The instructor had a Kreg Jig® Master System so I took advantage of it to learn a new skill. After a few test piece I managed to drill holes to secure the shelf after glue up.

I want to cut three slots in the centre piece to add visual interest to the shelf. I am unsure how I will accomplish this yet . My options are to drop it on a router bit ( not my idea of fun) or to set up a dado set and raise the blade into the piece. I think I will go with my second option but have all week to ponder this so I may even come up with another solution.

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Thanks for reading

My client had asked me to built a head board for her, I was busy and said it would be a few weeks before I could commit to it. She found one on an internet classified add for a lot cheaper than what I could build hers for. The problem is that it was advertised has a King size but is in reality a queen size ( you get what you pay for right). Now $350.00 later she came back to me to see what I could do to “fix it”.

When I brought it home my family’s first idea was to “burn it!” Sorry not our style.

But since the clients is almost always right I pondered my options.

It is 78 inches wide by 18 and half tall.

The average King size bed is 88 wide and the new pillow top mattress are about 24-30 high, you could literally loose the headboard behind the bed ( maybe not a bad thing). There is cool carvings on 10 individual panels which I think was the attraction for my client. I think it ( I have spend a lot of time looking at this thing) tells the story of some sort of ancient king ascension to the throne. The frame itself is weak and of poor craftsmanship. The finish is black and red paint with Gold leaf ?( as advertised) but I would hazard a guess it is just gold colour paint.

My options are 1.To build a frame around the existing one . This would be a nightmare because the outside edge is tapered. Also this leaves a weak centre frame.

2. Salvage the carved panels and build a custom frame to fit. I really like the second option and will try to convince the client to go this route.

The 3rd is to bring back the frame and tell her I can not do anything. I would really rather not execute my 3rd but will not take a loss on this project ( see previous blog) and will have everything on paper before I even sharpen my tools.

Your thoughts and comments are always appreciated .

Thanks for reading

I milled and tapered the legs in my own shop which was a great time saver , I mortised them in class and dry fitted the whole assembly. My phone died after 2 pictures. Sorry.

The instructor was impressed with the legs and asked if I wanted to veneer the rails and top with shop cut walnut Hummm! What to do what to do? this is an advance skills and I know he has a vacuum press…

Anyway I had to work again last night and can barely form a coherent sentence never mind write a blog so thanks for reading and good night.

Thanks for reading.

This week was all about biscuit joints and pocket hole joinery needless to say I tuned out in the first 3 minutes and started to watch the crowed that was gathering outside of the studio.

The shop were this class is held is within a building which houses two auditoriums and there was a dance recital tonight so at the intermission we were the centre of attention . I waved at a ~6 year old boy who I know will be a lumber jock as soon as he get his hands on a tool. His eyes were the size of a dinner plate when the instructor used the biscuit joiner. Then as I was using the jointer and planer I saw him again his nose was pressed against the glass (the studio is fully visible from the lobby) and I could read his look “ I want to do that” was what his eyes were saying. Too bad his mom grabbed him and brought him back to the recital… poor little guy.

So tonight once the instructional part was over I got to mill my top and rails to dimension and lay out the tenons. I would have glued the top but one of the resident had his vacuum press on the only flat surface of the shop. Look at the top right of the picture.

I would have included picture of this but I made a promise to the instructors that I would only shoot my own project.

Anyway the resident had four pieces about 12 foot in length by 6 inches with 45 degree mitres at both ends laminated . I can only speculate that it will end up as a frame of some sort. The wood looked to me like walnut and had a really cool inlay about 2 inches offset to the outside. The cool thing about this class is that at any time there are about a dozen projects laying around all at different stage of completion and there are some wicked designs hence the promise not to take pictures.

So ,I am not exactly were I would like to be ,but I am having fun. The grain pattern of the top is quite spectacular in my opinion for poplar anyway. I am anxious to see what it will look like when stained.

Something happened to me for the first time this week. Two ( first time clients) changed their minds mid project and are asking for an entirely different design, the third was not satisfied after 2 weeks and wants a brand new product.

All three issues will cost me time and material. There is nothing wrong with both designs, I built what they asked for ,the third well I don’t know she is just like that the product is exactly what she asked for.

All three customers have paid me in full so my first instinct is to go along and make the customer happy… however I do not want to set a precedent because all these people are connected through work to potential clients. Having said that, I also do not want to establish a reputation as money hungry and rigid son of a bee because of the same reason.

HELP!!! I never thought this could be so complicated.

Appreciate your advice

So we spent about 45 minutes going over mortise and tenon jointing at the router table and about 15 minutes on the mortise set up on the drill press. That was fine I had already made up my mind to use the mortise machine anyway. Mostly because dropping wood on a bit I can “not “see going 21000 RPM freaks me out a little. (I would like to hear your thoughts on this actually.)

I was able to cut my mortises and clean them up “somewhat” with the chisels they had on hand. Lets just say they had seen better days and needed a good sharpening. I was kicking myself for leaving mine at home. That fine too because I was able to relax and chip away at the mortises ,chat with the guys ( and one girl, I keep forgetting her) Once my tenons are cut in the rails I will ( with my own “scary sharp” chisels) trim the mortises to fit.
Hey one bad day in the shop is better than two good days out of the shop right.

I did not accomplish what I had in mind but oh well the best laid plans right! Now that most people have their legs done I will be able to get my rails and top out of that lumber pile.

Thanks for reading.

Did you see the lumber in the background ? OMG there is a 100 year old reclaimed Walnut Fritch that I would die for… It all belong to the “ RESIDENTS” who pays good money to use this shop during the day. It is absolutely out of bounce for us we are not even allowed to touch it for fear of leaving fingerprints on the finished product . Polar is for the “community craftsman” ( aka second class citizen wood hackers) LOL. All jokes aside it is a great environment to learn basic but essential skills. I am having a blast.

Thanks for reading and I promise next week I will have made sawdust and there will be pictures.

http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt115/traumajacques/IMG_1531.jpg
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http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt115/traumajacques/IMG_1531.jpg

We are provided with enough rough lumber to make a small table or something with 4 legs, aprons and a top. I have decided to make a piano bench. I made one about 3 years ago out of pine and with pocket holes and screws ,it still is fine but I am not happy with the construction and all the mistakes I made. I finish the design and drawings yesterday and my conundrum right now is should I bring in my own wood. I should mention that the lumber provided is poplar. (It is free) I know poplar takes stain well and this piece needs to be dark brown to match the antic piano it will be used with.

The instructors are both skilled craftsmen’s with great designs in their portfolio. I know I am going to learn lots and get to work in a” really well equipped shop” for 10 weeks what more can a lumberjock wants. I will take photos and post the progress. Thanks for reading comments always welcomed.