The other sharpening system that I've already bought (the WorkSharp 3000 sytem), has worked extremely well for my chisels and plane irons. What I still have to explore is what will work best for my power planer blades and Jointer blades.

I forgot to mention the second use for the plate glass and the honing compound. That's how I sharpened my plane blades. I use a home made guide to keep the correct angle and the larger surface of the glass allows me to rub the entire length of the plane blade evenly.

I'm sure there is a quicker, powered solution but this works for the amount of times I feel I need to do my plane blades.

Finally got warm enough weather today to finish installing the pulleys and link belt on the saw. It's gotta be the best $60 I've spent in awhile. It sounds better, feels better, and cuts better. Fence is next; I'm looking at a Vega Pro 40. Any opinions?

Still running with the stock fence on my Ridgid saw. It definitely could be better but it's better than many and stays true once you carefully set it up.

I think an upgraded miter gauge will be my next add on. I'd like to get rid of the slight looseness in the t-track slide. It's tiny but makes me paranoid.

See, it's the "carefully set up" bit that I'm trying to avoid. The Craftsman fence could be said to be true if you carefully set it up, but it takes about 10-15 minutes to really get it right.

Anyone running an aftermarket fence?

I also got a couple things done on my project--the carcass of the shelf is assembled, and I put together the top for it last night. Pretty happy with how that looks, with pine framing and a maple ply center. A few nicks and dings here and there, but they add character, right?

Pictures??? Where are the pictures???

If it's not raining, I'll take some pics tonight.

This has been my latest project:



Cocobolo inset on the forestock and as a recoil pad spacer, and there's one inset into the skeletonized grip cap:



(that's right after gluing and before shaping, of course)

Still have to do a curved inset down the pistol grip.

Bren R.

Impressive Bren!
Shaping the stock must have been a real labor of love. Great job!

Piiiics pics pics pics:


The top




Part of the carcass (on end)




Another shot of the carcass, showing me getting out of hand with the pocket holes




Close up of some dings in the plywood on the top




My new arbor pulley and link belt




A finished shelf, which I was basically using as a test for finishing for this bookcase.