When Woodworking...

[BrokenolMarine]

I sometimes wonder if maybe I start my projects from the wrong end?

On some projects. Like my small boxes. Unless someone has asked for a box for a specific purpose, or for me to build one of my existing patterns... I start by walking out to the extra boathouse where I store the bulk of my "good" wood, or begin peering into the cabinets and cubbys where the smaller pieces are hiding, until a special piece jumps out at me. "Speaks to me," as they say. I start creating the box in my head from there. I don't design the box, then go looking for the wood. (Seems out of order, huh?)

A cubby, there are three or four in the shop... as you can see, there are some pretty cool pieces in there.

My newest box is on the bench now. Sorta. The top is... I think. Peering into a cabinet, this oddly shaped remnant of burled maple jumped at me. I took it over to the rocker, and I sat and I drank my coffee and we chatted a bit. Odd shaped, two inches thick at the bottom, half inch at the top, about a foot long. Like a very tall slice of pie. Beautifully grained. I rocked, the wood whispered.


There are two chairs in the shop:
One rolls: It's my mobility in the shop.

The other really does rock...

This one is my "thinking chair" and I sit in it to plan the next steps in my projects or think problems through. Yes, before you ask, it IS a Cracker Barrel rocker.

After our conversation, we came to an agreement. A box top, we decided. Some band saw work created two bookmatched slabs, and some scraps. I loved the grain.

Now I just have to trim it down into the proper shape and put a frame around it to make it a top.

Now I have to figure out what box the top will fit, and which wood will compliment the maple...
Time to wander, peek.. and back to the rocker for inspiration.


Found this walnut in the cubby. Looks kinda rough doesn't it. Amazing how some folks can see things in wood that others would burn or toss out.
I'll figure out how thick to cut the slices, and what shape the box will take, it's just gonna take some rocking.


Funny, an hour or so of work, and it's starting to look like a box. Just have to decide the shape and make it work with the inlayed top. Time... just takes time.

Guess I'll have to keep you posted.
I have had the stuff on the bench for a few days now, and it's getting down to the point where decisions are to be made and critical cuts need to be decided. When I can't decide, I leave it, go inside and work on fishing gear, reload, or clean something.

I go back when the solution to my problem comes to me. No rush. It's supposed to be fun.. I'm retired.

[BrokenolMarine]

A few other notes.
The wife found the cracker barrel rocker for me on Craigs List. We had always said we were going to pick one up every time we stopped at Cracker Barrel, but just never had the room in the back of the truck. This one was well worn, and the lady just wanted $20. BooYah.

The hand plane in the picture with the Maple Burl, belonged to my stepfather. It is one of my most prized handtools... and works as well as the first time I saw him use it. In the silence of the shop, the "Whisp" of the hand plane takes me back to my teens, watching him demonstrate the use. If I could only keep one tool out of all the tools I own.... THAT would be the one. All the others are replaceable.

[daytime dave]

Very interesting so far. I like the way you are telling the story.

[BrokenolMarine]

I played with several ideas over the last few days. I went thru the pile of select pieces, trying to find some accent pieces that would work well with the burl, since I decided that rather than a nearly square top, I wanted a rectangular shaped lid for the box. I considered using curly cherry on either side of the burl, but I have enough of that to make a nice box, so ... nah.

I knew I was going to use walnut cut from one of the sapwood pieces, leaving off the sapwood to frame it... but.. maybe leaving an edge of sapwood would accent the maple? I bookmatched the other sapwood edged piece and was able to cut two pieces from that. Playing with the frame and the three pieces, shaving here and fitting there, I got the look I wanted. Once everything was just right it was time to glue up. I glued up the frame and lightly tightened the band clamp, then glued up the inserts and slipped them in place and Tiiiigghtened on the clamp.



Now it sits overnight to insure good setup, and I can move to the next phases of the project. I have ideas flying around in my head, two and three jumps ahead, but they can change long before I execute them. I'll go out to the shop and mock up the ideas and ... change my mind. No rush.
I'm ... retired.

[BrokenolMarine]

Of course, when the glue dries, there will be sanding, rolling edges, staining, and the like.
There is so much more to do before the box is finished.

[Neon Horse]

Keep this thread going! I like it!

[RetiredSeabee]

What I am seeing of your shop so far is really impressive. Looking forward to seeing more.

[BrokenolMarine]

I put this thread up because another member requested I keep doing so. I don't mind taking a few pics here and there and sharing but will avoid posting boring, routine builds.

[Travlin]

Beautiful wood and good work. One ? do you always lay the handplane down on it's base and not the side?

[BrokenolMarine]

Beautiful wood and good work. One ? do you always lay the handplane down on it's base and not the side?

Yes. Once you get the iron (blade) properly adjusted... including centered in the plane mouth, laying it on it's side could knock the iron out of position. Sitting the plane gently on the bench, and lifting it straight up from the bench is not a problem for the plane, or the bench. Something I learned from my plane books and woodworking forums.

[BrokenolMarine]

I think, just to see if I could do it justice, my next project might be a nice wooden case for my 357 Henry Big Boy Carbine. That might be a build a number of folks would like to follow. Just think, piano hinge, brass corners, leather handles...

I'll finish THIS box first, then decide on the wood for the new one, but I'm getting interested in that project already. . I can start looking for hardware on my web sources.

