LIFE IS A HIGHWAY..........I'm Back!

Hey....It's been a while since I posted anything. Been through a lot of changes. About 2 months after my first post I moved out of my house where I was slowly setting up a woodworking shop in my basement. I then moved to an apartment half the size of my house. Also I had some health issues along the way. Got a bit depressed about having no place to do woodworking. I did however spend a lot of time reading woodworker's blogs. I came across a number of people in similar circumstances that were working out of apartments, balconies, and other small spaces. But it's a new day, so I decided to stop complaining and start doing !!! I realized that the Past is the Past, it's done and I can't do a thing about it except learn and move on. It's all up to me, so here I go...........

In my small apartment there is a space that was a dining area. Here's a couple of pictures. I know, it looks like I'm still moving in. I have to change that! I have to clean it up and this area has to be multi-functional. I'll need a small workbench . The Workmate just doesn't cut it. It's too light for plane work and lacks versatility. So, first thing I have to do is make a bench. My space is 8' by 8 1/2' and I believe I may be able to fit a bench in diagonally maybe about 4' long. I have to give it some heft or weight and it has to be able to come apart for storage or for multi use.

Designing a workbench comes next.........

Happy Trails - Joe

A NOVICE WOODWORKERS JOURNEY

Hey fellow Galoots !

I'm new to Blogging and also fairly new to woodworking. My Brother-In-Law helped me set up this Blog. I know... I know...
you are all probably saying, what a Galoot, he can't set up a simple Blog!? What's up with that? It's a Google Blog for crying
out loud! Anywhoo, I felt a bit intimidated and I didn't know which template I wanted and so on and so on. So my Brother-In-
Law chose it for me. Said I was over complicating things. He said I can change it as soon as I like, but I have to do it myself.
I'm sure that'll be fun.

In the past 8 months I've been frequenting a lot of Woodworker and Woodworker Galoot sites and Blogs. I found most of
them to be very informative and inspirational. I THINK I MAY BE A GALOOT. I certainly enjoy working with my Hand Tools. And
because I spend so much time with them, especially the Hand Planes, my sister gave me my Blog name "PLANE JOE". I have
collected many tools in the passed 3 years and I believe have saved myself a whole lot of money, as opposed to buying the
same tools brand new. A good part of those tools are hard to find as quality tools today. I have almost a complete set for a
beginning Woodworker. Don't I wish? No I don't, that's part of the journey. There will always be tools to get or to make. In the
past year I started to learn about cleaning, tuning, and sharpening the tools. Most of the tools I found at my local Flea Mkt.
and a small amount of tools I managsd to get a good deal on E-Bay. Like my Stanley #45 and #55 a few years ago when you
could still get a good deal. I have a number of Stanley, Millers Falls, Dunlap, Record, Starrett, Browne & Sharpe, Jennings, Irwin, and many, many others. Hopefully somewhere along the way I'll be able to post some pics.

I was thinking that I would like to chronicle my journey into Woodworking and beyond. A NOVICE WOODWORKERS JOURNEY!
My good times, my bad times, my times of inspiration, and my projects. I'm looking forward to that journey!

Happy Trails for now - JOE