Category: Personal Favorites

At my current pace – about three significant pieces a month – I have enough rough lumber to keep me busy for the next two years.

But when I walked into Midwest Woodworking Friday morning, I knew I was going to buy more. Frank David and his employees had sorted through the shop’s stores and come up with a lot more incredible stuff, including a cache of 4/4 sugar pine that I’d never seen.

As we unpacked that particular pile, I pulled six 16”-wide (or wider) 100-percent clear 16’-long boards aside. At less than $5/board foot it was a steal. And I made it only one-third of the way through the pile.

Then I hit the mahogany – I picked up enough 8/4 for eight Roorkhee chairs.

And then, the Sipo (Entandrophragma utile). Midwest has a half-dozen planks of 16/4 that are 24” wide and 14’ long. Beautifully figured. Clear. Completely dry. And about $9 a board foot.

I bought a plank – about 128 board feet worth – and needed to crosscut it to get it into my truck. Neither radical-harm saw at Midwest would do the trick the Sipo was too thick. Then we tried a recip saw. It was slow. Finally, one of the other customers loaned me a little battery circ saw that was the solution. I cut through both faces with the circ saw. Then removed the waste between with the recip saw.

What’s the Sipo for? I am thinking ahead: H.O. Studley workbenches.

After hoisting each plank onto my personal pile, I said aloud: “That’s it. I’m done.”

Five planks later, everyone around started mocking me.

I took my wood home and unloaded it.

Today I returned to Midwest to help other customers. Somehow I ended up unpacking that pile of sugar pine again. And I got down to some 18”-wide boards that had been there for 40 years. After pulling every plank, I told myself: That’s it, I’m done.

Five planks later… I really was.

The wood and machinery sale was a bittersweet affair for me and Andy Brownell, who did a huge amount of work organizing the event. The owner, Frank David, was there on Friday and it’s clear his health has deteriorated. It was great talking to him and catch up.

He’s suffering from congestive heart failure and is staring death in the face with the same pluck and optimism he used to run Midwest for decades.

“They say people can live with this for eight to 10 years,” he said. “We’ll see.”

I’m not sure what is in store for Midwest, the lumber inventory or the machinery – it’s none of my business, really. But I can say that the legacy of Midwest Woodworking and Frank David will live on through my work for at least the next five years as I pick through the incredible pile of lumber that takes up an entire wall of my shop.

— Christopher Schwarz

This Friday and Saturday, Midwest Woodworking will be holding what is likely its last wood sale – plus veneers and most of the machinery on the shop floor.

The sale is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days. Midwest is located at 4019 Montgomery Road in Cincinnati, Ohio. Here’s a Google Map.

Both Andy Brownell and I have spilled so many ones and zeros on Midwest, I hope I don’t have to repeat myself. It will be worth the drive. Yes, the wood is well-priced. But what is more important is that it is primo. Much of it is decades old, dry, stable and mild. And it has been stored flat.

Stuff from modern lumberyards (at least the ones around here) just does not compare.

Read more about the wood sale and download price lists from BrownellFurniture.com.

I’ll be there both days, sweating my hairy parts off in preparation for a 2 p.m. beer at Gordo’s across the street.

— Christopher Schwarz

Usually, I don’t pay much mind to the “value packs” at ShopWoodworking.com. (I mean sheesh, who would buy TWO value packs of articles from Cris Swartz?)

But this month’s value pack is great for people who want a full spectrum of information on sharpening.

Here’s the link. Note that I do not get any kickback if you purchase it. The only reason my initials are on the link are so they know where it came from.

The reason I like the products in this grouping is that you don’t get only one perspective on sharpening (there are thousands of perspectives). You’ll get the full range, from the freehand sharpeners to the die-hard jiggers. And you get a side-clamp honing guide as part of the deal – the most versatile sharpening guide available today.

So if you can sharpen, ignore this. Go about your business shaving the hair from your arm. But if you are still, struggling, check it out.

— Christopher Schwarz

Steve Ramsey of the “Woodworking for Mere Mortals” web site asked me to contribute an entry to his “inspiration project,” where woodworkers try to describe things that inspire.

I am no good at these things. When people ask me what inspires me, I stutter, spit and make no sense whatsoever.

Thanks to Jeff Burks and Peter Follansbee, I came up with a better answer to the question.

Jeff Burks pointed out the incredible “Art of Asking Questions” essays from the late 19th century. I have read them about 10 times now.

Peter Follansbee took me to the newly discovered joiner’s shop in Duxbury, Mass., which left me speechless, asking questions.

Together they are a document of what keeps me in the shop, in the library, at my keyboard.

Thanks to Steve Ramsey for asking me to participate.

— Christopher Schwarz

Midwest Woodworking – my favorite source for lumber – is selling off its stock of more than 300,000 board feet of premium hardwoods and softwoods. Wide mahogany. Clear sugar pine. Teak. Chestnut. Red gum. A near-endless cache of veneer.

Most of this lumber is more than 30 years old and has been stored flat in the Midwest warehouse. It is – without exception – the most stable stuff you will ever work.

And the prices are well below what you will pay elsewhere (if you could even find wood of this quality). The price list can be found here on Andy Brownell’s blog.

The sale is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 16-17 at Midwest Woodworking, 4019 Montgomery Road in Cincinnati. Here’s a Google map.

I will be emptying my savings account for this sale. I am not a wood hoarder – never have been – but once this stuff is gone, it is gone for good.

If you haven’t heard of Midwest, you can read all about it in the following posts. If these stories don’t inflame your wood/equipment/shop lust, you are probably ready for a hobby in miniature golf.

Wood Sale Invitation from Midwest Woodworking

The Midwest Woodworking Mega-Sale of the Century Aug 16-17

The Mahogany that Finishes the Book

For the Love of ‘Rippers’

Farewell, Fair Wood

Bring a truck and your checkbook (or a wad of cash). Midwest doesn’t take credit/debit cards.

— Christopher Schwarz