Built-In

Just out of the Terpstra Woodworks Workshop and into the customers home:

This unit was built out of Hard White Maple. Click on the photos to be directed to our flickr site and see more photos!

The Design Room

Thought I'd put a photo of me hard at work! This is where the designing happens - on paper!

Ski Mold Reproduction (Kids size!)

This is a reproduction of a traditional Norwegian Ski mold. Main differences with the original is the size (this is made to make kids skis - and the dowel in the front. The original had a straight piece of wood. I chose a dowel for strength and don't believe it is a stretch for the time period it was from. The reproduction workshop had a lathe in it - and ski making molds and tools where always made slightly different and made to meet the needs of the specific ski maker.)
The photo below is of the original - it is a photo I took at the Morgedal ski museum in Norway.
More coming on using the mold!

The Golden Gauge

I just finished this project for a Kinesiology Professor. It is a gauge that always shows the Golden Ratio (1 to .618) Google the terms Golden Mean, Golden Number, Golden Proportion or anything similar and you will get a great deal of information on the subject. In a nutshell the Golden Ratio is found in many places in nature including the human body (hence the reason for this project - to measure the human body). It is also used in design (The Greek and Romans used it (example- The Parthenon) and today various designers use it.

If you don't know anything about the Golden Ratio, I definitely recommend a google search or a trip to your local library to read more about this fascinating ratio.

I made the gauge out of Walnut and Ash and it is large enough to measure a human body. I also made a smaller version for measuring the hand.

Toboggans

I made these toboggans for a professor that teaches Outdoor Education at a University. They are designed to be pulled by someone skiing, snowshoeing, or hiking and carry the necessary gear needed for a winter camping trip. The two smaller toboggans are called the Bannerman Toboggan and are actually towed in tandem. All are made out of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene, Ash, and Stainless Steel hardware.

From Solid to Laminate Skis

The skis on the right are of a traditional design - (I scraped two lines around the length of the ski and put no other words, graphics, or markings on them). They are also fitted with a 3 pin binding and made out of a solid piece of Maple.

I am currently nearing the end of the design phase of my laminate ski model currently being called the "Øverbø". Øverbø is the birthplace of Sondre Norheim which my wife and I visited while in Norway. Sondre is given credit for designing the telemark style ski that utilizes a sidecut as well designing the first free heel binding. Being the birthplace of the 'father of modern day skiing' I thought Øverbø would be a great name for this ski. The ski is also a backcountry/telemark ski.









The photo on the left is of my wife in between Morgedal and Øverbø. On the right is from Øverbø. A great website to check out is www.morgedal.com - it is home to an amazing ski museum as well as some great people! It is a close and beautiful hike from Morgedal to Sondre Norheim's house.

New Skis and more!

I've returned from a great trip to Europe. In Norway I met up with three wooden ski makers that where each very inspiring. I learned much from them and thoroughly enjoyed walking through their workshops.

Before leaving on the trip I finished more pairs of skis. Two Hard Maple skis, and one Ash ski. The maple skis will get a 3 pin binding, and the ash skis received a leather binding. I also made a ski clamp.

The Cradle of Ski-Sport

Last week my wife and I visited MORGEDAL, NORWAY - the home of the telemark style ski.

Much more info coming soon - along with pictures.

ASH and MAPLE Skis

First pair of Ash Skis were bent today and are curing in one (of two) new molds.
(See photo to the right)

My first pair of Maple Skis are finished and awaiting Pine Tar and bindings (3 pin). I have another pair of Maple Skis soaking right now to be steam bent later this week.

Check out photos of the maple skis by clicking on the photo below!

At work in Downtown Hamilton

It is nice working outside! Many passerby's find it pretty interesting to see someone making skis with hand tools on the sidewalk too!

I've been working lately downtown at my friend Lance's shop called Pastime - It is located on John Street just south of Main St downtown Hamilton. Stop by and say hello! Lance also makes beautiful hand bound leather books! Hours are usually Tuesday - Sat 12-7. (But sometimes we are out at the wishing well, or panning for gold.) A sign on the door will say when we should be back.

I've also finished some new leather bindings.

Band Saw Blades can make all the difference

A long time in coming - three more pairs of skis are tapered on the top and have the sidecut cut. The groove for tracking is already on the bottom and the skis are now ready to be hand worked with a convex spokeshave and smoothing plane. After that they will enter the soaking tub for approx. 1 week. After being soaked they will be ready to be steamed and bent.

From left to right there are one pair of Hard Maple Skis and two pair of Ash skis.

The tool used for this was my friend Dave's beautiful new Grizzly Band saw. It was a bit of tweaking to get the saw to run smoothly. And what got it cutting ultra smooth was a quality 1/2" re-saw blade from Lee Valley.

Hot of the Mold

Hand shaped Hard Maple Skis. Making lots of skis really makes you excited for the winter to come! How many more months is it?

Right now I am working on several pairs of cross country skis out of Ash, Hard Maple, and Birch. I found a manufacturer of Lignostone to use for edges, but they are in Holland. Shipping may not be to economical! So if you are going to the Netherlands let me know, I'll give you some cash and a ski bag to fill with wood!

Saw Bench

I've just finished a traditional Saw Bench made out of Horse Logged Silver (soft) Maple from my hometown area. A shaving horse is also nearly complete, as is my marking gauge.

The purpose for all these shop tools? The goal is to be able to work wood with out power tools and in a traditional way--Secondly the shop tools I am making are mainly for making skis, and coopered items like buckets, barrels, etc.

Click on the photo to the left for more pictures!

TOOLS

I've finished my frame saw, nearly finished my compass plane, and still working on a block plane and marking gauge. Check out more photos by clicking on the photo.

Lots happening around here! I am working on several pairs of skis, as well as making some specific tools for ski making (like a compass plane, frame saw, and a fancy new marking gauge).

I've also led two workshops on making rain barrels. Enjoy the photos!

Traditional Cross Country Ski's

The title says it all! We love these skis as they function amazingly well! I can't wait to make more! Enjoy the photos below of the construction process. Note that there was NO GLUE or METAL used in the construction of these skis. They are made purely of a solid piece of BIRCH and some LEATHER!