Tag: youtube

News – July 30th, 2019 – Teaching, Filming, and Turning

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Trent Davis

Teaching

I recently got to teach a class on Router basics. Other than it having to be rushed due to the time constraints, it went well. I’ll be converting the documentation for this class into a post on this website, much like I did with my Dado Information class.

I was also working on a beginning woodworking class for Skillshare but life got in the way and I wasn’t able to finish it before the deadline. While making the class, I realized that the subject matter was much too broad for the amount of time I had to put it together. I’m still going to put together some Skillshare classes but I’m going to have them be more focused and less broad.

Filming

I’m working on a video that will walk through how I am making a small 8″ snare drum using stave construction. I filmed Day 1, which ended up covering everything up to the glue-up. As the glue was curing, I started editing the video. That’s where I discovered a pretty big problem.

Lets see if I can explain this…

My snare drum is going to consist of 16 staves. A circle, as you are aware, has 360 degrees. which divided by 16 is 22.5. This amount gets divided by two, since the staves will each have two sides, so each edge needs to have an 11.25 degree bevel.

Still with me?

Now, I use a digital angle gauge. I first square it to the table, then attach it magnetically to the blade. When I do that, it changes from 0-degrees to 90-degrees. This means that when I angle the blade, I need to set it to 90-degrees minus 11.25 degrees. This comes to 78.75 degrees. I knew this, but for some stupid reason (probably because I was distracted with trying to get this on video) I accidentally set it to 79.75 degrees. This makes each edge of each stave one-degree off, which multiplied by 32 edges comes to a total of a 32 degree gap for the drum shell.

Of course, being an idiot I just assumed that the glue was making things too tight so I clamped it down and didn’t think much of how off my measurements were. I didn’t notice the actual problem and its cause until I was editing the video. By this point, the glue had pretty much cured so there wasn’t anything I could do about it.

It’s time to start from scratch, being a little more careful this time.

As a present for you, since you’ve been so patient with me sharing this story, I’ve decided to upload the edit of the video I shot. Keep in mind that it’s a very early update. I was leaving room for a voice-over in parts so some of the shots are too long since I was going to edit in the voice-over then cut as the video to work with the audio.

Turning

I’ve been doing a good amount of woodturning lately and I’ve been getting into bowl-making, which although I’ve been turning for years, I never really got into. Below are some examples of my turning experiments.

One downside to bowl-turning is that I really don’t have anything to do with these. I don’t have a desire to place decorative wooden bowls around my house and most of these don’t have a food-safe finish so they’re not really functional. This is why I wasn’t really interested in bowl-turning in the first place. I like that I’m learning some new techniques but I suspect that I won’t be making a whole lot more bowls.

News – March 6th, 2019 – Cymbal Cart, Lathe Bed Extension, and YouTube Videos

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Trent Davis

I finished the cymbal cart

The cymbal cart is finally complete. It holds all of my cracked cymbals and has freed up a lot of floor space in my shop. This was a fun project and was great welding practice. I realized that I still have a long way to go until I can consider myself a good welder. This means that I have a lot of good things to learn. It’s pretty exciting, actually.

Lathe Bed Extension

I just installed the bed extension for my Nova Comet II lathe. I can now turn something up to 41-1/4″ in length. I intend to make a number of rainsticks and tube toms with this configuration. The cool – and slightly ridiculous – thing is that I can add another bed extension if I want to. In fact, I can keep adding them as far as I want. I guess that would come in handy if I wanted to turn a telephone pole or an alphorn. You laugh but I just might make an alphorn.

New clips on YouTube

I got a good opportunity to record the other day but I didn’t have anything in particular that I needed to get recorded. Instead, I just played. I put down about 8 minutes straight of brushwork to use for the backing track for YouTube videos then I played a series of short beats for stinger music.

The video above is one stinger beat that I particularly liked because I got to play around with my chime cymbals a bit. If you’re interested in what a 12″ Sabian Glennie’s Garbage sounds like, that’s the last cymbal that I hit.

The next video is part of an eight-minute improv brush performance that I’m going to add bass guitar, keyboards, guitar, and percussion to. The end result will be an eight-minute background track for some of my YouTube videos that I’m working on.

News – January 22nd, 2019 – Woodworkers Journal Interview, SawStop Articles, and Video Progress

Trent Davis

Woodworker’s Journal Interview

http://www.woodworkersjournal.com/trent-davis/

I was recently interviewed for Woodworkers Journal’s Today’s Woodworker feature. The article can be viewed at the link above.

If you’ve ever been curious as to how I got started doing what I do, it might prove to be an interesting read.

