For those who were waiting, sorry this took so long. Had a slight detour in the middle that required my attention. Also lost a few of the pics that I took while in progress.

This is the Woodsmith Dovetail Jig Workcenter they published several years ago. It was designed specifically for the Porter Cable 4212 which is what I have so it was perfect. It can be easily modified for any other jig from what I can see.

When I finished my Kreg Jig Workcenter a few weeks ago I jumped right into this. After spending an evening in the shop cutting out all the pieces, I received a Shopnotes mag in the mail with an addendum to this Jig. It added a second drawer. Since I had already modified the Kreg Jig, I figured why not. So back out to the shop. All I had to recut was three pieces, i.e. two sides and one back. I was able to use those to build the second drawer with a little waste left over.

It is at the perfect height for me to work dovetails. It is also great storage for the dovetail jig when not in use. Everything fits inside. With the addition of the second drawer it added great space for the small doodads or whatever you want to call them.

For those who havent seen this jig before the two wings that fold down are dual purpose. 1 for a place to clamp to your bench and 2 and landing zone on either side for your router that won’t ding up the bit.

I finished the project with three coats of Waterlox and then rubbed out with steel wool with paste wax. I know, maybe an overkill but I had some that was getting old and might as well protect the project. If you have the plans for the original and want to add a second drawer, just increas the height by 2 1/2” and make the drawer accordingly.

When all is said and done I have to admit that when the jig and attachments are stored inside it is quite heavy. I never would have thought that since I was using 1/2” baltic birch ply. If you have a problem picking things up you may want to reconsider the second drawer. Good luck if you decide to build.

Ken

P.S. Oh I forgot to say that I did modify everything to use pocket screws instead of the original rabbits and dadoes it called for. Sorry I’m just a Kreg screw fanatic.

Now that our shop is pretty much re-done, I figured it was time to start making all those little projects I have wanted over the years. This one is for my Kreg Jig. I think I got the plans off their site. As usual, I wasn’t satisfied with the size of the drawer so I doubled it from 2 1/2” to 5” high.

As you can see from picture 5, and 6 I wasn’t really satisfied with the inside of the drawer setup so I went ahead and put some dividers in as well as a little shelf for the drill bits and drivers.

As an unexpected plus, changing the drawer height raised the top just enough that I don’t have to lean over putting strain on my back. I bet you all know what I mean when you are working on something that is just a little too low and your back starts to act up. At the height I changed it to I can stand straight and drill my holes. The larger drawer gives me pleanty of room to store my extra clamps and what nots that seem to multiply when you buy accessories.

The wings on the bottom piece are meant as a means to clamp it to your work surface but I found that with the extra large drawer it is just heavy enough to sit and stay on its own. They recommend a hole for the drawer pull, but I think I’m going to add the same type of handle that the plans call for on the wings to lift and move it. It will keep sawdust out of the drawer as long as I remember to shut it before I drill.

Hope it gives someone an idea to organize their pocket screw jig tools. Next up I’m going to build a work center for my dovetail jig. It’s a lot like this project but a little more precise since you have a lot of threaded inserts to work with the different parts of the center. I’ll be sure to post so you can see how it comes out.

Thanks for looking. I love this site, it has inspired me in many ways to get things done and try new projects. Thanks for all the inspiration.

Ken

Built this table for our living room. Love birds eye maple and cherry and simple style. The plans are from an old magazine. They have been republished so many times, I keep seeing them in those compilations that are published. Very easy to build. Made some templates just in case I have to make several more. So I guess I’ll be using the templates.

It is finished with Waterlox. It give great protection to the top especially if someone doesn’t use a coaster.
Thanks for looking

I’ve been making shaker boxes for several years now. They are like eating pringles, you can’t just build one.
I usually make them in sets. They nest together and usually come as a set of 4 or 5. I just finished this one with some special maple burl for the top and cherry for the side bands.

For a long time I was making the standard boxes, mostly of cherry in sets. I did throw in some maple bands with cherry lids and then tried some birds eye maple for the tops of the cherry sets. Use to buy all my supplies until I learned how to res-saw to my satisfaction and also veneer. Everything changed after that.

Now I re-saw my bands and veneer my top and bottom stock made of 1/8” mdf. It is very stable and easy to work with. The veneer available seems to be unlimited. It is quite easy to make up blanks to use. When veneering you should always do both sides of your substrate for balance. Because some of the veneer is so rare I have taken to matching the inside of the tops and bottoms with veneer of whatever bands that I am using. If the veneer is really rare or I only have enough for a top, I use the band wood veneer for both sides of the bottom.

Don’t know why, but when building these little rascals it is a peacefull feeling that you get. They are beautiful, useful and desired by everyone who sees that you can build them. Just about everyone I have ever made has been given away except for a special few.

When my best friend passed unexpectedly a few years ago, I was honored when his family asked for some boxes for his ashes. One was placed in the wall at the Veteran’s Cemetary in Agawam, MA, with the other two given with cremains to his wife and son.

As my friend was an avid fisherman and spent most summers at Lake George, NY we gathered a group of family and friends and went to Lake George to distribute those cremains across the middle of the lake. His wife and son now have the boxes as a memorial.

Maybe that’s why I get that peaceful fealing. Thanks for looking.

If you have read some of my blog you will already know that my grandson is partners with me on a redo of the workshop. As we worked on it this summer we (his parents and grandparents split the cost) to send him to a 1 week school at the New England School of Architectual Woodworking located in Easthampton, MA. The class was Basic Woodworking. He was to gain experience in many aspects of woodworking but focusing on the safe use of power tools, i.e. table saw, jointer, thickness planer etc.

Tyler had really never built anything special before he attended. During the school he was able to practice his new found skills to build this memory box. The school operates year round and provides the training that unfortunately is no longer available in our high school systems here in Western Massachusetts.

The box is made of maple and cherry with cherry splines at the mitered corners. I think he did a great job. I am extremely proud of him. Since he is my partner in this shop and since his name is almost the same as mine, Tyler Kenneth Fitzpatrick, I thought it appropriate to post his work here also. Thanks for looking.

Found these plans in one of my old magazines. Had built one in the past but now that I’m expanding and redoing the shop, I needed another one. There are four shelves that are 2’ by 8’. You can store a lot of lumber or other shop items on them and be able to move them around pretty well. The final picture shows handles on the end which was not part of the plan, but really needed to be able to stear and move one that is full. I put four handles on it so you can move it from either end with both hands. Make sure you buy quality wheels. They cost more but work better and last longer.

When we retired and downsized we went from two vehicles, to one gas economical vehicle and I had no way to get stuff around. I bought this small utility trailer (at a big box store) and put sides on it. It has met our needs.

When we went on vacation to the Cape last month with the rest of the family we all were in need of a way to bring the extras that make a vacation more comfortable. Since it has been raining in New England for a long time (will it ever stop) I was trying to figure out how to keep everything dry on the drive to the Cape and back without adding a whole lot of weight to this already weight restricted trailer.

It was then I remembered an earlier post by a fellow LJ who made things with Tyvek. I had a remnant of a roll laying around and this is what I came up with. It works like a champ. When on the highway I add the obligatory tie down straps (3) that keeps the cover from being picked up by the wind and flying off. Thanks again to tyvekboy for the inspiration. The cost was almost nothing since I did pay for it but it just was hanging around. It took about 2 hours and trip to the sewing store to pick up upholstry thread and needle. When my wife saw I wasn’t going to ruin her brand new sewing machine everything was ok again. Next up, covers for all my shop equiptment.

Once again thanks for the inspiration tyvekboy.