So I was trying to come up with something small for a previous boss but didn’t want to go to big…simple is better my wife said.

So a friend had made some pen/letter opener combo sets mounted into exotic burl caps. So that is where I got my inspiration for this project.

The burl cap is from Austrailia…I believe it is called brown mallee burl. I split in half and was able to cut enough off to make a few pen blanks. This bolt action pen is the result of the blank.

I used a mortiser to make the square holes for the small pen mounts.

At first I was going to mount the brass to the front of the burl but it was just too nice to cover. I made the base from Sapele and slightly shaped a little with the angle sander. Finished in General Top Coat Semi-gloss.

Per Virginia Beach Fire Department’s FB Page: “In a ceremony at Fire Administration on April 17, 2013, Captain Paul Gronemeyer Commodore, Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic and Captain Mark Weisgerber, Deputy Commodore Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic presented Fire Chief Steven R. Cover and memb…ers of the Fire Department with the TAILHOOK of the F/A-18D from VFA-106 that crashed into the Mayfair Mews Apartment complex on April 6, 2012.

It was with great honor that the Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic and Commander Strike fighter Squadron One Zero Six present this token of appreciation to the men and women of the Virginia Beach Fire Department who stood alongside the Navy in the protection of the nation and the City of Virginia Beach. The efforts in the response to the crash and the department’s devotion to duty ensured there were no fatalities or serious injuries as a result of the catastrophic incident.”

The build was fairly simple, the biggest concern was the weight of the tail hook. Made all of oak and the cap for each stantion is removable to seat the tailhook. These projects mean the most to me knowing they are represent a great cause. I am so grateful of all our first responders, thank you for what you do to keep us all safe. Of significant note, God was watching over us that day no doubt as not a single life was lost as this aircraft crashed into an appartment completex….ironically is was Good Friday…wow does he work miracles!!!

I finished up the glass and backing this weekend on this one. For those not familiar this to resemble the vertical stabilizer a.k.a. vertical stab a.k.a. F-18 tail flash…...etc etc.

It’s roughly 24 inches tall made from Sapele. I used dowels for the antennas at the top and countersunk with a cove bit. I used a simple roundover bit with a little jig to round off the ends so they would fit flush in the cove cut out. I had a small piece of bloodwood I added for the formation light

For those not familiar, Navy Aviation Ordnancemen are the folks who deal with everything to do with aircraft weapons. This was the first AO pen I’ve turned, finished with CA and buffed. The red things with the black rope…those are aircraft chocks…..normally a yellow or orange in color though. These are meant to display one challenge coin each. The last shot is another AIM-9 missile with slots to diplays more challenge coins. All going to different people but the last day or so has been dedicated to the AO folks…IYAOYAS!

Just finished up this one last night. This small sea chest was commissioned by the wife of a soon-to-be retired Navy Machinist Mate. I used oak with golden oak stain and sapele for the trim, all finished with a few coats of General Finish gel topcoat…I love that stuff!!!

I used rabbet joints for the construction and mortised the hinges flush. A friend with a CNC machine helped out with the lid carving and the blades even have pitch.

This was a first for me in making the rope beckets. I think i spent more time making these two than I did on the rest of the chest but going with other handles just didn’t give it the look desired. I learned how to tie these from a co worker and lots of YouTube viewing.

This is the second one I’ve made. I added tehe fancy rope work to keep in Navy-related. I made a jig for these so I can route the tail fin grooves on the router table, then shift over to the drill press to drill the hole to accept the front fins…route, drill….turn stock 1/4 turn, route, drill….turn stock 1/4 turn, etc.

I was going back through some old pictures and found this one I did a few years ago. It actually rotated when the wind blew. Nothing like some of the high quality toys others are making on here but thought I would share. Sorry for the poor quality picture…..

A friend asked me to put this together for him to present another friend of ours.

The story goes like this…...”There I was looking through the crosshairs of a 30-06 rifle scope at this 12-pointer…he knew I was there and I was dialed in on him…with visions of morning deer sausage smell in the air as I sat at the table, gazing up at my trophy on the wall….and then the trigger was pulled….I did not know that deer could laugh but they can….” So the victim in this short story was a poor, innocent tree. The local tree doctor could not save it so it was creamated in the wood burning stove with this small piece salvaged to rember the occasion.

Looking forward to the recipient’s face when this one is presented…hahaha.

This was a quick project some folks at work asked me to make. It’s made of walnut and finished in General’s semi-gloss top coat….man I love that stuff. I think I have finally found a finish I really like…and it’s easy to apply.

