Maloof: “Then I just cut ________ on the bandsaw

I’ve been watching/studying and rewatching/studying the Fine Woodworking
Video Workshop tape “Sam Maloof - Woodworking Profile”. It’s like
watching a slight of hand artist up close and in slow motion, as Mr.
Maloof goes over the key steps in making one of his rocking chairs,
noting important details and reasons for each operation from stock prep
through joinery, shaping and finishing. The tape is 55 minutes long and
better than half of that is on his chair making methods. If I had to
describe the tape in one word it word be Revelations. He reveals the
answers to so many of my “How the hell does he do THAT?!” questions.

I’m watching, remote in hand - ready to pause and rewind, taking notes
and doing sketches - 3 degrees like this on this piece, 3 degrees but
like this on this piece and 3 degrees like this, but only on this edge.
And when he sticks them all together he’s got a squashed down “W” - the
rough front profile of his chair seat. “Ah - so that’s how he does it.
NOW it’s obvious. Hell, I could do that.”

But it’s his “Then I just cut (fill in the blank) - on the bandsaw.”
where it starts getting questionable that “I can do that”. With one of
those 3 degree flat edges on the bandsaw table he cuts the side profile
shape on the center board. Slicing through walnut like the blade’s
following an unseen template, with his fingers dangerously close to all
those fast moving, obviously sharp, TEETH. “Flip it over and do it
again on this side.” he says and it takes him about as long to do it as
it took to say it.

Through most of the process he tells you and shows you what he does, why
and how. With the exception of some special router bits he has custom
made for his 3 degrees (sometimes 4,5 or 6 degrees) joints he uses
machines found in even a hobbyists shop - joiner/jointer, planer, table
saw, drill press (OK so he uses a horizontal boring machine - and a very
old one at that), bandsaw and a hand held router. He’s got plywood
patterns for the various components so almost everything is “just
cutting close to the line”.

UNTIL he gets to the arms.

If you’ve ever tried to bandsaw a piece of stock with a bow, twist or
any other deformity that keeps the bottom face of the piece FLAT on the
table you probably know what can happen - and sometimes that ain’t
pretty. I’m talking 3 foot vertical, 5 foot horizontal jumping, arms
waving, vocal cords straining, sphincter clenching, heart pounding, eye
popping, pure adrenaline pumping terror. And that’s if you’re lucky.
You could be bleeding profusely and/or looking for body parts to pick up
BEFORE rushing to the emergency room. He’s freehanding some pretty
complicated cuts - with just the far corner of the stock on the table -
a single point of contact - and he makes it look so effortless.

Now he does warn the viewer that YOU should NEVER do what he’s about to
do and repeats the warning as he makes repeated shaping cuts, revealing
to you the shape he has in his mind. Damn - it’s such a pleasure to
watch a master of the high wire perform -without a net. What’s really
amazing is that he’s only smashed the tip of one finger between the
stock and the bandsaw table top and that must’ve been fairly early on.

If you’ve admired Mr. Maloof’s rocking chairs or any of his other wood
works you really should watch this tape. You’ll learn a lot -about how
he does things and about the man. Though woodworking is what he’s best
known for he’s got his priorities - family first, friends next and then
woodworking.

The ISBN number for this tape is 0-942391-26-8 and it’s about $20 US,
available from Taunton Books & Video or through Rockler, Lee Valley,
WoodCraft or maybe (JOAT - you listening?) - your local library..

charliel b

Great review Charlie and it sounds like a worthy investment. As for his
free-handing on the bandsaw, yes it's dangerous but he's also had years of
experience too. I've not free-handed anything so large as what he does when
making his chairs but I did do some smaller practice pieces using up some
scraps.

I'm not telling anyone to do it but of all the tailed machines in the shop,
I consider the bandsaw one of the safest to use. There is minimum exposure
to the blade if the guard is used and its designed to do exactly as he
demonstrates - he's not pushing any limits on the bandsaw machinery. Proof
is in the pudding, with safe practices and knowledge of the limitations of
the machinery - you can do it as he does.

Just be prepared to say "Chuck it" if the piece binds and just get out of
its way. No piece of wood is worth an accident. Practice on reasonably
sized pieces so you can get the feel of the operation. To small and its
dangerous (note all his pieces were mid-sized to large), to large and its
awkward, heavy and can twist if you're not in full control. I have a badly
bent blade that can attest to that... And if anything, build up confidence
by making a series of dry runs. Power off, push the stock thru (next to the
blade) looking for obstructions, awkward positions you may end up in and
work the motions out as you would on a practice golf swing - then apply
power.

