Wheeler Woodworking

Sweet Sweet August

2011-08-13T18:49:00.000-07:00

It has been two years in the making and now we have our first harvest of honey. We used to keep bees 20 years ago when it was easy as far as keeping healthy bees. Now it is a bit dicey to get them to winter over because of the mites and diseases. So I guess it is in my blood, and to get 100 pounds of honey from two hives while leaving the bees 70 or 80 pounds for themselves to get them through the winter is just too much fun. To give you an idea, 100 pounds is about 8 gallons of an incredible local food / sugar with enzymes and pollen for our health. Without the help of my son Dan and my life mate Kathie, it would have never happened ...Thanks to both of you.

Maple sugar candy

2010-03-23T06:02:00.000-07:00

We decided to take our syrup hobby to a new level and ty our hand at some confections. In our pursuit we were gifted with a candy mold (Thanks Mom) and here are the results of our first attempt.

Danny ,our son, says they are addictive. I think he may be right.

Wet Panel Carrier

2010-01-10T18:21:00.000-08:00

"Wet Panel Flat File"

This is a unique storage solution for storing wet painting panels and canvases while on the road. I made the first wet panel carrier for my wife Kathie Wheeler ( see her web site and blog links at the beginning of this blog) when she was headed to a "plein air paint out" in Cedarburg WI a couple of years ago. She was thrilled with it as all the wet painting were protected and organized in one place. In prior years the paintings were laying all over the car, balanced on suitcases and the backs of seats..... a little precarious to say the least. She now finds the "Wet Panel flat file" handy in her studio as well. The photo above shows the carrier all buttoned up with the front door closed. Below I show it open with some of the drawers pulled out.

This little box will hold up to a 14" X 18" wet panel or stretch canvas (less than 1" thick) and any size smaller than 14" X 18". Two 8" X 10" panels will fit on one of the 9 pull out shelves. Unlike the suitcase style panel carriers the wet panels are laying on the shelves, and are not held into a groove or held in place with clips or adapters. This is not designed to take on a plane; it is designed to put in the car or camper and hold multiple panels or canvases of varying sizes completely protected.
Also available is a16" X 20" with 6 pullout shelves. This is now an essential piece of gear for any Artist-workshop or paint-out that Kathie attends. Think of it as a car sized flat file for paintings on the road. Kathie and many of her friends and fellow artist have found this a useful tool at paint-out events, workshops and painting trips in the car. If you would like to purchase one of these contact me at ts.wheeler@gmail.com

Woven seat for post and rung rocker

2010-01-10T17:10:00.000-08:00

We have had this old chair around for so long I can't tell you where it came from. Suffice it to say, it came to us unencumbered, meaning it had no seat. I was trying to think of an alternative material to replace the paper cordage seat that was all but gone when we took over the job of caretaker for this simple and small bundle of sticks. Well, I was at the hardware store and saw this nylon cordage in 50' bundles, light-bulb , yes this could look very nice and a bit unique. After my daughter was able to decipher a picture in Drew Langsner book (The Chairmaker's Workshop),we went to work and here is the result.
As you can see, it didn't perfectly fill in all the space on the stretchers, For a first try it looks pretty good and it is stout. It has only loosened up the slightest bit and that is with people taking turns sitting in it as it is like having a new guest in the house. That is to say, it is getting a lot of attention.

Ash Hall Tables with Ash Framed Mirrors

2009-10-24T18:31:00.000-07:00

Here are the hall tables installed in the apartment building in Evanston.
I think they give a warm feeling to a very nice public entrance to these flats.

Ash Hall Tables

2009-08-16T19:22:00.000-07:00

This is an Ash table that I was asked to create for an entrance lobby in an apartment building in Evanston Ill. This table is 60" wide and 18" deep. We designed it with just the front legs so that it could be fastened to the wall. It will make a warm and homey feeling for the residents of the building. I will post another photo when it is installed with the matching ash-framed mirror.

This is through the next door and on the way to the laundry room. Only 6" deep and 30" wide, but a nice addition to another otherwise bare space.

They just keep coming

2009-05-09T20:52:00.000-07:00

Instead of finding ones and twos we found several larger groups this morning.

