What did you do in your shop today?

So last night I finished (all but the handles) putting some drawers under 1/2 of a workbench. Bought 10 sets of drawer slides and built the drawers out of 1/2" plywood. Not the good birch stuff, just the normal BBS stuff so they look kind of rough.

IMG_20140625_061243.webp

I did just have some 1/2 shelves with plastic storage buckets in that area before. The wide drawer at the top as to take advantage of a mistake. I built this bench to put the DeWalt Miter saw in the center. Took measurements and set up the center so the saw would fit down in and the bench top would be level with the saw 'table'. Then, after it was built, realized that I wouldn't be able to turn the saw at all so I had to mount it to the top. So I added raised areas on both side of the bench to complete the flat work surface. Then didn't want to waste the space so I added drawers on both sides (the one with the handles - one just like it on the other side.)

During construction I found it much easier, once I had the first one installed, to cut a couple of spacers for placing all the other cabinet slides in and a spacer to place the drawer slides as well. Much, much faster than measuring each one and much less likely to have one be off. Or else they'd all be off - but I was careful the first time :)

It's not going to win any prizes in the Home and Garden show, but I now have 10 drawers that are about 12" x 24" x 5". Now we'll have to see what I'll put in them and if I need to build organizers to go inside them. And if I need to buy a labeler :)

IMG_20140625_061243.webp
 
Haven't really been able to spend any time out in the shop for a few weeks now. I've spent a few minutes here and there doing a little clean up and putting tools away. I didn't fully clean it, because the next time I have time to spend out there, I'm making sawdust. It's also been either too hot or too humid to spend time out there, plus I've been extremely busy with other things.

However, tomorrow morning, I'm headed out there! I will hopefully get to spend a good amount of time in the shop tomorrow, especially since my wife and son will be gone for a good portion of the day. I'm thinking that tomorrow I will start on my workbench build! After the bench build, then I'll move on to a few other shop projects, and then I'll be fully operational in the shop again! This not being able to really do any woodworking has been getting to me. Most of my shop time since moving in has involved setting things up, moving things, painting, wiring, organizing, etc - no actual woodworking - so I can't wait to be working on projects again! Since the lathe is set up now, I might even try and turn my first pen tomorrow and/or a few bottle openers!
 
Yesterday I turned my first pen and started my workbench build. Pics of both have been posted elsewhere. Today I'm hoping to start assembling the workbench base.
 
Cleaned up.
 
I worked on a few peppermills that I owe on trades... Gotta order a some mechanisms and wait for the finish to cure so I can buff them.

I also roughed out a little walnut I was able to score locally.
 
Love eating my words sometimes. That's a beeeee-yoo-tiful piece. You may remember I love walnut with lots of sap. And that natural edge is sterling. Congrats on becoming a successful logger. A successful logger is one that ate dinner that night after the day of logging no matter what else happened.

:congratulate:
 
Went on vacation to the Keys where I grew up for my wife's 20 year reunion. Ended up yesterday helping a local sawyer saw up some Buttonwood. Had a very fun day spent with my jaw on the ground looking at stunning, little known and known tropical timbers. I can't stay away from wood work even on vacation!!!
 
I cleaned the shop, filled several 55 gallon bags of crap that's been piling up, got a pile of lumber together that's going to get sold to a local flatwork guy, decided I need to rearrange a bit to make room for the Oneway, hope to have it in by the end of the week.
 
That's a lot of nasty looking pith apeman. How you plan to deal with that? With all the wood in your area I'm curious why you would choose that piece even if it was free. I wouldn't use it for a table top unless "rustic on steroids" was the customer's description. That thing is never going to be stable either no matter what you do.
 
Kevin said:
That's a lot of nasty looking pith apeman. How you plan to deal with that? With all the wood in your area I'm curious why you would choose that piece even if it was free. I wouldn't use it for a table top unless "rustic on steroids" was the customer's description. That thing is never going to be stable either no matter what you do.
Click to expand...

The cracks will get butterflies, on both sides. Rustic on steroids is exactly what the owner wants.
The story here is this tree was blown down during hurricane Sandy. The owner was devastated that her 100+ year old oak was gone.
A friend of mine who was hired to redo drainage and septic mentioned he had a sawmill friend, and me. We'd be able to preserve her tree as furniture.
Their Vermont home is rustic, and she specifically wanted live edge, crotches included, don't square up ends table top that is 4" thick.
It doesn't need to be stable, I'm building it so the top can do whatever it wants.
 
Last edited:
Brink said:
It doesn't need to be stable, I'm building it so the top can do whatever it wants.
Click to expand...

I understand a dual sliding dovetail frame etc. but you cannot even use that as joinery for this because the thickness of the top lends an energy that will rip the cross members apart no matter how massive you make them. On the flipside, it *is* technically quater grain so should not cup as bad. As long as it makes her happy though that's what matters.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top