Here is a built in shelf I made out of Red Oak. It’s screwed together (none visible) with screws, pretty simple. The front cleat is pegged on with dowells.
I cut a hole in the wall behind it and my wife’s cat passes through. Kind of silly, but it seems to be a lot of fun- visitors either ‘get it’ or don’t!
I hung it on the wall unsing a french cleat- basicly i ripped a board on a bevel. I hung half, and put the other half on the back of the shelf. I used rare earth magnets to find the studs- the magnets jump onto the drywall screws. Of couse I also had a hole bashed in the drywall so I could take a look for myself.

This was my first woodworking project ever. When I was in the Army, I liberated a stop sign from Kuwait and snuck it home. It was way too nice to hang in the garage.

I built this last year before I had any tools- just a cordless drill, a hand saw, and a plastic miter box. Lots of fun nonetheless.

It looks OK from a distance, pretty rough close up. A good conversation piece anyway.

Everything that is exposed is Red Oak wiped with Tung Oil. Hanger Bolts attach the legs.

The wife ACTUALLY lets me keep it in the living room!

I took my birthday money to Woodcraft and got a dado set and this jig. This was my first woodworking project with my Rigid TS3650. I love it! It may be some time before I start on dovetails! I drove a 1/4 dowell down each corner and it’s not going anywhere.
The jig is precision extruded and machined aluminum…. and comes in a cardboard box. That wouldn’t last a year in my garage—- So I made this box.
I made it of 3/4 hemlock. The only metal hardware is the brass hinges, clasps, and handles. The rest is pinned together with dowells (dang, screws are expensive). I stained it with whatever I had on hand (don’t remember). I lined it with green felt.
This was a practice project- intended as a rugged tool box from days of yore…. it’s not going to win any contests, i didn’t even sand all the glue off. But it keeps my ‘infinately adjustable’ jig from getting bumped out of tolerance! And there’s room to hold the included DVD in the box too.
I just joined LumberJocks this afternoon. Great site!