Andreas Borutta wrote:
>
> [Basic skills first: sharpening before carving]
>
> > She wasn't wrong. I just spent a couple of hours with a series of
> > chisel and plane blades through a 8000 grit water stone. Do you metric
> > guys use the same stone designates?
>
> Nice expression "metric guys" :-)
> Yes, we metrics use the same classifications in bench stones as you
> do.
I generally use the inch systems, but as I do machine work, break up the
inch into 10ths rather than fractional. WE have to have both here as
many of the imported tooling require metric spanners, hex keys, etc.
>
> But I think it is appropiate in this list not to go now into sophisticated
> details of sharpening.
> Even when obviously it would be great fun. :-)
Though it has explicit reference to kayaking- I became even more
obsessive with sharpening when I started making Greenland style paddles.
I found that extremely sharp draw planes reduce final sanding to about 5
minutes, reducing the time to make a paddle to about 1/2 otherwise.
>
> >> B Use the time to learn and understand _some_ basic skills and build a
> >> few things which include some of your own ideas.
>
> >> I only postulate that B is more often (for myself ever) satisfactory
> >> than A on the long run.
>
> > If we can agree that 'own ideas' are probably derivative ideas, I will
> > agree.
>
> If we can agree[1] that a useful definition for "own idea" could be:
> a (sometimes) new mixture of old "elementary particles", I will agree. :-)
> (No, seriously: I agree with "own ideas are probably derivative ideas")
yes, and recontextualized as a different application either by doing it
at a different time (as in building a skin boat today using traditional
methods) or using traditional plans with contemporary materials.
>
> But we have just created (no, repeated :-) another problem. Are there
> "elemantary particles" of morphology of function of beauty?
A very big question that was pretty much discarded with postmodern
thought and being reconsidered today. The furor that abstract painting
caused is a good example. Totally rejected by the general public in the
earlier part of the 20th century, today you will find abstraction in
even the 'sofa paintings' available in department stores. It was in the
70's when 'outsider art' was accepted, now it is a very popular
collectable. The post modernists would consider it based in cultural
biases.
The Modernists were in a quest for a universal 'beauty', this notion
resulted in the reduction to simplicity in the architecture of the 50's
through 70's and was widely disparaged for design without regard for the
human element. We have gotten used to it today.
The Constructivists were also in search of the universal notion of
beauty in painting by eliminating cultural referents, i.e. Malevich
square paining.
The jury is still out with the Cognitive psychologists on whether there
is this notion of the 'elemental particles'.
Kolmar and Melmine had a show at the Dia here in the states last year
where they polled inhabitants of different countries as to what they
would like to see in a painting in the form of a multiple choice
questionnaire. They compiled the information and made the paintings
from the compiled results. Interestingly, the Netherlands were the only
ones that agreed on an abstract painting. The Universal attribute were
that all the paintings were awful (in my opinion).
I find a skin boat particularly beautiful though a non swimmer may think
otherwise.
>
> I prefer the view of "interbeeing". When you try to divide ideas into
> their "elemantary particles" you will reduce the truth.
You do, but...
> But of course just reflecting about these things and not to mix it up
> with reality is very helpful.
...our thought processes require us to make comparisons, contrasts and
reductions to essentially categorize and make clear.
>
> May be "new" is just "new mixture". When I cook I enjoy to do it
> without printed recipes. Playing and systematic experiments.
I would go along with that.
>
> :-) On my wall hangs a long list (it was the result of some of my
> thoughts for the real (tm)[2] cooking book) of basic cooking acts and
> next to this a list with all the different kind of edibles I know and
> wanna get to know. This two sheets of paper are a good inspiration for
> me. And my ideal utopian cooking book just contains in very
> comprehensive manner the nature of all basic cooking skills. And of
> course all the physical and chemical facts. So one could derive easier
> ... and mix. It also means less but more focused own experiments.
could make for some very interesting food.
>
> > (my partner does all the surface design, I design the piece and make it)
>
> Sounds interesting the area where you work at (on, in, with?).
If you are interested, I can take some pictures of my studio. It is
only a couple of years old, converted horse stables, and I am thrilled
with it.
>
> > I am in for a lot of repetitive work with no new problems to
> > solve.
>
> I have the same experience.
>
> > Almost building from plans though they are my own.
>
> Yes, it is usually an interplay of short "creative" phases and longer
> repetitive work.
> Do you remind the passages in the books of James Krenov where he
> discribes his way of building furniture. His manner is a kind of
> iterative.
which is a very honest analysis.
>
> > The problem is that most of the do-it-yourself projects here are usually
> > pretty poor design.
>
> ACK. Here, too.
