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Hulk Smash!

For the better part of 2019 I’ve been using the Crescent Tools Shockforce tape measure. In particular the Nite Eye model. Over the summer, I beat it up pretty good with some outdoor projects like a big deck build and my kitchen Remodel. Throughout the last 7 months or so my tape has continued to be accurate, hold up to drops, bad weather, and consistent use.

When Crescent tools reached out to me this fall about partnering up to use this tape to its full potential, I could only think of one way to really test this tape out. I was going to smash it, bash it, run it over with my truck and launch it towards the sun, and see what happens.

First up, I decided that I needed to put it through the my kid/ the Newby left my tape on the ground and the boss ran it over with his truck test. Knowing that Crescent Tools is marketing this Tape for its toughness, I ran it over, and over, and over. In fact, I did this 5 times in the gravel of my parking pad. In addition to this link to an Instagram post I did, there are a series of Story Highlights on my profile showing some other unfortunate run ins with my truck. To put it simply, not only did the tape survive, except for some substantial dirt the Shockforce held up with little damage.

Next, since i don’t actually live in a 100 foot tall home, I drove to my kids school and spent about 15 minutes launching the tape into the air. Im pretty sure that the custodial staff must have gotten a kick out of the parking lot footage Monday morning. After about 10 tosses of varying height, once again the Crescent Tools Shockforce was bruised but not beaten. I did have to straighten the corner of the clip from one of the smashes, but that tape is still fully functional and in my tool bag. In the above mentioned story highlights, you can also see me tossing the tape a couple times.

Finally, I spent this last weekend installing a shiplap wall at my buddies house and took that same tape with me. The tape itself, still completely unharmed and fully functional continues to impress, all 25 feet of it.

While in Nashville last month at the STAFDA convention myself and a few other makers, content creators and Pros did have a chance to talk with Crescent Reps for a bit about this tape. We offered a few ideas on how to make this tape the a bit better, including a protective coating on the tape itself to reduce scratching of the numbers and ultimately making it difficult to read. This can be considered nit picking, but we all love the durability and brilliant colors of the tape enough to want to see this be the preferred tape amongst Pros and DIYers alike.

Check out the Crescent Tool Shockforce here

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Diablo Unplugged at STAFDA recap

When Freud asked me to be a part of their Diablo Unplugged event at the STAFDA convention I knew it was gonna be a rocking event. Then we showed up and in typical Nashville style they had live music welcoming us through the doors. The party didn’t end there as we were quickly surrounded by current and upcoming Freud/Diablo blades and bits. Full Disclosure, this was a paid trip, however the observations below are mine.

The second the mic turned on there was one thing that Freud made clear, the end user was the priority. Freud’s staff made it clear that quality, precision, value, and high end metal tech was going to rule 2020 across their brand.

First we got to see the new Speed Demon Self Feeding bits as they ripped through pressure treated lumber like butter. When put to the test against a competitors bits, these bits not only finished the job faster, the cut was crisp, and had little battery draining bogging down.

Next up, Diablo saw a need and met that need with a 6 1/2 Steel Demon blade with Cermet Carbide teeth. Recognizing that a large portion of today’s circular saws are 6 1/2 inches, they are giving us a new blade with up to 250x more cuts then the typical 4′ grinding wheel and all for around $30.

Speaking of dollars, throughout the Freud event it was evident that providing the end user with quality cutting tools at a price that’s far superior to the current options was high on their priority list. Their new blades will perform remarkably better, while costing only a small fraction more than their current blades.

Diablo closed the event with a huge surprise, the new Rebar Demon a full Carbide tipped line of 27 different sized concrete bits. With a torch handy, they spent time heating their new bits to simulate long term use. Having heated their new bit and a competitors bit, the competitors bit couldn’t even get off the ground as it essentially disintegrated. Current bits are not fully carbide, which means they heat up or hit rebar and break. These full carbide bits then proceeded to buzz through the concrete and rebar to finish the job!

Stay tuned for an impressive line up in 2020! Below are a couple links to some content I got when I was at this event!

Diablo Unplugged Photos

Diablo Speed Demon bits in use

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Are you a Microwave Maker or a Crockpot Creator?

Guy walks into a bar, sees an unfamilar pretty girl, sits down next to pretty girl, and asks her to marry him. We all know how this story ends, with a laugh and hopefully not a restraining order.

That said, let’s talk about something everyone asks about, brand relations. How does one strike up a conversation with brands that we all see when we walk into Home Depot, Lowes, etc. Does it look like the guy walking into the bar or is there more to it? To figure this out, let’s talk a little bit about life and meal prep.

From day one of Gingerwoodworks my goal was to be me, in all the oddly unique ways that God has put me together and shaped me. I never dreamt of anything more than simply to showing my kids how to work hard, set goals and achieve them. Success here for me is defined simply by remaining true to whom I was from Day one.

