New Blog

Hello All!

To go along with the new website, I've also started a new blog!

All the content from this blog has been transfered over, so this blog, sadly, will be "riding off into the sunset" in a month or so. Never to be seen from again.

The good news is that I've got a couple projects going now and new stuff like this just adds fuel to the flame.

Come on over to the new blog. Check out the new website. Browse the new stuff in the Etsy shop.

Enjoy!

David J. Ulschmid
Designer / Craftsman
~ Wisp Woods ~
Arlington, SD 57212

wispwoods@gmail.com

Big news!

Announcing Wisp Woods the website.

With the help of my ultra talented wife, I put together and launched my new website. Check out http://www.wispwoods.com/ today and tell me what you think. Email me at contact@wispwoods.com, or use the handy contact page.

Thanks for looking,

David J. Ulschmid
Designer/Craftsman
Wisp Woods

Valentines Day is fast approaching so head over to my Etsy shop for an extra special gift package for your sweetie.

http://www.wispwoods.etsy.com/

Featured Project - Student Desk

Having a proper workspace is something that is invaluable, especially in this day and age where everyone is concerned with doing their best work in the always-too-little time available to complete the task. Everyone will, and should, have their own idea of what a proper workspace is. It might be an enlightening experience to take a look at our own working environment and scrutinize the way it affects our day.

The basis of a good workspace must begin with evaluating the demands we will place on it, both functionally and aesthetically. Finding your own point of balance between these often opposing characteristics will help to narrow your options.

I presented my client with three options for this project.

Since his workspace is occupied by many heavy items, I designed this model with maximum sturdiness in mind. The four laminated legs could no doubt support his equipment (and probably his car too).

A design that seemed popular online was one that included a small bank of cubbies at one end of the desk. This would increase the desks functionality, but also occupies much of the floor space available for the desk. And anyone who has rented an apartment will surely know that space is often at a premium.


This design was the most aesthetically based, but I kept strength in the back of my mind, knowing his needs would require an rigid base. The advantage this model gives over the four legged option is that it will be easier to slide up to, since the legs have been moved back, yet still support the front thanks to the cross bracing.

This was the model he chose, so now it is on to joinery selection and ( most importantly ) execusion.

Another twist in this projects path to completion is that it must be able to be knocked down for transport. Solid yet agile is the battle cry.

David J. Ulschmid

Craftsman / Designer

~Wisp Woods~

Arlington, SD 57212

www.wispwoods.etsy.com

Featured Project - Etsy Shop Re-Opened

Featured Project - Etsy Shop

Last night was the grand re-opening of the Wisp Woods Etsy shop!

Head over and get a closer look at the gift items and other cool stuff.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/wispwoods

I'm excited to see what type of feedback I receive from my latest products.

Enjoy!

And look closely, please.

David J. Ulschmid
Designer / Craftsman
~ Wisp Woods ~
Arlington, SD 57212

wispwoods@gmail.com

Ponder This - Why Wood?

I was asked by a fellow blog writer to answer the question, "Why Wood?". Why not use some other medium to express myself. That got me thinking pretty hard. The answer I came up with was this.

Why wood?

To me, it is a connection to the past. My family history and the history of this great nation.

And at the same time it is my connection to the future. To build things that will outlast me. To be remembered for something, be it great or small.

I'm thankful for the talents I have been blessed with and I'm happiest when the results make someone's day.

Here is a sneak peek at a small Cherry box that I hope will make someone's day.

This will be featured in my Etsy shop when it gets closer to Valentine's Day.

Enjoy Life!

David J. Ulschmid
Craftsman / Designer
Wisp Woods
Arlington, SD

Featured Project - Christmas '09 Gifts

Gifts that come from the heart are a joy for both the one who gives and the one who receives. We decided as a family this year to offer each other hand-made gifts. So out to the wood shop I went.

I was inspired by an article in Wooden Boat magazine about a handy tool box and I decided that that would be something useful for each family.

The Pine for these gifts had the large "bird's eye" figure in it, so it was a joy to apply a finish to, just to see it pop to life.

The handle is an octagonal shaft with a sculpted arm on either end that is as functional as it is beautiful. When the handle is in the up position, it locks the lower drawer shut, so you can move about freely with your stuff securely inside.

The hardware is brass, which compliments the light colored wood very nicely.

We filled the upper section of the toolbox with goodies, family photos and this carved ornament.

My thanks go out to Marty at http://www.mychipcarving.com/ for providing the pattern.

