Laser Repair's in Houston Texas

I have to give a shout out to CNC Warehouse in Houston Texas.

I had been searching high and low for repair service in the Houston Texas Area and even with months of on and off Google searches these guys never came up.  Then one day while looking for something entirely different I found them!
I gave Scott a call and low and behold someone answered the phone!!!!  There they were all the time and I finally found them.
Not only did Scott send someone out like within a day they got my machine up in running for me. Oh you just do not know how happy that makes me.
After speaking with Scott a bit I found out he sells laser machines, he also sells CNC machines...  I can tell you I will be making a purchase as soon as I've saved up 1/2 of what I need to make the purchase.
Super fast, super friendly and right around the corner.

So...to sum up...take it from me, if you are looking to purchase a laser machine try and find it locally.  You will need parts, you will need repairs and if like me you are not mechanically inclined...YOU NEED HELP!    Go to their website and check them out.

The perfect Shark HD4 with Extended Bed Workbench

Finding the perfect table for your new CNC isn't as easy as it sounds if you do not have unlimited funds that is for sure!!!  I looked for about a month for a table I could afford that would be sturdy enough for my new machine.
As you know my machine arrived yesterday :)  YAAAAAAAAAAAAA
and I still didn't have a table for this monster so...  using all the clearance lumber I purchased a few years ago and another $85.00 I made one!  Whew that is CHEAP I tell you!
I used these plans here:  Sturdy Workbench but I used the wood I had in my garage for the most part so I used 2x6 instead of 2x4's.  I also changed the size.  My workbench is 38x64" to accommodate my new monster.  :)  These plans ANYONE and I do mean ANYONE could make this bench and even if you didn't have scraps it will be much cheaper than buying one I assure you.
So here is my new monster bench!  This bench took about 4 hours to make even with me going to the Home Depot for the plywood.  Quick and cheap!

I'll give updates when I get my machine on the table! 

and so here she is :) 

My new buddy, Shark HD4 CNC with extended bed

Oh look see....my new favorite tool has arrived.  I've got a table to build today for this monster machine.  I spent the entire day yesterday rearranging my garage so that this CNC will have plenty of room all the way around.  (pictures soon)  I am so excited to show you the pallet!   :)

Small improvement on my benches.

So since I make benches mostly in pine I decided to change the size of the handles on the legs.
Here is the new bench.

Why my Etsy shop is "On a short break"

Sometimes people write me asking when I'll be back or complain that my shop is closed that I'm just "teasing" them.   So who is Handywoman and why is her shop "On a short break"?

Oh how I wish there were two or three of me but of course there isn't and I do not have any helpers.  My husband has his own job so  I'm a one woman show.
I don't have an office help, or a cleaner, there is no one to design the product I want to sell or to write the manual.  I don't have anyone to write build instructions or to help in my daily work.

I'm an over 50 year old woman that is over weight and that has a progressive disease trust me when I tell you I'm going as fast as I can.  I close my shop so I can restock so that every day isn't a mad rush, or so I can make that idea in my head a reality.  It takes time to design new items for my shop and oh how I love to be able to offer new weaving or spinning tools.

My day.....

I wake up in the morning (thank God for that).  As I drink my coffee I update my order to do list and enter my orders into a system I use to track the taxes I'll owe at the end of the year and make shipping labels and thank you cards. (I feel it's always important to thank your customers!)  I then take my list and tape it to my garage wall and begin making the ordered items.
Everything is hand made so  there is A LOT of saw dust which I have to vacuum up frequently during the day so I don't drown :) .
Sometimes I have to let glue dry on one project while I start another.  Then once all my orders are made I work on getting a finish on them so then I'm off to waxing and buffing or putting on a poly finish.
While my finish is in between coats I begin packaging my orders that need to ship that day and this is always a mad rush for some reason, the good thing is I created all the labels and thank you cards while I was drinking my morning coffee.
Once I've gotten all the orders out that were on my shipping schedule ready, I drive them to a shipping location.  (The post office can not be trusted to pick up packages, they often forget!!)
Then I get on with finishing orders that will go out the following day as well as making extra's so I have some items in stock and ready to ship.
Then finally I need to clean the garage (and it's a mess!) so I will have a clean place to work the following day.
So....
Sometimes I close my shop so I can restock or even more fun work on that idea I had for a new product.  I am fairly quick at making those ideas into a reality but it does require time to create a prototype so improvements can be made and then finally writing build or use instructions or both.

So there you have it.  I am the designer, the purchaser, the manual and build instruction writer, the book keeper and secretary,  the logistics manager, the manufacturer and finally the janitor.  Well "finally isn't actually completely true because I'm also a wife and house keeper and trust me that takes time too.  I'm just a house wife that wants to make weaving tools for you at a price that is affordable.  That's it, that is my entire reasoning for working so hard; oh.... but I am also very happy when I get kind words in a review, some days that's what really keeps me working hard so keep them coming.

You can follow my adventures and see what I'm up to by clicking "follow" on my blog.  I generally am not so wordy and you might get ideas or find a tool you just couldn't live without.

All my best,
Janet