A Learning Adventure in the Workshop: At last! Good hardwood charcoal is Pittsburgh!!!

Photos of the transfer of the H.K. Porter Locomotive and Bobber Caboose to Riverfront Park, Sewickley, Pennsylvania. The Porter Locomotive was built in 1897 in Pittburgh Pa. Photos of the transfer of the locomotive and caboose from Station Square in Pittsburgh to Riverfront Park are courtesy of Peggy Standish. Click on the images below for full-size photos.

Another BBQ post...

Pittsburghers rejoice! GFS Marketplace in Robinson Town Center (next to Costco) is carrying the USA-made version of Royal Oak brand hardwood lump charcoal! Royal Oak is rated "highly recommeded" by the charcoal guru the Nakedwhiz.

I have not been able to find half-way decent hardwood charcoal in Pittsburgh anywhere till now. All that we could get here is Kingsford (no thanks) and Cowboy (burns too hot for me, but OK for grilling - not smoking). I was actually mail-ordering charcoal, which I think is ridiculous.

Everyone run out to GFS and buy the Royal Oak so that they continue to carry it. I bought three 20 lb bags yesterday to get me through the next couple of months.

Great Books

Christopher Schwarz: Workbenches: From Design And Theory To Construction And Use
Great book! Do not buy unless you want to make a workbench...this book will FORCE you to do it! (*****)
Mike Burton: Veneering: A Foundation Course
Mike's book is out of print, but you can get it used through Amazon. Excellent starter book on veneering. (*****)
Michael O'Donnell: Turning Green Wood
Great book on turning green wood...my favorite way to turn (****)
Jeremy Adamson: The Furniture of Sam Maloof
Great overview of Maloof history and style (****)
Leonard Lee: The Complete Guide to Sharpening
Practical and worth every penny... (*****)
Robert W. Lang: Shop Drawings for Greene & Greene Furniture: 22 Projects for Every Room in the Home
Excellent book of Greene and Greene drawings by Robert Lang. Good tips on reproducing G&G details too. (*****)
Mira Nakashima: Nature Form & Spirit: The Life and Legacy of George Nakashima
Excellent photos for learning more about Nakashima's style (****)
Ashley Iles: Memories of a Sheffield Tool Maker
Only available from the Tools for Working Wood website (www.toolsforworkingwood.com) as it is now out of print. I love history, woodworking and tools and this book weaves all three together into a fascinating portrait of life in Sheffield England in the first half of the twentieth-century. (*****)
Make: Technology on Your Time
Great new magazone for techo geeks and DIYs...I love it. (*****)
Darrell Peart: Greene and Greene: Design Elements for the Workshop
I love Darrell's interpretation of Greene and Greene! Don't build in the style of Greene & Greene without this book! (*****)