Wooden Vases on the Scroll Saw.

The Paypal button at the bottom of this post is the link to purchase this book. 

I have spent the last week in the workshop finishing up my Wooden Vases on the Scroll Saw pattern book. I am very happy with the way the project has turned out and I hope you will be also. The digital download book has eight unique vases for you to make. They are very easy to make and one can be finished in a long afternoon of work.

The price of the book is $12 which I think is a great deal for what you will receive. The book contains the patterns along with all the instructions you will need to finish the projects. I have also put together a video slide show so you can see the technique before to decide to purchase the book.

Payment for the book will be through Paypal's secure transaction. You do not need a paypal account to buy the book. Just enter you credit card for payment. I never see your credit card it is all handled through encrypted Paypal payments. I will also be able to accept cash and checks through the mail. Just send me an email and I'll get that information to you. Put vases in the subject so I'm sure to see it.

After payment you will be directed to a web page where you can immediately download the book. It's only about 2 megs so it should be a pretty quick download.

If you are reading this in the email newsletter you may not see the video. Please click this link and watch it in your browser.

Dixon Ticonderoga SenseMatic Plus Auto-Feed Mechanical Pencils, #2 HB, 0.7 mm Review

This might seem like a strange thing to review but pencils are actually an important tool in a woodworking shop. I have found that I need two types of pencils while I work. I need a general marking pencil and I need a fine line pencil for precision marks.  

Most of the time the general marking pencil stays in my apron because that's what I most often need. It seems like I am always either breaking the lead or having to grab a knife and sharpen the thing. Now that's not the end of the world but what if I didn't have to deal with either of those problems. I would pay a couple bucks for that.

I came across these Dixon Ticonderoga auto feed mechanical pencils on Amazon. The ad said you never had to push a button to feed the lead. That sounded cool, a never dull pencil.They were 10 dollars for a 5 pack. I'm an Amazon prime member so I don't pay shipping and get delivery in two days so I ordered them. In two days they were at my door.

I probably wouldn't even bring this up if they had been crap but I actually like them. I had some reservations about how they would work but so far they work great. I'm working on my Wooden Vases book so I've been in the shop several hours a day so I put the pencils to the test.

These are definitely just general marking pencils. I will still grab my fine point pencil for precision. The lead is .7mm so it basically writes like a #2 pencil. The mechanical feed has been flawless so far. Time will tell how well they hold up.

Another concern that turned in to a good feature was how little of the lead actually sticks out of the pencil. I wondered if this would keep it from writing well but it seems to do fine. The added benefit seems to be that you never break the lead. I'm always breaking the lead on regular mechanical pencils.

Of course the lead and eraser are replaceable. The pencils came with extra of both.

It's not every day that a pencil can make you happy but I'm happy.