Poll... Biggest Project and Most Fun...

[Dan Smith]

I am really enjoying this forum, especially hearing and seeing (pics) of what other people are working on. So I propose a poll:

What is the biggest wood working project you have done?

and

What was the most enjoyable wood working project you have done?


I will start:

The biggest was my former boat. Sold her this past spring:

She went from this:
http://wreck-finder.com/fullview.jpg

to this in one winter:
http://wreck-finder.com/onthemove7.jpg


This was probably the most fun:
http://wreck-finder.com/rockinghorse1.JPG

Just because it was a toy for my good friends new baby.

So let's see them???????


dan

[Bob Lasley]

Dan,

That is quite a vessel. I don't think my biggest can compare. My biggest project was a 10 drawer oak filing cabinet, builtin desk, two hanging bookshelves and a printer cabinet that I built for a former employer. Sorry, no pics of that project.

My most fun was completed recently for my new grandson. Pic below.

Bob

[Dan Smith]

Bob,

That crib is beautiful! Very nice work. The boat was probably easier than any piece of furniture as she is not finished bright except for a few small places in the interior. So many gaps are filled with epoxy/sawdust and then painted.

Again, really nice work and thanks for sharing.

dan

[Barbara Gill]

My largest project was a walnut and beech traditional workbench.
The most fun is turning in general.

[Earl Reid]

Dan,

The biggest project in size, was probably the cherry china hutch
I made for my sister in law. I can't really say what the most enjoyable project was. Maybe the slant top desk for our son, or the walnut blanket chest I made for our Daughter (that was the first time I made dovetails by hand. Many things come to mind, 3 cradles, curio cabinets, many toys, etc.
Nice subject , nice memories. Earl :)
:) :)

[Jim Baker]

My biggest project is still in progress. It is a 12 foot wall filled with cabinets and display shelves in the dining room. There is a full width lower cabinet with a combination of drawers and cabinet doors. The top has a section in the middle that reaches all the way from the counter top to the ceiling. It is open adjustable display shelving. On each side is a smaller cabinet with glass doors and glass adjustable shelves. The two side pieces also have 5 spice drawers on each one. there are several halogen lights to highlight the displayed items.

We have a similar project started in our office.

Two projects come to mind in the most fun category. One is the oak fireplace we built. It has four raised panels on each end. It is the first thing guests see when they enter our front door and seems to make quite an impression.

The other most fun project is the pen that I built with Ken's instruction at the end of Pond Picnic in Indiana this spring. He was an excellent teacher. Also, it's not often that I complete a project the same day I start it, so finishing something in under a half hour is pretty cool for me. Thanks, Ken.

I wish I had a digital camera so I could post pictures of some of these things.

[Dominic Greco]

My favorite project was the Red Oak Armoire (Woodsmith #67) that my Dad and I built for my Mom in 1999. Not only was it a fantastic gift for her, but it really gave me a chance to have some great fun with my Dad.

It took us nearly 3 months (working weekends) to finish it. And there were times I thought we'd never get it done in time for her birthday. But we did.

I still can't believe we moved it out of my old basement woodshop 3 days before the flood waters from Hurricane Floyd covered everything in it!

Now when I look at it over their house, I remember each and every piece and what we went through to make it. Its like a piece of my Dad is still there. It is one of my fondest memories.

See ya,
Dominic

[Terry Hatfield]

Dan,

Hhhhmmmm........

Biggest vertically was my first real furniture project. A china cabinet for my wife.

<IMG SRC="http://www.terryhatfield.com/china.jpg">

Biggest horizontially was my bench. This was probably the most fun also.

<IMG SRC="http://www.terryhatfield.com/new_bench_lf.jpg">

Biggest over all would have to be the bed I made for our master bedroom.

<IMG SRC="http://www.terryhatfield.com/bed1.jpg">

Great post. It was fun.

Thanks,

Terry

[Dennis Peacock]

Well, since you asked.......My three boys needed new beds and we just didn't have the money to buy three new beds like what we wanted. The same style beds, purchased at a local furniture store would have cost us $1,500 for all three beds. I made the three beds for just under $550 total cost.

<img src="http://home.alliancecable.net/~woodworker/boys_bunkbeds.jpg">
<BR>
<BR>
These are the two beds we "bunked" for our two youngest boys. The ladder was a good challenge but turned out pretty good...IMHO..!!<BR><BR>
<img src="http://home.alliancecable.net/~woodworker/samuels_bed.jpg">
<BR><BR>
This is one we did not "bunk" since our oldest son wanted to have his own bed all to his self. There were a total of 468 individual pieces for the three beds combined. Finished with 4 coats of Deft Gloss Lacquer. Oh yea, all this was made out of local poplar and is all natural colors of the wood....no stain or oil of any kind.

