Cabinet scraper 1980s style

When I started working on church furniture back in 1983. I was taught by a wonderful man, Barry Smith. He was probably in his late 50s back then, and had previously been a pattern maker. Most likely somewhere in the Black Country. 

I must add that my job there was through the Manpower Services Commission. Paul Weaver (my best friend back then) had got me in there after I had started working at a kitchen fitting business in Stourbridge, Cuisine One. (That's a whole story in itself.) I had only been there a few months and needed to get out. 

We had a few church pieces to make, doors, tool boxes, some porthole surrounds or frames for a narrowboat or two. Then occasionally we would have a cool piece to make for churches. One was a prayer desk for a church in Gornal. The other one I remember was an Oak Lecturn for Halesowen Church. It was their 9th centenary. So a big occasion. The piece had to be right. 

No sanders back then, the Oak came in planed both sides. After jointing, any steps in the joints had to be planed off (if it was really bad) or gone over with the cabinet scraper. This was how the Oak was finished. A scraper finish, some fine glass paper and then onto Button polish (applied with a polishing mop) and a light sanding between coats.

So onto the way Barry taught me. You can watch Here

I hope you enjoy my rambling. It is a way of getting some of my head stuff, my past, my history, out there. I hope you enjoy the video.

And Paul, give me a ring. It would be great to catch up. 

All the best

Jamie 

Hay-On-Wye ~ Richard Booths World famous Bookshop

It's middle February 2023, chilly weather but warm and cosy in The Largest Second hand bookshop in the World, in Hay-On-Wye. The small border town that's got one foot in Wales and the other in England. 

I love a trip out to Hay. We go to the Book festival each year and the people there are wonderful. Around 500,000 people visit Hay each year, for new book releases, book signings and just to be there to soak up the atmosphere, surrounded by like minded people. 

We had some lunch in the Granary cafe. Which is about 30 metres down the road from this building. I can highly recommend the 'Red Hot' Soup. If you like Peppers you'll love it too.

We've been coming to Hay since we were a '4', so just before the two youngest were born.

watch a very quiet tour of the almost empty book shop

All the best

Jamie

Vlog15 Caring, mental health and that Spokeshave

Time to move up a gear. I need to spend quality time doing quality things.

I felt the need to say something. Not just that. I felt the need to share it and get back into baking videos, editing them, going through the upload process and.. React to comments again. It feels like ages since I'd made a video. 

watch here

When I say quality time doing quality things, I mean with family, with students and my own time too.

Time to read, time to walk in the Woods and spend time with family.

#HeadsAndDovetails podcast can be found through Google search or your favourite podcast provider. Or here

Thanks for stopping by. 

All the best

Jamie 

Carriage clock shelf repairs

These two bracket type Carriage clock shelves have been sitting around at the clients house for a good few years, they told me. When I was asked to do these two 'small jobs' I really was going through a tough time with health issues. So this little job took a while. In fact there were 30+ video clips, over a three or four week period, mostly due to my health (this chesty cold that's doing the rounds) and fitting my evening workshops in. And those clips took a while to edit because non of it was fresh. It was bits and pieces. Some times I really couldn't film what I was up to. 

You can watch the video HERE

Anyhow, I hope you enjoy the process and the finished brackets.

All the best
Jamie

Briquette making video over130k views

Whenever I make a video now I hope it does well. I don't expect them to do well and go viral. It takes a lot, a lot of knowledge in making, producing video content and the subject has to be right for it to 'fly'.

Well, my 6th video made nearly two years ago, has made me very happy by going over 100,000 views. But also given me  something of a hard act to follow.

The video is of me making the Briquettes in the photo. And it really is a thorough, precise and concise method and understanding of the process.

You can watch it Here

The video is about me using waste sawdust in my workshop. And the Briquettes are a good way to repurpose the waste into fuel. 

But just how long will it take for me to make a Woodworking video reach even half that amount of views?

All the best

Jamie 

How much do YouTubers make?

The question everyone asks - how much money do youtubers make?

I still think I must be mad. And sharing... Even more crazy. However, there's more than money in my reasonings.

Take a few minutes out to see just how YouTube and I have got on over the last two years. More than that. How much I've been paid for running ads on my channel. And just how many videos did I have to make to achieve that.

New strategy. I'm now going to post regularly Every Sunday 6am GMT. There may be the odd video during the week. But Sunday 6am 👍👍👍 I'll be there to say hi too.

You can watch the video HERE

All the best

Jamie

These videos don't make themselves and do take time. If you would like to support me I would very much appreciate your help.

I've now got a 'Thanks $' under each video
Not all YouTube videos get this opportunity. So, I see that as they want to help me move forward. You can support by sliding the scale to the amount you would like to pay, which really does help me out.

One-off donation:https://www.paypal.me/TWCabinetMaker
(please choose "Personal" rather than "Purchase" else PayPal charge a transaction fee.)

Buy Me a Coffee is a method of supporting me too.
https://www.buymeacoffee.com