Getting Started

[Mike Brewster]

Ok, I've never been a prolific poster, but nobody seems to want to get this started. Sooo...

The last couple of years I've done more remodeling than woodworking, but now I am trying to finishup a shadow box for my fathers military decorations and I've got a couple of rocking horses under way. The compound miters for the legs are kicking my tail. Nothing I can't handle...I just need to go out and work on them for more than 20 minutes at a time.

If I can get a digital camera, I'll get some design advice for a fireplace surround that I need to build. I've got some challanges to deal with that I could use some help with. Maybe I can post some pics later in the week.

What are y'all working on?

Mike

[Keith Outten]

Mike,

Here is a picture of a project I have been trying to find the time to complete for longer than I can remember. I have about 80 hours in Clyde now and it will probably take at least another 80 hours to finish him. Besides the woodworking I have to cut and install the hair and make/engrave the leather bridle/harness.

Clyde is my eighth rocking animal, there have been four burros, one goat, one bull and one mare plus a haywagon.

[Bud Duffy]

I am currently trying desperarly to get a cradle done for my new grandson who decided to come a month early,but now my new planer is giving me fits.

[Bob Lasley]

I understand the rush on the cradle. I too, have a grandson on the way, will be here around the end of May. My DIL (daughter-in-law) wants me to build a sleigh bed style crib. Needless to say, Grandpa wants to build the crib that his first grandson will sleep in.

I have been spending a fair amount of time installing new wiring in the shop and have several commission projects to get done, so most likely the crib will be a work til the last minute to get it done.

Good luck with the cradle and hope you get the planer straightened out.

Bob

[Ted Shrader]

My current project is a walnut buffet w/ hutch. Has been in progress for 12 years. No activity in the last 11 yr 11mo. It is so near finished it resided in the in the dining room after the last moved (1999). It even had stuff in the drawers. It is now back in the shop for finishing.

Just need the crown/dentil moudling around the top of the hutch. The top of the buffet cut to size and a couple of shelves made. Then the finishing can begin.

Ted

[Dave Crabbs]

I have been trying for a year to build a computer desk for myself. Bewteen doing work for my family and friends(I built a garden shed , trimmed out a kitchen and dinning room, and built a ice fishing house.) I finally found the time to start it. Seems like when I have some free time someone needs something done:confused:
Dave

[Joe Suelter]

I'm currently working on some red oak end tables and coffee table for LOML. My older brother just got a freebie lathe (old sears-see post below), and I'm helping him get started with that. Gave him a bunch of scraps to practice with. We need to nominate somebody for "Weekend Projects", I really enjoyed reading what everybody else was up to in the shop.

[Mike Brewster]

Keith,

I saw your animals on your web site several days ago. they look real interesting. It looks ike there's a lot of wood in them! I'd like to be able to do a bunch of stuff like that one day.

Ted,


Has been in progress for 12 years. !!!! I've never had a project take that long, but I've got a few that a might if I don't get busy!

Dave,

Have I mentioned that I'm a remodeler and I have alot of things that need to be done?

Happy woodworking,
Mike

[Tom Sweeney]

<p align="center"><font color="red"><b>I started building my 1st WW'ing project about 2 months ago.</b></font>
Of all things it is a 5" X 5" 3 sided box for holding coasters. It's made out of cherry. I've probably spent a couple of hours on it so far, including making a box joint jig. It hasn't turned out all that great - mainly because I'm using a very cheap wobble dado blade to do the box joints.

<p align="center"><b>That's my story & I'm sticking to it</b> :rolleyes:

I haven't been out in the shop for a few weeks cause it's been too cold. So my 5" x 5" box still isn't done. :(
<b>I'm thinking about wrapping the edges in maple to hide my mistakes - er I mean I might be making some design changes next time I'm out in the shop :rolleyes: </b><br>
When that's done I'm going to make some shop jigs & start on a router table.
I'm kind of like a bear I hibernate in the winter so I'll be more productive in the shop in the summer time.

[Keith Outten]

Heres a project I did awhile back, something in wood you don't see every day. This is a cherry plaque I engraved of two kids with the bull I built. The picture was taken at a local fair we attended and we made free digital pictures for everyone at the fair. The wooden plaque was engraved from the digital picture and hangs on the wall in my office.

[John Sanford]

Wiring my shop. Putting up lights and conduit, pulling wire, etc..

After that, I've got some cabinet doors to put the finish on, then it looks like I've got a commission for a modern dining table and coffee table coming my way.

[Bob Lasley]

Joe,

I would suggest we wait on "Weekend Projects" until we see if Ernie is going to show up and resume with that. Seems only fitting. If he doesn't, then someone else could do it. Or someone could do it until he does show up.


