Crazy pieces of wood
So much to do, so little time. How true. The past month or so I have actually been very unmotivated to do anything in the shop. There is a lot going on in the family right now and work has been busy, and most nights I just want to sit around and do nothing. I think this is mostly because I know that there is so much to get done in the shop, but none of it is for my own personal projects that I want to get done. I have decided that my next personal big (mostly) hand tool project is going to be a lowboy, gothic style. I have the cherry already sitting in my basement ready to go. I have enough 12/4 for 8 legs, which means if my carvings are good enough I can get two tables. And if not, then I have lots of practice pieces. I also have all the curly cherry that I would need for the tops, sides and drawers. I ran a few of the 4/4 pieces through a planer so I could see the figure….... Im excited about this build.
But of course before I even think about starting the lowboy, I need to fulfill my commitment to getting enough boxes, pens, music boxes ect for two huge Christmas shows this winter. I decided that I need to get everything ready over the course of the year instead of rushing it in Oct and Nov. So far I only have a few boxes made, but because Normal wood grain patters are boring to me, and I have no interest in working with them (unless something calls for it) below are ones that are either complete or very near complete, curly oak, curly cherry and crotch walnut.
At the same time I made the front/back/sides for these three boxes, I also milled and cut enough for another curly cherry, one spalted maple, and one quilted spalted maple. How ever, I do not have anything worthy to become lids for the two maple boxes yet….. until.
Recently I was in my local playground (lumber dealer) and I asked about 'nasty half rotten stuff'. I knew it was a long shot as they are a wholesaler and deal mostly in lifts of stuff for moulding makers and door makers and the such, and they only bring in stuff they are going to sell, so the odds were small, but I asked anyways. The guy shows me a chunk he said he has been sitting on for two years, I ask how much, he tells me take it, its taking up space. Perfect! After a little planning to thickness….
But I still don't have a lid for the quilted spalted maple yet.
Lastly for today…. I get to see lots of pallets where I work, and some of them are junkie enough that we toss them rather than send them back for reuse… I have gotten pretty good at seeing through the layers of crud…
Looking at pieces of wood like this alway gets me motivated…..
So much to do, so little time. How true. The past month or so I have actually been very unmotivated to do anything in the shop. There is a lot going on in the family right now and work has been busy, and most nights I just want to sit around and do nothing. I think this is mostly because I know that there is so much to get done in the shop, but none of it is for my own personal projects that I want to get done. I have decided that my next personal big (mostly) hand tool project is going to be a lowboy, gothic style. I have the cherry already sitting in my basement ready to go. I have enough 12/4 for 8 legs, which means if my carvings are good enough I can get two tables. And if not, then I have lots of practice pieces. I also have all the curly cherry that I would need for the tops, sides and drawers. I ran a few of the 4/4 pieces through a planer so I could see the figure….... Im excited about this build.
But of course before I even think about starting the lowboy, I need to fulfill my commitment to getting enough boxes, pens, music boxes ect for two huge Christmas shows this winter. I decided that I need to get everything ready over the course of the year instead of rushing it in Oct and Nov. So far I only have a few boxes made, but because Normal wood grain patters are boring to me, and I have no interest in working with them (unless something calls for it) below are ones that are either complete or very near complete, curly oak, curly cherry and crotch walnut.
At the same time I made the front/back/sides for these three boxes, I also milled and cut enough for another curly cherry, one spalted maple, and one quilted spalted maple. How ever, I do not have anything worthy to become lids for the two maple boxes yet….. until.
Recently I was in my local playground (lumber dealer) and I asked about 'nasty half rotten stuff'. I knew it was a long shot as they are a wholesaler and deal mostly in lifts of stuff for moulding makers and door makers and the such, and they only bring in stuff they are going to sell, so the odds were small, but I asked anyways. The guy shows me a chunk he said he has been sitting on for two years, I ask how much, he tells me take it, its taking up space. Perfect! After a little planning to thickness….
But I still don't have a lid for the quilted spalted maple yet.
Lastly for today…. I get to see lots of pallets where I work, and some of them are junkie enough that we toss them rather than send them back for reuse… I have gotten pretty good at seeing through the layers of crud…
Looking at pieces of wood like this alway gets me motivated…..