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Thread: What was your first project?

  1. #1
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    What was your first project?

    I am wondering what everyone here made for their first project, not including high school shop projects. Pics would be wonderful! My first project was that shelf I made for my friend that I recently posted.

    Dan
    A flute without holes, is not a flute. A donut without a hole, is a Danish.

  2. #2
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    Mendham, New Jersey
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    Jewelry box for my wife. I used dark stain over cherry. What did I know??!!

  3. #3

    First Project

    Myy $200 magazine rack. It cost $35 for the wood and the rest for the speeding ticket getting the wood

  4. #4
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    Mishawaka, IN
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    My first one was a rocking horse for our grandaughter's 1st birthday. Pine with walnut stain and poly finish. I mostly remember the 5,000,000+ holes drilled for the yarn plugs for the mane and tail and her laughing the first time we sat her on it.
    "Where ignorance is bliss, 'Tis folly to be wise."
    -Thomas Gray-
    __________________________________________

  5. #5
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    I'm not sure; I don't remember very clearly that far back. I do know that my mother still has a wooden trivet I made some time in the late fifties, when I was in my early teens.

  6. #6
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    My grandpa's house...We tore down the old farm house (circa 1880) and built him a new one from below the ground up. It took us over a year and we did it all, from laying out the strings and digging the foundation to setting the recliner in front of the TV...concrete, electric, plumbing...the whole 9 yards. I was 17 (1972) and it was a GREAT learning experience from the original "Master Carpenter".

  7. #7
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    Conway, Arkansas
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    Well Dan...I'm trying to remember if we had 'lectricity then or not.!!

    The first thing I ever made outside of high school was an oversized cedar blanket chest for the LOML. Dovetails at each corner and it's big enough to hold all of here blankets and quilts. It's NOT for the faint of heart.!!!! Lot's of FIRST's on that project!!!! I must have made at least 9,000,000,000,000 mistakes before I ever got it completed.

    OK....I found a picture.....
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by Dennis Peacock; 07-05-2004 at 7:07 PM.
    Thanks & Happy Wood Chips,
    Dennis -
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  8. #8
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    My first woodworking project that I did all by myself was a bird house built when I was 7. My dad advised me but never touched any part of the work. And, birds actually occupied the structure so I guess it must have been OK.

    My first construction project was an extension to a barn. I was working as hired help on a farm when I was 16 and we had a bumper crop of grain, so much so that it became clear that we would not have room to store it. All the farms in the region were very much minimal-cash, mostly barter, and very much self sufficient. We cut some trees in the bush, hitched up horses to haul out the logs, took them to a do-it-yourself saw mill, then built a two story timber frame extension about 20' by 30'. I exhibitted enough aptitude that I was permantely assigned to the barn work -much easier than stooking wheat, mucking out pigs, spreading manure, etc.

  9. #9
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    Miramichi,New Brunswick
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    My first ww project was a spice rack copied from my Mother's , ironicly for her. I don't think she ever used it , but it still hangs in her back entry. I should probably take a pic for posterity.
    I hope things improved !
    Fred

  10. #10
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    The first thing i made after the house was a rocking elepant, plans from the Armour Co.
    Earl

  11. #11
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    Huntsville, AL (The Sun and Fun Capital of The South)
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    My first project shown below. Man !! it sure did rain on my gloat
    Attached Images Attached Images

  12. #12
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    I know you said you were old enough to bus tables at the last supper, but helping out with the Ark? geesh!
    _Aaron_
    SawmillCreek Administrator

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ken Salisbury
    My first project shown below. Man !! it sure did rain on my gloat
    Do you have any leftover Gopherwood? That would make an interesting piece.
    A flute without holes, is not a flute. A donut without a hole, is a Danish.

  14. #14
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    West Lafayette, Indiana
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    I built a series of small cherry keepsake boxes for my (future at the time) wife to give her bridesmaids, plus one that the ring bearer used to carry the rings in. They were all a little different, but they all had box joints at the corners. I was pretty proud of them.

  15. #15
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    "Officially", I suppose, it would have been the speakers I constructed for a religious organization I helped to found. I donated the audio gear from my "collection", but had to make the speakers to fit the space. That said, I consider the cherry desk I made Dr. SWMBO before we even thought about getting married my "first real project" since it was the first one out of solid stock, my prefered material.

    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

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