first day of the blog - cabinets

i've never done a blog but here it goes. i was out in my shop listening to NPR today and they were talking blogs. as i was working and thinking of how to get my work out to the wider world, as well (and this is crucial) as get some feedback, the radio program came into focus and little angels starting singing in heaven.

so the point will be to document my process of woodworking and hopefully get some feedback and discussion. since i'm new to woodworking as well as blogging, i'm looking forward to hearing from folks who know more about either and can offer constructive observations.

i've been doing the woodworking semi-professionally for about 5 months. during that time i've built and installed a big closet with handmade 8'x3' doors, about 8 shelving units for a few clients, installed a kitchen (with premade cabs) and i am building a custom storage unit for a bathroom. the construction and woodworking takes up about 40% of my workload at the moment.

i'm an architect by training and recently started Artisanal Design, LLC to combine my architecture background with small scale, hand built woodworking and construction projects. the other 60% of my workload is involved with the architecture. with Artisanal Design i've designed a house to become a 2 unit property on capital hill, a kitchen in tacoma, and currently a large addition in chevy chase, dc.

with this blog i'm hoping to improve the process of the woodworking and construction. i've worked construction in the past, built a bunch of furniture in my home and for friends, and basically worked with my hands over the years. now that i'm actually taking new clients, charging money for it, marketing and doing this alone, the blog seems to be a way to escape the vacuum of doing this all alone. hopefully i can get feedback from folks in DC and around the country. i know a bunch of stuff i'm doing in the shop is pretty homegrown, isn't what they teach in textbooks, not totally professional, and sometimes probably dumb. but thats the reality of starting small, teaching yourself, and making best with the limited resources at hand.

i'll list some of the tools i have in the shop that will be put to use. i'm not writing this to bore anyone or fill up spaces, but to to show you what i'm working with. if i'm using a hand drill and should be using a drill press, someone can yell, 'hey dummy.'

hand drill (rigid)

drill press (ryobi)

table saw (rigid)

circular saw (skillsaw)

worm drive saw (skillsaw)

reciprocating saw (porter cable)

mitre saw (dewalt knock-off?)

hand planer (ryobi)

biscuit joiner (ryobi)

router (milwaukee)

nail gun and compressor (bostich & husky)

bench grinder (craftsman)

wish list: planer, jointer, bandsaw, a good dust collection system

so thats the first post. i'm totally new to the blog thing and have no idea how anyone will read this. any suggestions on how to get this out to a larger woodworking community would be appreciated. thanks.