Adirondack Kate

Katelyn seems to be on the verge of securing her South Boston Condo, after quite a few title challenges.
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She's asked me to construct an Adirondack Chair for her deck, and since I've always wanted to build one, and she'll never back off, I decided on this design.
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This one is 5/4 red cedar.I'll probably build Kate's in 3/4 merant1 mahogany and finish with Epifanes Marine Varnish.

Susan Raiche said...
This is a perfect design for Kate!
Beware though, she will probably want a matching pair.

That's a good point Sue. But being the Master of my Domain, I take orders from no one. Particularly Katelyn!

Condo Coffee Table

I dry fitted Mike's Coffee Table base to the top today, and to my amazement, it was the freaking balls.
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The proportions fit very well and the contrasting fir and mahogany looked fine.
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I was shocked because I had been pretty down on it. You can judge for yourself by the pictures to follow.
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By the weekend, I'll get the final sanding in and fasten the top to the base. Then the spray coats of Epifanies Marine Varnish will begin.... at least seven thin coats. With the proper sanding between coats, and cure time, this will take about 1 1/2 weeks.
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It will fit great in Mike's new South Boston Condo.

Tuna Lips said...

Ise dry humps my coffee table when the spirit grabs me. Good fer you, dry fittin' indeed.

Mega Millions

Mega Millions Jackpot is $181 M range, so I bought two tickets. If I am the sole winner, I'll probably opt for for the $111Million lump sum payout, which would net me about $50M after taxes.
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That should be enough working capital to start Nanepashemet Boatbuilding on a full time basis with a waterside boat loft and everything.
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Otherwise, I'm going to have to keep banging away at this Nanepashemet Telecom business.
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Which really isn't a bad alternative.
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But I like the $50M option better.

Peep of the Year, Lauren Rathbone said...
Love the adirondack chair!! Purchased my mega millions!!! I will take a lump sum, but remain anoyonmous (spelled that wrong) until i work out the details. so if someone wins and does not come forward it may be me.

Fallen Off Track

It was the first warm day of the year.
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A great day for dump runs. The warm weather makes you take a walk around the property. With the fire on New Year's Day and the resulting renovation, there is a tremendous amount of trash all over the place, and we succeeded in getting a good bit of it to the Marblehead Transfer Station this morning.
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My plan was to make a serious dent in Mike's coffee table project, and to transition into the Workbench project. After the first dump run, I made it over to Moynihan Lumber in Beverly to pick up some meranti mahogany 2x4's to complete the workbench base.
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As soon as I got back, Harvey Rowe showed up on his weekend run from the Marblehead Y and I introduced him to Tommy O'Shea.
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When I got back to the driveway, I remembered that I had to make a second dump run since I missed the trash pickup this week. Plus I was fresh out of Dark and Stormy supplies so I stocked up at Beacon Hill liquors.
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After the dump run, I remembered that I hadn't touched base with "My Friend Who Doesn't Want His Name Mentioned in the Blog" lately.
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I found said "Friend" and his talented authoress wife, Nancy, on their back deck and FWDWHNMITB succeeded in breaking my will power with the first beer of the day, on or about 12 noon.
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When I got back home, Joanne had a big priority for me to build a gate for the deck so that our Grandson, Will, could go out there without tumbling down the deck stairs. All the stock for the gate was readily available from the stuff that had been removed by the fire and basement renovation.
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By the time that was done, Tyler Gill dropped by to see Ryan, and the call went out at about 4:00 PM to break out the Dark and Stormies. Priorities and job plans went to hell shortly after that.
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Mike, Kate, and Superpeep Emily Engardia showed up for dinner and the beer flowed like wine.
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So I'll regroup, and see what I can salvage tomorrow.

Sniper

This contribution from master wireless sniper, Bill Hillegas.


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Tyler Gill said...

A Special Forces Sniper when interviewed by Katy Kouric in Afghanastan.

Kouric
"what do you feel when you shoot one of these terrorist?"

Marine Corp Sniper
"a slight recoil....."