[Rob Glynn]

My biggest was a 20' Flying 15 sailing boat made from moulded ply over a form. That was over 40 years ago.
The best fun are the spur of the moment jobs that I do for my kids and grandkids, particularly when they are in the shop to "help". The most recent was a billy-cart made from scrap. Grandson #2 thought it was great but my wife doesn't like pushing the laundry trolly around now that it has no wheels.

[Jim Becker]

My biggest? The kitchen renovation (http://sawsndust.com/p_kitchen.htm) presently in progress is definitely the biggest! The most enjoyable is probably my first real piece of furniture that got me hooked on this activity...the cherry work/computer desk I made for SWMBO about 5 years ago. It was based on a Thos Moser design, with size modifications. A picture of the desk is shown below along with the original "plans"...those of you with astute vision will notice that the apron changed from the plan to the real project.

[Terry Hatfield]

Hey Jim,

Neat!!!! Do you keep all those kinds of things???? I do. I have desk drawer full of drawings and doodles, just in case I might need them. :confused:

Probably never will, but I just can't stand to throw them away.

t

[Eric Apple - Central IN]

The most fun was a dining table that I made with my wife 17 years ago. We still have and use that table every day. The biggest overall - probably a bedroom suite. The biggest single piece - conference tables. Second most fun - putting the top coat finish on anything, hoosier cabinets, adirondack chairs, formal chairs, designing anything, smiles and handshakes when the job is over and the list goes on forever.

Last on the list is routing western red ceder, preceeded slightly by sanding, preceeded only slightly by glue ups....

I really like cuttin' wood and sticking it back together...

[Jim Becker]

Neat!!!! Do you keep all those kinds of things???? I do. I have desk drawer full of drawings and doodles, just in case I might need them.

Sometimes I do try to keep these scribblings as I have the good intentions of posting CAD drawings on my site for the various projects...in my copious free time, of course. This particular one just happened to get preserved accidental, however. It was stuck in one of my woodworking books as a quasi-bookmark and when I was rearranging my office not long ago, it fell out, literally, into my hand.

I have a file that I keep them in as well as a file for pictures I tear out of catalogs for potential projects down the road. (Many of which are out of the Pottery Barn catalog...)

[Richard McComas]

I don't have pictures of my "biggest" that are real handy but that would be a kitchen project.

My most fun and challenging would be the Hybrid Bonnet Top Highboy.
For some of the Badge Pond group this this picture will be a repeat but since the original poster ask:

[Bartee Lamar]

I guess my biggest is starting with nothing and actually have a basic shop. TS, BS, DP, CS, Router, VSROS, Work Bench, DW733 planer, etc.

But I can cut wood now and spend many hours in my basement working on the next improvement to my shop. And eventually build that baby cradle for my first grandson.

And many hours reading and looking at what everyone else has done.

Pictures and new website coming soon....

[Byron Trantham]

My biggest project was also my first paying job. It's a 15' long, floor to ceiling bookcase with a break front in the middle with glass doors. Man i had those units everywhere in the house.

[Carl Eyman]

I didn't have this image digitized when the post first came up. Since then I've tried to get a "before" picture, but haven't found one yet.

This was a 74 ft oyster boat a group of us bought in 1988 at age 62 yrs. (the boat that is). It was just a hull. that is, nothing rose above the deck. The ony things below decks were the shaft, propeller, and rudder. There were three of us working partners. I was elected ship's carpenter, chief engineer, and cleaner of the head. Most of the woodwork was recycled cypress from demolished homes.

Looking at the doors from bow to stern (same on other side): The first two were staterooms with double decker bunks, the next a head with shower, the next two led into a 14' x 17' salon with a drop leaf table that seated 14. Abaft (that's back of, for lubbers) the fifth door was a galley with gas stove, refrig, sink, and a center island with 4 drawers that really was the engine cover. And abaft that where you see the porthole was a stateroom with double bed. At the very stern you can see the taff rail with 26 turned spindles.

All the doors were shop made from cypress as were the window frames.

Oh, the wheel house had an upolstered bench that made up into a double bed. We could sleep 12 plus however many wanted to sleep on the deck.

Now ask me which project was the most fun - I'd have to say the dining room furniture I've posted lately. But on this one I sure got to know my two principal partners well over a four year period. Carl

[Jim Young]

This is a TV cabinet that I made for my Mom. She couldn't find anything comercially that would fit her TV and the space alloted. I told her if she would flip the bill for the wood I would give it a shot. This was my second furniture piece so there were lots of things that I learned. The whole thing is made out of cherry.

[Roger Turnbough]

Since I already have a pic on a post here, I will just paste in a link,

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?threadid=3088

This was my biggest and most fun project by far. Being able to work with my youngest was the biggest thrill.

Roger

[Duane M Swensen]

My biggest project would have to be our kitchen cabinets the most fun and challenging would be the Portland Cutter pictured below.I had enough of an old one to base the patterns and dimensions off of and the rest was based on some research. I did not do the painting or upholstery. That was done by pro shops.

