I usually keep it in one place and I can reach most of my tools but having on the platform with wheels works great. I was amazed at how well it works. I’ve filled the can up at least half way and only had some dust in the vacuum. I’ve got a couple minor changes I still want to make, but it works.

I wanted to have a big router table so I could handle almost anything I could think of but I don’t have much room so this this one is 24” x 46” and folds up to store against a wall. I laminated the surface with a piece of formica that I picked up at the Habitat Restore for $2. I have a Milwaukee router with an extra base that stays mounted to the table.

This project took up two entire walls and an angled corner. I couldn’t build it in place because it was for a home office that was being used on a daily basis so I built it in sections then installed it. It has six bookcase sections and three base cabinets. My son helped me install it and paint it and was surprised that it fit without any modifications.

My daughter hinted how nice it would be to have Grandpa build a toy box for Noah. I made it from 1/2” birch plywood and moldings from HD. I copied the design for the base from a picture I saw online.

Since it can stay in the 70’s here in Texas through December, I tried to get it done for Christmas. (“Missed it by That Much” – from an old TV show Get Smart) This year it dropped into the 40’s and rainy about 2 weeks before Christmas. I was able to very closely match the color of his bedroom furniture, but I don’t have a heated garage. Even using shellac on warm days left cloudiness in the finish. Nobody else even notices it except me.

I lined the box with cork to protect both the toys and the box and used a soft close lid support to keep the lid from dropping on his fingers. Everybody loves it.

So I’ll work on my finishing techniques and get a heater before next winter. Lessons learned!

My Mother-in-law, who lives with us had talked about getting a blanket chest for in front of her bedroom window. I thought it would be someting I could make. I just used 3/4” plywood and some moldings that I found at HD. The bottom edge has the same molding as the top edge and I mounted the chest on 3” lengths of 2×4. I was about to paint it and put a lid on it when she asked if I could put some kind of back and sides to hold a cushion on top. Fortunately (or not) she came home with a cushion before I had mounted the pieces and I found out that it was smaller than the lid, so I cut out the lid and cut down the back and sides and this is it.

I found out that 3/4” plywood is much more that I need and its heavy.