This Week in the Shop: Tangled Up (Dining Set) in Blue

In the past few weeks, I’ve had the chance to photograph my completed big fall project from 2011.  I put together the table base over a few weeks in August and built the top over a couple weeks in September.  I don’t remember much, other than my wife traveled overseas during that time.  I remember my stomach tightening when she said “well, the country is in a state of emergency, so I might need a bodyguard” and the guys  at the lumberyard telling me “a great story” about said country which involved his friend being smuggled out of a military dictatorship. I built the … Continue reading This Week in the Shop: Tangled Up (Dining Set) in Blue

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 a router with flush-cut bit.  Here’s the first chair. Before you ask, yes, it isn’t sturdy enough.  The original plans called for 3/4 in thick plywood.  I only had half inch, but it’s what I had on hand.  I will install some sort of brace.  We’ll … Continue reading This Week in the Shop: Make: Plywood Chairs

This Week in the Shop: Don’t Touch My Blue Suede Chair

A quick sawdust update: I’ve been working finishing up a personal project this week and doing a little legwork for my next piece.  In May, two friends of mine became married to each other.  I got to see them meet, watch them fall in love and stand up and give a hell yeah! at the wedding while wearing an uncomfortable rental tux.  I decided to celebrate with a chair.  The results so far: Lowe’s provided the legs and various hardware pieces, while I scrounged up about five yards of blue suede from the local fabric shop.  I salvaged the stuffed … Continue reading This Week in the Shop: Don’t Touch My Blue Suede Chair

This Week in the Shop: Children’s Picnic Table

This week in the shop, I got the chance to use up a few of the pine boards laying in the woodpile.  My son got a picnic table out of the deal.  The table is 24″ L, 11″ W & about 11″ H. The table: The chair (the rails are too close together): The result as he knows it: A side shot of the chair.  It’s a little skinny: I attached the top with a few screws. You can deduce the construction of the side with this shot. Make it safe & keep the rubber side down this weekend.  I’ll … Continue reading This Week in the Shop: Children’s Picnic Table