For my notoriously hard to impress Father and his fiancee', I designed and carved an Aspen trivet with horse motif and their names with an unity symbol between them.

Again my thanks go out to another chip carving master, Wayne Barton for writing the book from which these designs came from.

This January, Wisp Woods will turn one year old. To celebrate, I may switch to a new blog hosting service. Keep a look out for that.

Best wishes to you and yours for a blessed new year.

Enjoy!

And look closely, please.

David J. Ulschmid
Designer / Craftsman
~ Wisp Woods ~
Arlington, SD 57212

wispwoods@gmail.com

Featured Project - BC Cabinets Finished

Here are a few pics of the cabinets. I'm very happy with the way they turned out.

The whole group.

The individual pieces.

A pair of upper cabinets.

A space for a microwave with a set of small doors below.

The "Wisp" in these cabinets is found in this center cabinet. The board above the doors was selected for its pair of catherdral patterns that originate on each end and meet in the center with just a wisp of a connection.

The contrast of the carefully selected rift sawn door frames to the plain sawn panels, most dramatically demonstrated on the above set of doors, really makes me smile. This is a concept that mass producers mess up on all the time. Their grain matching within the panel and with the door frames is often simply awful. The grain is what your eye follows, and I hope that these cabinets are pleasing to the eye.

A big thank you goes out to the customer, for pushing Wisp Woods to a new level, and to Mrs. Wisp Woods for the loads and loads of support she showed during the construction.

Enjoy!

And look closely, please.

David J. Ulschmid
Designer / Craftsman
~ Wisp Woods ~
Arlington, SD 57212

wispwoods@gmail.com

Cabinets DONE

I just finished up the cabinets I've been working on since September. I'll take some pictures tomorrow.

This was such a great learning and growing experience. I've got a few new tools and jigs in my shop now. And my shop is heated, partially thanks to this project. I can now look forward to a whole winter of wood working fun.

David J. Ulschmid
Designer/Craftsman
Wisp Woods

Shop Talk - Cabinet Parts

Red Oak is a fabulous wood. Amazingly strong with grain ranging from simple and straight to dynamic arching. One of the great advantages to Oak is that Oak plywood is readily available. Below is a shot of the side pieces for the cabinets I am currently building. Most are Oak, but some are Birch. All the visible side pieces will be oak, but for the hidden interior pieces, we decided to go with Birch to save some money.

Here is a picture of some face frames pieces prior to glue-up. The chalk markings on them are called "Cabinet Maker's Triangles". These keep the pieces organized and properly oriented during the milling and joinery stages.

This has been my first project using loose tenons. I built my own horizontal mortising machine (more on that below) to make the matching mortises. This has been working great. It is so much fun to learn new methods of joinery, and I know I will be using this a lot in the future.

Here is the machine. The router is a Craftsman model and is the exact same one that is in my big router table. The lower table moves toward the router on ball bearing drawer slides. These have plenty of travel, and are smooth and secure. The upper table moves left and right on aluminum track riding in grooves cut in the bottom. These are tight fitting but slide nicely when waxed.

Enjoy!

And look closely, please.

David J. Ulschmid
Designer / Craftsman
~ Wisp Woods ~
Arlington, SD 57212

wispwoods@gmail.com

Shop Talk - Rough Milling

The first tool I pick up when starting a new project doesn't have a cord or a motor. It is the dullest tool, yet it never needs sharpening. And I bought it in the children's isle of a craft store. What is it? It is a piece of chalk.

With all the lumber laid out and grouped by color and figure, I begin the enjoyable task of marking out the parts. Guided by the cut list, I search for pleasing part combinations that make the best use of the wood in an aesthetic, efficient and structurally sound way.

This step, performed with the humble stick of chalk, has tremendous bearing on the appearance of the final product. It requires vision and is a skill that is improved upon with experience and thoughtfulness.

I am proud to say that this step is what sets my work apart from the mass produced home center and discount store offerings. Those who look at the finished product closely will notice immediately. Those who don't have a trained eye will be bugged by something in that value piece that just isn't quite right. When it is done right, it feels just so harmonious that, again, you might not notice right away, but it will feel right from the very beginning.

This stack of lumber is the beginning of something great. I can feel it!

Enjoy!

Don't look too closely, the shop is a mess ;).

David J. Ulschmid
Designer / Craftsman
~ Wisp Woods ~
Arlington, SD 57212

wispwoods@gmail.com

Featured Projects - Upstairs

A wise man once said, "One's mind, once stretched by an original idea, never regains its original dimensions". This is evident in our everyday life and can be a means by which you can improve everything around you. The idea need not be your own. As long as you understand the impact the idea has on your environment, as comprised by your location, state-of-mind, and relationships.

