Woodworking
The Staub Mantle
It’s been a bit crazy around here. Work (at my “real job”) has been hectic and busy …a good thing…, I’ve started back to school to finally finish a software engineering degree …another good thing…, and now I’ve been contacted by a designer specializing in fireboxes and mantles who’s sending work my way …a very … Continue reading
“Growth Rings” Serving Tray
It’s been a very busy summer and I opted to spend most of my free time with my family rather than in the shop. Other than a couple cutting boards (after seeing all the cool ones posted at lumberjocks.com in the past few months I just had to try a few myself!), I really haven’t … Continue reading
Finally Complete
It’s been difficult finding time to complete this project. When you come home after work to two toddlers, a baby and an exhausted wife, it’s extremely difficult to then suggest you’d like to head out to the shop for a couple hours! “Disappearing” into the shop on weekends can be equally problematic. Nevertheless, we worked … Continue reading
One Tough Customer
Now that he’s arrived, I need to get crackin’ on a crib for our latest addition. As with the cribs I built for Annalise and Sean, I wanted to use an “off the shelf” plan to ensure it complies with the latest safety standards as well as to make it easier to fit it with … Continue reading
Dead Flat
I love my “new” drum sander. I purchased the used machine for the purpose of sanding shop-cut veneers and inlay woods. However, with a 23-1/2″ capacity, it is capable of so much more. I first cut my teeth with this thing on the side panels. Now it was time to glue up the top — … Continue reading
Drawers
Labor Day weekend my wife took the kids up to the family cabin for a couple days. I spent most of this time in the shop working on the drawers. For this dresser I had designed the drawers with large through dovetails. Since I don’t own a decent dovetailing jig that allows for custom size … Continue reading
Face Frame Installed
OK, so I “cheated.” I typically assemble face frames with pocket screws. It’s simple, fast and strong enough. Since this face frame is composed of 1″ x 3/4″ members, pocket screws seemed a bit weak to me — I’d only be able to use a single screw in each member, which would allow it to … Continue reading
Gluing up the Carcass
The Day Begins I started the day by marking out and cutting the slots for the biscuits into the inside faces of the sides and back. Following this, I decided to “rehearse” the glue up of the main carcass — the sides, back and bottom front apron. After yesterday’s “flip” I have to admit to … Continue reading
Legs shaped, sides assembled and Ouch!
Construction Begins… In between trips to the zoo, the Children’s Museum and backyard “play dates” with the kids, I’ve logged some decent shop time on this project the past couple weekends. Last weekend I dimensioned the lumber and assembled the two cherry and walnut frame-and-panel sides. Due to a misaligned rip fence, I wound up … Continue reading
My New Big Honkin’ Machine
I love craigslist. Around the same time I begain the planning for my new shop, I started using “igoogle” for my browser homepage. I also discovered a couple cool “craigslist” widgets for igoogle that display search results for preconfigured searches on your homepage. So, for example, if I’m considering the purchase of, say, a new … Continue reading