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.
Makita Cordless Jig Saw, Electric Orbital | Variable Speed Bare-Tool BJV180Z
55 sec read
Makita’s 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Jig Saw matches the performance of some of the best corded electric jig saws. Keep some extra battery packs handy and you’ll even use this DC-powered saw within reach of a wall socket.
The many advantages of the Makita Bare-Tool Jig Saw include less noise, less vibration, and the lowest weight in its class — only 6.1 pounds with the battery pack installed. Three different orbital settings adjust the motion of the blade for better cutting in different materials, but a fourth setting converts the efficient orbital strokes to a simple vertical movement. If you need to cut a squared notch, the Makita produces a true vertical kerf.
With a one-inch stroke length, the maximum depth of cut in wood reaches 5-5/16 inches with the longest possible blade. With the right metal cutting blade, the portable Makita can handle mild steel 3/8 inches thick. For even more precision, the variable speed trigger control shifts through a speed range from 0 to 2600 strokes per minute. Set the speed right, and you won’t burn the temper out of the blade.
Most adjustments on the machine are easy one-handed operations that don’t require tools, but an allen wrench is required if you use the saw for beveled cuts. Loosen the base with the wrench to shift the sole plate of the saw to the desired angle. Guides support the blade near the work surface in any saw position to keep the cut accurate.
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.
Makita’s 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Jig Saw matches the performance of some of the best corded electric jig saws. Keep some extra battery packs handy and you’ll even use this DC-powered saw within reach of a wall socket.
