0 Comments
Christmas time in mid-winter might have been a time for toy chests, but spring is time for storing blankets! Warmer nights are coming, and we don't need so many blankets on the bed. Of course here on the Allegheny Plateau we don't store blankets very far away because we know there are still a few cold nights ahead. So we need storage close by, where we can dig out a blanket any time we need one. The best way to do this is with a blanket chest. Yes, this means that spring is blanket chest season, and that's what we'll turn to in the shop now, time permitting. I say "time permitting" because we have a commitment to get ready for at the end of April, and it's in Massachusetts, six hours away! We've said yes to a complete office layout: twenty-five feet of glued-up maple work surface with a natural finish and white cabinets below, all arranged in an 7-foot x 11-foot U-shape, complete with shelves to match. Piece of cake right? Well, we'll see about that. More later.
A toy box is a wonderful post-holiday gift idea, and we have them at Oak Lane.
We designed our toy box with the help of a young family with a toddler, and we think this is the best version we could have come up with. It measures 19-1/2" x 34" and is 17" high (so you can even sit on it). It slides on the floor without feet or casters, so nothing gets lost underneath it, and two lid supports hold the lid from closing in just about any part of its travel. It has lift slots for moving and hand slots for further safety. We're pretty proud at Oak Lane of our new toy boxes. And you can get one by going to our Catalog page. Think about it; now that Christmas is over it might be time for a new toy box from Oak Lane Woodwork. We're glad to report that the Little Free Library in back of our shop is a success! In spite of the early winter storm, readers have stopped and made some picks from among the books there, and they have even left a few books for others to enjoy! I'll admit that while the snow was coming down and drifting all around, few people took time to check out the Little Library, but with this past weekend's break in the weather came a number of visitors to the little "Take a Book; Leave a Book" building, so it seems the community is welcoming the Little Library as its home. New to the collection are books by James Patterson, David Baldacci, Jack Reacher and Lurelene McDaniel. (Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. Wow … are you brave enough to read that one?) Stop by the Cherry Street at South Main location and check out the selection. And bring a book to share if you like. It's always open. Lighted until midnight. We're asking the Borough for some fill because the parking area is wet, but you can reach the Library from the alley and sidewalk for now.
Late last summer the Oak Lane shop had the idea to provide a Little Free Library location in Coudersport. Now that we know it was a good idea, we will begin the process of registering it among the more than 75,000 other locations worldwide. So it looks like it's here to stay. And if you want to have a Little Free Library location of your own, call us. They are available in three versions: finished like the one on Cherry Street, completed and ready to paint, or ready to assemble in kit form. Click here to see it on the catalog page. And thank you to our local readers for making us feel like we might have filled a need. Yes, it's here! I pushed today to get the mystery solved, and here it is. The answer to what is going on the post in back of the shop is a "Little Free Library" book exchange. There are now more than 75,000 of them registered worldwide, and now Coudersport has one too. We think Coudersport will welcome and use this, and with wet weather right around the corner, it's a good to make its appearance. For more information about Little Free Library, go to littlefreelibrary.org. This book exchange was made in the Oak Lane shop as a gift to our town. We added LED lighting inside for evening visits. It also has a little flood light on the rear to light the flag on the building. This also answers the question of what all these books have in common. They are all part of the "take a book, leave a book" movement. The Oak Lane shop will build a book exchange for you, too, if you want one at your place. We make this in three versions: completely finished, unpainted and in kit form. Feel free to stop and browse, bring your own books to share if you like. What a great idea: Take a book, leave a book, and read, read, read!
Be kind and do good work. Bye for now. Today, before the wet weather gets here, we are topping our post out back of the shop. No one has guessed what is going on that post (to win our free knife sharpening offer). Admittedly, this is a tough one, so maybe some hints will help. What do these books all have in common? Okay, the answer isn't English language, popular reading or existentialism (well, that's three hints already). But what do these books have in common with what goes on top of our post? Wow, that's another hint. The general idea should be easy to guess now, but be more specific to win the shop's offer. There are more than 75,000 others who have done the same with something on a post and registered as members of a world-wide organization. Make your guess today before the next Facebook post to be the winner. You must be a local person to win the shops offer, but we hope to do more for a wider audience in the future. The winner will receive free sharpening of their three favorite kitchen knives, professionally ground to 6000 grit, absolutely free. That's a $15.00 value. Give it a try. Comment before it's too late. After a couple of weeks working with other commitments, I got back to a favorite today. The post is now in the ground that will be home to our latest project, which will sit on top of it.
