Tool Tip #10: The Hulk's Bench Scraper

I couldn't find any green gloves for this picture, but just take a long and wide piece of 1/4" plate glass, hold it at an angle safely with thick gloves and then draw it across your workbench in several different directions.  Now you have a monster bench scraper:  off come high spots, glue drops, burrs, splinters and most any piece of debris that could scratch your work.  With repeated use such a scraper has the further benefit of flattening the top of your workbench, which is always a help for any form of glue-up.  Used with care, freshly cut glass makes an excellent scraper for wood, a practice I first encountered in the Chelsea studio of the Greek sculptor Michael Lekakis.  He used little squares of window glass for the final finish on a variety of his wood sculptures.  That's 8 crisp edges without any maddening metal scraper sharpening...the Hulk can keep his shirt on.

My Friend, Kenneth D. Ainsworth

IN MEMORY OF

KENNETH D. AINSWORTH

Rather than the usual tip or portfolio photo, I am dedicating this post as a type of permanent plaque to the memory of my dear friend Kenneth D. Ainsworth who died very suddenly on the Memorial Day just past.  Though I first met Ken back when his oldest son and our son were in Boy Scouts together, the friendship between he and his wife Kay and myself and Sara had deepened in recent years.  We shared many wonderful times together, and some of the best material for our life stories comes from instances of Ken's amazing generosity and good humor.  Ken was one of those rare people who would uplift your spirit by just coming into the room.  I can offer proof of that when Ken did the photography for our daughter's wedding.  In his photo of 17 people of the wedding party every single person shines with their very best smile.  It was easy to do for Ken.  Though a dentist by occupation Ken was a brilliant photographer and leaves a legacy of thousands of photographs, even a few in these pages.  Sara and I were very much looking forward to many years of growing friendship with Ken and his wife Kay but will now have to reset our expectations without his quiet, loving, yet powerful presence.