Perhaps at this point you may think I am being much too philosophical on a blog site about woodworking but, here is where I am going. It all comes back to what is commonly the last line of my posts here, "Enjoy! And look closely, please."

Look closely that your location. How did the things that surround you get there?

Look closely at your state-of-mind. Where is it taking you?

Look closely at your relationship to your environment. How do the places you spend the most time make you feel? What is missing? What needs to be removed?

I encourage everyone to explore the ideas that are affecting their unique environment and, by all means, challenge them. It is by looking within, and understanding what is there, that we can begin to move forward in a positive direction.

A common bond we share is that we all want to feel good, comfortable and safe in our homes. It stands to reason then, that we should feel these things about the items we consume, particularly the "durable goods" that will be a part of our environment for a long time to come (at least that is our hope when we put down our hard earned dollars for them).

But when we purchase items that we know are below our standards, what are we really getting? More importantly, what are we contributing, to our community, society and personal well-being? If the item was produced over-seas, you, in the case of a sub-par item, just contributed future garbage to your community landfill while taking away the work of local craftspeople. You've told society that you value low price over quality. And have potentially compromised your own well-being (can you say lead poisoning?).

Again, heavy words backing up a picture of a bookcase. I do apologize for my bluntness, but I keep my sharp tools in the shop ;).

Did you notice the differences between those two bookcases? No, I'm not talking about what is on the shelves. Is one "softer" or "smoother". Is one bigger, deeper or taller? (a description of the differences is found at the end of this post) Why are the differences there? How do they make you feel? What would you change?

Perhaps this bookcase isn't something you would want in your house, but you still need somewhere to put all your books. You need something that suits you. And only you know what that is.

Now consider this....

We all know the best tasting meals come from our own gardens. There is something special about enjoying the spoils of your labor. Sometimes the only thing better is a meal from your neighbor's garden (all the spoils, non of the toils). Think about how a simple garden can transform your environment. How it can tie a community together, and if done on a small scale around the country, can have such a large impact on society. This doesn't mean everyone has to be a green thumb and no one is obligated to do anything. I intend only to shed light on those around us, and the actions they take, that in a small, and impressively significant, way, collectively benefit the world.

You deserve something special and you have the right to get it from anywhere you please. Look closely at your options, and how they effect everyone's environment.

We've all made millions, if not trillions, of decisions that got us to where we are now. It is the decision making process within that determines our path in life. Be yourself. Make your own decisions, and know that when you pick up one end of the stick, you automatically lift the other end as well.

The two pictures above show a newel post I built for our upstairs. I also built a half-newel for the opposite wall, the base that the balusters join into and the upper handrail. This project is just part of the "fingerprint" I will leave on this house. I couldn't be happier with the way it turned out.

I love building things, because I enjoy making people happy. I'm inspired to be, and build, my best by believing the result of my effort will be shared joy.

How can I make you smile today?

Enjoy LIFE!

And look closely, please.

David J. Ulschmid
Designer / Craftsman
~ Wisp Woods ~
Arlington, SD 57212

wispwoods@gmail.com

Bookcase differences - The bookcases are the same size in every way. The feet are different and the tops-front of the side panels are different. It was an original idea of mine, to make these changes, against the urging of my wife. I'm happy I did, and she is too. Now our world is different and, as always, I can't wait to see what is next.

Shop Talk - We've got a lot to talk about.

Here is a quick update of what has distracted me from blogging.

I finished and installed our custom kitchen cabinets.


After an inspiring trip to the Minnesota woods to pick up some lumber, I decided to try my hand at carving. What a great way to relax during lunch breaks at work.



I completed the alphabet (minus the Q and W, they are so close to the O and M, and I didn't have enough board).




My favorite letter is "U" of course.

Another project is one that gives me great honor. To build picture frames for a family member who is in the military. The prototype came out great and was approved, so here is the stack of lumber ready for the rest to be built.



The Walnut spline contrasts nicely against the Red Oak.



Customizing one's home is one of the best advantages to being a woodworker, so now it is off to work on a newel post for a railing.

Best Wishes to all,

David J. Ulschmid
Designer / Craftsman
~ Wisp Woods ~
Arlington, SD 57212

wispwoods@gmail.com

Featured Project - Oak Cabinets

Wisp Woods is going BIG!

