The best part of my job is when components of a new tool arrive for first article inspection–and in this case it is really a big deal because the parts on my desk today are for Commemorative Tool #15, our limited edition multi-square.

As mentioned earlier, I have developed a fetish for stainless steel. It is tough, durable and likely will not rust (all stainless steels will rust under the right conditions–as dumb as that sounds.)

Over the past couple of weeks we have been testing various bead-blasted finishes and have settled on a matte finish that feels just plain sexy. Below are a couple of pics of some parts–the t-bevel lock lever/pocket clip is really cool.

–John

PS: I have actually gone two days in a row without making Squiggle Wood. I think I need help.

The image above is a computer rendering of the CT-15 Multi-Square, it is five layout tools that fit in your apron pocket.

The finish and form of this cam lock/clip is really cool!

When this tool is completely assembled it is really going to be fun to use.

News from the Sticks and Stones Will Break Bones but Words are Worse department: We used Michael as a hand model because I was informed by my staff that my hands are not as photogenic as my knees or elbows.

Last week I shared our latest Jointmaker Pro discovery; Squiggle Wood. Check out one afternoon’s experiments–wood is just not supposed to act this way. By the way, this is European beech. Oak and ash work too.

It’s hard to imagine woodworking being more fun…let me know your thoughts!

–John

YouTube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq8O3uUilM8&fmt=18

YouTube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq8O3uUilM8&fmt=18

Every now and then I get a great idea–as in the time I threw a rock in the air and watched it come down right between my eyes. (My ability to concentrate is off the charts…) As my Mom was mopping the blood off my face she peppered me with the exact same question as the day before, and the day before that…

“When are you going to start using your head?”

“I did use my head–to get in the way of the rock.”  And I was serious.

Fortunately, the only lesson I learned is that head wounds are messy, as in two towels messy. Oh, and rocks are hard.

So, what’s my point? (thanks for asking)–I am convinced that without that head wound fifty years ago I would have never discovered Squiggle Wood.

The video clip below is from a longer video we will post later this week. The wood is American beech, 1″ wide and just under 1/2″ thick. The cuts took about ten minutes on the Jointmaker Pro.

Before you start asking dumb questions, such as, “What good is that?” I suggest you consider going outside to toss a rock in the air… the long-term results are simply amazing.

More on Squiggle Wood later.

–John
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Each year I get to pull out the stops and create a tool we pledge to never make again. The introduction is the highlight of our year and I am pleased to offer a sneak peek to those that follow this blog.

This year I had three choices for the 2007 Commemorative Tool and picked the one that interested me the most. In addition, I am going through a stainless steel phetish (that is a cross between phase and fetish–works for me since I made it up…) after a 25 year romance with brass. This tool sings in stainless steel.

What if you could carry all of your layout tools in the breast pocket of your apron?

The pics are self-explanatory. Prices and availability will be posted on our website sometime next week. (Under $300 and will be available by the holidays).

Guess I better start on the 2008 Commemorative Tool…

–John

PS: Let me know what you think!

This is the CT-15 Multi-Square and consists of a 90 degree Saddle Square, 8:1 Dovetail Square, 6:1 Dovetail Square and the tightest locking T-Bevel you have ever owned. Cam lock also serves as a pocket clip. I spent over a month working on the lines of this tool. The variable length chamfers are an elegant functional detail (pocket friendly) that not only invites use, but is food for the eyes.

We invented the Saddle Square years ago and this one is our best. Adjacent lines are perfect–used here for a tenon on 8/4 stock.

The layout of dovetails is fast and accurate with either of the two dovetail squares built into the CT-15 Multi-Square.

Using the CT-15 as a try square is easy. Notice how the saddle square can be used as a kick stand–this is cool.

The tightening mechanism for the t-bevel is field adjustable and rock solid.

The CT-15 is just over 4″ in length and approximately 1/2″ thick. It is milled from solid stainless steel and is made like a fine pocket knife. We are only going to make this version this once.

Copyright 2008, Fine Tools, LLC All Rights Reserved.

I could only work half the day today as I have a major case of jet lag… To give you an idea how tired I am, I came home too tired to sleep and almost watched C-Span. Still can’t believe there is a C-Span II.

The attendance in Atlanta was spotty, I am not sure about the value of big trade shows anymore…my local connection of friends suggested it was a poor show for sales.

I left Atlanta encouraged regarding the JMP. There was very strong interest from power challenged countries and we are going to ship units to India, Bahrain, Guatemala and one other country I can’t remember at the moment. These are all for programs to put people to work in the tourist industries so I am excited to see where this leads. Also sending a couple of units to Britain. So in many ways the word is getting out. Everybody liked the internet videos that Michael produced in our office and we plan to do another one this week.

I did get a chance to talk at length with yet another internet woodworking expert who has changed his views regarding the JMP after seeing it work. Amazing what first hand knowledge will do for opinions.

