Our circa mid 60’s powder room had never had a redo, still sporting 1” pink floor tiles, a flimsy build-in vanity. The wife went to visit her mother for a week and I set out to surprise her! Ripped it all out, new underlayment and tile, wainscoting, built a new “table” on which to set the new vessel sink and done. Seven days, she was surprised and I could hardly move for three days!

Since I built the vanity, I figured it was good for lumberjocks (posted on Home ReFurb too). I used DowelMax for the joints on the vanity and that is one easy tool to love! Pricey but makes quick and foolproof work of jointry.

Okay, this is technically not a woodworking project but it was project to help with my working with wood. Simple enough. I made a panel cutting sled much like Norm used in a You Tube video I saw. But I cut the oak bottom slide too narrow at the most critical point, right at the back edge. A wiggle in the sled.

I could have cut another oak slide but realized I had something better in the kitchen . . . an old cutting board made out of material similar to UHMV if it isn’t UHMV. So I cut the cutting board up on the table saw, patched up the sled slider and problem solved!

And the cutting board is still usable if slightly smaller. These cutting boards are cheap at any discount store kitchen department so you don’t even have to wait for your UPS from Rockler.

If this is common knowledge, sorry, but for me it was a ‘eureka’ moment in the middle of the night and I couldn’t wait to get up this morning to repair the sled.

Built this headboard as a skill builder. Turned out more of an inventory of the skills I need or improper techniques I use! I know it’s not a difficult project, but I have been messing with home improvement/”box building” for 25 years and now that I am retired I am UNlearning all the wrong but expedient ways I taught myself over the years. Learning from books, Lumberjocks, the internet, Sketchup and DOING. The best part is the DOING. I must say, Sketchup is wonderful in making you think a project through before beginning so you make furniture and not firewood. I most need to learn (1) patience, and, (2) 1/16” is NOT “close enough”.

Since this was a painted piece, it was made of clear pine for the frame and 1/4” vinyl beadboard panels. The finials are actually bun feet with the bottoms (now the tops) cut off. My wife liked these more than the true finials I bought for the posts. Actually, she liked it without finials but I thought it looked unfinished. (After 39 years you’d think I’d know better . . . “yes dear”.)

These days if I’m not in the shop (garage), I’m lurking on Lumberjocks or deep in Sketchup confusion!

A while back I got tired of struggling to find the right piece or move or work around sheet goods on the floor leaning against the wall. So I made a wheeled storage rack out of 2×4’s joined by pocket screws and braced by 1/4 inch ply triangles at every place I thought there might be a need. Originally undersized the wheels but replaced with larger ones and it is now easy to move. I usually move it outside the garage when I’m working on something. Used some scrap PT for cross bar to hold smaller pieces in. Random scraps or generall lumber go on the top shelf. An improvement will be some racks on the top to sort scraps/lumber better. No plans, just put it together with the end use in mind.

Thought I’d post in case someone might get some ideas from this. It has worked much better than I’d even hoped when I was putting it together to solve the problem that I’m sure many Lumberjocks have . . . where to put the raw materials for our masterpieces before they become such!

Just finished this TV armoire to hold a 42 inch flat screen. The raised panel doors are on 270 degree hinges which is an inexpensive alternative to doors that slide back into the case, which rob interior space in addition to being costly. There are two full width interior shelves adjustable in 1/2 inch increments. The three drawers on are full extension slides. Approximately 70” tall, 48” wide and 25” deep. The box is 3/4” blondwood plywood (cheaper and better looking than birch at the time). The doors are MDF for the raised panels and poplar for the rails and stiles. The draw fronts are clear pine while the drawers themselves are 1/2” blondwood plywood.

Now I can get the flat screen off the living room fireplace hearth and into the family room where it belongs! (Although last winter it was nice to have a DVD of a fire on the screen rather than a real fire since we live in Florida!)

I wanted to have a finish like the painted finish on a Crate and Barrel type piece . . . smooth and durable. Still haven’t found the product to accomplish that. If someone has a suggestion of a good product and method to do this, let me know! This finish was an oil based enamel sprayed on with a conventional compressor driven gravity feed spray gun.

I build this vanity for a friend from a picture he showed me and the measurements I took of the space. Oak plywood boxes with solid red oak doors . . . regular “home center” stuff. Nothing fancy wood wise but he went overboard on the granite! Beautiful round stainless sink and nice hardware. Can’t see it in the pictures but the side doors open to reveal two drawers each side that are more like sliding shelves.