This project was started about two weeks ago. I’ve been doing little bits at a time between studying for promotion and work, so there isn’t much progress as of yet. I figured I’d drop an update whille I have the time. Bare with me as it’s been about nine years since I did any sort of woodwork at all.
Due to available materials I decided to go with a pine frame and cedar slatted sides. All the pieces are/will be joined by tongue & groove, mortise & tennon, and rabbit joints. The corners meet with the bases via the m&t’s. I’ve done some 6th grade routing on the base because I wasn’t happy with the boxish look. I’ve still got to cut a rabbit for some cedar trim along the corners and design a piece to sit on top of the corners and raise the overall height a bit.
The slats join to the corners with a tongue & groove kinda setup, mostly because of the tools I have on hand. The slats will also join to eachother with some rabbiting because I don’t want them to have any individual movement once assembled.
I slapped the two pieces together to get a rough idea of how this will look and I’m relatively pleased so far. I think the two tones of wood will complement eachother after I sand and hit the pine with a natural or light finish. I plan on just slapping some poly on the cedar slats with the hope of bringing the color to life a bit more.
I’m a novice with a limited selection of tools, so bare with me if you don’t agree with the way I’m proceeding with this. Even so, I’d love to hear some comments about what I could do differently next time, or other thoughts on how I should proceed with aspects such as finishing.
-- -- Marvin, Dover Air Force Base, Delaware
7 comments so far
Karson
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34370 posts in 2571 days
#1 posted 2268 days ago
Marvin: we all try new techniques from time to time thats how we learn and build our skill quotent.
-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
Todd A. Clippinger
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8654 posts in 2270 days
#2 posted 2268 days ago
The wood looks better than I imagined. I have learned some things the hard way and the wrong way as often as just the “right” way. I also agree with Karson. There is almost always more than one way to do something in woodworking. It often is dictated by your tools available. The great thing is you’ve got a lot of talented people to call on for advice right here.
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://americancraftsmanworkshop.com
oscorner
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4565 posts in 2482 days
#3 posted 2268 days ago
Looking good so far. Don’t tell me you have carpet in your shop like, Don.
-- Jesus is Lord!
Verilith
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12 posts in 2271 days
#4 posted 2268 days ago
lol No, that’s my spare bedroom I used for finishing, pictures and whatnot.
-- -- Marvin, Dover Air Force Base, Delaware
MsDebbieP
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18320 posts in 2332 days
#5 posted 2268 days ago
a true artist improvises, using the resources available, to create a masterpiece.
If it works: it’s perfect!
Lookin good.
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Ethan Sincox
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764 posts in 2345 days
#6 posted 2267 days ago
Marvin,
Don’t get sucked into the school of thought that you can’t build great things until you have several thousand dollars worth of tools and 20 years of woodworking experience!
For example, just look at your own work. Looking great so far, man!
There is a local woodcarver here in Saint Louis (Boris Khechoyan) who started off making his own carving tools out of scrap metal before he imigrated to America. Now he teaches classes here in Saint Louis at his own shop and at Woodcraft and he even teaches classes at Marc Adams School of Woodworking.
One of my last woodworking magazines I got in the mail had an article about a Vietamese woodworker who makes his own planes and chisels with scraps, as well. Now he has a shop out somewhere (in California?) and has several people working under him.
These men started with absolutely nothing but desire and determination – and probably a lot of patience – and they’re making great quality work and a good living.
Sometimes I’ll find myself getting caught up in the idea that I have to have a certain tool to do a certain thing. If I stop and put my mind to it, I can almost always find a different way to do it with the tools I have.
-- Ethan, http://thekiltedwoodworker.com
Mark A. DeCou
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1947 posts in 2577 days
#7 posted 2267 days ago
welcome to the group. You are doing great, keep us posted on your progress.
-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com
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