Japan was simply exhausting. I couldn’t sleep, the toilets scared me (and I played ice hockey for 20 years…I would rather get hit in the face with a puck (again) than sit around and find out what those toilets do.)  The language barrier was no big deal, cutting wood is easily understood, and many of the visitors spoke English. The JMP is an ideal tool for shoji screen work and I want to make a video demonstrating this capability. The people were very warm, excited and enthusiastic and just like in the States, nobody could believe the quality of the cuts. We have several customers in Tokyo and couple of them stopped by to say hello which was great.

As expected, the food was fantastic.

Tomorrow I will let the cat out of the bag and introduce Commemorative Tool 15–stay tuned.

–John

When I arrived at the exhibition hall in Chiba two days ago I learned this show used to be three times the current size as recently as five years ago. So how big is it?

It is not quite as big as the National Hardware show in Vegas each year (which used to be much bigger when it was in Chicago). In many ways, a woodworking/DIY trade show is a trade show the world around…they are all shrinking.

I asked for the reasons and the popularity of pre-fab houses was at the top of the list. Also, IKEA is hugely popular here–young Japanese families can buy an entire room of furniture for the cost of ONE high-end plane or chisel set. Lastly, it appears the people here don’t have much time for anything but work and family. Sound familiar?

I am having fun demonstrating the Jointmaker Pro and I would say there is a profound appreciation for the accuracy and the clean cuts. Don’t get me wrong, we are not on our third order book, or second…you get the idea, but the reactions are genuine and many can’t believe how easy it is to do accurate work. The soulfulness of the process (very little noise) is greatly appreciated. Lots of gasps and smiles.

My demo unit is set for my height which is radically different from most here. We rigged a step stool and now I can coax just about anyone to try the JMP. The reactions on peoples faces is worth the trip. I am trying my best to be a good Yankee ambassador and we are having fun. Here’s an amusing story…

I stopped by an educational booth and made my very first pair of chopsticks with hand planes. Elapsed time was maybe two minutes. The booth attendant asked me my occupation and I replied “business executive”. This created quite the stir because they have never seen such a “confident” business executive use hand tools.  They really struggled with this and through an interpreter I explained that I used to be a woodworker. This knowledge put everyone in the booth at ease and there were many smiles and sighs of relief.  Afterword I invited them all over to the Jointmaker booth and this was the highlight of the day for me and I would like to think for this group as well.

Even in Japan, businessmen are presumed to be incompetent…

–John

My cell phone does not work here but the camera does. Here are a few (crude) tradeshow pics from the Land of the Rising Sun…

Trade shows all look the same. Not as many pony tails here however…

This lady could not cut dowel with her hand strength. She was so excited when I showed her how to use the clamps. She must have made a half-dozen passes, each drawing a big smile from the onlookers.

This creature caught my eye–it is made entirely of woodworking tools.Wingspan is close to 10 feet! The feathers are hand saw blades, the legs are auger bits and the face and face feathers are all knives. If this thing ever fell over on a cow…instant hamburger.

Have you ever awakened and found a raccoon in your bed?

I didn’t think so…this stuff only happens to me.

It’s a conceptional metaphor folks (raccoon:nocturnal carnivore in bed, John:Japanese toilet)–but these Japanese toilets are something else. I found a Rosetta Stone kiosk in the hotel mall and have had some luck translating the instructions for the 17 knobs and switches on my toilet.  Notice I said “my toilet”? This is personal.

Keep in mind I don’t speak a stick of Japanese but one of my translations for the very last knob is…”grind”. Grind is a verb–what the hell is the subject?  Never mind, the math is easy; “Grind” on any toilet means “homesick” in English.

The Jointmaker Pro is in the booth and tomorrow (which is really today in the US on account of the way time gets messed up when you fly great distances) is ready to go.  So, I opted to try and check-in early at my hotel which is really late in the US, and stumbled upon another lesson in foreign culture.

My room is on the 44th floor of a hotel that overlooks a bay with guys fishing in boats. A great deal at $65.00/night if I could figure out my room key and/or I liked boats. Fortunately there was a female Japanese staff member in the hall and our conversation went something like this…

“Excuse me.” (Which I am sure translated means “YO mama!”)

I demonstrated without words that my key did not work. (There were more red lights on my door than in the streets of LA after the Lakers last NBA championship.)

She flipped the key over, pushed it in, the lights went green and the door opened!

You are probably thinking that I felt really stupid. However in order to feel that stupid, one must obviously not feel stupid, or moderately stupid at some point which of course is a stupid concept. So what did I do?

I took the palm of my hand and slapped my forehead–the universal signal of stupid according to the Three Stooges.

And then, in perfect English I was asked,

“Does your head feel OK?”

–John

Tomorrow the Jointmaker Pro will debut in Japan. I hope I make it.

