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2021 Surprise Swap

33K views 2K replies 37 participants last post by  EarlS 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Calling All LumberJocks
It's time again for another swap. The last swap of 2020 is coming to an end and we are looking ahead to 2021 and decided to start it off with a Surprise. This time around I have decided that I would take the reins and herd the cats. In regular standing, I have completely ripped off the theme intro, rules, etc. format from the previous swaps. I would hate to break tradition here.
The theme for this swap is a SURPRISE! No, the theme isn't a surprise the theme is a surprise….we could go on all day about that. You can make ANYTHING YOU WANT. I was going to limit the size but that's just going to hinder one's imagination.
A Note: This is in no way officially sponsored by, run by, or otherwise tied to "LumberJocks" as a company or organization, or to any of the parent or sibling holdings thereof. It is simply run by those of us who participate on LumberJocks.
Basic Details
If you have not participated in one of our LumberJocks Shop Made Swaps before, Welcome! It's relatively simple; each participant makes their swap item(s) and will get a name and address via e-mail a few weeks before the shipping deadline to where they will be mailing their entry. Postage is to be paid by the sender. The LumberJock who you're shipping to, as well as the one who is shipping to you, will be completely random. Unless there are special circumstances - like the need for international shipping - I will not influence who anyone is paired with. The swaps are a great way for anyone to learn little bit more or refine a skill that they already have and share it with your fellow LumberJocks.
Rules for this swap
- Teaser shots are allowed, but please do not post full in-progress or finished pictures until after the reveal date. Remember we want everyone to be surprised when they receive their package!
- A progress pic (sent to me) will be required NO LATER THAN the due date listed near the end of this post. The progress pic needs to show that you've put sufficient time and work into the project to be able to complete it by the ship date. I know things come up so if you don't have a progress pic by the required date but are confident you'll still be able to complete your tool(s) by the ship date, just e-mail me BEFORE the progress pic due date and we'll make arrangements. Anyone who doesn't e-mail me a progress pic or let me know why they haven't by 11:59 pm EST on the due date WILL BE DROPPED from the list of participants.
-Participation or at least checking in at the thread is a must is helps to let us know that things are happening and progress is being made and most of the time it is just fun. I would ask that participants at least check in once a week and just say something, for all I care it could be "something" just keep the thread family friendly and relatable to all.

To start off the year of swaps you can make ANYTHING YOU WANT as long as it fits in Santa's gift sack which has no limits. I was going to limit the size but that's just going to hinder one's imagination, so anything you wish to make and send off to some random person in some other part of the country or world is fair game. Bonus Items are completely optional and are not in any way required or expected. In past swaps, some folks include an extra "goody" along with their swap items. Bonus items do not have to be related to the swap theme, or even woodworking for that matter. If you like to turn pens and want to throw one in the box, great. Maybe you brew your own beer and want to send your recipient a bottle or twelve, go for it! Nobody's expecting anything other than swap items though, so don't feel any obligation whatsoever to add anything extra. It's just something that I think has kind of evolved in past swaps so I wanted to address it up front.
How to sign up
Post below letting me know that you are in and then send an e-mail (LJSwap2021 at gmail.com) containing ALL of the following information:
- LumberJocks Username
- Real Name
- Email address
- Shipping Address, including country
- Phone Number (USA - optional /International - A MUST)
- Let me know if you are not willing to ship internationally (so I can make sure I pair any non-US participants accordingly)
I won't send a confirmation e-mail but will be keeping a list of confirmed participants below that I will update daily (weekdays). If you don't see your name on the list within a day or two of e-mailing me, shoot me another e-mail or PM so I don't miss anybody.
Progress pictures will also be sent to the above e-mail address no later than the due date given below.
Your recipient's name and address will be sent to you from the same e-mail address so make sure it's not caught by your spam filter.
Important dates
In order to participate, you need to adhere to the dates below. Failure to do so will result in you getting dropped from the swap. If you can't make one of the dates, please make sure to notify me immediately
- REGISTER FOR SWAP : Friday January 15, 2021 (lots of time to figure out if you can handle the work load)
- PROGRESS PICTURE :Friday February 12, 2021by 11:59 PM EST
- SHIP DATE : Monday March 15, 2021
- REVEAL DATE : Monday March 22, 2021. No final pics until this date. Let the recipient post a pic or two before the sender posts their "formal" pics and project entry.
Other Stuff:
When you post your projects, use the tag "2021surpriseswap" so we can all easily find the projects in one spot.
This is a collaborative learning experience for all of us so make use of this forum thread to share knowledge and ideas as well asking questions and getting advice. These swaps are about the journey more so than the destination!
(Thanks to Ripthorn and then Mark Kronell and then Mosquito and then HokieKen - much of the verbiage (including this) Dave KellyCrafts was plagiarized from their posts on the previous swaps)
(Unless there is a shipping SNAFU - then please wait for your recipient to get it and post a few pics)

