Well, at least it is to us! Here you will find our articles, links to web sites and articles by others and a "plethora" [or some may think a "modicum"] of knowledge on a wide variety of subjects, mostly, but not entirely, woodworking related.

[As this section is being launched and updated, it will take a while to weed through the volumes of semi-organized "I've-got-to-keep-this-one" articles and links to cull out the real gems. Now confined to a single page, it will grow to multiple pages, by topic. Check back now and then for updates.]


First, some favorite quotes:

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
~ Calvin Coolidge


Do not wish for quick results, nor look for small advantages.
If you seek quick results, you will not reach the ultimate goal.
If you are led astray by small advantages,
you will never accomplish great things.
~ Confucius


TOPICS:

WOODWORKING TIPS & TECHNIQUES:
If you learn a lot of these, you don't need to spend all your money on the next group: Tools and Gadgets.

For example:
Scary Sharp: The low cost way to get reealy sharp chisels with abrasive paper.

WOODWORKING TOOLS & GADGETS: This will be a short list. The emphasis is on the topic above. If you don't know the proper way to make a good miter joint, sharpen a chisel, etc., don't count on that $200-$300-and-up gizmo to solve your problem. On the other hand, if you can afford all the tools you want, if you need a large dolly every time you attend a woodworking show, ignore these first two topics and go straight to ordering some more tools.

For example:
Safety / Dust Collection: I can't say enough about the importance of dust collection when woodworking. Later, I will add references to articles about the hazards of dust in the workshop. Clean the air in your shop with a ceiling or bench mounted air cleaner may seem effective, but why not eliminate the vast majority of the hazard at the source, that is, get it directly from the tool you're using before it gets into the air you're breathing. My favorite power tool is my Oneida cyclone dust collector. This thing sucks up all the dust plus any stray animals that wander in the area ;-) See the Oneida site for a lot of good information. Later, there will be a link to other sites that give tips and detailed plans for making your own cyclone collector.

OTHER WOODWORKING LINKS:
Miscellaneous articles and web sites of interest.

For example:
Palomar College CFT, San Marcos, CA [35 mi. N of San Diego]:
"with an annual enrollment of 2,000 students in over 50 different classes, the Palomar College Cabinet and Furniture Technology program offers the most comprehensive woodworking curriculum in the nation. Utilizing three fully-equipped shops, our 4 full-time and 16 part-time instructors provide a breadth of courses and depth of expertise impossible to obtain in smaller programs.

Our courses range from Furniture Design to Timber Framing, and from Guitar building to Production Cabinetmaking. Whether your goal is to build the skills to enrich your retirement or position yourself for a lifetime of satisfying work, we have the courses for you.

By the end of our program you will have had the opportunity to build everything from a hand-crafted clock to an elegant Sam Maloof rocking chair. All we ask is that our students stay as dedicated to mastering the technical skills of traditional and contemporary fine woodworking as we are to teaching them.

EVERYTHING ELSE INTERESTING:
As in, anything's fair game!

An example:
Snopes:
Tired of getting email from friends about the latest urban legends, Johnnie Cochran's tombstone, free cash from Microsoft, the hidden meanings in Washington architecture, the latest stupid remark from a politician. etc., etc.? Then this is the site for you. Find out what few urban legends are true and which ones are bogus. This site is very up-to-date.



More to come. . .
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