Thanks to the kindness of a good friend, I now have somewhere to start working from for the short term, so in a nutshell thank you very much to Larry for the use of your shop.

I must say it is good to be back home in Nelson with my wife and our dogs, Sol and Zoe and of course, little A (our little unborn baby, whose name will start with an A whether it is a boy or girl).

This week I pulled out all my hand tools and dusted them off, sharpened one or most of them.  To start with I started cutting some dovetails to see if I still had the feel and the result was not bad for not cutting any in over two years.  Then it was on to using the plane making kit I had from Hock blades.  As you they both came out pretty good, if I do say so myself.

I am also working on a gentlemen lounge chair which will be very slick.  Here is a sneak peek of the mock up.

until next time.

Dear  Woodworkers

I am writing to you all to seek expressions of interest in working from a group workshop.

I have recently returned to Nelson from a 13 month contract working as full-time crew on board a private yacht and I am looking to resume my furniture-making.  Over the past few years I have been slowly collecting the power tools and machinery required to equip a workshop, hoping that one day the other required elements would come together to make running a workshop and working alongside other woodworkers a reality.

At the moment I am researching suitable spaces to set up a workshop.  My intention is for it to be located close to or in central Nelson and to be of a size that could accommodate  two or three others working within it full time (or more working part time).  I am not particularly drawn to the idea of working on my own, which is why I am keen to secure a space large enough that a small group of us could work from.  In addition, it would be a shame to have accumulated all the equipment that I have, to be the only one who uses it.

There would be a rent charged per person which would depend on whether the agreement was to use the space on a full or part time basis.  My preference is to work alongside other full time woodworkers, however, I would still be interested in talking with anyone who is only interested in working within this environment part time.

I have listed below what I see the rent covering, a list of supplied machines, a list of items that would be supplied by the individual and what I believe the benefits of this work environment would be.

Rent to cover:

Space for a bench

Use of all machines

Machine maintenance

Shared use of layout tables (one layout table for every two people)

Rack space for storing a modest amount of timber and sheet goods

Use of selected power tools

Clamps

Power, heating, water, phone (local calls)

Machine List:

Wadkin panel saw

Wadkin 36” bandsaw

Wadkin 400 mm buzzer

Wadkin Mortiser.

SCM thicknesser

DYCO Superfine saw

6” DYCO Buzzer

12” Bandsaw

Drill press

Wood lathe

Horizontal slot mortiser

Router table with triton 3.25 HP router

Tormex wet stone grinder

Stone wheel grinder

Extractors

Vacuum press

Items supplied by individual:

All consumables

Own work bench

Hand tools and bench sharpening stones

Router bits

Drill bits

Potential benefits:

A social network.

Supportive work space for aspiring woodworkers who may not have a functional work space of their own or have the means at this time to lease or buy a suitable work space.

Ability to work alongside and learn from woodworkers with a variety of abilities, skills and experience.

Ability to pool resources to gain discounts off timber, tools and materials.

Proximity — close to or in town.

Security system.

For those who are interested in this idea please let me know, and please also feel free to share any preferences you may have for other benefits/equipment etc that could be included in the arrangement, or simply any other related thoughts or ideas.

Hope to hear from some of you soon.

Regards

Nigel

Nigel Whitton

M: 021 723619

E:  nigel@nwdesigns.co.nz

I know I know, way am I back at sea? I was asking myself the same question this morning around 5 am has I was empty my stomach in to the sink.  Bloody power boats, they just move wrong!

The reason is to help out the engineers for two weeks before a big trip with the boss. Then it is back to my beautiful wife and her growing baby belly.

The designs are still coming think and fast and my visual diary is slowly filling up.

I did mange to spend two weeks back at home, a week with my brother in Taupo and the rest at home with Ally.  Unpacking my tools that I had sent home from the boat was a treat, is it wrong to be happy opening up boxes of stuff you had sent to your self. (Ally thinks so)

Well thats all for now, take care

As I look through my sketch book and at the list of things I wanted to make first and with knowing that I have a little one on the way. What should I first start with, a cot or a change table, chest of drawers. Were  do I start is the question?

Of course setting up a shop goes with out saying, or does it.

Finding a workshop that is the right space to create in is key, not to big and differently not to small with out getting to greedy of course.  Getting work is also up there, but not right at the top (Don’t tell my accountant I said that).

I will let you all know what will be first when i find out myself.  In the mean time I have some work to price for clients.

After one year and around twenty thousand sea miles my contract has come to an end. I have made great friends from my time onboard and seen amazing places,  but all good thing must come to and end, so on the 21 th I head off.

So with skateboard in hand and a bag full of tools I will be returning home to Nelson in early June, after seeing family and friends. HOORAY for heading home.

I have a book and half of ideas and a burning desire to start making things which I will rip in to on setting up shop once I am back. I will keep you all updated on that as it comes about.

This next year will be huge! Not only for furniture making but also for my wife and I, as we are expecting our first child in November. Second HOORAY!!! and the biggest.

Till next time