I have lots and lots on the benches, very little complete yet. I have 15 head plugs prepared for silicone molding, and about 2 dozen decoys assembled. Some need restle, some need paint.... but these are completed today. Sleepers for my rig, other 4 headed out.





Dave Diefenderfer
Manassas, VA

"Once you set out to build a boat, throw away your square. And if you work on her after she's launched, throw away your level." author unknown

Good morning, Dave - and Happy 'Twenty-Two!






Lots on the bench and in the shop over the past month. Luckily, I had plenty of seasoned help....






Most of my woodworking was NDR - gifts for the family. This chalkboard is now up in our kitchen.






Colored chalks keep the messages lively - and little hands at work.






With the close of the season, some wrap-up was needed before Old Man Winter arrives. These birds were retrieved when the ice went off our Hemlock Swamp - however briefly.






Several vessels are securely awaiting their turn in the heated shop.






One of my trailers snuck into the shop between my last customer project and holiday gatherings.






After 20 or so years of yeoman service, this trailer has earned new bearings and new rubber. One bearing set came off in "textbook" fashion - the other required about a week of solvents and some persuasion with some blunt instruments. But, both spindles cleaned up nicely.






Although rust is inevitable on these un-galvanized hubs, I decided to tart them up a bit.






The new bearings went on much more easily than the old came off.






(continued....)


SJS























Steven Jay Sanford
Pencil Brook Farm
South Cambridge, NY
http://www.stevenjaysanford.com

The Bearing Buddies I put on decades ago had begun to rust - so a new s/s set is ready. I may back the trailer into the shop later today.






Special gifts always get completed about a day before they are needed. This one was opened Christmas morning. I did not make the Reindeer - it was out-sourced from overseas.






The latest in a long line of vessels. The first was launched over 40 years ago. The helmsman gets easier to paint as each year passes....







This one is for our newest nephew.






My current projects involve some built-in cabinetry. This traditional 4-panel door needed to be about 24 inches wide.






It is now fully painted, hung and doing its job on a new utility closet for Susan.






An adjoining cabinet - which will hold our files and printer (et cetera) - will get this drawer.






I am pre-finishing the panels (and parts of the frames) on these 2 doors prior to assembly. They will hide the file cabinets.







January promises to be a busy month on the bench.


All the best,


SJS











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Steven Jay Sanford
Pencil Brook Farm
South Cambridge, NY
http://www.stevenjaysanford.com

Dave & Steve,

Good to see that both you guys are slowing down and taking it easy !!

Our season is still in here, and temperatures have taken a colder turn while the River is coming way up due to the heavy rains & runoff over the past weekend.

I've been working in 'fits & starts' on yet another deadmount tableau, and the New year has ushered in a couple of trips to the studio to begin the painting process.

Should keep me busy for a while.











MLBob

"Art is like an ill-trained Labrador retriever that drags you out into traffic." (Annie Dillard)

....Here's to Joe Wooster, who made me realize that the useful could and should be beautiful; and who firmly believed that decoy carvers were the last free men in America.

https://www.facebook.com/KOOIdecoy?ref=hl

Rooster, since we are presently buried in nieves, here, at least, i will have shots of 7 gadwall stool for you in a couple of days.
george@runamuckdecoys.com

 
Appears folks are keepin' busy to welcome 2022, and that is a wonderful thing. Kudos to all.


Have been outta the shop for a long spell due to several reasons. Now time to get back at it. Deep winter is here.

Time for eyes in this Applehead.
