I checked into my hotel last night completely exhausted. Room is small but very clean and features a cowboy-hard bed which I like. The furniture is small–really small. How small? Thanks for asking–I watched part of the Olympics and can confirm the cantilever of my legs off the end of my bed is about the same length as the three meter spring board. The desk chair seat is shorter than a paint can and the first time I sat down I almost dislocated all three kneecaps. If you are in the right mood and without jet lag I suppose this could be fun.

The problem is the bathroom.

There are more buttons on the side of the toilet than on my kitchen blender. Therefore, I have intelligently decided to forgo using this device–too many mental images for someone who forgot to bring their anti-anxiety pills.

So today I am going to drive around and look for a construction site and find the Japanese equivalent of an American blue room.  Nobody needs a fancy toilet–what were these people thinking?  I don’t care how much gas costs or the value of my time and fully understand the door may not close. My mind is made up.  This should prove once and for all to all eight people who read my blog that deep down I am a full pedigreed American woodworker.

Spread the word please.

I would write more but I’ve got to go.

-John

The August weather in Atlanta last week was unseasonably cool–pleasant actually. Then IWF began.

“Check out that thing–it is the biggest waste of cash in the builiding.”

“What is it?” his friend asks.

“It’s an upside down handsaw that costs $1300 bucks–you can accurately cut wood for $20 or less.”

I had heard enough.

“Have you seen this thing work?” I asked.

“I watched videos on the internet and nobody can believe the price. The guy that invented this must be crazy.”

“Well, I’m that guy and I am crazy–but not when I work. Would you like to see it live?”

His friend steps forward and spills the two most expensive words in the English language, “I do.”

Over the next 10 minutes I demonstrated compound miters, dovetails, and showed a couple of new discoveries that I want to video in September. Then I grabbed a 1/2″ diameter dowel and asked the judgmental skeptic if he would like to try the Jointmaker Pro. He came around to the other side of the saw and I described what he needed to do to cut the dowel without clamps and to keep it from spinning in his hand during the cut.

His first cut was awkward and I stopped his cut before he could trash the blade. But the second cut was perfect, and so was the third. Right before his fourth cut his friend asked to try. His first attempt was without flaw and neither could believe the smoothness of the cuts. Both were smiling.

We talked about applications, creativity, and my thoughts about the conception and the prototype design cycle. The crowd around the saw was now five.

One of the newcomers asked, “Have you sold any of these saws to schools for the blind?”

“Not yet.”

He handed me his attendee card to swipe for follow-up information and that prompted the remaining four to fish attendee cards out of their badge holders.

After I processed all five, the skeptic asked me how long our $995.00 special would last.

“September 15th.”

As he was walking away I barely heard him say to his buddy; “My wife is going to kill me.”

-John

I am pleased to share that we are now accepting web and phone orders for the Jointmaker Pro! Here is a pic of the new stand for those that want a stand-alone machine. It is laser cut and will fit the production model perfectly–the legs are height adjustable so the sliding tables can be precisely set to hip height.

Two noteworthy tidbits; we plan on shipping in late fall and our special introductory rates will only last a couple of more weeks. (Late fall means before the holidays using the Economaki calendar.)

The next stop for the Jointmaker Pro is the International Woodworking Fair August 20-23 in Atlanta. I will be demonstrating in the booth of the firm we contracted to make the Jointmaker Pro components–booth number 8874. Please stop by and introduce yourself–this should be a fun show.

The following week the Jointmaker Pro debuts in Toyko. I will be demonstrating in the booth of the company that makes the Jointmaker Pro blades–I am looking forward to the trip and some good sushi. I am a bit troubled about leaving because I have a 14 year old dog that…well, you dog people know where this is headed. I love my dogs and I sure hope my trip is trouble free in this department.

If you followed all the buzz regarding the Jointmaker Pro on the internet a few months back you undoubtedly came across the bile of many who had a great laugh at our expense regarding this new tool. Here is a refreshing update;

I have been contacted on two separate occasions by web forum participants who were actively leading the chorus of boo’s regarding the Jointmaker Pro…and get this–they both apologized!

This occurred after seeing the Jointmaker Pro in action during one of my demonstrations. Both agreed that their behavior was sophomoric and/or irresponsible. Now get this–both of these folks placed orders for the Jointmaker Pro! I know this is a little thing but sometimes the smallest gestures have the largest significance. One thought my blog rants about the “Woodworking Taliban” was funny but also dead-on and he wanted out. I thought to myself, this is just like raising kids, you have no clue they are listening until years later. Anyway, their sincerity was moving.

I spent a great deal of time in July trying to reduce the cost of the Jointmaker Pro and was successful by almost $50. Guess what happened? During that same time the price of the metal increased $45. Go figure.  For those of you who may be in the world of manufacturing, I have NEVER seen such a market. Between daily price fluctuations and all out shortages, it is very troublesome.

I won’t be posting again until the first week of September and my first post will be a Sneak Preview of Commemorative Tool #15. It is a never-before-seen device that …

–John