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“Just because you’ve always done it that way doesn’t mean it’s not incredibly stupid.” –Unknown

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I have wanted to attend the Milan Furniture Fair since my furniture making days in the 70′s. It is the largest concentration of furniture design talent on the planet.

My reason for attending this year was simply to recharge my batteries, and hopefully get inspired–particularly by the several hundred young designers from the world around who were juried into to the show. I really like the work of young folks, their ideas are so cool, and most are unfettered by bias and constraints that “normal” folks would dismiss.

The show is spread out over 20 halls and occupies 2.5 million square feet of display area. The exhibitor count was roughly 2,200. If you are not interested in furniture and find yourself in Italy, then I suggest the Amalfi Coast or Lake Como.

The displays for the hotel industry were unbelievable. Entire bedroom suites were set up, down to the flowers in vases–if you walked in blind folded you would think you were in a hotel room. There were complete hotel lobbies, casino lobbies, elegant waiting rooms, and this was just in the first two halls.

Two halls were dedicated to kitchens. One for bathrooms (I particularly liked the horizontal showers–the models were distracting however) and there were six or so halls dedicated to “modern” furniture. I will touch on all of this as time allows.

While sorting my images, I came across a couple that were hard to classify–they are pictured below.

On the last day at the fair I walked by this booth not sure of why they would bother displaying stacks of lumber smack in the middle of the booth…

In the right environment, think industrial loft living, these pieces would be right at home.

–John

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“For you to sleep well at night, the aesthetic, the quality, has to be carried all the way through.” –Steve Jobs

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Prior to leaving for Milan, I leaked some early images of the CT-18 Dual/Low Angle Smoother and asked the Drivel Starved Nation to save the questions until my return.  Looks like I am back!

 Here are some basics, the full details can be found here.

• Overall weight with the depth skids attached: 6.7 lbs.
• Overall length is 12″ (304.8 mm)
• Body is investment cast 304 stainless
• Rear tote is investment cast 304 stainless–inside surfaces painted black
• Two irons included, A2 tool steel, Rc 60-62, Cryo treated, optical lap; rms <1
• Bed is 12 degrees
• Attack angles of 42, 47 and 60 degrees. One serrated scrub grind. All feature micro bevels of 5 degrees
• 3 Aluminum blade guards included-attach via rare earth magnets
• Irons are 2″ wide x .22″ thick
• Maximum depth skid setting = 1.77″
• Front “mushroom” tote is black chromed steel as is the contoured washer.
• Adjustable mouth
• Backlash free stainless steel iron depth adjuster; 72 TPI, .003″ of iron depth per rev
• Integral blade retention “over the top” mechanism
• Lateral blade cant achievable by adjuster but fingers through the side work better.
• Good luck penny nested in plane bed
• Tension arm, blade cap, link and spacers are anodized aluminum
• Mechanism clamp arm is investment cast 304 stainless steel.
• Sole and sides surface ground square to each other.
• Skids can be set at different heights for making tapered louvers
• Walnut display box is not included but available

That should cover the basics. Behind the scenes there are 3 investment cast molds that will be built to make this plane, and we will employ 12 different American contractors for the components. Fit and finish will be done in our Portland R&D shop.  $1796. sans Walnut Case–a phenomenal price for all that stainless steel.

Yesterday I received my HP-8 and I am so happy–I have been waiting for this tool longer than you! I have some really interesting uses for this plane–more later. All orders will be filled this week.

Last week we received a large box addressed to the “Bribe Dept. of Bridge City Tool Works.” Inside the box were several bottles of fine California Chardonnay and a cryptic note stating that if we accepted the bribe (we are not stupid, of course we accepted) the sender would be guaranteed to receive his CT-18 before Fred West. This was our first bribe and was so much fun I am thinking of running for office. Now I am wondering out loud what Fred West will send us to learn the identity of this nefarious soul… this could get quite lucrative me thinks.

Thanks to all that dropped me a line regarding my new son-in-law. You will be pleased to know that I was approached by at least a half-dozen folks who first commented on the beauty of my daughter, and then suggested a paternity test would prove that beauty was not possible from my loins… I have the best friends… yes/no?

Lastly, here is a pic of 6 month old Shelby dog and her strange eating habit… and NO, those are not MY feet.

-John

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“What is the fatal charm of Italy? What do we find there that can be found nowhere else? I believe it is a certain permission to be human, which other places, other countries, lost long ago.” –Erica Jong

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Having just returned from the Milan Furniture Fair, I thought you might enjoy how much trouble I found for myself….

While in a cafe in Milan I became impatient waiting for my check. I flagged my waiter and asked for the check–again. I have been pondering his response for several days…

“Nota so fasta Americano–this is Italy. You sita and relaxa, enjoy being alive-a.” So I did as told and must say, I should do this more often…

The Milan Furniture Fair was ridiculously huge. Over 2.5 million square feet of furniture displays containing over 3 billion dollars of furniture. Mamma Mia!