Excellent Contribution Tyler!!!!
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Despite our loathing of the bias and closemindedness of the self righteous Katy.... we need to highlight the wisdom of Couric more often!

POTW - Week 16

I've already worked about 50 hrs. this week. And we still have Friday to go.
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But it's starting to get me a little tired.
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I know what you must be thinking.... that a Mountain of a Man like me would even be a little fatigued after only 50 hours of work.
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It's true. I'm freaking tired. Just like the rest of you... I can get a little run down. I'm clearly not superior to you in all respects... only the majority of them.
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Announcing...
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 16th Week of 2009

Harvey Rowe
TimmyBassett
Tyler Gill
Rob Wise
Ethan Nestor
Patrick Piscatelli

Maybe I'll knock off a little early tomorrow.

Dory Return

Thinking about the Gunning Dory. We're getting closer to putting this project on the front burner.

Mahogany Base

Spent a long time this weekend getting the hang of the Grizzly Tenon Tablesaw Jig and the Jet Mortising machine.
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With the help of my radial arm saw and band saw, I fabricated these legs and bases out of mahogany for Mike's coffee table.
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The base is coming out so good that the fir slab top is starting to look a bit unsuitable.
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I'm going to finish it anyway, and if Mike doesn't like it, I'll make a different top to fit the base.


Bob Villa said...
It looks like Samson should be chained between those two pillars. Let my people go, Pharoah!

Character Test

The test of character is made when things are not going well.... when the unexpected happens.... when unpleasant and hurtful events predominate.
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Anybody can express their loyalty and love when all is smooth sailing. But when the weather gets ugly, and the ship starts to toss and turn and take on water.... that is when those with the real strength of character shine through.
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Those who pass the test show a selfless sense of compassion and support, that intensifies as the going gets tougher. They resolve to find ways to remedy the situation.
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Those who fail concentrate on the unfortunate events solely by their fear of the effects on them. They search for blame and wallow in self pity.
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You can almost predict who will pass the test, and who will fail. Even though you hope for the best, sometimes the facts that have always been obvious prove to be right.
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Too bad.
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I've been watching a number of people taking the test of character lately. Most are down right inspiring.


Okay J. Made it Monday in just under 3 hours. Now I'll be retiring from Marathon running for a few years now. That is unless you are ready to race some time in the near future.
-McMahon

An excellent marathon time by our 2006 Peep of the Year, Tommy McMahon.
Way to go Tom.

A Tad Resentful

I paid my taxes last week. An obscene amount of cash money because I didn't have withholding for the entire year of 2008.
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The whole withholding process dulls you to the immense amount of taxes that we pay. It is only when you have to pay out a lump sum when you realize the bite that the government takes out of you.
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Imagine that your gross pay is what you actually have to spend. You would be far better off, wouldn't you?
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It didn't bother me as much in the old days, when the Russians were pointing missiles at us. I figured as long as I didn't have to speak Russian, the taxes were worth it. But as I get older, and more savvy in business, and see the incredibly wasteful processes and spending in the public sector, I tend to get a tad resentful.

POTW Week 15

Today was a great driveway day. Made the measured tenon cuts for Mike's coffee table with my new Grizzly Tablesaw Tenon jig. It's not the best piece of equipment that I've ever bought, but I eventually figured it out and got the job done.
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Mike's coffee table top was refinished and I like the bottom side a little better. All in all, I'm dissapointed in the fir slab and actually considered another top. But it should fit well in Mike's new condo in South Boston, which is in a renovated foundry building with exposed brick walls and high concrete ceilings.
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The fir slab has the mass to fit the surroundings.
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I'm using the same base design for both Mike's coffee table and my Workbench.... mortised and tenoned, glued up 4x4 mahogany legs and 2x4 mahogany stretchers.
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Announcing....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 15th week of 2009

Martha Stewart
Patrick Piscatelli
Courtney Jellison Nestor
Perry Dinatale
Tommy O'Shea
Danny Ainge

Tomorrow, I use the new Jet mortising machine to cut the mortises.