Always in search of a new idea for a challenge coin holder, I think I found it….. A little background for those not familiar with the Navy, the Chief Petty Officer’s Mess is commonly referred to as the Goat Locker. So with that, I created this little guy. The orignial pattern was for a goat rocker…..get it..goat locker…goat rocker…ironic….I think not…sorry bad humor I know.

Made of 1 1/2” poplar and shaped up. Painted in acrylic craft paint. Two key things are the traditional combination cover, I purchased online (thanks for the idea Ken) and the aviation brown hooves.

This was a fun project and I’m sure will make for a conversation piece at the office.

A few weeks ago I was approached about making an aircraft carrier coffee table for a retiring Master Chief. I searched for a few days to find thick enough stock for the top and I made a joke to my wife that our kitchen table would be perfect to cut it out…...after a search on Craigslist I found this table for $45….it was 1 1/2” thick and flat so what a deal…perfect! I mocked up a pattern out of pine and used a spiral pattern bit to make the top.

I used as much of the original table as I could and had to use some poplar for the feet of the legs. At first I really wanted to keep natural vice painting but very pleased with how it all turned out.

The recipient is going to add a brass plate at the bottom of the island listing his tours of duty. It was a fun build and looking forward to presenting it.

I found a neat site that makes/sells these miniature military covers and thought I would add a little spice to some coin displays. The hats fit in your hand, very neat.

http://www.minimilitaryhats.com/

So I see all of you guys making pens for Christmas gifts and had to join the club. I’ve only found these bolt action kits at PSI and thought they would be neat to make. I used deer antler and texas mesquite for these two. I’ve made a few pens in the past and these are very addicting once you get started. I plan on ordering a few of the laser cut kits next for more gifts for friends. I know some folks are selling these for profit but don’t think there is much profit margin with the cost of some of these fancy kits. I could be wrong.

So anyone looking who hasn’t tried making pens yet…..beware you won’t be able to stop at just one..ha. Enjoy.

So a friend of mine recently retired after more than 20 years with the local Police Department. I am helping him out with a shadow box to display his personal items but wanted to do something from family and the heart. Do I make a fancy pen? Do I give him a gift certificate to a nice place to eat? No, I think I’ll make hima a post Police guy to bring a smile on his face everything he looks at it…ha.

So the result is Officer Splinter. He’s about 3 foot tall, equiped with solid billy stick and sidearm. I used a label maker for the side patches and badges but may go back and cut from thin stock if the stickers don’t hold.

Funny story about the belt. I was about to go to the local thrift shop to pick up a belt for Officer Splinter when I came across this belt in my drawer. I don’t remember ever using it and it was much too small…so decided to use it. Now cut to his 6 inch waist, my wife asks why I cut up her good belt….oops. I quickly claimed eminent domain of the belt so hoping it doesn’t hold up in a court of law…..haha.

These are always fun to make becuase they seem to take on their own personality. I’ve made several military post guys and this is my first Police guy. I have a goat I am doing next for a friend to give to his fellow Chief’s Mess or in this case…Goat Locker. Enjoy.

Al

Here’s what a little time to waste, no specific project to work on, and a pile of scraps to either make something with or burn in the fireplace…..

I need to put them away, everyone who sees them wants to talk about how neat they are and has become very distracting to get any work done…ha.

For anyone in the aviation business, military or civilian, these would make for great gifts for someone who has everything. I’m thinking about doing a few more as pen/pencil sets for the small chocks.

I’m considering this one finished unti I can figure out what I am going to do with it..ha. This is my first intarsia project, fun but I can see how practice is the key to this type of woodworking. This is the rating symbol for a Navy Aviation Ordnanceman.

Wings = ash
center pot = walnut
flames = bloodwood and mohogany

I’m thinking of making a sea chest and mount this to the top….or just frame it behind glass and display as is….just don’t know.

Enjoy.

This was a fun one to build. This is made of Sapele with an rubbed oil finish. To make, I built the front facing from 1/2inch stock. I built the back framing out of four pieces of 2 1/2 inch wide stock and made a rabbet cut to flush mount the 1/4 inch backer board. This one was for a retiring Marine F-18 pilot.

This is an AIM-9 missle desck display. I made the display with a place to put a name plate to personalize later. The missile is wrapped in paracord, half hitch knots if I am not mistaken. The missile is 2 foot in length and is 1 5/8 round.

Just off the production line…..this one is made of oak, stained in special walnut.

Another quick project with a small cutoff leftover. This is a simple silhouette of an F/A-18. I used a pattern I’ve used many times in the past and prefer to use a spiral pattern bit over the flat-type pattern bits. Someone will probably get this for a Christmas gift this year…..

-Al