One Sheet Challenge Winners

Rockler Woodworking and Hardware, in partnership with The Modern Maker Podcast, has just announced winners of its Plywood Challenge. Participants were asked to make something using one sheet of plywood, any type, and to then post their entry on Instagram. The top three winners were Modern Coffee Table by OSODIY (shown, click on image for larger version), Bentwood Chair by Sami_Chi and Standup Paddleboard by PC_Makes. Chris Salomone, Mike Montgomery of Modern Builds and Ben Uyeda of HomeMade Modern judged the entries. Chris Salomone summed up the judges' comments this way: "I think I speak for Mike and Ben when I say we were absolutely floored by the quality and the quantity of participation that this challenge garnered. And when I think about the thought and execution that went into some of these projects, it blows my mind."

Lecture On Ancient Egyptian Woodworking

The Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Research Center in Egypt will sponsor a lecture this fall on Ancient Egyptian Furniture, which is subtitled "from the earliest examples to those wonderful things of the New Kingdom". Dr. Geoffrey Killen will present the lecture in Anthropology Classroom 345 at the Penn Museum (3260 South Street) in Philadelphia on Saturday, October 20th at 3:30 PM. The abstract for the presentation reads: "More is known about furniture and its development in Egypt than anywhere else in the Ancient World. Bedframes were the first large constructional pieces of furniture to be manufactured and many fine examples were excavated in the 1st Dynasty cemetery at Tarkhan. By the beginning of the Old Kingdom, improved cutting tools and the use of better quality timber witness advances in the manufacture of furniture. These improvements in furniture design and construction can be seen in a series of wall paintings that were discovered in the mastaba tomb of Hesyra at Saqqara and in the reconstructed royal furniture of Queen Hetepheres I at Giza. By the New Kingdom, some of the finest examples of ancient woodworking can be found. Comparing the furniture deposited in the tomb of the workman Sennedjem with the royal deposit discovered in the tomb of Tutankhamun, we can assess the differences in the quality, form and construction of furniture manufactured during the New Kingdom".

Getting Ready For Atlanta

IMA Schelling Group USA will introduce several new machines at IWF in Atlanta. Schelling’s booth theme is "The Space Where Innovation Meets Automation", a nod to its integration of a CR Onsrud router with a Schelling fh5 panel saw (shown) and vs Area Storage Retrieval System, all of which are connected via Eurosofts' SquareOne MES software. Also new at IWF will be an integration of edgebander and return conveyor, controlled automatically via barcode through SquareOne software. Withe the IMA Novimat Compact R3 edgebander, coiled materials can be applied with PUR glue and the R3's Imalux laser. The Barbaric RTS 02 Return Conveyor automatically back-turns 90 or 180 degrees and requires only one operator to manually insert panels.

CNC Tutorials

Tools Today is known for its huge selection of Amana CNC tooling, but the company has now created a YouTube channel with a dedicated playlist that features tutorial videos. One of the more intriguing is a Kerf Chair that was designed by Boris Goldberg (shown here). Called KerFutel No. 2, it consists of parts that were CNC routed in 18mm thick birch plywood using Amana Tool® industrial router bits. Birch plywood was selected as it is easy to find, affordable and bendable. It's also strong and durable enough for furniture. The upholstery selected was Palfoam™ PA25 by Palziv™, a polyethylene foam with a low density for comfort. The depth of cut for the kerfs was 17mm, leaving the last layer of 1mm plywood to bend so one can make the arched seat. The arms are two sheets of plywood glued together for a total of 36mm thick.

Harvey Industries acquires Bridge City Tool Works

Mark Strahler at Harvey Industries, Ltd. has confirmed for WoodEzine that the company is acquiring Bridge City Tool Works of Portland, Oregon. Shown here are Jack Xu of Harvey Industries and John Economaki of Bridge City Tool Works. John founded Bridge City in 1983 and the iconic designer of woodworking hand tools has decided it's time to step down and hand over the reins to his friend and licensing partner. The good news for passionate customers of Bridge City is that they’ll hardly notice a change. Under a licensing agreement that went into effect several years ago, Harvey has been building more than two dozen Bridge City tools for international distribution. That includes everything from try squares to planes to the award-winning Chopstick Master. Jack and John first met in 2013, and quickly realized they shared a common set of beliefs and values. Both view their companies as vehicles to express new ideas and concepts, using tools as a canvas.