Keith,

I assume you have a laser engraving machine. That really looks cool.

Bob

[Kirk (KC) Constable]

Besides doing this for a living, I cleaned up around the shop a couple weeks ago and realized I have the following 'hobby projects' in progress:

1) A walnut 'entertainment center' that will probably just be a 'TV stand' if I ever get around to finsihing it...I haven't touched it in well over a year (and it's almost done).

2) A cherry bed. I ran across just enough 12/4 cherry to get all four legs out of several months ago. Legs are cut, mortises are cut for the hardware, and some sanding's been done...but now I need to go the lumberyard and buy material, so the legs are stacked on top of the TV stand until I do.

3) A pair of nitestands to go with the bed. Legs and side aprons are cut and dry assembled, leaned against a wall where I can see them everytime I'm in the shop and feel bad about it.

4) A cherry 'curio' clock that I started late last year when I made a mesquite one for sale. I figured it would be easier to do two at the same time. The mesquite one is in it's new home...and I promptly set the cherry one aside, in front of the nitestands.

4) A 'Shaker style' cherry frame/panel/glass cabinet to house LOML's growing collection of Boyd's Bears. Sides frames are assembled and stored with the nitestands and clock.

5) A cherry cradle for visiting grandchildren, which will also be used to hold larger teddy bears the rest of the time. The 'box' is complete but I just haven't come up with the right rocker/stand solution yet. I thought I knew what I wanted to do, but it just doesn't 'look right'. This one is most in the way, and at the top of the 'to finish' list.

6) A tile-top mesquite coffee table that I started building to take to a show last October. Obviously, I didn't take it. The tile is in the top, not grouted...and the legs are stacked on the TV stand.

Parts (panels/shelves, etc) for the bear cabinet, clock, and nitestands are glued up, sanded, and stacked on two Shaker footstools waiting on taping. Two other footstools are under the tablesaw extension table, and parts for still a couple more are put away somewhere where I 'won't forget where they are'. You probably know what that means.

I probably oughta try to get sumpin' done this weekend...

KC

[Tom Sweeney]

You got enough to keep you busy for 2 years there ( 5 if it were me :D ). i guess it's kind of like my web design business - I've been meaning to update my own site for about 3 years now but can't ever find the time.

<p align="center"><font size="4" color="green"><b>I've seen the curio clock on your web site - real nice design. :cool: </b></font>

[Tom Sweeney]

Keith,
Can you reproduce any picture or graphic with the laser engraver? Tha'ts really :cool: if you can.

Nice job on the plaque

[Jim Izat]

Hi All,

Thought I'd post up on my first dip in the creek. I, too am a pond refugee and really like what I see here and I'm anxious to "meet" the new folks over here and keep in touch with fellow ponders. I am currently closing in on a Mahogany and curly Maple frame and panel bed. Pictures below are a dry fit of the head board, and a panel from the footboard.

[Jim Izat]

The bed's posts are really straight although they look a bit curved in the image. Here also is a picture of one of the panels from the footboard. I didn't know you could only post one picture at a time. (still learning!)

Jim Izat

[John Longwitz]

Sounds a lot like my situation Mike. I've spent most of my free time fixin' on a 40 yr old house and setting up a decent shop in 10' X 15' former carport. I've got all the tools I need and made most of them mobile so I plan to start remodeling the kitchen soon. I will make all the cabinets (Mission style) and also do some cabinetry for the bathroom. No digital camera yet but it's in the plan.

[Randy Schaefer]

My oldest son was home a couple of weeks ago and he wanted/needed a small table to set a scuplture he had received on. This is what I came up with.

Otherwise starting on a large entertainment center/wall unit. Two small ash and walnut bedside stands and a contemporary chest with a couple of drawers from walnut and ash.

If thats not enough, we have decided I should have a web site so now I am learning how to do this. WWing is much easier.

Randy

[Keith Outten]

Tom,

The laser engraver works like a printer. I use Corel Draw to scan, edit and print to the engraver so just about any picture can be used. Pictures with lots of contrast work best and line art is really nice on wood, glass and mirrors.

I will have a laser woodworking forum here in a week or so, there isn't really a good place on the Internet to share laser information so I thought I would share with everyone the experience I have gained and hopefully there will be others who are interested in sharing as well. Most of the sites I have visited don't have information concerning getting a laser going from scratch, they are for advanced operators. Aaron and I have done some very cool stuff but we had to learn by trial and error. I might be able to save someone who is just getting started some time.

A laser in a workshop is just like any other tool, it takes time and practice to learn to use it efficiently but it is the ultimate woodworking tool.