[PT7]

Marine,

First, I'd like to comment that it is a very neat thing to have your stepfather's hand plane. I understand how special that is. I have several hand tools, which my Dad gave me many years (decades) ago. I'd say my two favorite ones are a claw-foot hammer with wooden handle, and an ice pick also with wooden handle. I always love wood products. (That's a large reason I got my gunsmith screwdrivers from Grace Tools -- their wooden handles are beautiful). Anyway, a year or so ago I broke the hammer handle. I kept it, and sanded the jagged edges. It simply rests in my tool box as a reminder of Dad. But I did replace the handle with a quality hickory wood handle, so the hammer keeps on pounding & clawing away!

Second, I would definitely be one of the Henry Folk who would be most interested in following your project (if you go ahead with it) of building a wooden case for your Big Boy Carbine. You know, you might just have some orders after that project --- I wouldn't mind a wooden rifle case for my Small Game Carbine!! And after seeing some of your wood working, you'd be the skilled carpenter I'd pick to build one.

Thanks for your interesting wood projects and workshop posts. Take good care.
PT7

The hand plane in the picture with the Maple Burl, belonged to my stepfather. It is one of my most prized handtools... and works as well as the first time I saw him use it. In the silence of the shop, the "Whisp" of the hand plane takes me back to my teens, watching him demonstrate the use. If I could only keep one tool out of all the tools I own.... THAT would be the one. All the others are replaceable.

I think, just to see if I could do it justice, my next project might be a nice wooden case for my 357 Henry Big Boy Carbine. That might be a build a number of folks would like to follow. Just think, piano hinge, brass corners, leather handles...

I'll finish THIS box first, then decide on the wood for the new one, but I'm getting interested in that project already. . I can start looking for hardware on my web sources.

[BrokenolMarine]

PT7,

First, thanks for the nice words, and thanks to the rest of you as well. I have done a few projects over the years and sold them, but lately, I work in the shop for therapy, and for the sheer pleasure of it. I might take on a special commision if I was sure I could do the job correctly.

PT7...

If you look at the very first picture... the hammer hanging over the "desk" in the shop cabinet, was my Stepfather's.

[BrokenolMarine]

Got back into the shop last night late and put GUIDES into the underside. These will guide the top into the box and keep it in place and centered on the box. Walnut leftovers filled the bill. Left the top for the glue to dry. I knew I had to go to the Goodyear dealer this morning and take care of some bidness on the Titan.


Meh, went back out this morning and sanded the top. After sanding, came my favorite part. A first look at the grain. It's a trick I learned a long time ago. Wipe the top with Odorless Mineral spirits. You get to see how the grain will look, you remove all the dust, and when the mineral spirits dry, you are back working again, no harm done.

Really makes the grain pop, doesn't it?

Next I rolled the edges on the Guides and the edges on the top. Didn't use a router. I used a tool I bought from Lee Valley Supply in Canada. Great little tool, and quiet. Just drag it carefully along the edge, taking a small bite at a time, patience is a virtue. Try and take too much and it gouges the wood and ruins the edge. I learned that the hard way. Once you are done, you sand the edges. Beats the dust and noise of the router.

The tools come in a kit, and there are four sizes. As you can see, both turned out pretty nice.

Note on the pics of the top that the mineral spirits dried nicely and you can't tell I ever wiped it.

Next up? I started on the box with the pieces I had already prepped. I used the top to cut the sides to the proper length and then dry fit. I made the various adjustments prior to glue up, a lesson hard learned in the past. (sigh)


Once I was sure I had what I wanted, I moved the top safely out of the way, put down paper and waxed paper and carefully glued up the box. Two band clamps were used to insure an even pressure. I'll let it dry overnight and then worry about the trim for the bottom edge and the actual interior bottom. As always, there will be sanding and final finish work ahead. The staining and waxing to come.


I'll need some rocker time to decide on the base trim, and what bottom I'll put in. Fixed, or floating, etc.
Stay tuned.... if you care too.

[BrokenolMarine]

The box has been stained with Watco Dark Walnut and Golden Oak (for the Burled Maple Section on the top.) Then waxed and buffed with Natural Beeswax for a soft sheen and easy maintenance.


I put in a removable bottom so if it gets dusty or dirty it could be pushed up and removed for dusting, cleaning, or replaced. The bottom, AND the insert in the top are covered in a thick velvet to give the box a touch of class.


The upper insert can be removed as well, but it would be a pain in the ... ah... ... behind.
The velvet is attached with 3M spray adhesive.

With indirect lighting, you can see the soft sheen the wax gives the finish, and the way it highlights the grain. If it dulls down the road, you simply wax the box and polish it with a soft cloth. Any automotive wax will do.

[BrokenolMarine]

I hope you enjoyed the thread. I know it's not a woodworking forum, but I was asked to put up my next project. I don't mind, but don't want to post something not welcome here. I have a couple firearms related projects coming up in the shop... I will certainly post those. LOL.

jim

[CT_Shooter]

I hope you enjoyed the thread.
jim

Jim, I totally enjoyed the thread. It's been a pleasure seeing these photos and descriptions of your woodworking process and projects. Please continue to add to it as you build more. I look forward to it.

[tx gunrunner]

You do super work .................I miss my Radial Arm saw . I had a book called Magic of the Radial Arm saw and it show you a 1000 different thing you can do with that saw even cut circles out with it . I built this shooter and reloading box in 1975 and still use it today .

[BrokenolMarine]

I was going to cut an insert for this box for my match 45, but I don't have room in the gunsafe for a presentation box. I made a nice custom pistol rack several years ago, with pistol storage on top and drawers for mags, ammo, knives, and more below. It organized the shelf unit in the safe.

[BrokenolMarine]

Your range box turned out very nice. Shooting ppc, we needed something to carry from line to line, over and over, as we shot several matches on match day. Service revolver, service auto, distinguished (for points), 600, 1500, Team matches. Sheesh.

You get the idea.