Like doing end grain on a jointer and not having it blow out - learn the
tricks of the trade by watching the masters, do it safely and have an exit
figured out for the what-if situation.

Again, great review and I wish I had a bandsaw the size he uses - and the
room to hold it...

Bob S.


"charlie b" wrote in message
...
Maloof: "Then I just cut ________ on the bandsaw

I've been watching/studying and rewatching/studying the Fine Woodworking
Video Workshop tape "Sam Maloof - Woodworking Profile". It's like
watching a slight of hand artist up close and in slow motion, as Mr.
Maloof goes over the key steps in making one of his rocking chairs,
noting important details and reasons for each operation from stock prep
through joinery, shaping and finishing. The tape is 55 minutes long and
better than half of that is on his chair making methods. If I had to
describe the tape in one word it word be Revelations. He reveals the
answers to so many of my "How the hell does he do THAT?!" questions.

snipe of a great review........

Sam is a true master. See my sig...
DD
"It's easy when you know how..."
Johnny Shines

There is a special advantage to those of us woodworkers living in Southern
California and that is we all live within driving distance of Sam Maloofs
shop and can attend his workshops without to much trouble. I have had the
opportunity to met Sam on several occasions and have taken one of his
workshops. He is a delightful man is more than willing to tell you his
"secrets". I have also made several Maloof style rockers (have one half way
finished right now) and only use the bandsaw for shaping on the bottom of
the arms. The rest of the shaping I do with a body grinder and a 36 grit
disk. Sure it takes a little longer and makes a little more dust but I am
very fond of all ten of my fingers. I made 1 seat using the three degree
technique but soon discovered it had a really high PITA (Pain in the Ass)
factor. For the rest I just glued up a flat seat and did some shaping with
the grinder and came up with basically the same result. If you have any
questions on any of the other procedures please let me know and I'll try to
explain it, As far as the video goes, he doesn't really go into the most
confusing part which is the joinery on the rear legs.
Good Luck on your chair, Elton





"It's not the thing you fling. It's the fling itself."

haven't seen any updates in awhile, how's your bench going?

"charlie b" wrote in message
....
Maloof: "Then I just cut ________ on the bandsaw

Yeah, so what's so hard about that?

The ability to "just cut it" is what separates the talented craftsman from
the rest of us hacks.

It is why some people turn out works of are on cheap tools and some of us
struggle to get two boars the same size on the top of the line equipment.

I know how to make fine furniture as well as many craftsman. My brain knows
exactly what cuts to make and what tools to use. My brain can read plans
also. I just can't get the damned hands to go along with it though. It's
all in the hands.

Thanks for the post Charlie. Rather thought provoking.
Ed

http://pages.cthome.net/edhome

On Fri, 14 Nov 2003 15:12:39 -0800, charlie b
wrote:

I’ve been watching/studying and rewatching/studying the Fine Woodworking
Video Workshop tape “Sam Maloof - Woodworking Profile”.
snip
Slicing through walnut like the blade’s
following an unseen template, with his fingers dangerously close to all
those fast moving, obviously sharp, TEETH. “Flip it over and do it
again on this side.” he says and it takes him about as long to do it as
it took to say it.

I like the part where he picks up a stick in one hand and a router in
the other and just starts grinding away the wood _freehanded._

(And on a totally unrelated note:
How's that mother of a bench coming along?)

Michael

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:

snipped

some of us struggle to get two boars the same size on the top of the line
equipment.

Now that sounds kinky.

--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
(Remove "SPAM" from email address to reply)

The base unit with the through drawers is still sitting on the
shop floor waiting for the top to get built. The apron stock
has been milled and cut to lengths and the vise jaws are cut
and almost ready to use. Still having a mental block about
cutting the dovetails in the apron parts. Kid projects are also
a good excuse to put off the dovetails.

But I did get a PAX dovetail saw that can cut deep enough
for the 2 inch (aka 8/4) apron parts - the dozuki and the
"what was I thinking when I blew that much on a LN DT saw"
saw couldn't make the depth. Thought about the bandsaw but
opted for handcutting (read: used that as an excuse to
procrastinate some more).

And I have been practicing with the PAX DT - cut the pencil
line, leave the pencil line on the left side of the kerf,
leave the pencil line on the right side of the kerf and
cutting to the scribe lines - front and back. I've got
'til February to finish the bench - in less than a year!

