ScottShaeffer's Blog at LumberJocks.com http://lumberjocks.com/ScottShaeffer/blog Thu, 16 May 2013 02:11:47 GMT Just for Fun #4: Checker Board Coffee Table http://lumberjocks.com/ScottShaeffer/blog/36045 I’m working on this coffee table as a wedding gift for my cousin and his wife-to-be. I’m a log furniture maker so there are a lot of techniques I haven’t been introduced to until I started working with fellow Lumber Jock, Kris Williams. Kris makes fine rustic furniture so I’ve been quite fascinated by some of the ways he does things and decided to start playing around with some of it. Of course, I don’t have all the machines Kris has so I require his help for a few things but most of this I’m able to do with minor tool purchases.


Table legs and frame completed.

I started out just wanting to play around with the radius cutter on the router. I happened to have a couple of 4×4 aspen posts that I cut with our mill so I decided to make a kitchen table using the posts as legs. Once I had the legs made with nice 3/8” radius edges, I decided they were too boring so I tapered them using my joiner then re-edged them. Then I realized I didn’t have enough material ready to use to build a kitchen table so I cut the legs short and changed the project to a coffee table. I proceeded to build the rest of the frame using pocket-hole joinery – something I do a little bit of for specific things but never to this extent.


Checker Board section in glue-up.

I had tried once (and sort of failed) to do a butcher-block style glue up so I decided to give that another try since I had learned a few lessons the first time around. While I was running my little strips of wood through the planer I got the idea to add a checkerboard into the table. Perhaps this was another challenge I didn’t need to add to my already challenging project but then I remembered that the whole point of making this table was to learn new things. So I moved forward with the checker board idea.


4 sections of the table top in glue-up.

I glued up the table top in 7 different parts. The reason for this was so that I could run each part through my 12” planer to even out the strips. Then I took the parts to Kris to use his nice big table saw to cut them all square and to the appropriate size. Then I took the pieces home and glued them all together.


Entire table top now in final glue-up.

It’s still a work in progress so I’ll add more pictures as the project reaches completion. As I built the table I started wondering what I would do with it when I was done. I don’t like to sell my “learning experiences” as the quality doesn’t usually represent my high standards. Plus, it doesn’t really fit in with my portfolio. So I decided to give it to my cousin as a wedding gift. I hope they like it!

If you have any suggestions for me, please leave them! Thanks!

]]> Thu, 16 May 2013 02:11:47 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/ScottShaeffer/blog/36045 ScottShaeffer ScottShaeffer Just for Fun #3: Turning Logs into Usable Lumber with Wilfer Mobile Sawmill, LLC http://lumberjocks.com/ScottShaeffer/blog/35952 Well, I’ve been busy with fellow LJ Kris Williams http://lumberjocks.com/rockyblue.
We purchased a Norwood MX34 mobile sawmill. Our new company is called Wilfer Mobile Sawmill LLC.
We offer milling services and will also be selling lumber. Our primary goal is to log and mill dead standing beetle kill pine and aspen, but we will also mill hardwood. Check out the video and our new website for more info. I’ve got some fun times ahead this summer!

]]> Thu, 09 May 2013 02:55:34 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/ScottShaeffer/blog/35952 ScottShaeffer ScottShaeffer Just for Fun #2: Colorado State Forest Service Land Management Program http://lumberjocks.com/ScottShaeffer/blog/34999 Scott takes you on a tour with a landowner and a Colorado State Forest Ranger as we talk about a very cool program sponsored by the CSFS designed to help land owners manage their forested land and connect them with resources and information vital to land management.

]]> Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:18:37 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/ScottShaeffer/blog/34999 ScottShaeffer ScottShaeffer Just for Fun #1: Dude, That Curved Tree is so Sweet! http://lumberjocks.com/ScottShaeffer/blog/34998

]]> Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:16:00 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/ScottShaeffer/blog/34998 ScottShaeffer ScottShaeffer Custom Tools #1: Introducing the Log Clamp http://lumberjocks.com/ScottShaeffer/blog/34997 Designed by Scott Shaeffer of San Juan Carpentry and fabricated by Mitchel Dillman of Colorado Rock*N Logs, this new tool is a must have for any log craftsman! In this tutorial we give you a little introduction to see it in action!

Read more about the clamp by following this link: http://logfurniturehowto.com/review/the-log-clamp-review/

]]> Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:13:15 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/ScottShaeffer/blog/34997 ScottShaeffer ScottShaeffer How-To Make Log Furniture #6: Make a Flat-Packed Log Bar Stool http://lumberjocks.com/ScottShaeffer/blog/34996 Faced with a request to ship 15 bar stools overseas, I had to redesign the way he builds them to make shipping much more economical. Take this journey with us. We think you’ll like it.

]]> Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:07:23 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/ScottShaeffer/blog/34996 ScottShaeffer ScottShaeffer How-To Make Log Furniture #5: Waterfall Side Table http://lumberjocks.com/ScottShaeffer/blog/34600 I had a butcher block glue up that I decided to not use for what I made it for (bar stool seats) so instead, I conceived an artistic idea for some side tables. Let me show you how I made them!

]]> Mon, 18 Feb 2013 18:23:01 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/ScottShaeffer/blog/34600 ScottShaeffer ScottShaeffer How-To Make Log Furniture #4: How-To Apply an Epoxy Finish http://lumberjocks.com/ScottShaeffer/blog/34264 In this video Scott Shaeffer is joined by Kris Williams from Rocky Blue Woodworks who introduces us to various table top finishes. We’ll also be talking about how to build an aspen table top appropriately for an epoxy finish!

This video is 1 of 2 in the series. To see more from Kris, follow this link: http://www.rockybluewoodworks.com/

This video is 2 of 2.

See the full tutorial by following this link: http://logfurniturehowto.com/tutorial/how-to-apply-epoxy-finish/

]]> Thu, 31 Jan 2013 19:41:48 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/ScottShaeffer/blog/34264 ScottShaeffer ScottShaeffer How-To Make Log Furniture #3: How-To Make a Puzzle-Cut Shelf or Panel http://lumberjocks.com/ScottShaeffer/blog/34263 In this tutorial, Scott shows in much more detail how to craft the puzzle-cut shelf. This technique can also be used for dresser sides, door panels, or anywhere else you might need a really awesome panel.

See the full tutorial by following this link: http://logfurniturehowto.com/tutorial/learn-how-to-make-a-puzzle-cut-shelf/

]]> Thu, 31 Jan 2013 19:38:17 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/ScottShaeffer/blog/34263 ScottShaeffer ScottShaeffer How-To Make Log Furniture #2: How-To Carve a Tenon http://lumberjocks.com/ScottShaeffer/blog/34262 Tenon cutters are quick but sloppy. See how-to carve a tenon using a draw knife that will look great and fit tight!

See the full tutorial by following this link: http://logfurniturehowto.com/tutorial/learn-how-to-carve-a-tenon/

]]> Thu, 31 Jan 2013 19:35:01 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/ScottShaeffer/blog/34262 ScottShaeffer ScottShaeffer How-To Make Log Furniture #1: Carve a Tenon on a Log Clamp http://lumberjocks.com/ScottShaeffer/blog/34245 I designed a log clamp to hold logs that are too big for the lathe. My friend, Mitchel Dillman over at Colorado Rock*N Logs fabricated it for me. See how to use it to carve a tenon in this video!

Please visit my website and FaceBook Page. Thanks!

]]> Wed, 30 Jan 2013 09:37:05 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/ScottShaeffer/blog/34245 ScottShaeffer ScottShaeffer