James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.
A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.
Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.
His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.
Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.
Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.
Mini Circular Saw Makita Cordless 5090DW | Interchangeable Blades for Woodworking, Tile & Masonry
1 min read
With a blade 3 3/8 inches in diameter, the Makita 5090DW seems like a toy, but it’s built with the professional quality you expect from Makita and well-designed for the most efficient cutting of thinner stock.
Cutting depth at a 90-degree setting reaches 55/64 inches, good enough for 3/4-inch plywood and solid planks. At a 45-degree bevel setting the cutting depth drops to 45/64, only enough for clean cutting of 1/2 stock but still very useful. With blade choices appropriate for woodworking, cutting synthetics, tile, and masonry, you’ll find many applications for this handy tool.
The smaller blade diameter allows the saw to cut without wasting power on blade friction. If the job involves cutting lots of thin sheets of wood, rows of hardwood dowels, or any other material within the range of this saw, you’ll be able to do more work before switching out batteries or recharging. Since the saw runs at 1,000 rpm, you get the work done quickly but maintain full control. The four-pound saw handles easily and fits into tighter spaces than a standard circular saw, so it’s a boon for remodelers, too.
The tilting saw base adjusts and locks anywhere from 45 to 90 degrees, and the blade itself locks for easier replacement. The kit includes a hex wrench for switching out blades, one rechargable battery, one combination blade suited for woodworking but not masonry, and a charging station. For continuous work you’ll need at least one more battery, and for cutting metal or the impossible jobs like granite and glass you’ll need a better selection of blades, including the diamond-grit cutting wheel.
James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.
A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.
Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.
His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.
Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.
Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.
With a blade 3 3/8 inches in diameter, the Makita 5090DW seems like a toy, but it’s built with the professional quality you expect from Makita and well-designed for the most efficient cutting of thinner stock.
