Source of Woodworking Projects to Make

[Al Launier]

I'm basically a hobbyist woodworker that has a reasonable shop with a decent amount of equipment and enough experience to use them. In the past I've focused on, and have made a good number of items as gifts: jewelry boxes, knife blocks, cutting boards, trivets, Christmas ornaments, toys, etc, all on the small side, i.e. usually less than 2' in any direction.

I prefer to work with poplar, hard maple, black walnut, mahogany, white/red oak, and ash. I’m not interested in making product for income - this is strictly a retirement pastime thing. I've also made a bunch of jigs that are used primarily on the table saw, router, bandsaw, and drill press. They just sit there ready to be used.

As crazy as this sounds, my dilemma is that I've run out of ideas and am looking for a source of new ideas & projects, something that is challenging in terms of design, joinery and craftsmanship. My daughter is about to give birth to a son, and I ran up a list of things to make: crib, toy chest, rocking horse, etc, but it came back that hard edges & corners of wood aren’t as forgiving as the well round corners and softer surfaces of plastic children furniture & toys.

I’ve read many woodworking magazines, but have come up with only a few projects this way. I realize I’m making this sound like an impossible request, and am embarrassed to ask as it makes me sound like an unimaginative person, but any suggestions for projects or online woodworking sources that focus on this type of woodworking? I’m going crazy not spending time in the shop and I’m not ready to sell off my equipment yet & give up woodworking.

[Jim Koepke]

Have you made every piece of furniture and cabinetry needed in your home?

How about a few Adirondack chairs or benches for the back yard? A few low tables to hold food or drinks then have a party. You will likely have a few guests that just love the chairs.

Have you strolled through the Neanderthal Haven pages? There are always a few build projects there. You do not have to be all hand tool to make something similar like a kitchen island or a step back cabinet.

A new child coming would love a wooden rocking horse in a couple of years. They would also like a play table and some chairs. They might like a toy box or even some wooden toys. How about a wooden airplane to hang in their room.

A lot of ideas can be had by watching programs like The Woodwright's shop or Woodworking for Mere Mortals. Woodwright's shop is mostly hand tool and WWMM is mostly machine. Both of these have given me ideas for my own projects.

jtk

[Jim Koepke]

Another thought...

Those plastic rocking horses, toy chests and play tables will likely last long enough for one or two children's growth years.

Make them well in wood and their grandchildren will likely be able to play with them.

jtk

[Al Launier]

Good suggestion & thought Jim.

No need for any furniture inside, but the Adirondack chairs sound good. A rocking horse later on is what I was thinking of. I have one in mind, but that's 2-3 years out.

I would like to leave my "brand" on something wood for posterity and plastic doesn't cut it.

Thank you.

[Lee Schierer]

Since you are about to become a Grandpa, there are lots of options for wood projects. Right of the start, you can make a changing table that can convert to a child's dresser later on. This first one has a removable top panel for the changing table that lifts off when you want it to be just a dresser.
nathan dresser.jpg
or
drestab1.jpg
or
Make wooden toys. Kids love them and they can be challenging to make. Take a look at the "Great All American Wooden Toy Book" for some ideas.
fa18.jpg
Wooden edges can be well rounded and even padded for the clumsy learning to walk years.

Lee

[Stan Calow]

clocks. Look at Klock-it site for ideas.

[Bruce Wrenn]

Make a high chair that becomes a youth chair. I've made them for my first born grand kids, of each child, with a second for the two grand daughters. The plans came from Woodsmith, issue 57, if memory serves me correct. The tray is removable, allowing Junior to use it at the table as he grows. Assembly is with conformat screws, allowing it to be stored "flat" between grand kids.

[W Craig Wilson]

I stumbled onto Alan Carr's website a few years back and got fired up for a while over his work. I went down to Fredricksburg for his seminar one year, but have not tackled a first project yet. Search for texashorsemaker

[W Craig Wilson]

clocks. Look at Klock-it site for ideas.

... and have a look at Clayton Boyer's wild clock designs.

[Rick Moyer]

I think if I were expecting a grandchild I might consider trying a piece of whimsical furniture:
https://www.google.com/search?q=curv...EIfDAD#imgrc=_

[Robert Engel]

All the items you mentioned have been made of wood for generations and still are.

You can't raise a child in a rubber room.....

[Barry McFadden]

Somtimes when I'm looking for things to make that might be a little different I search something like "unique wooden items" or "unusual wooden gifts" and see what comes up...

[Tom Bender]

Recently completed a wall cabinet to display my wife's collection of figurines. Purple heart, Ebony and leaded glass. That took a while and I learned some things.

[Thomas L Carpenter]

Al, you can always make stuff to donate to the charity or charities of your choice. The things I make these days aren't very large due to an arthritic back but small tables, clocks, bowls, cutting boards etc are always welcome at craft shows and the proceeds can be donated. Several of us in the area get together and have a craft booth for Special Olympics but there are many worthy causes. We usually sell things below cost because the object is not to make a profit but rather to keep us in the shop and provide needed cash to those that can benefit from it.

[glenn bradley]

I end up with thin scrap from resawing.

Fish Bank (1).jpg

And thick stock from off-cuts.

Fish Bank (2).jpg

Draw a simple shape.

Fish Bank (3).jpg

Trace it onto a scrap of thick stock, cut it out and cut out the center like so.

Fish Bank (4).jpg

Make a sandwich with thin stock and you have a bank.

Fish Bank (5).jpg

Here's another.

horse bank (3).jpg