A recent commission takes Wisp Woods to new places. Daniels Olsen hardwood suppliers in Sioux Falls for starters.

Here is a Google SketchUp model of kitchen cabinets I am going to build.

I can't wait to go pick up the lumber!

As much of the building process as I can capture, will be on here for my client, and all of you, to follow along with.

Stay tuned.

David J. Ulschmid
Designer / Craftsman
~ Wisp Woods ~
Arlington, SD 57212

wispwoods@gmail.com

Featured Project - Cedar Gate.

Ben (the same Ben from Ben's Kitchen Cabinet, see earlier post) from Volga asked me to build him a new gate to replace the one that his "kindly, civil servant" meter man tore off his fence last winter. Since I was apparently going up against someone with little respect for other people property, I knew I had to build something that was tough, but I also wanted it to have some extra special touches.

We loaded up the broken old gate into the back of my truck along with a stack of cedar 2x4s Ben had already purchased. I unfortunately got the flu the next day and didn't feel well enough to work on the gate for about a week. This gave me time to read up on construction methods to make this project great, a great gate, that's right!

I pulled from my library the following books:

Build it Better Yourself - A rather thick book from the 1970s DIY era.

Outdoor Projects - Includes many outdoor door designs.

and

How to build a Timber Frame House - There are so many wicked strong joints in this book.

Here are some pics of the finished project.

Here is the front of the gate.

Note the gentle sweep to the top edge of the planking.

This detail was selected from three Google Sketchup models

that I created and sent to Ben for possible design options.

Good pick, Ben! I really like it.

And this is the back, showing the structure. Tougher than a brick wall, yet much lighter. Good Wood, Good Design.

Cross bracing, the secret that holds timber framed houses together. These braces will help the gate resist both compression and racking forces.

No butt joints here, everything is accurately jointed and stainless steel screwed! Another excellent choice by my man Ben!

Enjoy!

And look closely, please.

David J. Ulschmid
Designer / Craftsman
~ Wisp Woods ~
Arlington, SD 57212

wispwoods@gmail.com

Featured Project - Maple Spoons

It all started with a request for a spoon, and it has ended up better than I could have ever imagined it would.

I've got to thank my Aunt G for her crazy level of admiration for my work, and all the inspiration she gives me to keep developing my products.

At her request, I made a first set of spoons out of what I am currently calling American Sycamore. The wood was light colored, a bit soft, and easy to work with.

My random sketching resulted in a sweeping handle, and in one case, an out of line bowl.

After carving out the bowl, I wasn't happy with the way the wood was cutting, so I sanded the bowl smooth. I also resolved to find a new wood species for my next set of spoons.

I take pride in the fact that my projects are born out of the eco-friendly process I like to call "reversing the consumption model". The quick explanation is, I use found wood, cause it's free. The nobel explanation is, I use recycled wood to create fine and durable wooden objects as my way of conserving and recycling.

You might wonder, "What kind of wood could you get for free, from the trash?", or you might jump right to judgment and think "No good wood could come from those pallets.". The answer to both of those questions is "Perfectly Good Wood". Case in point, my newest set of spoons.

This has been one of the greatest surprises so far from my pallet lumber recovery program. I initially picked up this pallet because I couldn't identify the thick timbers, and I already had a couple in my truck, so why not get this one too. When I was searching my supply for a tight grained wood for the spoons, I decided to give this one a try. I almost didn't believe what I discovered. I tried many times to tell myself it wasn't true. Had someone really constructed a shipping pallet from Hard Maple?!??!?? This can't be?!??!?? Why would someone do that?!??!?? Who cares, that is GREAT for me!!!!

This wood is a joy to carve and shape. It holds facets very well, and gives the spoons a nice substantial feel.

They can be found for sale at http://www.wispwoods.etsy.com/

Enjoy!

And look closely, please.

David J. Ulschmid
Designer / Craftsman
~ Wisp Woods ~
Arlington, SD 57212

wispwoods@gmail.com

Featured Project - Bob’s Club

Below are some pictures of a club I made for my Father In Law. I’ve had a lot of fun working with the timber of Hickory that I was lucky enough to salvage from the pallet stack. It is beautiful wood, turns well, and is incredibly hard.

No matter what task he puts it to, I know it will perform very well.

Enjoy, Bob!

Thanks for looking.

David J. Ulschmid

Craftsman/Designer

Wisp Woods

Arlington, SD

email ~ wispwoods@gmail.com

Find me on Etsy ~ www.wispwoods.etsy.com

Technorati Tags: Featured Project,Hickory