> (You asked about the meaning of this akronym: ACKnowledge)
nice one.
>
> >> An other aspect is the strong "bondage to experts" in our time.
> >> In other words: "better listen to and trust on an expert than make
> >> your own experience". Even in things which are simple to reveal
> >> without a particle accelerator.
> >
> > sometimes this is good in an instructional setting.
>
> Hhm, I do not understand what you want to say.
It can expedite a process sometimes. Eliminates the re-invention of the
wheel so to speak.
>
> > We discover a lot just by using the tools.
>
> Yes, that is really true.
> And also it deepens the relationship to your tools when you
> "personalize" them. Let them be your "instrument" as Krenov would say.
> Listen to the sound when it's playing the melody (the wood).
Even literally. Especially with power tools. So many people torture the
motors of their machinery seemingly unconscious to the strains they are
imparting. Obvious by the sound.
It is a nice metaphor as well.
>
> >> Or a complete foldingboat frame bent and knoted forming a sculpture
> >> (just for your friends) showing what the elemental force of wild water
> >> may do with a frame kayak.
> >
> > heheheh. Actually, I build my furniture using a torsion based
> > construction (like bridges) from aluminum. I am planning to incorporate
> > this into the construction of my folder.
>
> Please inform us about the progress.
I use aluminum tubing with caps, the caps both tapped (threaded) on the
inside to accept threaded rod. I tighten this to make a compression
joint which will maintain a straight run under great tension. I plan to
use 1" thin walled aluminum tubing for all the stringers (gunnels, keel
line and chines with caps under tension. By over tightening, the tubes
get a gentle faired curve, are very strong, lightweight and
hollow-watertight. I will attach these to stations built of marine ply.
>
> > A good example of my premise,
> > Something used in other disciplines applied to the folding boat. Maybe
> > innovative, but not created from nothing.
>
> A well spiced meal. And you are the cook. Mixing what you learned
> elsewhere.
>
> [Autodidactic way of learning]
Yes, good analogy.
>
> > Took far longer than would have done with instruction. Still
> > don't know if I do things the most expedient way.
>
> The same goes for me. I study environmental protection but I must
> work with my hands also to be happy. So I job around as a "woodworker".
> And as a guide for kayaking and canoeing for pupils of 11 to 16. Very
> near to Berlin we have the wonderful "Mecklenburger Seenplatte" an
> extensive lake district just an hour with the train.
Sounds wonderful.
>
> >> Also extraordinary well made textbooks I found like e. g.
> >> Bruce Hoadley. Understanding wood.Taunton Press.
> >> Tage Frid. Tage Frid teaches woodworking. Taunton Press
> >
> > This is another whose slides lie on my table for scanning.
>
> Incredible.
Yes, it is. It is even more incredible the poor quality of some of the
slides of these top notch craftspeople. I scanned in 6 Art Carpenter
slides (a rather famous teacher in the American Northwest who makes very
organic wood furniture) last night that took a long time to clean up and
make presentable.
>
> >> Leonard Lee. The complete guide to sharpening. Taunton Press.
> >
> > I just got the new Fine Woodworking magazine with big articles on Tage
> > Frid and James Krenov, Thought of you Andrea.
>
> Please give my masculinity back to me :-))
> The little difference is the "s".
Sorry.
>
> > You want me to send you a copy?
>
> That would be really nice! Thank you for this offer.
> I would appreciate it a lot to read about and from my "gurus".
I am heading to the wood store early next week and get you one. Send me
your address. Anything else here you need?
>
> > Do you have any photos of your furniture?
>
> No, I haven't. May be one of a bed made of the old planks I rescued
> of a house short before demolition.
> It was a house standing in range of vision to checkpoint charly, a
> border crossing point of the wall of that time in Berlin.
Was this a conceptual consideration in the design of the piece? I can
see a stone wall pattern sandblasted on the headboard...
>
> I really love it to re-use old material. When I'm passing interesting
> "rubbish" it itches in my hands (hope you have a similar idiomatic
> expression :-).
If we don't, it is a wonderfully clear expression. If you ever come
over here, I will take you to a salvage yard. A problem will be the
weight of your luggage going back. You will have to leave your folder
here;-)
c ya AndreaS.
>
> Regards, Andreas
>
> [1] Frankly speaking: I have no chance against a studied
> philosoph:-)[3]
> [2] (tm) for "one and only truth" in an ironic sense
> [3] These new little footnotes were specially for you Ralf :-)
> BTW, the tool which manages footnotes calls KorrNews and
> it works together with Hamster, a local server.
> Both Freeware you could find on http://home.knuut.de/tgl/
> Usenet groups for this are "hamster.de.*" or "hamster.en.*".
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Romeu
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