Many more posts and photos to follow, but not this week. Between jet lag, my daughter’s wedding on Saturday and a new pup, Shelby dog, I just can’t find the time to work.

I have hundreds of images but I am saving the best for last. The image below is either a lamp or an elephant with a bad cold–you decide. At least I know where you can purchase it…I think it would look great next to an entertainment center STILL owned by Fred West.

-John

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“Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.”
–Albert Einstein

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We have been working on the CT-18 for over a year. I made a pledge a few months ago that we would never again make a plane without the ability to add depth skids. The ability to plane to an exact thickness is just an incredible experience.

Of course this can be accomplished by other means but the work involved is tedious and often wasteful. Furthermore, these skids are rounded to allow for tapered cuts–think louvers.

Many more details will come out after I get back from Italy, so kindly save your questions for later. That said, please meet the 2010 CT-18, a Dual Angle, Low Angle Smoother;

I would like to thank you all for the fun spirit demonstrated during the guessing phase. I think this is a great way to connect with each other, and I trust you all know that we were all having fun. I have said this before, but it is worth repeating, I take my work very serious and to balance my life, I use the blog to have fun. Oh, don’t forget, with the exception of Bob Metzger, you are all still losers… Oops…looks like I am still having fun…

It is also easy to see that my display stand clue was a prop for the top image. And speaking of images, if you would like a better look at the CT-18, we have hi-res wallpapers of the top image above available in the screen resolutions listed below. Simply click on the link and it should automatically download.

30″ iMac
1280 x 1024
1600 x 900
1600 x 1200
1680 x 1050
1920 x 1080
1920 x 1200
2560 x 1440

If your resolution is not here, drop us a line and we will make one for you.

As always, your comments are welcome.

–John

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“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” –Dr. Seuss

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I don’t know about the Drivel Starved Nation, but I am out of neurons. I can’t figure out how to trick you crazies anymore.

You don’t actually believe that do you?

We will post final Sneak Peek images of the CT-18 at the end of today. We also have some fun freebies for you as well.

Other News Dept:

We have a very low employee turnover here at Bridge City. Part of it has to do with our minimum salaries which start at $250K. Add in the 32 weeks of paid vacation and it is no wonder that these loonies hang around here forever. That said, our favorite spy, Natasha, is moving on to a brand new job in the marketing department of a printed circuit board company. We wish her the best, and if you want to drop her a parting line, I know she would love hearing from you. natasha@bridgecitytools.com. Her last day is, get this, Friday the 13th.

Now for those of you who participated in this totally hilarious and worthless CT-18 clue nonsense, we are presenting an award to a single Drivel Starved Nation member who impressed me the most. This is completely arbitrary, but what I like best about this award is that the rest of you are losers. How cool is that?

Customer Paul-Marcel, who hails from beer and donut land plays hockey. He created the rarest hockey jersey in the country–no, make that planet. It is a fitting (pun intended) tribute to the lack of neurons floating loosely amongst the Drivel Starved Nation–hence the number CT-17-1/2.

We asked Natasha to model it for us and we believe this is a perfect way to bid farewell to a loyal, valued and soon to be ex-employee. That said, she should shave more often…

The winner is Bob Metzger, and his guess, “some kind of expensive metal tool” is spot on and works for me. Bob, send us your shipping info and this jersey will be headed your way. Oh, and Natasha has agreed to include an autographed pic–congratulations! (FYI, no frame included and a billfold pic is extra.)

–John

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“Being crazy isn’t enough.” –Dr. Seuss

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This clue reveals one of two black chrome parts, and some other stuff for you to ponder.

One or two more clues tomorrow and then the reveal on Friday. The CT-18 will open for pre-order the last week of April.

Regarding the mystery of the CT-18…after reading the WAG’s from the Drivel Starved Nation, I had this scary thought… could it be possible that I am the only normal person on this blog?

–John

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“Adults are just obsolete children and the hell with them.” –Dr. Seuss

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Two more component to ponder. Seems to me Antarctica may be facing an overpopulation issue with all these cold guesses…

Clue #6 coming later today. Ponder away.

–John

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“Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.” –Dr. Seuss

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Today you get two parts to ponder. Some of you are going to be very good igloo builders someday…

For the record, a couple of you are now standing on thin ice–your guesses are warming up!

–John

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“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed. –Albert Einstein

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Yo Drivel Starved Nation! Just added an investment cast component to the pile. I don’t know how much longer this will stay a secret…

See the four stainless steel socket head cap screws? They are 1/4-20. FYI.

–John

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“Everything is a mystery, ourselves, and all things both simple and humble.”   – Giorgio Morandi

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Here is the second clue to ponder over the next couple of days…

Nothing is as it appears.

–John