I wanted to become what I Like to refer to as a “Crockpot Creator”, placed on simmer and slowly taking in all of the various flavors of social media. I wanted to always be trying new things, exploring my talents, finding my areas for growth, and ensuring I was working to grow them. I wanted to build relationships with other makers, understand what makes them tic. I wanted to engage with brands, understand what their story was and the direction they were headed.

I always wanted to avoid being a “Microwave Maker” who was here today, gone tomorrow. Quick to interact with a brand, and even quicker to move on to another. Much like a microwave, used for convience and a quick meal. It is not in me to be in a space such as social media without building relationships with other makers and brands on a personal level.

All that to say this, when it comes to partnering with brands, do a few things for yourself right now.

  1. Identify who you are and the direction you want to take your pages
  2. Research the brands that you are spending money on and commit to building relationships with them the old fashion way, using their products.
  3. Focus on becoming a “Crockpot Creator” not a “Microwave Maker

In the end, the guy at the bar could have introduced himself in so many more ways. Taking a chance that the person he was is what she was looking for. Work on figuring out who you are, because when you begin a relationship with a brand they want to know its the right fit and you are here for the long haul.


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To Haiti and Beyond…

Influence can be defined simply as having an impact on someones character or behavior. Each post that comes from me through any of my feeds is carefully considered. I consider what brands I partner with, the language I chose to use, and the message I wish to convey. That being said, Gingerwoodworks swag has always placed my heart in a proverbial pickle.

For a while now I have resisted the urge to create and promote Gingerwoodworks swag. I didn’t want to make money selling various swag. All that changed in January when I realized that I could support my oldest sons Mission Trip to Haiti with any profit from the swag. You see, in June of 2019 our son, along with a group of High School Students from The Chapel at Crosspoint will be headed to Haiti.

Each dollar from the Bonfire campaigns in January and February has already been committed to funding his trip. Each dollar raised from the sale of Shirts through Joysofthread will also be used to fund his trip.

That being said I have also worked within the community of makers as best as I could to ensure the swag being made was also a blessing to a fellow maker. Below are a few links to some swag that has been created with my logo on it. Each item can be purchased through these talented makers and will only serve to profit these makers or at this time my sons Mission Trip to Haiti this summer.

In closing today I urge you all to spend your days using the influence you have to do great things. Be safe out there!

Rusty River Leather has created this wonderful Leather Logo Mug
Joysofthread has created this wonderful T-shirt also available in a Tank $10 from each shirt going towards my sons Mission Trip
Mancrafting has created these sweet Yeti mugs as well, which $5 of each will go towards my sons Missions trip
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Don’t Blink

Growing up, my parents didn’t miss my sports, they didn’t miss a summer without camping, and they made sure we knew we were their priority.  My In-laws did the same for my wife in a big way.  From Baseball games to Lacrosse matches, both pairs of parents made it a priority.  With that in mind, my summer goals were simple, make memories with my family on the field and in our home.

Mid-way through the summer, I am proud to say we have crushed a lot of house projects, watched the kids play baseball, softball, soccer and the oldest start his first real job.  Many times work, builds, and bills can be on our mind.  I am the first to admit these things far too often burden my plate.   As I draw up some new plans for the second half of the summer, they will continue to be kid centered and family approved.

Don’t blink, don’t sleep on the memories to be made.  Be in the moment, watch your kids sports, clear your mind.  Go for ice cream, plan a camping trip, un-plug.  Next month, we head off to our annual family camping trip and I can’t wait.  5 days, limited cell service, and lots of dirt!

As for projects, the first half of the summer saw my kids get some sweet trampoline stairs, our Kayaks get a new home, a landing spot for our shoes, and our cooler get some wheels.  The next half of the summer looks like some new back yard games, maybe some bedroom furniture, and who knows.  One thing I do know, is my kids and wife will be driving the ideas.

 

Stay Safe as always, and build from the heart.

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Cooler Cart and Icing Life’s Rough Spots

About a month ago I received a package from Icon Coolers with a 50 gallon cooler and some sweet swag!  What I knew was that this was going to be the center piece of many parties, camping trips and outdoor adventures.  What I didn’t know was that I would dream up a plan for a mobile party cart that would take back yard parties to the next level.  As a maker, I’m pretty sure most things I see these days I want to build or build something to make it nicer.

The other thing I didn’t know is that after 2 months of testing, my mom would be told there was a 95% chance she had stage 3 lung cancer, and would need prompt surgery to remove it.  The night I got that call, I had just bought the lumber for this cooler cart.  Life can often toss sour grapes at us at any time, and having positive and productive outlets for stress is imperative to your own well being.   For me, my faith, family, woodworking and softball with my friends keeps me grounded.

