Category Archives: Building things

A grave assignment

Posted on March 5, 2025 by Brian Lawler

I am a lifelong friend and associate of Jim Eckford, who, with his wife Carlen, operate the Rancho Burro Donkey Sanctuary in Arroyo Grande, California. The sanctuary has been in business for over 20 years, and has been home to … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Building things, Woodworking | Tagged .grave markers, Avid CNC, Blognosticator, Brian Lawler, CNC machining, donkey sanctuary, donkeys, Rancho Burro, Rancho Burro Donkey Sancturay, Steve Triplett, The Blognosticator, Triplett Harps | 2 Comments

The Smyth book sewing machine is an extraordinary device

Posted on March 4, 2025 by Brian Lawler

For over five years I have been working to restore a 1935 Smyth book sewing machine. You can read several posts on that topic here, mostly related to the mechanics of getting the machine running after a long dormancy, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bookbinding, Building things, Gadgets, Printing and Printing Processes | Tagged Blognosticator, bookbinding, Brian Lawler, Cal Poly, how a Smyth book binding machine works, how the Smyth machine binds books, Shakespeare Press Museum, Smyth book sewing machine, Smyth bookbinding machine, Smyth machine, The Blognosticator | 4 Comments

I’m holding a building permit in my hand!

Posted on October 21, 2024 by Brian Lawler

This is the latest in my posts about building a new show building. Click here to go to the beginning of the story. After straightening out the issue of the Scenic Highway and Railroad Code, I was required to sign … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventures, Building things, Woodworking | Tagged Blognosticator, Brian Lawler, building permit, construction, Steel building, The Blognosticator | Leave a comment

Rejection, again!

Posted on June 27, 2024 by Brian Lawler

Chapter 3 – To read from the beginning of this saga, please click here. The rejections came, and quickly! Both the grading and building permit applications were incomplete. The county planners asked for more complete soils engineering plans. I contacted … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventures, Building things, Woodworking | Tagged Blognosticator, Brian Lawler, building permits, construction, Steel building, The Blognosticator | Leave a comment

Outright rejection!

Posted on June 25, 2024 by Brian Lawler

In the first installment of this story, I introduced my new shop building, and introduced you to the County Planning Department. They looked at my initial set of plans and threw them back at me. Too big, they said. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventures, Building things, Education, Woodworking | Tagged architectural drawing, Blognosticator, Brian Lawler, building permits, Steel building, The Blognosticator | 2 Comments

I’m building a new shop!

Posted on June 23, 2024 by Brian Lawler

I have had a fabulous workshop in my friend Jim’s barn for the past 18 years. It’s the best workshop on earth, and I have enjoyed making things there. It has all of my tools in it, and it has … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventures, Building things, Woodworking | Tagged building permits, engineered building, New shop, Steel building, The Blognosticator | Leave a comment

Rack one up to success!

Posted on April 29, 2024 by Brian Lawler

This is the third of a three-part post. To read the first part, please click here. To read the second part, please click here. I finished the bike rack clamps yesterday. I drilled and tapped the holes that needed threading, … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventures, Bicycling, Building things, Gadgets | Tagged adding a rack to a carbon-fiber bike, Brian P. Lawler, CNC machining, CNC machining of aluminum, machining aluminum, machining bicycle parts, Superstrata, The Blognosticator | Leave a comment

A small, but fatal error in part positioning

Posted on April 24, 2024 by Brian Lawler

In my last post I discussed making parts to hold a rack on the back of my Superstrata carbon-fiber bicycle. To read Part 3 of these posts, click here. I have been machining those parts, and it has been a … Continue reading →

Posted in Bicycling, Building things, Gadgets, Mistakes you can avoid | Tagged Blognosticator, Brian Lawler, CNC cutting aluminum, Managing tabs in CNC machining, Mistakes in CNC routing, Solving CNC problems | Leave a comment

Getting ready for Burning Man 2024

Posted on April 18, 2024 by Brian Lawler

This is part 1 of a 3-part post on machining aluminum parts for a bicycle. Click here to read Part 2. I have a gorgeous Superstrata electric-assist gravel bike. I bought it a couple of years ago (actually four years … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventures, Bicycling, Building things | Tagged bicycling, Blognosticator, Brian Lawler, Burning Man, machining aluminum, Superstrata | Leave a comment

Turning my new lathe into a really nice lathe

Posted on November 9, 2023 by Brian Lawler

My plan was to write about some graphic arts subjects. I attended two terrific events related to printing recently, and I will write about my experiences – soon. But instead, I want to write about my new lathe. I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventures, Building things, Gadgets, Technology, Woodworking | Tagged Brian Lawler, Delta lathe, digital tachometer, The Blognosticator, woodworking lathe | 2 Comments