New wood life in Japan!

Finally came back from Boise Idaho, two month ago.
Still I have lot of un-opend boxes in my room!
And need to organize my wood work shop.

First to do is build shed in my garden for many stuff!
My father help me to do, but he did finish almost...

Guitar making

I'm interested in Guitar making.

But it's pretty high cost, almost $600, however.....

It seems great opportunity...

Lathe drive belt

Finally I got the new drive belt for my wood lathe.

I was looking for it about one month.

First of all I went to Wood craft shop, but there were no belts for my lathe.

And at that time, I was suggested finding it at vacuum shop by assistant.

Today I had a time to see some vacuum shop, but I could not find any similar one.

So I went to Wood craft shop again.

Today the man who was working there recommended me to see KC tool supply.

And he explained me the location of that shop.

Almost I could understand but his last sentence.

He told me the shop was behind the "UFO".

I asked him what is the "UFO"

He said, you could see big truck and find store behind that truck.

Finally I recognized that was "U-Haul", then I got there and discover similar belt.

I need to learn English more and more! especially listening!

Actually that was for Delta planer belt and wider than my lathe.

But I decided to modify it.

It was easy to divide in half at center of the belt.

The half modified belt fit my lathe pulley!!

I was very happy, and will start new pen project very soon.

Tool

I purchased new tool for wood working.

One is the jig for to sharpen skew chisel.

Second is forstner bit.

It is the tool for making hole.

I'll use these tool to make bed and some projects in the future.

New project

I have a new project for new baby.

Still planning...like this.

Pine derby car

Pine derby car, I had small progress.

Just curving with curving tool.

That was first time for me but pine was easy to cut and very interesting.

So I did with excitement for few hours.

I can't wait next step!

But it seems get more difficult step by step.

Pinewood Derby making-1

Today my wife Ritsuko had a sick.

I was worry about she caught flu same as Minami.

Her symptom was headache and light fever, so seemed just cold.

But she looked painful, I advised her to stay bed for a while.

Minami became well from bad flu, and she could not go to school this week, so she wanted to go to shopping.Minami and Kanami help me to buy groceries at Costco.

I could be done quickly by their favor.

Afternoon, Haruki, Minami, Kanami, and Otomi play themselves, so I had time to make Pinewood Derby car for a little.

It was first time for me, so I tried to copy classic racing model type from guide book.

I think the one of the most important thing to make "fast derby car" is setting of wheel alignment.

So first of all I made Jig which can drill the hole of each 4 wheels accurately.

Next step, copy the design sheet and attach it on wood surface.

After that, cut it using with scroll saw.

It was very fun, I can't wait next step!

Pinewood Derby

I heard from my colleague about "Pinewood Derby".

It is model car and made by pinewood and race with it.

It seems popular game in U.S. so I am woodman, off course I have to try this wood craft!

Anyway I need time to understand some rule and after that build kit as soon as possible!

I want to debut the race right now!

Sunny Saturday

This morning I went to wood craft shop and got some materials for turning projects.

Mechanical pencil kit, Ikebana, cup, blank woods and pepper mill set.

After that I went to Lucky Peak to get Kokanee for 3 hours, but I did not have any result....

I saw a kind of raptor, he flew very sedately but could not take a picture, what a pity!

After lunch, I went to neighborhood pond for fishing again with Haruki and Minami.

Already an old couple was fishing and got small fish!

We tried, but nothing afresh, only water weed....But Haruki and Minami had lots of fan.

They want to their fish rod.

We had Hinamatsuri party at dinner with Temaki-sushi.

All kids love Temaki-sushi and enjoy it.

That item was purchased from Alaska by mail order.

Ritsuko also made special cake!

They ate it with big smile.

Thank you Ritsuko!

Next project

I have some projects.

Turning;
I will make some pen and letter opener for some kind of gifts.
To tell the truth, it would Christmas gift, but I could not finish it.........

Small furniture;
I have small room. But it was big when I was in Japan.
It keeps my kid's books and ours.
We need some organization for them again.
I gonna make the small furniture which has some shelf and drawer.
Probably I gonna imitate magazine's example...

I wish I have much time to do wood work..........

Organization my shop

I do not finish organizing my work shop yet.
But the condition improbe little by little.

This picture is some month ago.

Now........
There is space to work on the desk!!

Next I clean up and shlf and put drawer for screws and little gears.

I am keeping to make better this space.

Letter Opener

Today I tyred letter opener.

It was easier than pen turning.

Because turned only one piece.

I want smaller tool rest.It was too long.

I made it more simply, but it was difficult for me.

It showed low skill of turning clearly.

Press fit to turned blank.

So I'm gonna try simple shape next project for skill upgrading training.

I like this pattern which was tired several woods.

Wood Craft shop

The oter day,I went to woodworker's Mecca? Woodcraft shop.
I heard that they have some class for woodworking.
I will join to the class for pen turning or carving.

Almost complete

Now I 'm making kids chest.

Last weekend, I made main frame.

Next time I'll fix top plate, and paint surface.

Kids Chest

8 Drawers
I painted face of drawer on last sunday .

Side panels

Today I made two side panels.