That night, I did what many of us do, I got my kids in bed and jumped into the shop for some creative stress relief.  I had already spent some time sketching out (terribly at best) a design with function and style in mind.  So I went to work building a custom cooler cart, and maintaining my sanity after the recent developments.  That night I spent about 4 hours in the shop, working past midnight, sweating in the 80 degree heat, accomplishing these goals.

At the end of the night, the frame of the cooler cart was complete and I had spent some time taking a break from reality.  When I woke up the next morning, hoping yesterdays news was just a bad dream, realizing it wasn’t I had something in the shop to remind me that things would get better.  I knew it could be a long road for my mom, my dad, and my entire family, but we all needed to stay positive.

A couple weeks have passed, the cooler cart is already a hit at my house. Its function bringing joy, knowing its full of possibilities and leading to many a memory.  More importantly, on Friday, despite a 95% chance she was facing stage 3 lung cancer, the surgeon removed what was a terribly calcified infection.  As I watched my dad inform my mom post-op that she didn’t have cancer, a moment I will never forget, I was reminded that life is short.  Fill your coolers with drinks, your hearts with joy, and celebrate each other.

 

Here are some links to the pictures of my cooler cart.

Process pics

Magnetic Bottle Opener Catch

Finished Shots

 

 

 

 

 

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Atlas46 Gear

Raise your hand if you have used a tool belt and spent the rest of the night wondering why your hips and back are killing you in spots you didn’t know existed.   How about spending countless hours looking for your tools that you “just had in your hand” and now they have mysteriously disappeared into that same world your socks must go to the second they enter the laundry bin.    Between sore hips and missing tools I had enough!

The first thing I needed to do was check out the Atlas 46 feed and decide which gear would suit my style and my projects.  I quickly fell in love with the Aims Saratoga NSN Kit.   This kit came with all the basics to get started, the drill holster, a magnetic patch, a fastener pouch, and a multi-purpose pouch.   I added an Atlas 46 flag patch because I liked the look, a pencil pouch, and the magnetic drill bit patch.

Upon getting my Saratoga Vest It took me a few days of working in the shop to get my AIMS attachments in places that seemed functional to me and didn’t leave me stabbed by a pencil when I leaned over.  I was able to quickly adjust the side straps so the vest fit nicely over a sweatshirt or a t-shirt.  I recommend wearing a Sweatshirt when adjusting the straps to give yourself a little room.  Side note, once your wearing a t-shirt and have just had a decent sized lunch, your vest will still fit nicely.

Whether I am working in the shop or out of the shop, having all of my essential tools on my person has been a real time saver.  I’ve lost less tape measures, pencils and drill bits.   My overall work flow is substantially better, not having to spend time searching for lost tools or heading back to the shop for more tools as I can fill my vest at the start of the project with whatever I need.

One night a couple weeks back I decided to do a little experiment and not wear my vest.  I simply left it hanging 10 feet away.  After about 30 minutes of wasting time walking back and forth to my vest for everything from my pencil to my Kershaw Knife I keep on there I had to put my vest on or risk going crazy.

Atlas 46 has been one of my favorite brands to partner with since day one for many reasons, but the real hook that sunk its teeth into my heart strings was when my Saratoga Tool Roll showed up in the Declaration of Independence box that Atlas uses.   In my shop, I try to make an effort to support as many small businesses, American Made and community minded companies as I can.

Here are a few links to my Affiliate page and my Instagram Account to check out my gear…. As always have a wonderful week!

Atlas 46 gear Affiliate Account

Action Shot of Saratoga Vest

Building a Table Top

Trampoline Assembly with Saratoga Tool Roll

Ginger Challenge 2018 Project Video

 

 

 

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Kayak Storage Build with Bora Tools

Last fall, I was faced with a huge problem, three problems to be exact. We had 3 kayaks in the garage/shop and once the snow started flying I needed all the space I could get in the garage to work. For the winter, I was able to store the kayaks in our shed with all our other bikes and outdoor gear, but that wasn’t suitable come spring. Many of us are working around bikes, toys and watercrafts, so needed a solution that was fitting for 4 seasons.

Come spring I started measuring and sketching out some plans in my Log and Jotters. By May, Bora Tools jumped on board with me to make this project a reality, and Spax Screws sent some screws out to be part this party!  So, armed with my Centipede supports, WTX edge Cut guide and 50 inch clamps it was go time!

First I created a work space top for my Centipede Support using some 1/2 inch plywood.  I ripped that down using the WTX Cut Guide right at the job site.   Once my work space was set up, I was on to the project.

Building behind my shed had some limitations as my neighbors fence line is fairly close, leaving little room to work with.  That being said, I decided to build face frames for each end of the Kayak rack.  This allowed me to place each face frame at either side of the shed, and then assemble my Kayak rack in its permanent location.

Once the Face frames where complete I was able to run the 117 inch 2 by 4’s from one face frame to another.   I used 4 runners on the top and the bottom and 3 in the two middle sections.

