Wood Turning Workshop - March 1st

Alright, the schedule and details are here. Hope you are as excited as we are!
There will be 3 door prizes as well... but what they are is a secret. You have to be here!

When: Saturday, March 1st
Where: KJP Select Hardwoods
What time: 9:30 onwards... we recommend coming early to grab a good seat/standing spot and a coffee


Valley Woodturners Club Presentation - Celebrating Woodturning in Ottawa
Part 1 - 9:30 – 3:00, Multiple Demonstrators

This portion will be an ongoing presentation of multiple subjects that will include box making, pen turning, pendants and other subjects. There will be volunteer members present to answer your questions about woodturning.

If you have an interest in woodturning, questions about the process, or just curious here is a great opportunity to share with members of the Valley Woodturners their knowledge and enthusiasm about woodturning. Also learn about the club and its benefits, as well the training and mentoring.

Don’t miss this great opportunity to share the enthusiasm!


Valley Woodturners Club Presentation
Part 2 with Bart Poulter

9:30 - 11:00 - Make a Basic Bowl
Bart will cover lathe features, safety and function; tool selection, choice and orientation & mounting of the wood blank; and different methods of mounting the blank to the lathe. He will then turn a basic bowl showing various techniques and tools. Bart will close the session with a discussion about sanding and finishing.

11:30 - 1:00 - How to turn a pepper mill
Bart will explain the basic tools and materials (solid wood and laminated blanks)
This will be followed by a step by step instruction of the creation process. Sanding and finishing will be discussed.
Bart will close the session with a description of the assembly process

1:30 - 3:00 - Boards & Burls into Blanks
Bart will discuss how to process your new (or old) found boards, burls and even logs into blanks for your next masterpiece. Learn how to read the grain, orient the blank for maximum visual effect and get the most out of the wood that you have.

Check out the Valley Woodturners website here! 

We now carry a variety of Titebond products!

You asked, we listened! We are excited to now be carrying an assortment of Titebond glues.

Original Titebond Wood Glue
Available in 16oz
Titebond Original Wood Glue is the industry standard for woodworking. It provides a strong initial tack and fast speed of set to reduce clamp time.

- Excellent sandability - Unaffected by finishes - Easy cleanup with water - Fast set - Shortens clamp time - Non-toxic

- Solvent-resistant - Not intended for exterior use or where moisture is likely.

For more detailed information, visit Titebond's Original Wood Glue page here.

Original Extend Wood Glue
Available in 16oz
Titebond Extend Wood Glue is a slower setting version of Titebond Original Wood Glue. 

- Excellent sandability - Unaffected by finishes - Excellent heat-resistance - Easy cleanup with water - Non-toxic

- Ideal for complex assemblies and bent laminations - Compatible with all common species of wood, as well as particleboard, MDF, plywood and other porous materials - Not intended for exterior use or where moisture is likely.

For more detailed information, visit Titebond's Extend Wood Glue page here.

Titebond II Wood Glue
Available in 8oz, 16oz & Gallon
Titebond II Premium Wood Glue is the only leading brand, one-part wood glue that passes the ANSI Type II water-resistance specification. It is ideal for exterior woodworking projects, including outdoor furniture, birdhouses, mailboxes, planters and picnic tables. 

- FDA approved for indirect food contact (cutting boards) - Designed for exterior use - Excellent sandability - Unaffected by finishes

- Easy cleanup with water - Non-toxic

For more detailed information, visit Titebond's II Wood Glue page here.

Titebond II Dark Wood Glue 
Available in 16oz
Titebond II Dark Wood Glue is a dyed-version of Titebond II Wood Glue.

- Strong initial tack - Excellent sandability - Unaffected by finishes - Water-resistant - Non-toxic

- Easy cleanup with water - Designed for interior and exterior applications

For more detailed information, visit Titebond's Dark Wood Glue page here.

Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue
Available in 8oz, 16oz, 32oz & Gallon
Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue is the first one-part, water cleanup wood glue ever offered that is proven waterproof. The ultimate in wood glues - ideal for both interior and exterior applications.

- Non-toxic - Solvent free - Easy cleanup with water - FDA approved for indirect food contact (cutting boards) - Superior strength - Strong initial tack - Unaffected by finishes

- Lower application temperature - Longer open assembly time - Lower application temperature

For more detailed information, visit Titebond's II Wood Glue page here.

