An arborist, sawyer/woodworker friend lost his lease
and had a wood sale this morning. In addition to getting
some 4/4 and 5/4 figured maple, . 8/4 square ash for
legs and some camphor, I bought my first log en boule -
Bradford pear - cut, stickered and steel banded January
10th of this year (2006). Will be a couple of years
before it's ready to use - with the widest center cut
being 24+ inches and 12/4 thick by maybe 6 1/2+'
long. NOW I'm committed to The Wood - no going back.

Also had the opportunity to meet a 17 year old who
knows where he's going and what he wants to do with
his life - furniture making - almost exclusively with
handtools. He even sharpens his saws - a rarety amongst
woodworkers these days, and is a Scary Sharp user.
His father says he got into wood 5 years ago in a wood
shop class in junior high and stuck with it, despite
the fact that his high school doesn't have a wood shop.

Turns out he only has a few Stanley planes. A bell went
off in my head, went home and brought him back
my Steve Knight 2000 high angle smoother - with
the lignum vitae (sp?) sole/soul. Now it's his and
I'm sure he will use it more often than I did, leaving
me with a low angle and standard smoother still in
my tool cabinet.

Also met a guitar making getting a bunch of
rosewood for guitar backs. Turned him onto
a board of the Bear Claw spruce I have. He should
get two bookmatched pairs for guitar tops out
of it. NIce to know that board will get "stretched"
to four times its original width.

The sun was shining, after nearly a week of on
and off rain, the air was warm after a week of
40s and 50s and I got a bunch of nice wood - and
my first en boule log. It's been a very good day.

(drive by gloat mode off)

charlie b