Choosing a SawStop Article

https://www.trentdavis.net/wp/2019/01/18/choosing-a-sawstop-contractor-vs-professional/

I have finally completed the first article in my Choosing a SawStop series of articles. This one covers the differences between the SawStop Contractor Saw and the Professional Saw.

My next article will cover the differences between the Professional Saw and the Industrial Saw.

After that I will cover the differences between the JobSite Saw and the Contractor Saw.

YouTube Video Progress

I’ve been working on another YouTube video where I show how I’m building a cart out of angle-iron for holding a bunch of cracked cymbals.

Since the angle-iron I’m using is powder-coated, I want to remove all that so I have some good clean metal to work with.

The photo to the right shows the effects of Rust-Oleum Aircraft Remover after sitting on the powder-coating for about 15 minutes. As you can see, the powder-coating is basically dissolving, allowing it to be scraped off easily.

News – December 13th, 2018 – Lots of Updates

Trent Davis

New Welder

I traded in my Harbor Freight 110 volt welder for an old Forney 220 volt one.  It’s old, heavy, and almost too powerful.  I’m still getting the hang of it but so far I am really enjoying it and I’m looking forward to how this can help out with my projects.

New Lathe

I upgraded my Excelsior mini lathe to a Nova Comet II.  It’s a minor step up in quality and capabilities and will in no way be the last lathe I ever buy, but for the time being it will allow me to do things I couldn’t do before, such as fluting and turning 12″ diameter bowls and vessels.

Cymbal Rack

Using my new welder I am going to make a rolling cart for all of my cracked cymbals.  These cymbals are currently in five separate stacks in my shop taking up valuable space and causing a tripping hazard.  This rolling cart will allow me to get comfortable with my new welder and get these cymbals off the floor.  It will also be easier to sort through them when they are stored vertically on shelves rather than horizontally in stacks.

Now, you may ask “Why does he have so many cracked cymbals”?  Good question…

Getting my Cymbal Rescue going

For years I have been collecting cracked cymbals, usually buying them for cheap, then cutting them down to usable sizes and either incorporating them into my kit or donating them to schools or beginning drummers.  I refer to this as my Cymbal Rescue.

It’s time to get the operation into full(er) swing.  With a decent welder in my arsenal, I can make a cymbal lathe that will allow me to not only cut the cymbals down but make them thinner as well which is necessary for achieving certain sounds.

Other Minor Updates

I’m still working on some YouTube videos and I’m also developing my next book.  The shop is going through some major renovations and I’m just trying to get through the holidays in one piece.

I’m expecting to have some major updates early next year.

News – October 29th, 2018 – Light Grid

Trent Davis

I Finished the Light Grid!

My hatred for tripods has driven me to build a light grid for my shop.

The light grid was built from 3/4″ metal conduit and electrical junction boxes.  I added outlets to nine of the junction boxes, three of them with USB connections.

I still have a little tweaking to do.  Some of the vertical threaded rods are hanging at an angle so they need to be re positioned.  I’m also going to add some support to the sides of the grid so it doesn’t rock at all.

This grid will allow me to mount lights as well as microphones and cameras and more-easily  position them wherever I need them.  I also have six of the nine outlets controlled with a light switch allowing for easy switching of all the lights on or off.

I created a quick mock-up of how the lights and cameras might be attached.  In this photo I’ve got two LED lights aimed at the bandsaw, and two action cameras (similar to a GoPro) mounted on telescoping microphone stands.  This allows me to get the cameras right in there next to the blade while not causing me to modify the way I work in the slightest because of some bulky tripod legs.

I’m working on a video documenting how and why I created the light grid.  I’ll also be adding components to it as well, such as a jib for positioning a camera and some tracks for panning the camera around.

News – October 15th, 2018 – YouTube Videos, Upcoming Articles, and General Shop Updates

Trent Davis


Making Progress on YouTube Videos

I’m currently working on three videos.  

The first one is just a test video showing the turning of a wooden bowl.  I’m taking my time with it so I can try different things and see what works and what doesn’t.  I’m currently in the editing phase on this one.  

The second is on the construction of a light grid (see below).  I’m still in the filming stages of this.  

The third is going to show the construction of a musical instrument of some sort.  I’m still in the early planning stages of this one and the details will probably change.


Building a Light Grid

Since I’m making videos in my shop I decided to build a light grid.  I’m making it out of electrical conduit and junction boxes and I’m putting in electrical outlets at some of the junction boxes.  I’m making a video of the construction of it as well.

Upcoming SawStop Articles

I’m working on a series of articles that are focused on choosing the right SawStop for your application.  I will be covering some of the more common questions I hear such as the difference between the Professional and the Industrial saws and the benefits of 3 HP over 5 HP.  I’m hoping to have these articles done soon in order to aid in Christmas tool shopping.

