In spring ’24, I TA’d an Art & Design class at a local community college, where students designed sculptures from cardboard and paper tape. Planning, material selection, and tools are critical. Source wisely to avoid construction issues. Sharp blades, proper adhesives, and precise paint techniques enhance the final product.
Tag Archives: diy
This Week in the Shop: Tool Rack
This Week in the Shop we build tool holders for my recently installed tool wall. An organized workspace is a functional workspace, especially in community shops. When everything has its place, every part of the shop seems to work quicker. So this week, I put together a few tool holders to put up some screwdrivers,Continue reading “This Week in the Shop: Tool Rack”
This Week In the Shop: Storage Crate
This Week in the Shop we make a storage crate suitable to store a large pinewood derby track. This crate is simple to build and made out of very cheap materials. As built, this crate costs roughly $75 per crate in plywood and hardware supplies. This project can be attempted by the beginner, but alsoContinue reading “This Week In the Shop: Storage Crate”
Home #Makerspace: DIY Drain Pipe Regatta (or Rain Gutter Regatta)
On a hot summer day, nothing beats a cool, breezy scientific adventure. The Drain Pipe Regatta is a great investment for a classroom or backyard exploring space, as it helps teach the basics of fluid dynamics, buoyancy, motion and transfer of power. Connections to the great sailing ages in history, from the Polynesians exploring theContinue reading “Home #Makerspace: DIY Drain Pipe Regatta (or Rain Gutter Regatta)”
This Week in the Shop: DIY Height Gauge
A quick jig can make the difference in a woodshop. This height gauge helps measure and set cutting tool heights and thicknesses for rabbets, dadoes, chamfers, etc. Since it incorporates a digital caliper, the dial is easy to read, precise and accurate. This tool came in handy building the light box project – I hitContinue reading “This Week in the Shop: DIY Height Gauge”
Home #Makerspace: DIY Street Hockey Sticks
It’s winter here in Northern Virginia and my sons have discovered a strange and wondrous sport of the North:
Hockey!
Learn to build your own hockey sticks – and a technique that can be applied to all sorts of shop and furniture projects.
The Home #Makerspace: How To Build Your Own Pinball Machine (with Working Launcher & Flipper)
Sometimes, a teacher needs to court a little controversy. This week, Things 1 & 2 & I build a device which was banned in New York City from the 1940s until 1976, and can be found in high quality dens of iniquity and vice, such as bowling alleys and boardwalk amusements. Pinball. I’m talking aboutContinue reading “The Home #Makerspace: How To Build Your Own Pinball Machine (with Working Launcher & Flipper)”
Tool Primer: How To Finish Your Woodworking Project: Sanding
In the next two Tool Primer articles, I will discuss my process for finishing a woodworking project. The finishing process is the difference between a good woodworking project and a heirloom piece of furniture. When I want to really knock a project out of the park, I focus much of my energy on choosing and creating aContinue reading “Tool Primer: How To Finish Your Woodworking Project: Sanding”
This Week In the Shop: In-Progress Bed Design and Build
You may have noticed a distinct drop off in the frequency of posts here on WoodshopCowboy since the beginning of the year. In that great crucible of life, demands of life has reduced my shop time. Mostly, though, a majority of woodworking time has been caught up in a commission from my wife: a bed.Continue reading “This Week In the Shop: In-Progress Bed Design and Build”
This Week in the Classroom: Gottshall Block Project
I’ve heard before from others in the “making” or woodworking communities I’m a little behind the times. I make cigar box guitars when they were totally two years ago. Or I teach developmental woodworking in manner more suited to a different century. So of course, I discover a sweet little hand tool project about aContinue reading “This Week in the Classroom: Gottshall Block Project”
WSC Designs 