Hello everyone! One of my New Year's resolutions was to finally get around to formally introducing myself here, so I've decided to get that accomplished before it falls by the wayside (along with all my other resolutions   ).

I never imagined ever becoming remotely interested in woodworking, let alone actually trying to do it. About three years ago, I bought a Rotex 150 for the purpose of restoring the gelcoat on our sailboat. The only other power tool I owned at the time was a cordless Dremel with two dead batteries (a situation, incidentally, that I have since learned how to avoid). As you can imagine, I had no clue how to use my awesomely cool new dual-mode sander, even though I HAD done enough research to be absolutely certain it was going to be exactly the right tool for the job.

And it was. In fact, that project turned out to be a great success, and has been briefly posted about here, here, and here.

By the way, I had bought a CT Mini along with the Rotex because I also happened to have a lot of drywall sanding to do at the time. Worked like a charm.

Now, if you don't mind, I would just like to take a moment to observe that there are a number of very, very evil people in the world - some of them (you know who you are) right here among us. After offering me loads of invaluable advice relating to my boat project, these evil geniuses proceeded to badger me unmercifully about woodworking, while I did my best to ignore them. Surely anyone who has ever shopped for Festools can agree that this was not an imprudent effort on my part.

Anyway, once the boat was done, I figured it couldn't hurt to put the Rotex to use refinishing an old desk. Once again, the nefarious cheering section offered excellent advice, and the fact that I still haven't put said desk back together two years later is not a reflection of the usefulness of that input. Rather it's because I am an Olympic quality procrastinator (but hey, we all have to stick with what we're good at, right?). Also, the evil cheering section distracted me from the task. Sort of.

Just HOW insidiously evil were they, you want to know?

Well... it's like this....

First someone slyly mentioned card scrapers. Then, once I began having trouble getting the pieces of that desk to stay put while trying to do all this work on the floor of my office, someone else slyly suggested that perhaps a bench might make things a bit easier. Then I made the mistake of asking my friend Rick (aka "Ick") Christopherson for advice on selecting a ready made bench.

Next thing I knew, I was driving to his workshop with a load of this:




... for the purpose of building this (Oh look, there's Ick now! This beast - the bench, not Ick - weighs well over 200 lbs. I still can't believe the two of us managed to schlep it up the hill from the shop by ourselves):




Once I got it home, I figured I'd just put it in this perfectly suitable space in our basement:




Meanwhile, the evil voices are still out there, only NOW they're chanting.... "Laurie needs a shop.... Laurie needs a shop....."

To be fair, what with the bad light and the ugly concrete floor, any reasonable person would concede they had a point.
Besides, it's not like I was going to do something insane, like actually turn the place into a real shop.
I mean, seriously, That would be ridiculous. So I went shopping for some VCT flooring.

And it wasn't long before the space looked like this:
(Hey, give me a break. I'm a girl, okay? And I like red. Besides, it looks great with Festools.)




So you must be wondering, with such a nice space, why DON'T I have the desk done?

Oh... I don't know....



... but I'm sure it has something to do with the evil people.  
The same ones responsible for the TS55... and the MFT... and....
... well, you know how it is.

Looking forward to participating more here.
And to lots of good advice. I'm gonna need it.  

Thanks, Peter! Doing a little reorganizing in my shop, and then I'm thinking it's time to start
making a box that actually turns into a, um... box. Third time's the charm, they say.

Thanks, Kev - I feel better now!

But what I really want to know NOW is... did you take that photo for your avatar?
(Because seriously - it's awesome).

Well, ya see... the box is actually going to be a, um....
(shhh, don't tell anyone).... JointMaker Pro project  

But I do have some OTHER projects in mind that will be more Festoolish.
Example: I REALLY want to build a Murphy bed for our guest room.

I've been in that exact spot, with similar fog, a couple of times - but honestly I didn't snap that particular frame.

There's a few freakish days each year when you get a low blanket of fog through Sydney and photo opportunities are awesome.

Hey Laurie

Great introduction. It's good to have you here. Your shop looks better than my living room! 

- Kristian

Thanks, Kristian!

Good eye, Rob. Actually, if it weren't for YOU, I never would have been able to take my bench home that day. When we were installing my Veritas twin screw vise, we discovered it had shipped with two follower screws. Rick contacted you, and you agreed to ship him a drive screw. Rick has the same vise on his bench, so we took it apart, and put Rick's drive screw in MY bench so I could take it home. So thanks so much for your part in completing my bench!

Rick, you may want to watch your step, buddy. If you share that other picture of me, I will disclose exactly how long it took for you to put your vise back together after you received Rob's package. Hahahahhahahhaha......

P.S. to Rob: Oh, and that low angle jack plane is SWEET. :-)


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Darn it, I want to see that 3rd photo 

Nice intro though Laurie.

Kevin, that is an awesome pic !

Hey Laurie -

Nice to see you on the FOG.  How about some updated pics on any picture frame progress.  You need something to show off those amazing photography skills.  And they are easier than boxes, particularly those with round corners and lots of kerfs!



neil

Carvex to rough out & of1010 with bearing guided cutter to trim to final shape ? 

Yeah, something like that. But with less dust.  



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LOL. I think I'm gonna like it here.

Awesome cookie - thanks for sharing!

So Laurie - did you bake and decorate the cookie?  I am amazed by the icing / beading details.  Imagine a picture frame with that level of beading around it!

I recognize that broccoli shot.  I think you took it, right?

neil

You see broccoli, I see Evil Triffid