"Art does not reproduce what is visible - but makes things visible." ~ Paul Klee, artist, 1920

On my January bench .RBMerganser 50% lifesize.Tupelo&Acrylics
Bobm

Goldeneye for upcoming hunt in 48 hours? finished just in the nick of time

Good morning, All~


Here is a Gaggle of Gadwall From the Bench of George Williams:






All the best,


SJS

Steven Jay Sanford
Pencil Brook Farm
South Cambridge, NY
http://www.stevenjaysanford.com

Somehow I have another workbench project on my workbench. Several years back I bought a vintage school workbench for the vise that was on it. Turns out it had two vises and two very unique pop-up bench dogs that turned out to be an EH Sheldon patented item. The bench legs rotted off and someone used a few 2x4s to hold it together. Pretty rough shape. After getting it to my shop and researching some I learned it was an EH Sheldon workbench from around the turn of the last century. I also learned these old benches are sought after and some people like using them for kitchen islands. Rather than removing the vises and tossing the bench away I've decided to restore it. So far I've completely taken the bench part, cleaned the vise components, fabricated a new part for one of the vises, and milled up some maple to replace the components that were water damaged or altogether missing. When I'm done I don't really have space for the bench so I think it will go up for sale. Should have another 100+ years of life in it.

That is such a cool bench and project Eric. Well worth doing.

Tom

good job, love to see old workbenches rehabilitated and put to use. I doubt that the Harbor Freight, Home Depot or IKEA work benches and furniture will be around in 20 years or even remembered in 100 years.

IKEA workbenches or anything will likely be remembered for all eternity with how difficult the pieces are to put together and how sucky the instructions are.

I like using different materials for the various long tailed species (don't we all!) and this old pitchfork has been on my bench for several years. When I carved this Old Squaw today it was there staring at me and was just the shape I wanted so it finally went to use, half of it anyway. might be the first time I have to use a counterweight on the front half of a decoy!

Eric,

I saw one of these benches recently, they were asking $750 for the bench.

Rick

Richard

That is a steal from the prices I've seen on places like Etsy and ebay. You wouldn't happen to have a link to it would you? With all the hours I'll have in this bench, should I decide to sell my price will be higher than that. Otherwise I'll hang onto it for a use down the road.

Thanks.

Eric

Eric,

I can get you more details. It has the similar pop up bench dogs.

Rick

Eric, how did you get it up to the loft? Made in the USA.

I dunno.

Could be just me, but I could imagine the potential for problems with a steel spike, if the decoy is used for hunting. Dogs, people, waders, entanglements, etc. Contest decoy maybe.

Have some rusty hay rakes used for curlew bills. Shelf riders, not hunted over or seldom messed with.

A pitchfork was used in a murder up here some years ago, don't just happen in the movies. Gives me the willies.


I gotta admit, the decoy does look good.


my 2 cents











"Art does not reproduce what is visible - but makes things visible." ~ Paul Klee, artist, 1920

The top comes off making it manageable for a couple of guys to haul it up the stairs in two trips. All work is being done in the main shop and I doubt it will go back up in the attic, which by the way, is getting converted to living space. In fact that's what prompted me to rebuild the bench, the need to get it out of the attic while we work up there.

Eric

Funny, I hadn't considered any of that (especially murder....jeeze!) but upon seeing the decoy you're the second person to relay those thoughts. I guess this will also be the first decoy I've made that will require my lawyer to pen up a disclaimer, and I'll hold up production on my merganser rig with actual keyhole saws for bills......

come to think of it that's not a bad idea...

 
Eric,

That's a mighty fine work bench. No doubt after your restoration it will be of museum quality, and good for at least another 100 years.

Gawd how I love old woodworking tools, and benches. If I were a younger man, it would be just right for my small shop.

Hope it finds a good home, is well cared for and used as intended.



Best regards
Vince











"Art does not reproduce what is visible - but makes things visible." ~ Paul Klee, artist, 1920

Maybe not a lawyer, but a insurance company for sure.

Your idea for merganser bills will work, just watch how ya pickem up.


I carved a large Northern Pike some years ago. Was going to use a old bandsaw blade for the teeth, then decided not to do it.

So we do get some good creative ideas that sure look good, but "Look And Do Not Touch". Which just makes folks wanna touch all the more.

Keep up the good work.











"Art does not reproduce what is visible - but makes things visible." ~ Paul Klee, artist, 1920

I used black vinyl material, cheap and flexible for old squaw tails.

I've used that too. As well as thick leather, zip ties, various hardwoods, cutouts from soda bottles with felt epoxied on them...probably a half dozen other things I'm not remembering.