Can you guess what will sit on top of that post? This is not an easy guess. I can tell you that it's a box, but it is not a mail box; it is not a bird feeder or even a turtle. It is something that the Oak Lane shop is sponsoring for the people of Coudersport. It's going to join a worldwide community of more than 75,000 already registered. We think Coudersport is ready for one too. And don't forget the deal. The first person to guess what specifically will sit on that post will win some free sharpening. I will professionally sharpen your three favorite kitchen knifes absolutely free. That's a current value of $15.00. Of course, as you can imagine, only a local person can be the winner. But anyone who needs a good knife sharpened can take advantage of the current low price. Just give us a call. And some time in the next week, provided the rain lets up long enough, we'll sit the finished product on that post and finally answer the question of what the heck it is! Time to get busy. Remember, be honest and do good work. Bye for now. Can anyone guess what this hole is for? Yes, it's a post, but what will be on top of that post? Anyone up for a challenge?
This is a deal for local readers in or near Coudersport, Pennsylvania. The first local person to correctly guess what goes on that post will win some free knife sharpening. That's right, I will sharpen your three favorite kitchen knives absolutely free if you tell me what is going to sit on top of that post. Your knives will be professionally ground, down to 6000 grit, a $15.00 value. If you're doing the math, that's $5.00 for each kitchen knife. Yes, that is special price, but I'm going with it. Only the winners are free, but anyone can take advantage of this special price. I notice lots of people buy cheap knives and throw them away when they dull, or worse yet, they fill a kitchen drawer with them. I recommend buying better grade knives that feel good, hold an edge and are a joy to use. We can touch them up when needed. Don't throw your better knives away! Care for them properly, and enjoy them the rest of your life. I'll even show you how to keep from prematurely dulling the edge. Some serrated edges can be re-sharpened and some can't. Let's have a look. Super hard steel blades such as CUTCO knives must be touched up at the factory, but I believe they do it for free. If anyone outside the area guesses correctly, you can use it! I'll still honor the deal for the first local person with the right answer. Knives need attention? Go to https://oak-lane.weebly.com/ and message me, and let's get those knives back in shape. Time to get busy. Remember, be honest and do good work. Bye for now. We're busy this week. There are two screen doors to build. These are for a vintage house not accommodated by the big home improvement stores. When you need a 91-inch door, you go to a cabinetmaker. I recently made the 24 x 60-inch screen in the photo to help cool a third-floor attic. I installed a window at one end and that screen at the other, which now removes a lot of the heat in hot weather. Soon it will be closed up for winter. A couple of chair repairs are coming this week. Pictured here is a past chair repair, during and finished views, that made a young family happy to have done after their puppy cut his teeth on the rungs and leg. I usually don't charge more than $25.00 for a chair repair. This chair looked pretty bad at first, but remember I have some pretty cool tools to make it easier. Don't throw those chairs away! Call or message me.
And on the agenda this week, I'll be setting up two porch posts that were repaired for the north end of our porch. After that we can think about flooring. And then we have the annual chore of cutting and salt packing cabbage to make sauerkraut later this year. Also I'm excited about making a couple of pies. Why are pies so special? Well, these pies are because I make my own pie crust, and on Barbara's last trip to Dutch country she brought me some lard from one of our favorite meat shops. Lard makes the best crust. I can't wait. I have sour cherries in the freezer for just such a time as this. Time to get busy. Remember, be honest and do good work. Bye for now. Welcome to the first blog post of many from Oak Lane Woodwork. Our name came about in 1988 when we were located on a street called North Oak Lane and needed a business name. Today we're on Cherry Street and Main, but the name still has a ring to it, so let's go with it.
What are we up to these days? Well, we've had a shop for a long time, or at least a lot of expensive tools that we dragged through life to the building behind that flag. It's a 44-star flag, I know. Thanks for noticing, but that's not a goof. There were forty-four states when our place was built back in 1892, so it's sort of a tribute to the old Queen Anne we eat and sleep in. Yes, we are willing to create a flag for you too, to honor the year your house was built. Simply send an e-mail or call. We do like fixing people up with what they need, or maybe just want. That one is approximately 38" x 74" and has special colors to make it look a little older. The door itself, found in the basement of our home, was an original door between rooms down there and since removed. It bore the marks of many rough projects, and one end was rotted and rough from sitting somewhere in dampness. I love repurposing and immediately wanted to make something from it, but it was too rough for a table top or any such cabinetry. But it had the proportions of a flag! I needed something to help people know where to find the shop, so now it proudly graces the outside wall. Well, thanks for visiting. Remember our motto: Be honest and do good work. (Turn in at the flag.) Bye for now. |
Don BuschCabinetmaker for a pretty long time, and still turning wood into enjoyable pieces. Archives
September 2019
Categories |