Day 2919 Oh no more clamping.

12th August 2025

Yet another trip to John the wood’s workshop, I picked him up at the usual time from his home.

The jobs today consisted of taking all the clamps off and sanding the bottom surface, then cutting it to size. I thought that would be the last day needed to finish the top.

Of course I underestimated the task, although I did establish just how heavy it was, even though I had tried to save weight by not having material in the centre area, but it was heavy.

Both of us carried it over to the saw, and ran it through once, so far so good. We spun it round to get the width, and through the saw it went.

I noticed that the dowels ends we visible, I had forgotten that one side had a narrow strip.

That was annoying. 

Next was the cutting to length, that went without incident, but the issue with the visible dowels was staring me in the face. 

The only answer was to add a thick edge band to both long edges, this would be the hidden when the radius was machined all around the top edge.

What timber that I had left was not good, which was why I rejected it in the first place. John went down into the basement and later emerged with another plank. 

We machined that to the correct sizes and glued that to the top. Again I must have used every long clamp he had, but finally it was done.

On the next visit, hopefully we will get to finish the damn thing.

I think our relationship is growing, I’m able to make him laugh, but I have been pushing him harder than he pushes himself. He said that I have even taught him a few things, probably not to work with me again.

But he remembers my name now, and has started showing me al the old tools he has.

I feel I have entered his world, he agrees that tools are never owned, just borrowed, then passed on. I have chisels that have names or initials stamped on them, you feel the legacy that you are continuing.

His passion for timber, is why he does what he does, it’s what keeps him going, even in his sometimes confused state of mind.

I brought his chair back that he asked me to finish, it’s made from walnut, and it will look beautiful when it’s done, I’m looking forward to doing that for him.