Apology

Sorry Peeps.
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I know that the last post was a bit harsh, a bit terse, a bit grouchy.
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Even a Mountain of a Man like me can let his guard down once in awhile.
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But if you don't forgive me, I really don't give a shit.
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So..... Maybe it's too early to apologize.

Big Freaking Deal

Peeps.
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So you noticed that I haven't posted for almost the whole week.
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Big Freaking Deal.
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What do you want.... a medal or something????
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I was damn busy with my own shit. And I couldn't care less how much you bitch and howl.
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I'm not even going to choose the POTW until tomorrow.
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How do you like them apples????

Coffee Table Redo

After two coats of West System Special Coating Clear Epoxy on Mike's coffee table, I've come to a conclusion. It is not acceptable.
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The sanding job is just too sub par. So I'm going to refinish the bottom of the tabletop and get the sanding done right.
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The problem is a penetrating stain and swirl marks that have shown up through the finish.
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I'm sure that the vast number of you unsophisticated Peeps would find no problem in it, and would give your usual annoying "oohs" and "ahs". But my standing as a Mountain of a Man cannot compromise on this.
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It must be redone.

Tuna Lips said...

Looks like my shorts after a few days on the road and a tad too much fiber, what with that big racin' stripe down the middle.

Happy Easter

Easter is a nice holiday. You don't get any days off, and it doesn't get controversial in church and state debates, so the PC police have yet to infiltrate it. There are no big expectations for rituals, so the family pressures are generally low.
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Maybe it's because the day fluctuates - never falls on the same day.
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Anyway, some of my best memories revolve around the Easter Egg hunts that Joanne used to stage for the kids.... and just the family getting together and horsing around.
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Now it's even better with the grandkids in the picture.
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I'm sure that my grandkids probably aren't the cutest in the world, but they are until you can beat this.

Masters in Augusta

I'm totally into the Masters this year... and I haven't a clue why. Those of you who know better understand just how bad I am at golf. I make Charles Barkley's swing seem sweet.
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But the Masters definitely caught my attention.
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My friend Bill Hillegas is a buddy with Jim Furyk and he is in the race after the first day. I like Furyk, and also like Mike Wier, and Phil Mikelson, because they are lefties.
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My favorite is a little known African Filipino American named Tiger Woods. Keep your eye on him... he's a comer.

POTW Week 14

Since I've been fairly out straight with Nanepashemet Telecom this week, it was nice for Tuna Lips to make an appearance. He is one funny sonofabitch, and really takes the pressure off of me from having to come up with pithy remarks on a consistent basis.
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And I haven't been feeling too pithy lately anyway.
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Today would have been a great day to put in some time on the Workbench and Mike's Coffee Table, but I had to spend the whole freaking day trying to make money. How Lame is That!!!! It's about time that somebody offered me one of those paid sabbaticals that the college professors get, so that they can allow their creative juices to rejuvenate.
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Need to get one of those gigs.
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Announcing....
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Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 14th week of 2009.

Dale Johnson
Dustin Padroia
Sarah Crawford
Jessica Rincon
Terrence Swhwab
Kevin Calnan
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Don't worry.... If I had a sabbatical, I'd still keep posting to this pathetic blog.

Paypoint Pain Killer

Made the drive to Old Lyme, New London and Groton, Connecticut this morning with a modicum of success. But a 2 3/4 hr. one way drive always takes it out of you.
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Anything over two hours in a car is physically taxing, but it helps if you make a paypoint. This trip brought Nanepashemet Telecom closer to two of them that should be realized by the end of the week.
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That definitely dulls the pain.

Tuna Lips said...

You might consider stopping in at them injun gamblin' parlors along the seaboard there. Dens of iniquity they is, pour a mean glass of free fire water. Them redskin's slaked they thirst on Pappy's 'shine til we could rob 'em of what they had in their satchels! I got me an on-again-off-again gal down there, I calls her Lil' Spread Eagle to protect the innocent. She gets a little ornery about my breathin' on her, but otherwise, I'd recommneds her to the Spirit in the Sky - that's injun parlance for the Almighty, 'cept they heathens. Cheap enuff too, at a sawbuck per table dance.

