Well, payday came, and after a trip to Clark’s for some Poplar, I was back in business! Building the draw fronts, and then getting the rest of the measurements for the rest of the drawers. After all of the dovetail work, I final sanded the drawers, and applied a coat of Black Walnut Danish Oil. Now I need to wait 3 days for it to dry, before I add a top coat. Enjoy!!

Just need some finish, and the hardware!!

I do have a question. Should I apply the Danish Oil to the interior of the case to match the outside? Does anyone have experience applying shellac to walnut with Danish oil applied? I really want to finish this in shellac. Thanks for any help you may offer!!!

Here is the top!!

I follwed my buddy Lee around while he was helping this lady with her lumber needs. While she was on the phone getting a decision, I took Lee over to it, and we measured it up. While I thought this board would be crazy expensive, he enlightened me that is was rough cut!! The measurements are 14”W x 8’L x 15/16” thick. I was shocked and pleased to get rough stock pricing!!

Here are a few pics next to the aniegre.

All of these pics are with mineral spirits added to enhance the figure. ENJOY!!

I looked in the stand up bins for something that matched the grain of my walnut, but no luck! So off to the rough lumber warehouse I went. You guys should really take time to visit Clarks if you’re ever here in Houston. Once I found my 8/4 stick of walnut, I have to tell you I started window lumber shopping!!

There, just to the left of the 8/4 rough walnut, was 8/4 rough cherry. In that stack, about 3/4 of the way down was a 8/4 thick piece of cherry that was 17 1/2” wide!! I couldn’t get the timbers moved around enough to get a closer look at it for color/grain/sapwood, but man it sure was an impressive piece of cherry. I bet it was 12’ long!

Tired from my attempt to look at the 17 incher, I grabbed my walnut, and headed back to the front office to pay. On my way there, I passed the stand up bins on the opposite side (they are in alphabetical order) there I found another gorgeous piece of beeswing aniegre! It was over 2 years ago that I saw the first one. I don’t remember seeing any rough aniegre in the rough stock warehouse. Just looking at the grain alone made me want to put the walnut back, and grab the aniegre! Well my buddy Lee at Clarks made me a deal I couldn’t refuse, and now I’m the proud owner of a gorgeous 8’ stick of beeswing aniegre! Looks like I’m going to get me a vacuum bag next month, so I can start veneering. I want to savor this piece of gorgeous lumber!!

I think I could bookmatch 3 slices into a table top, and build a frame in cherry and really set this beauty off!!

After going through what was left, I did manage to find 7 boards. I only bought 4, due to the fact that I was in my G6, and couldn’t get the wider, longer boards in the car. I think I got the prettiest ones, though!!

I bet you guys can figure out which board oout of these 4 is going to be my draw fronts for my walnut version of the Small Chippendale Chest!!

Those are 10’ sticks ladies and gentlemen!! I had to rent a Home Depot truck to get it home, hope they didn’t mind!! This sale was just in time when I was planning on my next projects!! Well this month Rockler has black walnut on sale for $5.99 a b/f. This time Rockler ordered 1500 b/f. I got there today, and they still had 2 pallets left. Really great looking lumber! I even have a piece that is totally clear of sapwood, and 16” wide!

All of these walnut boards have come curly figure to them. I can’t wait to start this fall!! If you guys have a local Rockler, you should all jump on this great deal. I’ve never seen a full 16” wide stick of walnut completely clear of sapwood! And they haven’t worked down to the middle of the pallets yet, there is still time for me, I mean you to get some of this walnut!! David Harms, make sure you leave me some this weekend!! (just kidding!!)

http://www.starrett.com/download/183_pta_dualcut_ds.pdf

Well let me clear this all up. I wasn’t going to use my yearly Christmas bonus (I have the best boss in the world!) on a new machine this year, or even lumber. I was going to use it on Hardy plank siding on the house. I sat at work for weeks looking at this great Jet JDP-17DX – 17” Drill Press . It had a $25.00 rebate, plus a free mini machine. I figured I would wait another year, and get it. The following week, Jet added an additional $50.00 rebate, giving you a total of $75.00 off! Well I figured my price out at work. With $200.00 from my bonus, and 2 $50.00 gift cards, one from a great customer, and another a rebate from our cell phone carrier, less the rebate from Jet, this drill press was mine for the bargain price of $93.00 (I love a great deal!)

I had a fun putting it together. No matter what the manual tells you, there are ways to put these machines together without help. I laid the motor assembly on it’s side, and leaned the post over. Then I supported the post with some scrap boards, and walked the head on to the post. Tightened one set screw, and lifted it back on the mobile base. Once it was upright, and in the mobile base, I loosened the set screw slightly, and the motor gently slid down into position! I used this same technique on my 200lb table saw also.

I adjusted the lasers, cleaned and waxed the cast iron table, and I was in business! I’m looking forward to using this awesome drill press for a long time! Thanks for looking!

I ordered my complete set of bits for my D4R, and received them 4 days later. You can’t beat 25% off original Leigh brand bits, well at least I couldn’t!! Can’t wait to mill some small dovetailed drawers for a long awaited jewery chest for my girlfriend. Just need some gorgeous walnut, and maple!!!

Better hurry!! This offer ends Dec. 31, 2008!!