Titebond Polyurethane Glue
Available in 4oz 
It is the only polyurethane glue to combine a long 30-minute working time with a short 45-minute clamp time 

- 100% waterproof - Short clamp & fast cure - Excellent sandability - Unaffected by finishes - Solvent free

- Also ideal for metals, ceramics, most plastics, HPL, Corian, stone and other porous/non-porous materials

For more detailed information, visit Titebond's Polyurethane Glue page here.

Titebond Melamine Glue
Available in 16oz 
Designed for bonding wood, particleboard, MDF and other porous substrates to synthetic materials such as melamine, vinyl and HPL as well as metals. 

- Water-based - Nonflammable - Low Odor - Dries clear - Cleans up with water

- Thicker formulation - fewer runs and drips - Fast setting - Excellent strength - Long open time - Fast initial tack - Not intended for exterior use or where moisture is likely.

For more detailed information, visit Titebond's Melamine Glue page here.

Livos Products - What to use when

We have really expanded our Livos line-up! Each product is a little different so we decided to take a minute and summarize the benefits of each one.

All Livos products have these facts in common, so I'll summarize that now:
- Environmentally & ecologically friendly
- Low odor
- High coverage ability
- Very simple to apply
- Simply wipes on, goes a long way

If you haven't worked with Livos before, we also have a post on "How to apply Livos: Tips & Tricks"

Livos - Kunos 244
Available in 50ml, 250ml, 750ml, 2.5L and 10L
- Approved for food contact according to German standards
- Used in furniture & flooring
- Seals & protects
- Bring out the natural grain and figure
Ideal for: furniture, cabinets, mantels...



If you like the finish but need to change or enhance the colour of the wood, we have 24 colours to select from.
50ml available in all 24 colours
250ml available in:White, Black, Walnut, Dark Walnut, Cocobolo, Intensive Cherry, Black Bean, Elm Dark Brown, Smoked Oak, Mahogany & Rosewood
750ml available in: Cherry, Walnut & Black Bean


Livos - Kunos 243 - Clear Countertop Oil
Available in 50ml, 250ml and 750ml
- High waterproof ability
- Approved for food contact according to German standards
- Thicker viscosity than the Livos 244 however has an equal appearance
Ideal for: kitchen table, kitchen counters...

Can also be applied as a topcoat on KUNOS 244 increasing its waterproof ability.



Livos - LINN - Bathroom Furniture Oil
Available in 250ml and 750ml
- Designed for solid wood furniture subjected to high humidity levels
- Increased waterproof ability and higher sheen
- Superior resistance to toothpaste stains
Ideal for: bathroom counter, any where there is high humidity or moisture

Livos: Gleivo Beeswax
Available in 250ml
Ideal for: perking up existing furniture

Livos: Svalos 222 - Tool cleaner and Thinner
Available in 1L
- Clear, colourless, with a pleasant orange odor
- Very efficient tool cleaner
- Use as a thinner with oil based products
- Removes fresh stains
Finally a pleasant smelling cleaner that does the job!

Project ideas for Valentine's Day

We all know it's a silly holiday, but the women in your lives will still expect a present. Am I right? Yup...

Well I'm here to make your life easier with 10 gift ideas that are inexpensive and quick.

1) Make them a Jewelry Box - as simple as 5 walls and a lid. If you are more skilled, add some extra touches with designer knobs from Lee Valley or some drawers with individual components for their overpriced jewelry. Want to win extra points with your spouse? Include a new necklace inside... that's got to give you at least a few months worth of no cleaning duties!

The very talented Jack Belletrutti built this stunning jewellery box.

2) Turn a pen in their favourite colour and engrave their name, easy! We also have red velvet bags to put the pen in so it can get lost in their purse slightly less often...

3) Make some candle sticks! So many different options... turn, carve, drill... whatever. Set the mood with a few tea lights, cook her a lovely meal and you have survived another Valentine's Day!

Courtesy of Derek Banke

4) Make a cutting board or a serving tray...  present it with a bottle of wine and a single long stemmed rose.

Courtesy of Don Rideout

5) Build a custom picture frame... size, shape and colours combinations are endless!

Courtesy of Brandon's post from Lumber Jocks

6) What woman doesn't like jewelry.. turn a bracelet

Courtesy of Lance Besharah

7) Get a nice tasting wine and pair it with a wine stopper

Courtesy of  Alain Bélanger

8) Make a wine rack. There are so many designs in varying difficulty levels. Select their favourite colour and find a wood that matches. Chop, chop, nail, nail, polish, polish and voila! Make sure to drink the wine after the rack is completed...

