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This secretary was my senior project. Built in 2002, it was a culmination of 10 years for me as a 4-H woodworking member. Each year I built a woodworking project and competed with my peers at the county fair. When you win at the county level you can then go on to compete at the state level. Winning at the Ohio State Fair was the best you could do in 4-H. Each year I tried to win awards at the state fair and several years I came in as a runner up. This was my last project and last year in 4-H and I finally won came in as grand champion in the woodworking category. It was a big honor when I was 18 years old.

There is a lot of history in this project. I wanted to make this project from all reclaimed antique walnut. There is richness of color to old growth walnut that is hard to find in the grayish purple kiln dried stuff that you can buy today. The walnut for this project came from several sources. All the wood was from the 18th and 19th centuries and was permeated with dry rot, powder post beetle trails and square-cut iron nails. I was able to salvage enough decent wood and I filled a coffee can with the nails I removed.


This jelly cupboard was salvaged from a German "I" house built in Massachusetts in 1790.


This 22 inch wide board was a piece of walnut siding salvaged from a corn crib built in 1823. I found several pieces of lead shotgun pellets when planing this piece. I left them in the wood and lacquered over them.


This material is from a frame farmhouse built in 1850. The owner tore out all the old trim during a remodel and gave it to my dad.


Here are the feet in rough form. I made the ogee by making multiple passes on a table saw with a rip blade set a different heights.

The following are pictures of me working on this project. I am 18 years old in the pictures.








This project is my favorite piece that I have ever built. I have many great memories from working on it. I think it will far outlive me as I pass it down to future generations.

Gallery

Comments

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Well done my friend ! I spent 6 yrs in jr high and high school shop and never came close to that type work for a number of years. JB
 

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Really nice work and I liked the inlaid box as well. It's sure nice to get an early start on something like this that you can enjoy for a lifetime.
Welcome to lumberjocks and keep posting your fine work.
 

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An impressive piece for someone who was only 18 years old ! Quite the history to the build too. I would agree with your comments on the lower quality of a lot of the walnut now available c/w that used back when secretaries were in vogue.
 

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4H and FFA were great experiences for me growing up in Ohio in the 50's and 60's. Competing at the county fair and then going to Columbus to the state fair was a big deal. Congratulations. I think you are well on your way to having a lifelong hobby. This was really good work and a good story to go with it.
 

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Truly outstanding work and a benchmark you can be proud of for the rest of your life while continuing in your wood working hobby. Look forward to more of your posts. Thanks for sharing with the history and pictures.
 

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Very nice work. Judging from the first picture, your cat seems like to like it too.
 

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Bravo-zulu…you should be proud. That is a piece that will last for decades…...well done.
 

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Wonderful job. I love it!
 

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Thanks everybody!
 
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