceptable quality” adjustable fence on my old router table while using the Rockler feather boards rather than cheaper PowerTec version. Yes, you get what you pay for. I do love the adjustable flipdown aluminum stop and the chip collection works better than my old setup. The true test will be trying to delicately tweak the setting as I really do like the idea of being able to dial in the fence with some kind of micro adjustment … still thinking about this —> see photo.
