MIND OF A BLACK WOODWORKER IN ARIZONA

Wood turning class at DuMaurier woodworking, mentored by Gerard Maurier Merchant. I really look forward to having more classes. Come join me, ask me to help with any form of turning, and if I am not aware of the topic, I'll find one whom can fill in the gap. Young student Beginning of a lidded box Mesquite natural edge bowl  I, Gerard Merchant having a class Partner Robert Hart, teaching  One on one with me Sharpening is the most important part of turning. Short videos Some viewing of sharpening From the young to those in my age category, lets learn new things together. Leave me a post, or email me @ g.merchant@live.com taking request for topics, and classes.

As I share a bit of whom I might be, through art my mind sees and my hand brings forth. I only reflect a process without many rules, reality not yet witnessed. What is, and has driven me, is a force beyond my control, an energy, manifested heretofore and hereafter my mortal flesh. A glow dimmed by storm clouds directed not by untold path, a beginning and, an end, "I must create". Much is the way of love, a binding force that shapes your ever presence with and without your guiding hand. Love hurts so good, Expressed through despair, loneliness, prosperity and joy. Through the laughter of tears, "I MUST CREATE". In this short expression of whom I might be and what I may SEE AS ME, through the ever changing growth of my heart and sole, I look forward to all that maybe, the only legacy of a presence, once my time is no more. In this writing I may find a hint of the who, you see, that leads me down this wonderfully expressive journey so I might share, be recognized, to ...

Preparation of my creative process to reach a path of manifestation, a new branch, from an old seed. Where do I start? I guess from the first relocation I can muster. From the time of my early 20's. I had a dream, a plan that when I reached an age some where in my mid 50's, my old man stage. Well here I am. I had a vision that would start to develop my skills as a sculptor.  At this age, in my 20's I was drawing a lot, and one of my favorite sketches was that of women torso's. I then had the idea that wouldn't it be just great if I would to carve a woman's torso from purple heart. Well I have been thinking a lot about this lately. I first decided that while I would love to see this torso manifest into reality from purple heart, this wood is very hard, and the difficulty is very high. well I I have not ruled it out. I needed a place to begin, so I have been collecting female nude photos, to form a copulation of different size's and position to form a plan o...

I am here to share just some notes on the work, I have been doing lately, this is the work that pays all the bills. We started a project for Troxell a couple weeks ago. Commercial, plastic laminate cabinets. This is a ast pace build, and one of the fastest jobs we have ever done. We are under the gun and I am enjoying myself.  Last week I went to the site to install upper cabinets, at 36" tall, I install around 25 units in about 4 hours, flying thru. I must say that these cabinets were not delivered with the doors in place, and in fact they aren't even made yet, we have 3 more days. Today we delivered the base cabinets and separate toe kicks. all nine rooms were installed in again record time, and then back to the shop, where Marshall (my stepson) and I started the counter tops. We purchased blanks, and we cut them applied finished ends and routed the draw bolts in. Completed all but 3 rooms, which will be completed in the morning.  Today's work was most exciting, I was h...

1.5 X 18", Aluminum lathe tool handle for 3/4" tooling I bought a 36" X 1-1/2" round stock, from the scrap yard for 6 bucks. I cut it on the miter box to 18".    I started by rounding off, partly, to attach the 3 wheel steady ready rest. I drilled one side to 5/8", starting with a 3/8" bit, stepping up 1/8" at a time. I drilled the other end to 3/4", starting with 3/8" stepping up 1/8" at a time. All bits where jobber's. Sharpened as need, and boy did a couple of them need sharpening. I wanted to add some grip, by routing 1/8" grooves. Didn't work as planned, so I managed to get two lines on it. Adding some grip and also as a indicator lines.  Air sanding, finished up with gray synthetic steel wool, for a matte finish Using my one way drill attachment, to drill for 1/4" tap. out of order..... I then mounted it between cones, friction fit.I tried a carbide cutter. I mostly...

One of my favorites, a spalted maple pepper mill, decorated in multi colors of alcohol dye. It's about 10" tall. This piece was acquired from a woodworking, turning show at the Mesa Convent site here Mesa Arizona about a year ago. Its was fresh from Washington state. After I had part it from it's large block. It later warped and it was to small of a diameter to make it any taller. So decided to create a matching salt box.

My first crush grind peppermill, or salt. I must say, the I usually start something new is. I start by doing a little refresher course in searching the web for, one inspiration, and two method. What I found was that there are several sizes differences, not in that it's different from the traditional pepper grinders. There seems not to have a standard unlike the traditional pepper grinders, but each manufacturer has subtle changes in boring sizes. I had also purchased two sightly different grinder mechanisms, and they gave you two different  methods of boring whole size and locations. Head twister, so I just got out my vernier calipers, and double checked each portion for a workable size. I then got to the point I had stop. I did not own a drill bit or forstner bit in 1-9/16, nor did I have a tool for the clip in place portion that did want to use. The alternative is to glue the grinder mechanism in place, (messy). So at the last minute I ran down to my locale Woodcraft Store, just ...

 This is where we are today. The ceiling is being clad with reclaimed barn wood from kentucky, (I believe). I will double check.     This face frames are sanded fitted, then lacquered white with sealer, then sprayed black. After all has dried, we then sand through at random. After the dust has settled we then stain with perfect brown dye stain. Once this completely dry, ( the next day) we finish all with top coat of lacquer. The key to all is that every coat is lacquer base, so there is chance of ill compatibility. f  This the same job. Above pieces will be at the south end of the kitchen, with an island and bar area. the main kitchen is distress very little to match the above.  These frameworks are again sprayed white, but then we wipe on  Van-dyke brown glaze, and then as above, with semi gloss lacquer.  Vanity outside corner cabinet, before finishing to match the white/van dyke framework. The barnwood on display...