Enter Now For The Pinnacle Awards

The American Society of Furniture Designers (ASFD) is calling for entries for its 2018 Pinnacle Awards. Designers can enter online and the deadline for submission is July 31st. This year's competition has been expanded to include a new category designed to recognize builders/makers who create one-of-a-kind pieces for sale in galleries and stores, as well as client-specific products. ASFD is also acknowledging the growing importance of decorative accessories with three separate classifications - wall, floor and tabletop decor. A People’s Choice Award, which allows retailers to vote on all category finalists, is also new for 2018. Set for October 15th, the 23rd Annual Pinnacle Awards Gala will take place at High Point University and feature a cocktail hour followed by the Awards program, which will feature a high profile keynote speaker from a world class international design studio. Awards will be presented in twenty-one home furnishings categories. The 2018 Awards are sponsored by the High Point Market Authority, Leggett & Platt, International Market Centers, Designers Today, Continental Hardware, Furniture Today, HSM Solutions, Furniture Design Studios and Sherwin-Williams.

A Workshop Cleaning Set

Festool USA has introduced new accessories for its CT Dust Extractors. They include new extension pipes, plus tradesman/installer, workshop, compact and universal cleaning sets. Most of the new accessories feature an anti-static design which prevents dust or particulate accumulation and static discharge. Festool’s entire CT Dust Extractor product line was recently updated with many models featuring Bluetooth® capability for auto start when using cordless tools, remote start at the hose, and new, smooth suction hoses. Many of Festool’s older CT models can be retrofitted with the new line of accessories, including Bluetooth® modules and remote starters. For example, item number 203409 is a Workshop Cleaning Set that's ideal for woodshops and includes a smooth suction hose, an antistatic curved hand tube, a stainless steel extension tube, and an industrial floor nozzle.

AAW 32nd Annual Symposium

The largest woodturning event in the world is taking place in Portland, Oregon on June 14th through the 17th. About 1,200 turners from around the globe will learn, share, and celebrate the art and craft of woodturning. Visitors are invited to enjoy the exhibitions, auctions, and trade show, which are free and open to the public. The American Association of Woodturners (AAW), a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the art and craft of woodturning worldwide, will host its 32nd Annual International Woodturning Symposium at the Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. In addition to educational sessions and demonstrations exclusively for registered conference attendees, the AAW Symposium offers events, which are free and open to the public, that offer a rare glimpse into the world of woodturning. Public events include exhibitions, galleries, and benefit auctions, as well as a trade show jam-packed with the newest woodturning products, tool and lathe manufacturers, and supplies. AAW welcomes the public, all ages, to visit and explore.

New Hardware Catalog

For woodworkers who are supplying all the knobs and handles on a job, Deco and Deco of Toronto is a manufacturer of premium decorative hardware. The company has just launched an expansive new catalog that highlights four high-end drapery hardware collections and accessories. From Italian Murano glass to imported crystals and hand-sculpted metals, each collection is crafted with only the finest materials. Available in print and online, each collection includes a range of new and returning products - as well as accessories in an array of sizes, and up to 13 finishes. Company president Rohit Vijay says that the Deco and Deco brand "encompasses a devotion to detail in each product we create, and we feel this extensive new catalog truly reflects that mission statement". His firm has forty years of experience in the decorative hardware industry, and a globally curated collection of products

Cordless Power Plane

The new Bosch GHO12V-08N is designed for powerful, balanced operation in an easy-to-handle, compact cordless planer. The first 12-volt Max planer on the market, it's about the same size as a hand plane, and the blade is 2.2 inches wide. The tool can handle a single-pass planing depth of up to 0.08 inches. It features an efficient EC Brushless motor for professional operation and smaller size. When planing at 0.04 inches depth in hardwood, this compact powerhouse delivers up to 33 feet of planing per battery Amp hour (Ah). It is designed to provide the easiest planing experience for fast stock removal and smooth finishes. It is ideal for trimming doors because it is cordless, eliminating the possibility of running out of cord in the middle of a planing pass. This is a bare-tool kit; the battery and charger are sold separately. For more information, visit the Bosch website.

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