[Carl Eyman]

That is a doozie! Well done. Carl

[Chris DiCiaccio]

Well, here is the biggest so far. It's a solid Cherry King size Bed:
<img src="http://members.aol.com/woodwk/clb1852.jpg">
<img src="http://members.aol.com/woodwk/clb5852.jpg">
<BR>
And here is the most fun. It's a 6ft Credenza with reeded glass doors and CanaryWood for the top.
<img src="http://members.aol.com/woodwk/SOFATBL1.JPG">
<img src="http://members.aol.com/woodwk/SOFATBL3.JPG">

[D.McDonnel "Mac"]

Hello everybody,

Haven't posted in a while but have lurked on an occasional basis. This question is intriguing and makes me ponder the past projects. The most fun is hard because I've had fun with a lot of projects but helping my boys with their pinewood derby cars or my daughter build a swing for her Barbie has to be near the top of the list.

The biggest .......... well I have always said my new shop was the biggest woodworking project I had ever done and I'm not inclined to change that opinion now! This is an old shot of the interior before the wood floor is put down. That's me and my two boys.

Mac

[STEVE PHILLIPS]

My complements on your vessel. Beautyfull. In the pics I can see you.re a mastercraftsman. The rocking horse is enjoyable to look at and makes me smile. I,ve been woodworking for many years. I see the horse is made from red oak,but can't see the grain in the saddle. Is it basswood? Never took time to take pics of my results ( at that time there where no digital cameras), I guess that is my loss. But I do have a mental picture of the smiles of the peaple that I build the projects for. To me that keeps me young. I will purchase a digital camara and send you some pics. My biggest project was a 7 foot grandfather clock. I saw one that belong to my grandfather in Germany that was hand made before the second world war. I made a mental picture of it at the age of twelve. At the age of 42, I dicided to try and duplicat it. It took more than a year, mainly because of the many mistakes I made in the prosses. The only power tool used was a tablesaw. Averything was done by hand. Now you know why it took so long and why so many mistakes where made. I gave it to my folks as an aniversary gift. I still remember their smiles. My most enjoyable project was and still is, making hand made toys for children. I hope to here from you again as a fellow mastercraftsman/woodwrker. Can I have a picture of the front profile of the rocking horse. Have a very nice day.
Steve

[mike malone]

Dan,

That is quite a vessel. I don't think my biggest can compare. My biggest project was a 10 drawer oak filing cabinet, builtin desk, two

hi bob
nice job on the crib!!
BTW...what sort of joint did you use to secure the end panels to the corner posts??
thanks
mike

nice to see guys posting photos of their stuff

[Lynn Sonier]

I was thinking of posting a picture of MY biggest project but, after seeing all the pictures you guys posted, forget it.!

[warthog5]

There's some mighty fine looking projects to look at here. Well done guy's.

This is the latest project that I just finished.

http://www.troutwagon.com/Nautical/SwampWitch/SwampWitch1.htm


http://www.troutwagon.com/Nautical/SwampWitch/images/test1.jpg

[Bruce Page]

There's some mighty fine looking projects to look at here. Well done guy's.

This is the latest project that I just finished.

Well done! Your step-by-step photos were very interesting. There sure is a lot of work that goes into building a boat!

By the way, gotta name? Everyone around here uses their real name – it’s one of the things that make this place special.

[Mike Evertsen]

my biggest was the carpentry was my shop,,my biggest woodworking has to be the entertainment centers I build,,,I have built this and two others and working on one now that is three sections,,,

[Dave Brandt]

My largest is probably my son's bed. Not sure if it was the most fun, but I did learn alot about veneering. I'm not sure about the most fun, but I did learn a few more cuss words on this horsey project!

[Greg Scott]

I haven't posted much but thought I would chime in here since there are so many wonderful projects people have done. This is the biggest project for me so far. It is the Rockler crib, daybed, fullbed combo I made for my granddaughter. It was a great project and a great learning tool.

[Randy Schaefer]

seems like I dont get to build anything for myself anymore. The largest project and the most fun would be this jewelry store I finished two years ago this month. Four design changes before I ever cut wood, they could not make up their mind so I made it up for them. they were going to change the overall design again and I said no can do, started cutting wood yesterday. It turned out nice and the owners were thrilled.

[Carl Eyman]

You say you started to cut wood yesterday and it's finished today? Speedy Gonzales! Carl

[Randy Schaefer]

No the store was supposed to be ready to open around the first week of November 2001 and with the changes they kept making I could see it wasn't going to happen, so about a month or six weeks before I needed to be done I told the lady no more changes because I had started already and they went for it.

I cant hardly tie my shoes in a day imagine trying to build something in a day. eh eh eh eh.

Randy

[Ace Karner]

My biggest is a hope chest of oak
May favorit is a keepsake box of maple I made for my MIL, I used wall tiles for the panels