Coffee Table Surge

Didn't accomplish as much as I would have liked on the workbench today in a sunny afternoon in the driveway.
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Figuring out how the tail vise was going to work turned out to be problematic.
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But Mike's coffee table is another matter.
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I never thought that I would get it all sanded with a sealer coat of clear epoxy applied so soon.
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Maybe it will even get done in time for his move in date.

The pictures detail the glued up panels prior to sanding, the completed sanding and the first coat of epoxy.
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The base will be constructed of 2 in. thick, glued up meranti mahogany stock.
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One more coat of epoxy to the top and then about 4 coats of sprayed marine varnish over the entire table to follow.
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Double click on the pictures to zoom in.

Forging On

When the sun made an appearance this Saturday morning, I decided to take advantage and move forward with the workbench and coffee table projects. Gluing panels always takes a lot of room and I had to move the operation into the driveway. But I got both the tops for my workbench and Mike's coffee table glued and ready for sanding and finishing.
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I know that a I owe you pictures.
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I also set up the Jet mortising machine, the Grizzly tenon tablesaw jig and the Leigh dovetail jig upgrade.
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So it was a very productive day in the garage and driveway.
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Tomorrow, if the weather is right, I'm going to trim out the dovetailed aprons of the workbench and see if I can install the tail vise.
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Then we will concentrate on the bases for both the Coffee table and the Workbench.

Check Please

We had a nice dinner last night with Will and Lynda Murray at the Boston Yacht Club.
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I just bought an industrial condo from Will in Peabody to use for Nanepashemet Telecom, and it was Joanne's birthday, so he picked up the check.
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A class move.
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Generally, I like to pick up the check. Not because I am overly generous, but because I always get embarrassed splitting the check for some reason. Don't know why. So usually I reach for the check to avoid what is, to me, an awkward situation.
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But it's nice when someone beats me to it.

Testing the Water

Jim Cramer says it's time to get back into the stock market.
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It does seem like the market has hit bottom and is starting to turn back up. The telecom stocks seem to be fairly undervalued.
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The trouble is that every time I've entered the market, I have lost money.... not a ton, but enough to feel like a dufus.
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Maybe I'll just stick my big toe in.

Peep of the Week - 13

I had the opportunity to select the Peeps yesterday.
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Thursday is the official selection day. But I didn't feel like it. And you can't make quality and responsible decisions if your head isn't into it. After all... the POTW selections are just too important to handle on a casual basis.
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But this morning is another story.
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I got up feeling ready to challenge the day, and my first task will be to Purposefully Perpetuate this Pathetic Peep Process. ("P" is one of my favorite letters.)
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ANNOUNCING....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 13th week of 2009

Ryan Nestor
Mike Rockett
Kathy Peabody
Lauren Crawford
Peter Krupp
Jeremy Johnson

Next week, I'll try to get this done on Thursday, but I'm not promising anything.

Bad Addiction

Everybody copes somehow.
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My coping mechanism is to buy tools on Amazon late at night.
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And ... Oh Baby!..... Have I been Coping lately!!!!
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This week's stress has been Amazon's gain.
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Did I need a Specialized Power Mortising machine??? Nope.
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Did I get one?
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Yep.
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Did I need a Tenon Jig for my tablesaw???? Nope.
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Did I get one?
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Yep.
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Did I need an upgrade kit for my Leigh Dovetail Jig???? Nope.
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Did I get one?
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Yep.
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Believe me... this list can continue to the point where you can ascertain that I have a real problem. Lucky for me that Joanne doesn't read this Blog too often, because the cost of this stuff is really starting to add up.

Pier Four

After a lovely afternoon at the Joe Moakley house, we went over to the venerable Anthony's Pier Four restaurant, which is still serving one hell of a slice of prime rib with a popover after all of these years.
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It was Joanne's birthday, and the dinner was spur of the moment, but we couldn't have planned a better venue.
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Maybe we'll grab another meal there around August or so.