Looking forward to a fun and exciting way to start the new year.

Participants
clieb91 P S R
craftersdaughter P S R
DavePolaschek P S R
Keebler1 P S R
Woodmaster1 P S R
BigShooter P S R
ColoradoMtn P S R
drsurfrat P S R
hairy P S R
stripit P S
Tom Regnier P S R
MikeACG P S R
EarlS P S R
Grained P S R
OzarkSawdust P S R
Recycle1943 P S
 
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#2 ·
For those of you who have never done a swap, I highly recommend it. I just completed my first one, and it was a hoot. With the project being ANYTHING YOU WANT this is your time to join. Just do it, you won't regret it.
 
#13 ·
What a turn out considering I hadn't even posted over on the thread yet. Awesome, going to get the emails this evening and get everything updated.

Brian, I'll keep you posted would be great to have you on board.

CtL
 
#16 ·
So it won t be a Jefferson bookcase?

Wouldn't THAT be a surprise!

That probably won't be my main item, but maybe I'll package whatever else gets built inside a Jefferson bookcase for shipping.

- Dave Polaschek
I know, A Jefferson sandpaper storage rack. ;-) If you aren't already, you are going to be sick of Jefferson bookshelves by the time you are done.

For anyone who doesn't know what were talking about, check out Dave's blogs. I think that he only has a couple dozen books shelves to go.
 
#17 ·
Nathan, it helps that I'm doing other projects along the way. Picture frames, gift boxes, shop furniture… plus I've got 7 drawers to make for my boring tools till, and then about 50 drawers for the hardware cabinet I want to build.

One of the hardest things right now is getting utility wood for drawer sides. I ordered a bunch of 1/4 poplar over a month ago, and haven't see it yet. Probably should start bugging the vendor about that. But here in NM, poplar is almost as expensive as oak. And birch and sycamore just aren't to be found. When things get less plague-y out there, I'll probably be making a trip back to the Midwest just to haul a pickup full of lumber back here.
 
#20 ·
I ordered a bunch of 1/4 poplar over a month ago, and haven't see it yet. Probably should start bugging the vendor about that.

- Dave Polaschek
Have you checked HD or Lowe's? Our local ones both have a decent selection in thicknesses of 1/4", 1/2" and 3/4" in various lengths and widths. I just checked one of the Lowe's in Santa Fe online and it says that they have it in stock and HD will often ship to the store for free.
 
#21 ·
HD will probably be forced to close for having too many Rapid Responses (employee with COVID, NM does contact tracing on all employees. Four rapid responses in two weeks, and the business has to close for two weeks). Plus, I'm done with seeing them claim to have something in the store, then going there to find out they don't actually have it.

Lowe's might be a possibility, but with 0 hospital beds available in New Mexico (there was one in Las Vegas two days ago, but it's full now), we're trying not to go out unless we absolutely must.
 
#23 ·
Earl just give in and send your registration email now. You know youll wind up doing it anyways

- Keebler1
My indecision is kind of a teaser. I'm fairly certain there won't be a complimentary dice mallet since the only one left is a reject. I managed to drill a pip hole in the wrong spot.

I do have a bunch of exotic woods that are begging for a project. Hmmmm???
 
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