What did you do in your shop today?

Minimal shop time, though I am working on a banksia peppermill . Helped a neighbor get some tie-downs for 10x20 (?) shop that was delivered today. Nice having someone around to advise on flat work, which he does mostly. I think he’s surfed around WB, will continue prodding him to get in, as he has alot of good experience to share.
 
Finally got back to some wood working projects. My mom was released from the hospital Tuesday and is back to her old self, so hopefully she'll get into a routine that keeps her active and involved and healthy now. Plus the weather is finally nice with no risk of rain, which lets me get back into my outdoor shop in the driveway. So today spent a few hours staring at that lighthouse / musicbox project I started last year. I cut the door and windows in the actual lighthouse and spent the rest of the time figuring out how I want to connect it to the keeper's house (which will house the musci box and batteries for the lights). Plus I figured out how I'll install the music box and the lever that will turn it on and off and where and how I'll install the battery box and the lights (one in the tower, one in the house). The roof of the house will open to allow access to the battery box. The crank to wind the music box mechanism will be outside the house to make it easy to wind. I spend as much time figuring out the design as i do actually making sawdust I think.

roughed into shape.webp
 
DLJeffs said:
Finally got back to some wood working projects. My mom was released from the hospital Tuesday and is back to her old self, so hopefully she'll get into a routine that keeps her active and involved and healthy now. Plus the weather is finally nice with no risk of rain, which lets me get back into my outdoor shop in the driveway. So today spent a few hours staring at that lighthouse / musicbox project I started last year. I cut the door and windows in the actual lighthouse and spent the rest of the time figuring out how I want to connect it to the keeper's house (which will house the musci box and batteries for the lights). Plus I figured out how I'll install the music box and the lever that will turn it on and off and where and how I'll install the battery box and the lights (one in the tower, one in the house). The roof of the house will open to allow access to the battery box. The crank to wind the music box mechanism will be outside the house to make it easy to wind. I spend as much time figuring out the design as i do actually making sawdust I think.

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That’s going to be so cool when finished! Sometimes the planning gives great satisfaction! Chuck
 
Thanks all. Wrestling with the idea of making grout lines in the tower so it looks like bricks or not. Right now leaning toward 'not'.
 
DLJeffs said:
Thanks all. Wrestling with the idea of making grout lines in the tower so it looks like bricks or not. Right now leaning toward 'not'.
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"Not" sounds easier. Plus, to mark out block work to scale just sounds overwhelming. Now if it was a Navajo wedding lighthouse, I'd let Tim do the block details....

@trc65
 
Banksia peppermill off the lathe yesterday and started the boring part of cleaning out CA left in the eyes from stabilizing process. Using micro motor to make a little easier. The stabilization is mostly just using CA to secure the eyes from popping out, especially after through hole is drilled out. Coating the outside of the pod and sanding while tacky also creates a slurry that seals the pod for smoother finish.other wood is Blackwood and walnut. This walnut has a bit of mineral streak.
Still need to do some sanding of bore to allow inserting acrylic tube then a couple coats of poly. Look forward to seeing finished.
I’ve probably made about 7-8 of these going back over the years.

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Spent the entire day with the wife, took her out to a nice place to eat as we are celebrating our 51st year together.
Got her a dozen yellow roses and a gift card to TJ Maxx. That is what I call a deposit in the marriage bank lol.
This will someday keep me out the doghouse and in the shop longer. I'll let you know how that turns out, wink.
 
TimR said:
Banksia peppermill off the lathe yesterday and started the boring part of cleaning out CA left in the eyes from stabilizing process. Using micro motor to make a little easier. The stabilization is mostly just using CA to secure the eyes from popping out, especially after through hole is drilled out. Coating the outside of the pod and sanding while tacky also creates a slurry that seals the pod for smoother finish.other wood is Blackwood and walnut. This walnut has a bit of mineral streak.
Still need to do some sanding of bore to allow inserting acrylic tube then a couple coats of poly. Look forward to seeing finished.
I’ve probably made about 7-8 of these going back over the years.

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Tim, I recall seeing others you have done and have always enjoyed the finished product. These are very cool.
 
Beautiful day out in the driveway-shop today. Made progress on windows, cross braces made from thin holly strips, doors made from left over stabilized holly, made a frame for the door on the lighthouse so the door will sit plumb and vertical. And over the last couple of days I've fiddled with the music mechanism and figured out how to turn it on and off and made a box to contain it inside so when you turn the wind-up crank the mechanism doesn't go flying all over inside the keeper's house. Also figured out how I'll set up the lights and made one cross brace that will go in the top of the lighthouse for the light. Getting close being able to start gluing it together. I still need to make roof gables too.

progress on windows doors box for music mechanism.webp
 
DLJeffs said:
Beautiful day out in the driveway-shop today. Made progress on windows, cross braces made from thin holly strips, doors made from left over stabilized holly, made a frame for the door on the lighthouse so the door will sit plumb and vertical. And over the last couple of days I've fiddled with the music mechanism and figured out how to turn it on and off and made a box to contain it inside so when you turn the wind-up crank the mechanism doesn't go flying all over inside the keeper's house. Also figured out how I'll set up the lights and made one cross brace that will go in the top of the lighthouse for the light. Getting close being able to start gluing it together. I still need to make roof gables too.

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Good momentum!
 
Lot's of sanding and gluing today. Got the 3 sides of the house glued and the tower glued. Next will be to final fit and glue the transition between the tower and house. I also bent the cocobolo binding strips for guitar #4. Hoping next week my coach will be far enough along with the 14 he's making to sell to help be bind this one. Then I can sand and start french polish.

tower and house glued.webp

tower and house glued2.webp
 
Today I used my shop mostly as a respite from the searing heat. I was working on building a deck in my boat and finally gave up of being outside. Supposed to push 100 tomorrow. Mostly I just sat there and looked at the unfinished projects and dreaming up new ones to start on. the heat did keep any outside forces from coming out to see what I was doing. I quit at 1:30 and came in to the AC.

Alan
 
I don't do well in the heat, supposed to cool off here this week. 70s.
 
100 degrees today. In the sun, in the shade, in the shop, in front of a fan,… 100 degrees everywhere except in the house with the AC. Quit at 3:00 today. Should have quit earlier. I have a headache.

Alan
 
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