Here are a few links to my Instagram feed depicting this process.

Centipede Support work space

Face Frame Build with Bora 50 inch Clamps

Kayak Storage Pictures

Kayak Storage Usage

 

Materials List:

19- 2x4x10 Treated lumber

6- 10 foot deck boards- treated

2lbs of Spax 3 1/2 inch exterior screws

50 pack of Blue Kote Kreg Screws

 

Cut List:

Cut the 2×4’s as follows

8 – 32 inches (horizontal beams for face frames)

4 – 80 inches ( vertical beams for face frames)

3 –  34 inches ( joist support for roof)

14 – 117 inches ( runners between face frames for frame/kayak support)

 

Deck Boards- leave at 10 feet

 

 

 

 

Any questions message me here or at Gingerwoodworks@gmail.com

 

 

 

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Carbide Create Software

Once you assemble your CNC the next step is learning the software.  After about 3 weeks, I can say that learning the software and how to convert files to SVG has had its difficulties but for someone who isn’t currently using these programs for my employment its fairly straight forward.  First off, SVG stands for Scalable Vector Graphics and for most of us our picture files show up as JPEG.  SVG files are 2-dimension files which allow for carving and cutting.  Like many of you who are currently considering buying a CNC machine the learning curve on the software weighed heavily on my mind.

My approach from the beginning of this journey with my CNC has been simple, learn it in stages, get better each day.  I of course got giddy when I realized I could carve my own logo, which I happened to already have the SVG file for.  So, the first thing I did out of the box was launch Carbide Create, input my logo, set the tool path and feel like a complete failure when nothing looked remotely like the Ginger Wood Works logo we all know and most of us love.

At this point I stepped back, reevaluated my skill set, and reminded myself of my plan to learn on each project.  I took a look at the sign that was mangled and realized it was way to small, and my bit was too large.  More on Bits in a future blog.  Next I decided that I was going to design some local themed signs that maybe my friends and family would be interested in supporting this new hobby.   I found a Buffalo silhouette and went to town creating some unique Buffalo NY designs.

My theory was correct, make some local signs, offer them up to friends and family and test the market.  I did this while learning how to design, upload, convert and carve each of these different designs.  Here I was learning the software, while showing myself that there is surely a large market just with your aunts, uncles and High School friends.

Stay tuned, because in the next couple blogs I’m going to speak to carving bits, new ideas I have coming, and how I am going about making this machine pay for itself, a topic I know many of you out there want to hear about!

 

 

 

 

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Shapeoko Assembly

When my Shapeoko XXL arrived on my doorstep I was both excited and anxious. Now that it had arrived it was time to assemble it. The first thing you notice when you begin opening the large box your machine is in is that its filled with smaller boxes which are clearly labeled. There is no confusion as to what is in each box.  Here is a link to my Instagram showing the boxes lined up.    Once the boxes were laid out, I went to work assembling the base and each axis.  The instructions provided by Carbide 3d are impeccable.  Each Step has detailed instructions, Pro Tips, and things to be cautious about.  You can take a look at the instructions here.

Assembly for me took around 4 hours total, which was mainly because I was taking my time, learning the machine, the parts, really diving into the directions so I knew what I was working with.  This came in handy in the next phase of assembly.  I will refer to this as the period of time where I was able to test out the Carbide Support teams ability to help me troubleshoot some electrical problems the machine was having.  Out of the box, it was determined that I received a bad power supply, which Carbide is aware of and is quickly working to rectify a bad shipment of power supply’s they received from a vendor.  In my case, it ended up damaging the control board which the Carbide Support team of Meg and Will were able to identify simply from my videos and pictures of my machine.

Once the power supply and controller where replaced the machine struggled to find home.  For those not familiar with this process, consider the Claw machine at your local Game Room, each time you have finished trying to grab the prize, it returns to the starting location.  The culprit was simple, the X and Z axis motors had been accidently packaged wrong.  Jorge at Support quickly identified the symptoms and gave me an easy fix to this, swapping the X and Z wires in the controller.

Its always been my opinion that in every product there will be things to work through.   Although eager to get cutting and some frustrations grew as I worked through the trouble shooting, I was impressed by the Carbide Support teams ability to diagnose and fix my assembly problems.   I should note that each time Carbide3d identified a faulty part they overnighted me the parts to rectify my concern.

In closing, the assembly process is pretty fool proof.  Carbide3d pre-assembles the motors, has the wiring harnesses ready click into place, and as stated everything is labeled clearly.  Having watched others struggle with CNC machines built by other companies I can say that I did not feel I needed an engineering degree to get my cutter up and moving.   I must note that this machine was sent out to me by Carbide3d with the opportunity to review and use this machine.

 

Here is a link directly to the Shapeoko XXL for your to check out the machine I have.