craigandera

Getting Smarter: Video Production

Obviously, given that I posted the inaugural video for the Get Smarter and Make Stuff YouTube channel yesterday, I’ve been spending time working with video. And I’d like to think that – while I won’t be winning any Emmys for my work – I’ve really stepped up the production values from my previous videos. InContinue reading “Getting Smarter: Video Production”

First Video!

The YouTube channel has launched! I’ve posted a video showing how I turned a chunk of solid aluminum until a chunk of liquid aluminum. Fun stuff.

Now You Have Two Reasons

Short post, but I just had to link to this piece by Rob Pocaro over at Heartwood. It a quick read, but in short, the other good reason to have a sharp blade is accuracy. Accuracy in woodworking is often the source of amusing comments by the machinists I follow, but it remains the caseContinue reading “Now You Have Two Reasons”

How I (Wood) Work

I’ve probably done more woodworking in my hobby time than any other type of making. Unless you count software, I guess. But in the physical realm, wood has been my primarily medium until fairly recently. Along the way, I’ve developed a way of working that’s a bit different than the standard. This is a fairlyContinue reading “How I (Wood) Work”

Getting Smarter: Machining and Metalworking

I’m relatively new at metalworking. I bought my metal lathe and my mill a little over a year ago. Certainly I’m far more experienced at woodworking. But sometimes I think the perspective of a beginner is the most helpful to other beginners. We haven’t yet forgotten what was hard or mysterious. With that in mind,Continue reading “Getting Smarter: Machining and Metalworking”

Site Progress

Well, things are starting to look a little bit better around here. I’m getting used to WordPress, and I’ve figured out how to arrange things a bit more to my liking. I even got the gallery set up, so there’s some actual content. Much more of that to come, of course. I’m not sure yetContinue reading “Site Progress”

Hello, World

Hi. I’m Craig. I have long had two goals in life: to get smarter, and to make things. To be sure, I have others. I want to be a good husband and father. I’d like to exercise more. But when I’m given a weekend to myself, you can be sure I’m going to spend itContinue reading “Hello, World”