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February '07 Newsletter

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Woodworkers Resource

Newsletter

Where Information meets Inspiration!

February 2007

in this issue

Featured Woodworker for February

Just for Kids!

Results of the Survey

NEW Gift Shop Now Open!

Useful Chart for the Shop

That's all for this month

Welcome Woodworkers of All Ages

Welcome to all the new subscribers who have joined our newsletter. Thanks so much for letting us into your homes! Keep sending those suggestions on how I can make this newsletter better. We would also like to hear any questions you have about this newsletter or on woodworking in general. If you are having questions about something, then chances are several people are too, so speak up!

Well, we're still under the grip of winter. To be honest that's ok with me. During the winter time I don't have outside chores that have to be done so I get to spend more time in the shop. I'm actually close to being finished with two bookcases that I built for my two sons, (close being a figurative term used loosely here to mean anytime within the next week or two or whenever I get time.) So, do you have a woodworking project you've been needing to start but haven't yet? How about building a new project with your kids? Now is the time to do it while old man winter has his grip on us.

We've added several new articles/projects in our "Just For Kids" section of the website. Go to Woodworkesresource.com to see them now.

Craig Stevens

Featured Woodworker for February

This months feature woodworker is Russ Jacobsohn. Russ is the first professional woodworker that we've had the chance to interview. He makes his living sculpting rocking horses. To call them just rocking horses is like calling the Mona Lisa just a painting. Russ' rocking horses are truly a work of art. Horses are just one of the animals that he sculpts. In his shop at any one time you could find a tortoise and hare or a giraffe or a swimming pelican. I enjoyed getting to know Russ and talking to him about his chosen profession. As you will read he talks about how much he loves what he's doing, but I was able to hear it in his voice. In a world where so many people dread Monday morning, it's refreshing to hear somebody who actually looks forward to it.

If Russ looks familiar to you it may be from the HGTV show Modern Masters. Russ was featured on the show a few years back and was actually the first time I had ever heard of him. The show has since been canceled but I think that it reruns from time to time. It would definitely be worth catching if you can find it. Go to our website to read more about Russ Jacobsohn.

Just for Kids!

Here's a fun project that should take about day to build with your kids. The picture and idea for this project came from HGTV's website. This is a project that Matt Fox did on a episode of Room by Room. I like the idea of the bookstand, but when I read the article I didn't like the way it was constructed. The parents end up doing most of the woodworking because of all the power tools involved. Hand tools can easily replace the use of power tools to build this project. Below is what I came up with so that you AND your kids can build this useful project. You can go to this link to view the HGTV article: Bookstand

Go to the Woodworkers Resource website to view how we used hand tools to build this fun project! Just for Kids: Bookstand

Results of the Survey

The results from our recent survey are in, but before I give the results and the winner of our contest, I want to say thank you. Thanks to all of you who took the time to fill out our survey! I know with the information you all have given we will be able to put out a better product in the form of the newsletter and website. The results from the survey are below along with the winner of our t-shirt give-a-way

Would you like to see more articles on setting up shop? 75% said yes

Would you like to see more kid related articles? 100% said yes (OK I get the point)

Would you like to see more projects for kids to build? 100% said yes. Some of the suggestions given were: gift items, easy to make items, and projects that are geared towards different skills levels.

Would you be interested in learning new woodworking techniques through the use of video? 80% said yes

Would you be interested in learning how to build useful woodworking jigs through the use of videos? 73% said yes

Would you be interested in teaching your kids woodworking skills and projects through the use of video? 75% said yes

Would you be interested in more articles/videos on using hand tools? 80% said yes

Would you be interested in more articles/videos on using power tools? 73% said yes

Would you be interested in articles/videos on finishing wood? 69% said yes

Do you want me to continue the "Featured Woodworker" section? 80% said yes Would you be interested in reading tool reviews in the newsletter and website? 69% said yes

What other things related to woodworking would you like to see in the newsletter and/or website? Here are just a few of the responses: Setting up shop articles, more basic info, repairing furniture, a kids corner with a featured too section.

What information do you need to become a better woodworker? Here are a few of the answers: Detailed information in "how-to", information on setting up a co-op for homeschool groups, basic skill improvement.

On the last question I simply asked for feedback about the newsletter and website. Wow! Thanks for the encouragement! I really asked this question to give you all a opportunity to tell me what I needed to do better. Many of you used it to say thanks for what we're doing. Thanks again for the uplifting words. Many responded to say that one of the best parts of the newsletter was the pictures of projects that kids were working on. I enjoy seeing those too, but you all have to do your part in sending them in to me so I can post them. If you have any questions about sending digital pictures through e-mail drop me a line and I'll talk you through it, contact us@woodworkersresource.com.

Drum role please!

The winner of our drawing for the t-shirt is: RL Haley, congratulations!

NEW Gift Shop Now Open!

Come visit our new Woodworkers Resource Online Gift Store! We have all kinds of gifts for yourself or the woodworkers in your life. We have several products, T-shirts (for men, women, and children/infants),sweats, hats,clocks, mugs, and much, much more. Presently we have 16 different graphics to choose from and we'll be adding more frequently. There's our Woodworkers Resource logo items and many woodworking sayings to show the world just how you feel about your craft. Here's just a few of the saying you'll find in our gift shop: "I'd Rather Be in the Shop", "Got Wood", "Measure Twice Cut Once", "A Bad Day Woodworking is Better Than a Good Day Working", and many more. If you have any ideas of other sayings that you would like to see on our products, let me know, we may use them.

Click on the link below and check out the NEW Woodworkers Resource Online Gift Store Today!

Caf epress.com/woodworking4u

Useful Chart for the Shop

Have you ever been reading the plans for a project and it tells you to use a 6d nail? What in the world is a 6d nail and what does the "d" stand for? How long is a 6d nail?

Well, the "d" stands for "penny". Are you really confused now? I sure was the first time I heard all this. It sounded like a big conspiracy to confuse woodworkers.

Go to our website to print off a copy of the Nail Chart to hang in your shop and you'll always know what size nail you need. Right click on the chart and click on "print picture". It even explains the whole "d" and "penny" conspiracy. (I'm still not convinced it's not just to confuse us).

Nail Chart

That's all for this month

That's it for this issue. Remember, send me those e-mails about what you want to see in future issues, nominate a fellow woodworker or yourself for the Featured Woodworker section, and send in any Tips and Techniques that you would like to share with us. Many of you said in our survey that you wanted to see more pictures of kids with their completed projects or works in progress. I can't put them in the newsletter if you don't send them. So let's see what you're working on. If you have questions about e- mailing digital pictures contact me and I'll walk you through it. The next issue will be out the second week of March. Also, if you like what you see in this newsletter and you know of someone who would be interested in having it sent to them, simply click on the "Forward Email" button that's just below the newsletter. You can even add your own comments to the person before sending it. And last but not least, click on the "Update Profile" hyperlink below and check the boxes that apply so we can put out a better newsletter that has the information that you want to see.

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

email: woodworkersresource@comcast.net

web: http://www.WoodworkersResource.com