This fall, I made an effort to produce a “high-quality” product – and by this I mean hardwoods, nice finishes, proper construction techniques and professional quality work. This effort resulted in the “Tea Box” project. I also tried to maximize the amount and quantity of hand tools used versus the necessity of power tools.
Category Archives: This Week In the Shop
Toy Making Jigs
My son has very strong feelings about woodworking show hosts. “Herm” (Norm) is his favorite – he’s in love with power tools. Me? I prefer St. Roy. In this episode, St. Roy discussed and built several toys from 18th century America. I was especially fascinated by the jig he uses to create small parts. IContinue reading “Toy Making Jigs”
Quick Pic: Cutting Boards
Somehow, several large planks of long-grain butcher-block style planks have come my way. Nothing better to do than prep some cutting boards and let the kids turn them into something special. The boards are finished with food-safe mineral oil, specifically Wisconsin Hardwoods’ Wood Oil. Always make sure you use a food-safe finishes (which limits youContinue reading “Quick Pic: Cutting Boards”
This Week in the Shop: Make: Plywood Chairs
A few issues ago, Make Magazine published plans for a jigsaw puzzle chair, and I needed chairs for my “dining room”. In reality, I needed chairs, I had plywood and this plan jumped out at me. I used a jigsaw to rough-cut the piece. Then I finished the pieces with a bandsaw, rasps and aContinue reading “This Week in the Shop: Make: Plywood Chairs”
This Week in the Classroom: Production Boxes
If you ask him how to do it he’ll say just like noah built the ark you’ve got to hold your mouth right son and never miss your mark. -Guy Clark, “The Carpenter”
Safety in the Shop: Other People’s Tools
This weekend I attended a welding class. I’m trying to get some practice laying beads with a MIG welder. A major safety hazard of welding is being “flashed” by the spark of electricity between the machine and workpiece. “Flashing” means the brightness of the arc has burned your retinas and can cause severe eye irritation,Continue reading “Safety in the Shop: Other People’s Tools”
This Week in the Shop: The Tool Chest
If I haven’t made clear prior to this post, I have space issues at work. I hold wood-shop classes in the great outdoors, rain or shine (ok, just shine), cold or hot. Morning and afternoon. I’ve been looking for a storage solution for the many “wood-centric” tools that end up in the outdoor space butContinue reading “This Week in the Shop: The Tool Chest”
The Bike Shed
Four hours, eight kids, fifteen bikes. Make it safe & keep the rubber side down.
This Week in the Shop: Painting a Table Top
Here’s a quick shot of my “draft” top for the dining room table. I’m playing with the paints a bit, yah? Wondering what you think – I’m on the fence about the whole idea but the more I play, the more this stormy landscape comes into being. Just like when I write poetry, I can’tContinue reading “This Week in the Shop: Painting a Table Top”
The Art Crate Lockers
Over the past month my mind (and workshop) has fissured into a melting pot of tools, projects, class planning and plan ol’ creative fury. I have nothing to show for my troubles right now. I have recently completed a “house” style table – craftsman lines with painted accents – and I failed to take picturesContinue reading “The Art Crate Lockers”
WSC Designs 