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  KEITH'S PAGE
Keith resides in the great northwest and is quite knowledgeable in the woodworking and landscaping/gardening areas. He will regularly submit columns on those subjects. A form is provided below to ask Keith questions that are on your mind. Perhaps you can save a dollar or two and not have to call that professional.
WOODWORKING
By: Keith
Over the years I have enjoyed two main hobbies. They are Woodworking and Yard
Work. I have spent countless hours in the garage where my workshop is.
Sometimes it is so cold that I have had to put two and three shirts on. But
never the less I have enjoyed every minute of it.
There have been many projects completed in that small shop, everything from
small wood shapes to a large wishing well. At one point I thought I could
make a living doing woodwork and made contact with two Craft Shops to supply
them with items they could sell. Most of these objects were wood shapes that
could be painted. I made everything from small lapel pins to small Amish
wagons that were about two feet long. After two years of this I realized that
it was too time consuming for the amount I could make. And besides, the shops
wanted all the items cut out of clear, no knot pine wood. That is almost
impossible to find in our area. So I was having to cut around the knots and
waste a lot of wood. I was unable to raise the prices high enough to cover
this waste.
I made a wishing well that is 5 feet tall and we have that in our backyard.
The problem is that it is white with blue trim and here in the Northwest we
have a problem with moss and mold. So after a winter of being out in the
weather the white paint turns green. So every Spring it gets a new paint job.
One of my most recent projects was a three foot tall windmill. Due to the
mold problem my Wife will not let me put it in the yard so it sits on top of
my table saw. What will become of it remains to be seen. Needless to say this
is my one of my wife's favorites.
Arnold, my wife's father, who was also my woodworking advisor, made a rocking
horse for her younger sister. We decided that daughter Carla needed one also.
Arnold drew up the plans and cut out the wood. I assembled it and Marie, my
wife painted it. We gave it to Carla for Christmas and it brought many tears
to her eyes. She still has it.
Of all the time I spend in the shop I think the most enjoyable time is spent
with our grandson, Alex. From the time he was very little he has liked to
pound nails. When he comes over he heads for the scrap pile to see what he
can find. Then I would put him on top of the work bench and away he would go
with his hammer. Still today, and he is now 7, he enjoys working with
Grandpa. Of course now he gets on a stool and uses a larger hammer and is
more creative. He has now graduated to the electric drill, with close
supervision. I look forward to this time with him whenever he comes over. He
even brings his own hammer. Since he likes woodworking so much several
birthday presents have consisted of large boxes of wood in all different
sizes, shapes and thicknesses.
My woodworking has been cut down this winter because my electric heater draws
so much power and with the electricity shortage I am trying to conserve. But
as the weather warms up I will be back in the shop. I will let you know what
the next project is to be. Have been thinking about some small chests for the
granddaughters
Perhaps the next time I write I will do something about Springtime in the
yard.
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