1. Pine handle, Band Saw Blade, SS pins
2. A Plum tree Branch, Band Saw Blade, SS Pins
3. Maple handle, Saws-All blade, SS Pins (this knife is for L and R handed marking)
4. Cherry Handle, Sawz-AllS blade, Bamboo pins

The 3rd and 4th knives both have blades I designed, cut, and sharpened myself.

They are far from the best examples on the site but each was inspired inpart by the marking knives posted by other LJ’s.

A hunter friend of mine asked if i would mount his first kill.

So i said yes.

The worst part was the feeling that these antlers were really important to him and I could not screw it up. I’ve learned a lot about building for someone else. The pressure to come through is immense. The smallest of details bothered me. I ended up being far more critical about this than anything else ive built.

I don’t know what species of wood this is. I salvaged it from a hardwood skid.

The plaque style was chosen because it worked well with the shape of the antlers.

Sanded it to 220

The Edging is Rustoleum Black Paint (picture 4)

2 cotes of Tung Oil (I wanted bring out the depth of the woods figure)
4 cotes of Clear Gloss Poly ( Sanded from 320 – fine – then – super fine steele wool)
Furniture paste

I glued on a Black Fabric (fake velvet) to the back of the plaque only exposing the hanging hardware.
It makes for a nicer fit on the wall. (picture 3)

There is a small picture of him with his trophy mounted at the bottom of the plaque.

Thanks for looking.

I hope i’ve done justice to this project.

I used a knotty pine and walnut?? for both boxes The darker wood was salvaged from a skid/pallet (yes i’m one of those guys).

so Walnut is my guess, maybe mahogany?? but fantastic figure none the less.

Sanded too 320 grit
Finished with a couple coated of poly
(Clear Satin finish for first box with the sliding lid , and a Clear Gloss finish for the the second box)
Fine Steele wool in between poly coates.

I’ve really been enjoying the work being posted on the site recently and have mostly been caught up looking and dreaming of completing some of your projects.

In between that and life I’ve managed to finish a few little things around the house and in the shop.

here is one of them.

I recently found a skid / pallet that was made of a dark wood. I am not sure of the actual species is but its hard, maybe Walnut or Mahogany. So I made myself this mallet, the face is “layered” with maple and the wedge in the top is cherry.

The cherry is from my father back yard. I only had 2 logs about 10” long each.
One i made my first mallet with. A big ole’ neanderthal looking beast and a small box.
the other i’ve kept close using it sparingly.
No reason i just know when it’s gone it’s gone

Like most of my work soon after completing a project i often see thing far clearer. This occasion was no different, i really should have gone with the Krenov Mallet. It’s what

i wanted i just didn’t know it until i saw it. ( Next Time)

I’ve finished it with some several light coats of BLO.

The wood is cut from a log that i found in my dads firewood pile. He cut down a few fruit trees years ago and i was not lucky enough to be around before they were cut in to fire wood.

Recently a nice piece of cherry poked its head out and i took it. So along with a small but nice piece of pear, from the same pile, i made this little guy.

the cherry was pretty rotten but salvaged enough.

On a side note, working with wood that I’ve found is far more rewarding than buying expensive box store lumber and worrying over every unused scrap.

I love wood piles. Scrap or other wise. Lumber Mills are becoming my new favorite place.

Well that’s my 2 cents. Thanks for looking.

This lamp was inspired by a fellow LJ. I was looking around the site as I OFTEN do and came across Asher’s “Desk Lamp” I knew immediately that i had to attempt it.

The lamp stands 15” tall , the top is 9.5” sq and the base is 8.5” square. I used 3/4” maple for the frame construction and a veneer i had picked up for a previous project (pine i think).

I finished it (with much difficulty, trial, error and finally victory) with minwax “Dark Walnut” and 4 coats of a wipe on poly.

This was my most difficult build yet i was using materials and techniques that were all new to me. I found maple very difficult to stain. I tried everything i could from sanding to 180 grit max, to wetting the wood to raise the grain. nothing worked. Finally i stained the lamp and waited 3 days for it to dry before i wiped the lamp down the a mineral spirit dampened rag just to get rid of the residue that did not soak in to the wood.

I did however finish it and can say i am still confused as to how maple is properly stained.

I definitely had a few hairy moments but i just kept saying to my self ” Didn’t Asher make 30 of these for Christmas one year, you have to be able to make one”

Anyway, here’s hoping imitation is truly the greatest form of flattery or I’m just a flat out copy cat.

salute

I built this nite (Night) stand (Table) for my youngest daughter. The build was really rewarding, instead of being consumed with the details of the actual table i found myself thinking of her the entire time.

I don’t know how many of you have children but they put your life in perspective rather quickly.

As i said i had her on my mind constantly during this build, but what was exciting was that this piece has a chance of becoming something really special for her.

I understand this is not a great way to approach a project that requires any degree of technical thought but when it was done i was happy with the outcome. There are a few aspects of this table that i wince at, but she’s 3 and by the time she notices …. well i hope it lasts that long.

The table is made from pine, I used 2 coats of minwax oil based stain and 5 coats of a wipe on poly. I sanded with 320, 220, and 0000 steel wool. (A procedure i credit to this very site) i know it’s not rocket science. It however gvve this piece a beautiful hard finish.

It’s not perfect but Thnaks for looking anyway

I was basically working on a piece of 3/4” plywood clamped to 2 steel saw horses. The good ole’ floor and an old 36” x 36” baking table. Which i cant complain about its a really useful small bench that i added some locking wheels to.

So i decided that if I was going to make anything worth a lick i would need a good workbench.

I did as much hand work as i could during the construction of the bench.

I have intentions on adding a chest of drawers, an hardwood top, and a proper vise or 2. All which would add much needed weight

I am relatively new to the whole process of completing a wood project and this being my first large project i was shocked at what a few coats of stain will bring out of a piece.

I know this is a duh moment for most of you but i was amazed.

I also learned an important lessons regarding properly preparing wood for a finish. There are many unsightly visible glue spots and drips which i should have taken care of better.

I used a top that was given to me by a friend. I don’t know what it is exactly but it weighs 125 lbs. and is very chip/ding an dent resistant. it is around 58” long and has virtually no sag or dip in the middle which is currently unsupported.