Morels for Supper

2009-05-08T09:59:00.000-07:00

I have been working in the shop and will show off my labors soon, but for now the morning break was spent with a rite of spring around here, hunting morels. We already ate about half of them for lunch. What a treat!

It's getting darker

2009-03-29T20:39:00.000-07:00

1st three batches , from light to dark. We're into what should be a good run as the temps are cold at night and warm during the day. The volume of sap is amazing.

The end product

2009-03-18T11:41:00.000-07:00

Here is a sample for color comparison of the two batches that we have finished so far. It is interesting, the experts say that as the season goes on the syrup gets darker.........thats what they say. In this case we did a better job of keeping our second batch boiling and it turned out a bit lighter in color. I can't say I can tell the difference in flavor between the two. But maybe when we get to the end of the season there will be a difference. I'll let you know. Next boil, maybe Monday?

Haul and boil.......

2009-03-16T07:39:00.000-07:00

Boiling pan

Just started a fresh batch and got 15 gallons to a boil in 40 min. The system is working great and I just wish that I had more trees to tap

Hauling in from the woods

This part is more work than one thinks it might be when contemplating this venture. Soon we will have some sweet sweet syrup to dribble over sourdough pancakes. If I could only make a living having this much fun!

Door knobs

2009-03-15T18:04:00.001-07:00

Mushroom style pull 3" dia

I couldn't resist , I needed to put some sort of pull on the door to the sugar shack and so I turned a couple of different styles as an exercise and to add a little class to an otherwise dilapidated old building (that I might add has a new life and will now be cared for with a new attitude.)

Colonial style 3" dia

This is the more ornate of the two and my mate requested that I put it on the inside where it is more protected. They may look nice but they are just knobs to pull the door closed.

by the way: we will be boiling Monday morning as we are in a good run and we have 50 gals of sap gathered and ready to go.

Maple syrup

2009-03-13T09:34:00.000-07:00

Here's a shot of the old ice house that the previous residents ,the Amish, used for ice and we are now useing as a sugar shack. It keeps us out of the wind and a little warmer on the cool nights boiling sap.

For a bit of a change from my woodworking I just finished our maple syrup evaporator pan and wood fired arch. We just ran our first batch of 35 gallons of sap through the process with all its inherent difficult moments and we learned a lot. What fun! The door is open just to help show what is going on.

Dusting Brushing

2009-01-28T06:42:00.000-08:00

Dusting brushes

11 1/2" long birch and 8-1/2"long cherry burl

Basting Brush

2009-01-28T06:27:00.000-08:00

Basting Brush

8-1/2" birch

Walnut Toothpick Holder

2008-11-09T16:18:00.000-08:00

Walnut toothpick holder

2" w x 2 5/8" t

Walnut Sphere

2008-11-09T16:10:00.000-08:00

Walnut Sphere

5" dia, 1kg

Decorated Tops

2008-11-09T16:07:00.000-08:00

Decorated Tops

Salt & Pepper

2008-11-01T18:43:00.000-07:00

Walnut & Maple
Salt & Pepper

Cherry Acorns

2008-11-01T18:39:00.000-07:00

Cherry Acorns, just for the fun of it

1" tall

Birch Bowl w/foot

2008-11-01T18:33:00.000-07:00

Birch Bowl w/foot

9" x 3 - 3/4"

Spaulted Maple Vase

2008-10-29T21:16:00.000-07:00

Spaulted Maple Vase
3" X 6 1/2"

Paper Birch bowl

2008-10-29T21:14:00.000-07:00

Paper Birch bowl

2 1/2" X 8 1/2"

Box Elder Bowl

2008-10-29T21:10:00.000-07:00

Box Elder Bowl

3" X 8"

Osage Orange Box

2008-10-29T21:05:00.000-07:00

Osage Orange Box
2 1/4" X 4"

Osage Orange Box

2008-10-29T21:00:00.000-07:00

Osage Orange Box
2- 1/2" X 3- 3/4"

Cherry box

2008-10-29T20:48:00.001-07:00

Cherry box

3" X 5"

Cherry Console

2008-10-29T20:32:00.000-07:00

Cherry Console installed with surrond sound TV system

Cherry Console

2008-10-26T16:13:00.000-07:00

Cherry Console