What did you do in your shop today?

Continuing cleaning. First time I've seen the bottom rails on this bench in a couple years. Based on my calcs, about 7 yards hauled out. Remember though that material went from compressed to fluffy by the time it was dug out and loaded in my little wagon. Planning on reorganizing, maybe getting a lathe stand built and getting cabinets on the wall. Emphasis on planning. :wink:

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You didn't by chance find J Edgar or DB Cooper under all that, did you? Or my missing steel yardstick? I still can't find that thing.
 
You didn't by chance find J Edgar or DB Cooper under all that, did you? Or my missing steel yardstick? I still can't find that thing.
No, but I did find one of my 6" stainless steel rules about 8" down. Also found an old 1/2" paring chisel. Rule was imperfect condition, chisel just a little rust.
 
Pffft!


.......Hoffa!
Not that I'm so inclined, but the growing pile is large enough to compost a fair sized body, maybe even enough for a cow....

That needs a little explanation. Years ago was cleaning out some files and came across an Extension publication on composting whole cows. Not as crazy as it seems if you can't get a rendering truck to come get one. Basically, lay down a foot or so of sawdust on a concrete pad, add cow and cover with a certain depth of sawdust. Add more sawdust as needed, and in less time than you might think, scoop it up into your manure spreader and spread on field. Think it said something about crushing bones as needed, but think it also mentioned that bones would be partially broken down.
 
You power carve these with an angle grinder right? It always looks like it but I haven’t seen you say it so now I’m asking.
Yes, mostly with 24 or 36 grit sanding discs. I'll use a flap paddle wheel for getting it closer then. I have a foredom tx also, but I need to clean it up.
 
Some time invested in that piece.

Yesterday and today got that cholla and mesquite box ready for the next steps. Got the lid fit and the pins drilled and cut. Made the bottom and cut the dados for the box bottom. Did some final sanding and fit-up of the box sides and lid. Designed and made the handle and cut it into the lid and glued it into place. Applied the first coat of wipe on poly on the inside of the box sides and inside the lid. I like to finish the inside before gluing it all together.

lid inside first coat wop.webp

mesquite sides inside first coat of wop.webp
 
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Some time invested in that piece.

Yesterday and today got that cholla and mesquite box ready for the next steps. Got the lid fit and the pins drilled and cut. Made the bottom and cut the dados for the box bottom. Did some final sanding and fit-up of the box sides and lid. Designed and made the handle and cut it into the lid and glued it into place. Applied the first coat of wipe on poly on the inside of the box sides and inside the lid. I like to finish the inside before gluing it all together.

View attachment 284734

View attachment 284735
:popcorn:
 
Some time invested in that piece.

Yesterday and today got that cholla and mesquite box ready for the next steps. Got the lid fit and the pins drilled and cut. Made the bottom and cut the dados for the box bottom. Did some final sanding and fit-up of the box sides and lid. Designed and made the handle and cut it into the lid and glued it into place. Applied the first coat of wipe on poly on the inside of the box sides and inside the lid. I like to finish the inside before gluing it all together.

View attachment 284734

View attachment 284735
Doug, I love the look of the sides much better than the lid. I wish I had sent some better looking Cholla, but you have to work with what you have. Nothing wrong with the work, but I just wish I had sent better pieces of Cholla. Is that Oak framing in the Cholla?

I have a box of milled Cholla between 3/8- 1/2" X14-15" long in a box gathering dust here because my computer does not recognize google chrome and that's the program that Pirate Ship uses. I'm going to start using my other computer this weekend, so will get the box shipped next week. ............... Nubs
 
Doug, I love the look of the sides much better than the lid. I wish I had sent some better looking Cholla, but you have to work with what you have. Nothing wrong with the work, but I just wish I had sent better pieces of Cholla. Is that Oak framing in the Cholla?

I have a box of milled Cholla between 3/8- 1/2" X14-15" long in a box gathering dust here because my computer does not recognize google chrome and that's the program that Pirate Ship uses. I'm going to start using my other computer this weekend, so will get the box shipped next week. ............... Nubs
I think you're being over critical - that cholla in the lid looks fine to me. Granted, the box will be a little rough in spots, but that's intentional because the wood is rough in spots. The mesquite has a couple live edge areas but I put them on the very bottom. The cholla is cholla, that's the whole point to me. I'm not super happy with the way I did the turqoise, probably do that different if I made another one.

Oh, the frame around the cholla is made from a leftover piece of some Brazilian wood. It had louro faia penciled on the side. It's kind of a cross between mahogany and snakewood.
 
Not woodworking, but needed to support the door that woodworking tools sit on. Another reason that you never throw anything away. Made from well pipe that was replaced about 14 years ago. Just tacked for now, will finish welding it tomorrow. PXL_20260214_224615278.webp
 
Finished roughing out today:

Mulberry set of biggest about 13” diameter.
Cherry back left - set of 3. Biggest about 11.5”
2-bowl cherry front. Had issues with a big knot I had to remove from rim area so ended up with biggest about 10.5” diameter x 3.5” deep.

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Almost ready to glue up. With the garage around 40 degrees it take a lot longer for the finish to cure, but I'm getting there. Oil heater, overhead lights that provide heat, a desk lamp lowered down close to the box parts... the mesquite sides are looking sharp.

inside finish ready to glue up.jpg
 
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Finished it today, the person that requested it wanted to do the final sanding and finish thank goodness. Bristlecone root bowl, size is apr 4.5" x 4"

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