And I made a nice saw till for the two PAXs, the LN, a Disston
dovetail saw, the dozuki and a japanese DT saw.

When I finish helping a kid make oak and ipe handles for
his plywood sword I promise I'll get right on the bench
top, aprons and vise installation - honest.

charlie b

I knew you'd been keeping busy, I was just curious. The detailed
descriptions you've gone into are very good reading, so I guess I'm just
hungry for the "next chapter" hehe. I'm sure you're more anxious than
anyone else, though.

I am hopefully going to tackle and complete the installation of the Vertias
twin-screw vise on my Sam Allen joiner's bench today. Now that it is mostly
complete, I can't help feeling a little unsatisfied that it isn't massive
hard maple, etc. etc. But, you have to make do, I suppose. Functionality
wins this round in bench building for me. Maybe in 10 years I'll be ready
to go whole hog and make a "real" woodworking bench hehe.

Mike

"charlie b" wrote in message
...
The base unit with the through drawers is still sitting on the
shop floor waiting for the top to get built. The apron stock
has been milled and cut to lengths and the vise jaws are cut
and almost ready to use. Still having a mental block about
cutting the dovetails in the apron parts. Kid projects are also
a good excuse to put off the dovetails.

But I did get a PAX dovetail saw that can cut deep enough
for the 2 inch (aka 8/4) apron parts - the dozuki and the
"what was I thinking when I blew that much on a LN DT saw"
saw couldn't make the depth. Thought about the bandsaw but
opted for handcutting (read: used that as an excuse to
procrastinate some more).

And I have been practicing with the PAX DT - cut the pencil
line, leave the pencil line on the left side of the kerf,
leave the pencil line on the right side of the kerf and
cutting to the scribe lines - front and back. I've got
'til February to finish the bench - in less than a year!

And I made a nice saw till for the two PAXs, the LN, a Disston
dovetail saw, the dozuki and a japanese DT saw.

When I finish helping a kid make oak and ipe handles for
his plywood sword I promise I'll get right on the bench
top, aprons and vise installation - honest.

charlie b

Damn. I'm glad I'm not the only one who's had that thought.

And the worst part is, even if others admire it, the brain knows that
the hands haven't lived up to its standards.


On Sat, 15 Nov 2003 03:24:29 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski"
wrote:
I know how to make fine furniture as well as many craftsman. My brain knows
exactly what cuts to make and what tools to use. My brain can read plans
also. I just can't get the damned hands to go along with it though. It's
all in the hands.


-- jc
Published e-mail address is strictly for spam collection.
If e-mailing me, please use jc631 at optonline dot net

Elton,

Here in Texas, we have guy that went to some of Maloof's workshops and now
is making Maloof style rocking chairs out of Mesquite. I saw him using a
curved, tungsten carbide, grinding disc on a small angle grinder to get a
lot of the curved joints and seat on his "Maloof" rockers. It worked great.
In fact, I am going to buy one next week. Check out the "A" series -
http://shop.woodcraft.com/Woodcraft/...4A97F94A5F3BC7

Sorry, watch the wrap.

Preston
"Elton" wrote in message
...
There is a special advantage to those of us woodworkers living in Southern
California and that is we all live within driving distance of Sam Maloofs
shop and can attend his workshops without to much trouble. I have had the
opportunity to met Sam on several occasions and have taken one of his
workshops. He is a delightful man is more than willing to tell you his
"secrets". I have also made several Maloof style rockers (have one half
way
finished right now) and only use the bandsaw for shaping on the bottom of
the arms. The rest of the shaping I do with a body grinder and a 36 grit
disk. Sure it takes a little longer and makes a little more dust but I
am
very fond of all ten of my fingers. I made 1 seat using the three degree
technique but soon discovered it had a really high PITA (Pain in the Ass)
factor. For the rest I just glued up a flat seat and did some shaping with
the grinder and came up with basically the same result. If you have any
questions on any of the other procedures please let me know and I'll try
to
explain it, As far as the video goes, he doesn't really go into the most
confusing part which is the joinery on the rear legs.
Good Luck on your chair, Elton





"It's not the thing you fling. It's the fling itself."

Hello there,

The rest of the shaping I do with a body grinder and a 36 grit disk.

I love the idea of doing Fine Woodworking with an angle grinder and a 36
grit disk!

.

Thanks,

David.

Every neighbourhood has one, in mine, I'm him.

Remove the "splinter" from my email address to email me.

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