Going to Build

Heres my completed cajon. It really sounds good!


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Mere Minutes

Rubbing out that lacquered finish. Heres a simple technique I like to use.

I have a lot of drill bits. Mostly, they are all over my workbench and I always have a difficult time finding the one I need. I have several cases and containers: the ones that came with various bit sets, but they are mostly empty. After years of drill bit madness, I realize that the reason they are so disorganized is that the cases and holders demand too much organization.

They are flawed because they require me to replace bits into specific holes depending on their diameter. Too much pressure!

I designed this case to hold drill bits based on their general sizes. There is no need for organizational madness.

Wont they get dull this way? While I wouldnt store router bits like this, I dont think it dulls drill bits much. Plus, I dont plan on shaking them around for extended periods. Ive been sloppy with drill bit storage for years and can confirm that even the ones I have abused the most still make holes. Not to mention, I dont buy expensive drill bits. If one gets too dull, I will buy a new one.

The only part of this box I am not completely satisfied with is the latch. I just hobbled together various hooks and eyes from my parts drawers. It works, but isnt very pretty. But it is just a shop project. Not like anyone other than me will ever see it. I did add some fancy inlay which was quite unplanned.

Free plans:

• WWMM Drill bit case (pdf)
• Sketchup file

Well sure, who doesnt need a toothpick holder?

Seriously, this was a fun little project to make and gave me an excuse to fire up my old scroll saw. The idea here is that when you pull the clown up, the toothpicks pop up and his hands pop out.

I almost decided to eliminate the springing hands because I couldnt figure out how to accomplish the effect. Im glad I stuck with it because really, the spring-loaded arms are the whole point of the project. They are what make it unique.

The solution came in two parts. 1) A spring from a ballpoint pen, and 2) 1/4" drip irrigation tubing. If I could make a point here, it is to never abandon your ideas. Sometimes it may take a while to figure out how to accomplish something, but in the world of woodworking, anything is possible. Just stick to your guns and solutions will come to you.

Same goes for designing projects themselves. Allow your imagination to lead you. The logistics will follow. Start with your right brain then let your left brain kick in.

Peace! Zenwoodworking guy is OUT!

Heres my clown template (with hands) if youd like to download it for this or any other purpose. (pdf format)

After seeing the cute-as-a-button ruler box that Layla Palmer at The Lettered Cottage included in her beautiful spring mantel, I knew I just had to make one for myself.  It only took about an hour and cost around $3 since I already had most of what I needed.

To start, I determined the size I wanted the box to be.  I decided on 14 inches in length and 3 1/2 inches in depth.  I took a yardstick that I already had from Lowes and cut two 14 inch long pieces from it using a saw.  For the bottom of the box, I picked up a piece of pine craft wood at Lowes measuring 1/4 inch in thickness and 3 1/2 inches in depth x 36 inches in length for around three bucks.  Using a saw, I cut it to match the same length of the two pieces of yardstick I cut earlier.  I attached the two yardstick pieces to the top of the flat side of the craft wood using wood glue and let dry.  This is the front and back of your box.  Be sure to wipe off any excess glue.

For the end pieces, I measured the distance from the inside of the yardstick pieces and cut accordingly to make the two ends using the remainder of the craft wood, attaching with wood glue.  Tip: always measure twice and cut once!  I did the same for the two divider sections inside the box.

After letting the box dry, I sanded off any excess glue residue.  I wanted the box to have an aged, imperfect look to it so I mixed together a couple of stains that I already had, Minwax Gunstock and Special Walnut, using an old rag.  Voila!  An adorable little ruler box that makes me smile!  Im still new to the blogging world so I apologize for not having photos of each step in the process.  Oops!  I promise to have plenty of photos of my next project.  Stay tuned for my side porch redo before and after photos!  Have a great day all!

One day this past week a kind elderly lady was visiting our shop.  She was quietly sifting through a crate of old Christmas ornaments, taking such care in each one that she picked up.  After a few minutes, I noticed she was smiling, with tears in her eyes, and she seemed quite taken with one of the ornaments she had picked up.


Softly, she told me that the ornament was just like one that she had as a child and it recalled for her such wonderful memories of Christmas with her family.  It brought her such happiness... 


It also made me realize that the happiness on her face and in her heart from finding that tiny little ornament is really what makes this journey of ours so meaningful and not just a business venture.

I really hope everyone that visits our shop is able to experience that happiness.....memories of kinder, gentler times are something to be treasured in our hearts and recalled often. 

Have a wonderful weekend.  :)

Diana

I just finished up a dovetailed chest of knotty white pine for a buddy of mine. The final intent of the box is a coffin for their dog Valen, who has lived a long, long life, and the chances are that some day soon he will be passing into the next one.

Its an odd thing to build something that will be buried in the earth before too long. Its an honor, but a strange honor. To compound on top of that strangeness, I decided to experiment with my shop time management.


Setting up and taking photos can be a huge time sink for me. Dont get me wrong, most of the time the documentation is well worth it, but I wasnt really building anything new. Its mostly a smaller rebuild of a traditional tool chest. There were somethings I did new. Beckets for rope handles on the ends, but that wasnt earth shattering enough to break out the camera.

I really wanted to find out how fast I could work if I buttoned my lip and got to it. Turns out I can go pretty fast (at least in my estimation) By rough figures I estimate about twenty hours into this box from boards to finished box. Pretty decent, but I have to remind myself I only hit the essentials here and nothing more. If I were making this for someones bedroom I would have been a whole lot more meticulous with the surface preparations. That can be a big time consumer too.

I did take final pictures though.










I did put a finish on the chest. One good coat of what Ive come to call The Maloof Finish. Its one part each  tung oil, wipe on poly, and boiled linseed oil. I read an article written by Sam Maloof where he listed this. Its a good oil finish that has a great "touch" to it. Over the top of this I buffed on a coat of paste wax. I didnt finish the inside, no one wants to show up at the pearly gates smelling like finishing products. Sawdust maybe, but not oil.

I did for a while desperately want to paint this box black. In the end I got over that and decided the oil would be fine enough.









This was the first project I was able to push through the shop this summer, I got started just as the weather was barely starting to break for the better. Its very satisfying to have one down before the season has gone too far.

But enough of all this thinking and dwelling on the end of things. Im off to go play a Sunday night board game with my kids.

Ratione et Passionis
Oldwolf