All posts by Carl Ford

My woodturing stated back in 2002 as a hobby. It has now become an obsession. I plan on becoming a full time studio woodturner after I retire from IBM. Until then I am a studio woodturner on weekends and weeknights. I am very interested in doing woodturning demonstations and teaching classes. My current obsession is Milk Paint. I also love to turn natural edge bowls, small vases and jazzing up my turnings with lots of color.
Tools

Floor Mats

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I have a concrete floor in my studio.  I also have flat feet, thus I need really good floor mats in my studio.  Over the years I have tried lots of different options for floor mats.

I tried the cheap ones from Home Depot, etc. When they were not soft enough, I tried stacking up the cheap ones, etc.  I even let someone at a AAW symposium talk me into a really expensive $200 mat. A sucker is born every minute! I hate that mat with a passion!  It will not stay put!  It is always sliding out of position!  Err!!!

A few years ago I decided to change all of my mats to the expensive kitchen mats with holes from Rubber-Cal.  If they are good enough for chiefs who stand on them all day in the kitchen then they are good enough for me.

I like the “Rubber-Cal Dura-Chef Interlock Anti-Fatigue Rubber Matting, 5/8″ x 36″ x 36”.

It has to be the 5/8″ thick mat!   The 1/2″ and 3/8″ thick ones are not soft enough.  The 3/8″ thick one is a complete and total waste.  It is like standing on concrete.

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Often there are similar looking mats at Home Depot, etc.  At first I was buying my mats their.  Then they changed brands.  The new brand really sucked!  The rubber was to hard!  Not enough cushioning for my flat feet.

Then I discovered I could get the mats on Amazon and the shipping was FREE with my Amazon Prime membership!  Otherwise, the shipping will kill you!  The mats are really heavy.

Do NOT purchase directly from Rubber-Cal. The shipping will kill you!  Free shipping from Amazon with Prime membership is like the best deal on the face of the earth!

The mats from “Rubber-Cal” come and go on Amazon.  With a price around $25 each.  Right now (12/18/2019) they are on Amazon for $30 each.  A good price!   Beware!  Some times the price goes up to $50 each or more.  Wait a while and the price will go back down.

Well, maybe $30 is not such a good price. But, I have flat feet. It is worth it for me. Similar mats at Home Depot, etc. have gone up in price over the years. They are getting close to $25.

Also beware of Amazon’s dynamic pricing.  If you purchase something today .  Then go back to purchase more in a few days then Amazon with jack up the price.  You can sometimes avoid this by looking up your old order.  Then going to old order.  Then go to the item from the old order.  Now the price is the same? Continue reading Floor Mats →

Classes

Winter 2020 Class Openings

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I am looking for two new students!

I have 1 opening in my Tuesday classes and 1 opening in my Thursday classes starting in January of 2020. Matching the right lathe height to each person’s elbow height above the floor is very important.

The opening on Tuesdays is on my shorter lathe. I am looking for a person around 5′ 5″

The opening on Thursdays in on my taller lathe. I am looking for a person around 6′ 2′.

Dates

Any 10 out of 12 Tueday’s between January 14th and April 7th, 2020. (Jan 14, 21, 28, Feb 4, 11, 18, 25, Mar 3, 17, 24, 31, Apr 7, 2019 (No class Mar 10)

OR

Any 10 out of 12 Thursday’s between January 16th and April 9th, 2020. (Jan 16, 23, 30, Feb 6, 13, 20, 27, Mar 5, 19, 26, Apr 2, 9, 2019 (No class Mar 12)

Class Information

For more class info you read my PDF here:

http://www.carlford.info/pages/calendar/images/2019/my_ww_class_details_2020.pdf

Or you can get in on the web here:

http://www.carlford.info/pages/calendar/calendar.html

Sign Up

If you are interested in taking a class please email me at [email protected]

Sanding, Suppliers

Klingspor Sandpaper Rolls

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I am now using sandpaper rolls from Klingspor for all of my hand sanding. Rather than “Porter Cable Stikit Sandpaper”. I still like the Stikit paper but it is to hard to get.

• I like “Klingspor Abrasives 4.5″x 10 Meter (33′) Pressure Sensitive Adhesive, Paperbacked Roll, xxx Grit, Stearated Aluminum Oxide”. Item # AR330xx. AR33008 for 80 grit, etc. Around $18 per roll on 12/2019.

I purchased several different rolls of stuff from Klingspor. I decided I liked the above the best. It is very similar to the “Porter Cable Stikit Sandpaper” that use to be my favorite.

“Klingspor Abrasives Stearated Silicon Carbide, 4-1/2″x 10 Meter (33′) PSA Roll, 180 Grit, Porter Cable Stickit” is ok. Item #AR136xx. It is cheaper at $14 per roll. But, I don’t like it as much. The paper seems to be a little stiffer.

• I have 80, 120, 180, and 220 grits.

I get it from “Klingspor’s Woodworking Shop”.

I generally do not sand beyond 220 grit. If I do sand beyond 220 then I use 6″ Abralon pads by Mirka.

For more info see my “Great Polyurethane Finishes” handout at http://www.carlford.info/pages/demos_classes/great_poly_finish/Great_Poly_Finish.pdf


• I like to cut up the sandpaper into small sheets in advance and store it in “Large Binder Clips” (aka large paper clips). For more info see “Spindle Turning Sandpaper” section in my “Handy Sandpaper” blog entry.

Notes:
1. I use to use “Porter Cable Stikit Sandpaper”. My old “Stikit Sandpaper” blog entry is now obsolete. It is replaced by this new blog entry.
2. I use Blue Flex disks for all of my power sanding.  See my Blue Flex Sanding Disks blog entry.
3. I have eliminated 150 grit from my sanding. I decided it is to close to 120 grit. Just a waste of time. I sand 80, 120, 180, then 220.