Courtesy of Ryan Shillington

9) Make a jewelry holder!

Courtesy of Larry Katz

10) And last but not least.. planning to propose? Make a custom ring box. Extra tears assured...

Courtesy of Jason Trudel

Hope you enjoyed the post! If you are still looking for inspiration, have you seen our newly revamped "Inspiration" page? Check it out... we think it's pretty terrific as we have some seriously talented customers!!

Inspiration... check!

It's cold...
It's only Tuesday...
Needing some inspiration for your next project... Check!

Our website is growing and now you can get inspired by your choice of wood.

For example:
Wondering what Walnut looks like in a project? Click here
Curious what Cocobolo looks like when finished? Click here
Pondering what Padauk looks like as a possible accent wood? Click here

Ok, I'll stop - you get the idea!

Also......

We've now included "previous" and "next" buttons on our Inspiration page and our "Domestic" and "Exotic" pages so you can sit and relax, and click away.

Like what you see? We are also connected to Pinterest so you can "pin" away.

It's time to get organized

The holidays are over and the guilt has sunk in. The extra belly fat and the 'being nicer' is already on your 2014 to-do list, but what about a clean shop?

A clean shop is a safe shop! Here are some great organizational projects that will help keep your shop organized and maximize space. Your spouse will no longer be able to say, "hunny you have no room for that". In comes the new bandsaw....

1) You can take down the 2013 Maxim calendar and replace the empty space with this. Space effective and smart. Instructions and materials needed can be found on The Family Handyman's website here.

Photo courtesy of The Family Handyman

2) Tray for holding your blades. Rockler has already done a great post on how to build one. Click here for the direct link.

Photo courtesy of Rockler

3) Don't want to ruin your nice work bench? This is a great idea to prevent glue/paint/finish spills.. here is a direct link to an article on Wood Magazine for how to make it.

Photo courtesy of Wood Magazine

4) Tired of tripping on wires? Take a few minutes and build this.... great idea!

Tip found on Wood Magazine

If you’re tired of tripping over extension cords and accidentally kicking them loose from the outlet, hang ’em high using the simple suspension cable shown. When you’re done for the day, the whole cord system slides back against the wall.

Begin by driving two screw eyes into a ceiling joist to hold the clothesline. Fasten the clothesline to one screw eye, slip the metal shower curtain rings over it, and attach the other end to the other screw eye. Space the rings along the clothesline as shown, slip the extension cord through the rings, and secure the cord to them with wire ties.

—Buck Nall, Alma, Ga.

Photo courtesy of Wood Magazine

5) Penturners - organize your bushings in a dollar store plastic tray. A $1.00 investment is well worth the headaches of losing/misplacing bushings.

6) Do you constantly trip over wood you forgot you already own? Keep it organized with a multiple compartment, rolling cart. I found this genius idea at Shop Notes, here's the link.

7) It's simple, but it's smart. Picture says it all.

8) Ever lose a sock? Perfect. You have just built a "safety glasses organizer". Now the only way it will work, is if you actually use it.... you'll be surprised what you can actually see when your glasses aren't covered in sawdust.

9) A quick trip to Walmart and you are all set to keep your sandpaper organized. And when you have outgrown that method, the 2nd option will ensure you stay organized. Here is the link to Lumberjocks website for the instructions and materials needed.

Photo courtesy of Lumberjocks

10) Does your spouse enjoy cooking?

Last tip: Print out all your favourite *complicated* recipes and put them in a binder. Keep it unlabelled, but in a safe and memorable spot. When your spouse enters your workshop and gives you a "honey-do" project, remove a recipe from your binder and make a deal. Win/win for everyone!

Hope you enjoyed todays post!

FREE Upcoming Event - Woodturning Workshop at our store

When: Saturday, March 1st
Where: KJP Select Hardwoods 

Details:
There will be multiple workshops running throughout the day led by Bart Poulter. These workshops are meant for beginners and intermediate turners. There will also be mentors available to answer questions as well.

Topics may include:
- Introduction to woodturning
- Safety in woodturning
- Pen Making
- Finishing
- Turning Bowls
- Sharpening
- Wood preparation
- Making pepper mills

Any requests? We will be finalizing the schedule in the next few weeks. Make sure to mark this day in the calendar. It's an event not to be missed!