Got a Second-hand Router and Table

Picked up a secondhand router and table tonight off Facebook Marketplace for $200 CAD. Some router bits are also part of the package. Not sure how good all of this is but it should be OK for my limited use and skills. I was originally going to buy a new Bosch router and table, but that was going to cost me $500 plus dollars. Will try going the cheaper way, hope I did not make a mistake. The router is a Milwaukee which is a good brand. Pick it up tomorrow morning after my nightshift.

I should be able to make more elaborate and interesting exhibition frames with the use of this machine.

Got Me a Planer!!

Got me a good condition 3-year-old Dewalt planer with a beautiful, handmade, wheeled, stand for $500 CAD. A new machine would have cost $729 CAD, without the stand. 

It barely fits into my tiny workspace, but I have another area in my basement I can still grow into. Things will still be tight but workable. The planer is a machine that makes all pieces of wood the same width and can mill un-worked wood (bark etc.) to a flat surface.

Hope I use it enough to warrant t the cost! 

Video: Chalk 14x14 Pinewood Frame

Pinewood frame 14x14 inch frame with Chalk stain and a semi-gloss coating.

Tree Patterns, 14x14 inch Crear Glass Ambrotype, AMBROTOS  KANATA, Elk Island National Park, Sept 2024, Canada

Still, plenty of woodworking errors on the frame. I cut the rabbet (the place you put the plate in behind the frame) too big, also sanding, cutting and staining mistakes. The Ambrotype frames and the Ambros are improving with time. Like anything in life, the harder you work at something, the better you get.

Grey Stain Frame

I am not a big fan of the Behr grey stain. It is so thick, looks like paint,  you cannot see the pattern of the Pine wood. I bought a different style of grey from Saman, will try it soon 

Free, Scrap, Wood for Frames

 

Free Scrap wood and pallets

After cutting off the nasty, long staples

Working on first free wood frame, gluing mitre cuts (corners)

$1000 Check!

I got my $1000 check from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts folks today. They bought one of the Lundbreck Falls 8x0 Ambros for the provincial collection. I will use the money to buy Silver Nitrate to allow me to continue the AMBROTOS KANATA wet plate collodion project.

Purchased 8x10, 2023 Ambrotype 

Frames, Frames, Frames!

 I have 4 more 14x14 inch Ambrotype frames in production. Still making mistakes but bit by bit the quality of the work improves. I quite enjoy this whole woodworking thing, that is a bit of a surprise for me. Taking a piece of wood and making something out of is quite enjoyable! I believe I will learn to make bigger and more elaborate frames in the future. 60 is a bit late to learn new skills but it can be done. 

Note* My Tagalog is also very slowly improving. I hope to make new series images to frame from the Philippines in early 2025, upon my retirement.

New Band Saw

Picked up a small 9 inch band saw from WEN. I hope to use it quite a bit for the frame making. I need to slowdown on the wood working tool buys. I would still like to get a planer (makes boards the same width but that should be it.

I think I have most everything I need now to make frames, or cut off a finger. Whatever comes first!!

Video: First Handmade Frame!! On the Wall!!

My first hand made (both the frame and the Ambrotype) 14x14 inch Amqbrotype. Petrochemical Plant, AMBROTOS KANATA , Canada, September 2024.

Pine wood frame with Charcoal stain. The frame is probably a 6 out of 10 in quality, but they are getting better. I have 4 more in production, they will be better.

Will buy more wood on the weekend to continue learning. Need to try different designs. I also want to try to make frames from free scrap pallet wood.

Note* I forgot to semigloss coat the frame!! Owe well, next time.

Facebook Version of First Handmade Frame Story

Worked on my first ever hand made frame tonight. A 14x14 incher, using 1x3 inch Pine. It was fun, a very hands on thing. I can see why so many people enjoy woodworking. Making something out of nothing is always rewarding. Even this simple design, easy frame, was fun.

The rabet, the frame under side indentation where picture, black backing and foam core sits, was a bit challenging, but I got it done. The wooden frame is at the gluing part of things. Will let it sit overnight. I will sand, stain (Charcoal), semi-gloss coat and put on the hardware tomorrow. Then hang the Ambrotype on my wall.

I also bought a white chalk type stain. I will frame the ambrotypes in various colours until I settle on the type that works best for me.

I hope to eventually be making super large 24x24 inch Triptych frames, possibly 35x35 inch. I hope to also make handmade wood frames for my future Gelatin Silver, Salt and Platinum exhibition prints.

The next trick will be to actually get an exhibition at a decent space. Nothing scheduled now, only gallery rejections coming my way. Hope that changes at some point.

When the next show does come. I should have the skills to do my own matting and framing.

Note* Did not cut off any fingers tonight!! That has to be a good start to things 🙂.

Note* Thank you my YouTube teachers!

Rabet side of frame, the back.

Glued frame in band strap, drying.