News – August 30th, 2018 – Lots of Updates

Trent Davis

A lot has been happening.  So much so that I haven’t even had time to write up a new update.

New Web Host

I successfully made the switch to a new web host and (several small hichups aside) it went smoothly.  I’m really happy with the speed increase that I’m seeing on this new web host.  Hopefully that speed continues.

Recording Studio Changes

Up til now my recording/rehearsal space has been in our back room.  This is not ideal since I can’t record anything without forcing the rest of my family to leave the house.  Also, it’s hard to focus on my projects with the T.V. playing in the next room.  It has been nice having rehearsals there, however, since we have more room.

I’ve decided to change things up a bit.  My 19-year-old daughter is in a bedroom upstairs.  My wife and I want to put new floors in that room since it’s just nasty old carpet now.  We’re also having problems with my two daughters arguing at all hours of the night.  I’m going to put up a semi-permanent wall in the music room, dividing it from the rest of the house.  This will be my daughters room until she eventually moves out.  We’ll replace the floors and fix up my daughters existing room and that will be my new music room.

At least , that’s the plan.

New Studio Desk

I like my recording studio desk, but I don’t love it.  It’s too bulky to fit in my new recording space so I’m going to design one that takes up less space.  I’m torn between wanting something that I can wheel up to the drum set and something big enough to house my 88-key midi controller.

I think I’m leaning towards making it two different pieces; one being a roll around cart with all the rackmount gear, including the PC, and the other being the desktop / midi controller stand.  The two will be connected with a cable snake with a couple USB 3.0 cables, a couple HDMI cables, and two XLR cables for the speakers.

Shop Changes

There have been lots of changes in my shop and there will be lots more to come.

I’ve decided to focus.  In particular, I’m trying not to cover everything in my shop but instead I’m going to just focus on the tools that I use for what I like to do, which is make musical instruments.  I’ve decided to get rid of some tools.  I have a lot of tools that I barely ever use and they would have better lives in other shops.

I’ve upgraded my band saw to a Laguna 14 BX 2.5 HP.  I really like the increased power but I’m actually a little disappointed at the build quality.  I know that Laguna is highly rated but I’m not overly impressed.  Still, it’s a huge improvement over my old Craftsman.  This could very well be the last band saw that I ever buy.

I have been making the change from wall-mounted cabinets to rolling tool carts.  This may seem counter intuitive but I like having all the drawers.  I’ve enter a new phase of tool organization and I really like it.

Upcoming YouTube Videos

I’m finally giving in and making some YouTube videos.  This is something that has been requested of me for several years now and I’ve resisted since I’ve never felt like I had anything new to contribute.  After meeting with some YouTubers, I’ve realized that it is a great community to be a part of and that I do indeed have something to contribute.  If nothing else, I can provide my perspective on things that have been already covered by others.


Gig with Cody Weathers and The Men Your Mama Warned You About

I’ll be filling in the drum chair with Cody Weathers tomorrow night, August 31st 2018, at the Hawthorne Hideway from11:15 to Midnight.  Click here for more information.

In Conclusion…

That’s all for now.  Actually it isn’t but I don’t want to bore you with the details.

News – June 19th, 2018 – American Association of Woodturners Symposium

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Trent Davis

This past weekend I attended the American Association of Woodturners Symposium at the Portland Convention center.

The symposium consisted of many vendor booths and a gallery of inspiring woodworking pieces.  I bought some wood and some mother-of-pearl flakes and chips for doing inlay work.  I’ve included some photos from the gallery below.  I didn’t think far enough ahead so I don’t have all the names of who made what.  Sorry.

While the symposium itself was fun, the highlight for me was meeting with some YouTubers the night before at a restaurant near the convention center.  I got to hang out with Carl Jacobson and Heath Knuckles and laugh over drinks while listening to stories (from another YouTuber and his wife – I won’t list their names here for privacy reasons) of near death experiences while taking nude photos at the beach and his adventures doing nipple castings at an erotic art convention in Rochester.

The following day I met up with Gord Rock from Canada.  If you haven’t checked out his channel, I highly recommend it.  He does some really nice woodturning but he is also an excellent teacher and one of the nicest guys I have ever met (which makes sense since he’s Canadian).

A pleasant surprise was running into Frank Howarth as he was walking around.  It was actually pretty awkward since I think I caught him off-guard and I probably came off as a stalker since I’m a big fan of his.  I am a student of film and I always appreciate when someone really puts some effort into their YouTube videos.  Every single one of his videos is expertly put together and both entertaining and educational.  One of his pieces, the eyeball, is pictured below.