Project Information
Ever have a personal project that grows. I think the end of this one is insight. I just want to recap the journey. It all started when I signed up 18th Century Carving with Lonnie Bird. I think that was about the time I joined LJ.
Design 1
All I wanted to do was build a briefcase style box for the Gouges required for the class.
Problem:
• Too small.
Design 2
Turning to Sketchup. I designed a larger box that opens flat with Gouges on both sides.Workable Yes Then I saw GaryKk's "A box for my wood collection"
.
.
I like to challenge myself. Thanks to GaryK's blog I know how. (Good blog Gary Thanks) Cut the pieces cut maple for the top and bottom.
Problem:
• The open box is larger than my work bench leaving no place for me to work.
I never assembled the large box. Took the cutoffs and made these boxes. "Three small boxes"
.
Design 3
Make large box stand on end.
Problem:
• Box not designed to hold gouges vertical
• Stands to vertical
• Modification imposable.
I have seen cardboard mockup of designs, now I know why. Try again.
Design 4
No more completed pieces Proof of Concept only. I made a holder to hold 5 gouges vertical. Works. Hinge two of these face to face. Small problem when closed gouges can fall into the others space. Solution offset holes. Five on one side six on the other. Built simple frame to hold at a slight angle. Realized the frame was large enough to hold drawers for tools. It just needed a double hinge to expose the drawers.
Design 5
Sketchup time again. I love Sketchup. Make about ten different versions Based on the lessons learned from the Proof of Concept.
Design 6 The build.
Here is where personality comes in to play. I have never really worked from plans. So off to the shop with a good Concept (all the needed changes never made it into Sketchup), approx. size, a determination to build a box, a work bench that moves away when ever approached, a good table saw, hand tools and knowledge of the problems with the Proof of Concept. All that's left to overcome is my lack of experience in woodworking.
To quote MsDebbieP "If it is worth doing, it is worth doing wrong"
And from that wrong blossoms experience, skills, knowledge and wisdom
I definitely did a lot of the wood working steps wrong. Thanks MsDebbieP for showing me what I gained.
I also used GaryK's quote "Never pass up the opportunity to make a mistake look like you planned it that way" to finish this project. That's the only way to go.
Conclusions
Carving Skills: improving, getting closer to where I want to be
Woodworking skills: improving, problems seem to be lack of experience
Design skills: needs the most work but improving
Wood: Walnut, Maple, Basswood
Footprint: 8 ¾" x 18"
Size Closed: 13" x 20" x 18"H
Size Open: 15" x 33 ½" x 33 ½"H
Finish: Lacquer
Hand cut dovetails
Photo: rotated, cropped, and resized in Sketchup.
Martin if you ever have a contest to build a tool tote, I have my entry.
Design 1
All I wanted to do was build a briefcase style box for the Gouges required for the class.
Problem:
• Too small.
Design 2
Turning to Sketchup. I designed a larger box that opens flat with Gouges on both sides.Workable Yes Then I saw GaryKk's "A box for my wood collection"
.
.
I like to challenge myself. Thanks to GaryK's blog I know how. (Good blog Gary Thanks) Cut the pieces cut maple for the top and bottom.
Problem:
• The open box is larger than my work bench leaving no place for me to work.
I never assembled the large box. Took the cutoffs and made these boxes. "Three small boxes"
.
Design 3
Make large box stand on end.
Problem:
• Box not designed to hold gouges vertical
• Stands to vertical
• Modification imposable.
I have seen cardboard mockup of designs, now I know why. Try again.
Design 4
No more completed pieces Proof of Concept only. I made a holder to hold 5 gouges vertical. Works. Hinge two of these face to face. Small problem when closed gouges can fall into the others space. Solution offset holes. Five on one side six on the other. Built simple frame to hold at a slight angle. Realized the frame was large enough to hold drawers for tools. It just needed a double hinge to expose the drawers.
Design 5
Sketchup time again. I love Sketchup. Make about ten different versions Based on the lessons learned from the Proof of Concept.
Design 6 The build.
Here is where personality comes in to play. I have never really worked from plans. So off to the shop with a good Concept (all the needed changes never made it into Sketchup), approx. size, a determination to build a box, a work bench that moves away when ever approached, a good table saw, hand tools and knowledge of the problems with the Proof of Concept. All that's left to overcome is my lack of experience in woodworking.
To quote MsDebbieP "If it is worth doing, it is worth doing wrong"
And from that wrong blossoms experience, skills, knowledge and wisdom
I definitely did a lot of the wood working steps wrong. Thanks MsDebbieP for showing me what I gained.
I also used GaryK's quote "Never pass up the opportunity to make a mistake look like you planned it that way" to finish this project. That's the only way to go.
Conclusions
Carving Skills: improving, getting closer to where I want to be
Woodworking skills: improving, problems seem to be lack of experience
Design skills: needs the most work but improving
Wood: Walnut, Maple, Basswood
Footprint: 8 ¾" x 18"
Size Closed: 13" x 20" x 18"H
Size Open: 15" x 33 ½" x 33 ½"H
Finish: Lacquer
Hand cut dovetails
Photo: rotated, cropped, and resized in Sketchup.
Martin if you ever have a contest to build a tool tote, I have my entry.