wood Archive

A few years ago I decided to invest in a high-quality blade for the table saw. Since I actually do not own a table saw myself and rely on being able to rent time on friend’s saws, it seemed like a wise choice. The shops I use do mainly scenery and other production work. They use softwoods and plywood and other manufactured materials, so having one dedicated to the hardwoods I use was more than just common courtesy (I was using their equipment, after all).
Every time I took the blade ( a Forrest Woodworker II) off of the saw I gave it a tap. It had a wonderful sound; a clear "clang!" followed by a rich, lingering, and enticing harmonic. After doing this for a while I thought that a saw blade just might be the right thing for a gong or cymbal.
Not wanting to use an otherwise usable (and sharp) blade for such a project I waited. And waited. Finally, about a year later i saw one of the guys at my friend Paul’s shop changing the blade on the mitre saw. The blade was missing many of its teeth and was well beyond repair. I picked it up and gave it a tap; it had a nice sound. Not as good as the Forrest, but not bad.

I now had the heart of an instrument, now I needed the body.
I came up with a basic plan, consisting of three rough planks and a beam from which the blade would hang. I knew the specifics would come when I had the time to devote to the project.
A year later I decided to make the time when I saw what the piece should be. I wanted to create a piece which while creating a new use for something worn and broken would echo the objects former life.
Thus the disk hangs suspended, "caught" in a piece of wood it was meant to vanquish and reduce to dust.

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