Showing posts with label the. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the. Show all posts

Monday, February 16, 2015

Woodworking with the router bill hylton pdf

Woodworking with the router bill hylton pdf

Router (woodworking) - wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, A router is a tool used to rout out (hollow out) an area in the face of a relatively hard workpiece, typically of wood or plastic. the main application of routers is. Employment | maine college of art, Institution maine college of art is an independent college of art and design located in the center of the thriving arts district of portland, maine.. Recover your resources - reduce, reuse, and recycle, Don’t waste your resources sustainable reuse of brownfield properties includes efforts to reduce the environmental impact by reusing and recycling materials. Qrcute, Welcome to qrcute, a blog dedicated to finding various qr codes for animal crossing: new leaf. disclaimer: i did not create these qr codes/patterns.. How to build a window seat with storage | ehow, You may also like. how to make a window seat bench. how to make a window seat bench. how to build a window seat with storage. window seats are a great. Beware of karon shea, la femmina modeling , john wood, This is a blog dedicated to people who feel that they were scammed by the likes karon shea model management, cinderella modeling agency and john wood..

Woodworking with the router hc (fc edition): professional, Bill hylton is a longtime woodworker and woodworking writer. he writes a column on power tool joinery for popular woodworking magazine and is a frequent contributor. Bill hylton's ultimate guide to the router table (popular, Bill hylton's ultimate guide to the router table (popular woodworking) [bill hylton] on amazon.com. *free* shipping on qualifying offers. the first operator's manual. Bill hylton's ultimate guide to the router table, book, Finally, the missing owner's manual for the router table comes to light. this volume by bill hylton, noted author of routing reference books and articles, opens up an.

The table top is made of two 3/4'' MDF with plastic laminate on the

The table top is made of two 3/4'' MDF with plastic laminate on the

CNC Router Projects Ideas

CNC Router Projects Ideas

Router Jigs

Router Jigs

Loose Tenon Joinery

Loose Tenon Joinery

Qrcute, Welcome to qrcute, a blog dedicated to finding various qr codes for animal crossing: new leaf. disclaimer: i did not create these qr codes/patterns.. How to build a window seat with storage | ehow, You may also like. how to make a window seat bench. how to make a window seat bench. how to build a window seat with storage. window seats are a great. Beware of karon shea, la femmina modeling , john wood, This is a blog dedicated to people who feel that they were scammed by the likes karon shea model management, cinderella modeling agency and john wood..

Router (woodworking) - wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, A router is a tool used to rout out (hollow out) an area in the face of a relatively hard workpiece, typically of wood or plastic. the main application of routers is. Employment | maine college of art, Institution maine college of art is an independent college of art and design located in the center of the thriving arts district of portland, maine.. Recover your resources - reduce, reuse, and recycle, Don’t waste your resources sustainable reuse of brownfield properties includes efforts to reduce the environmental impact by reusing and recycling materials. Qrcute, Welcome to qrcute, a blog dedicated to finding various qr codes for animal crossing: new leaf. disclaimer: i did not create these qr codes/patterns.. How to build a window seat with storage | ehow, You may also like. how to make a window seat bench. how to make a window seat bench. how to build a window seat with storage. window seats are a great. Beware of karon shea, la femmina modeling , john wood, This is a blog dedicated to people who feel that they were scammed by the likes karon shea model management, cinderella modeling agency and john wood..

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Sunday, February 15, 2015

The best woodworking hand tools

The best woodworking hand tools

Woodworking - wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Woodworking is the activity or skill of making items from wood, and includes wood carving, joinery, and carpentry.. Wood - wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Wood is a porous and fibrous structural tissue found in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. it has been used for thousands of years for both fuel and. Plumb single bit hatchet log wood axe hand tool 100, Plumb single bit hatchet log wood axe hand tool 100% genuine old nosy xlnt! vtg in collectibles, tools, hardware & locks, tools | ebay. Harbor freight tools – quality tools at discount prices, Offers a variety of power and hand woodworking tools.. Itools - use the best tools, Use the best tool for the job we find and share the best tools to get whatever you want done, simply.. Seventeenth-century joined furniture; green wood, hand tools, Starting last year, i took up writing a regular column for popular woodworking magazine, called arts and mysteries. it’s 2 pages in each issue, and it.

Woodworking tools supplies hardware plans finishing, Shop for woodworking tools, plans, finishing and hardware online at rockler woodworking and hardware. find thousands of woodworking supplies like drawer slides. Tool - definition of tool by the free dictionary, Cried the old man in the chaise, 'or is this,' he added hastily, thrusting his hand into the tool basket and drawing out a hammer, 'a scheme for robbing me?. Woodworking plans & tools | fine woodworking project, Who is woodcraft? since 1928, woodworkers have trusted woodcraft to deliver quality woodworking tools, supplies and service. with more than 20,000 tools and supplies.

Wooden Spokeshave

Wooden Spokeshave

Top-Down View of People

Top-Down View of People

Woodworking Bench Vice

Woodworking Bench Vice

Wood Shaving Tools

Wood Shaving Tools

Harbor freight tools – quality tools at discount prices, Offers a variety of power and hand woodworking tools.. Itools - use the best tools, Use the best tool for the job we find and share the best tools to get whatever you want done, simply.. Seventeenth-century joined furniture; green wood, hand tools, Starting last year, i took up writing a regular column for popular woodworking magazine, called arts and mysteries. it’s 2 pages in each issue, and it.

Woodworking - wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Woodworking is the activity or skill of making items from wood, and includes wood carving, joinery, and carpentry.. Wood - wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Wood is a porous and fibrous structural tissue found in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. it has been used for thousands of years for both fuel and. Plumb single bit hatchet log wood axe hand tool 100, Plumb single bit hatchet log wood axe hand tool 100% genuine old nosy xlnt! vtg in collectibles, tools, hardware & locks, tools | ebay. Harbor freight tools – quality tools at discount prices, Offers a variety of power and hand woodworking tools.. Itools - use the best tools, Use the best tool for the job we find and share the best tools to get whatever you want done, simply.. Seventeenth-century joined furniture; green wood, hand tools, Starting last year, i took up writing a regular column for popular woodworking magazine, called arts and mysteries. it’s 2 pages in each issue, and it.

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Sunday, March 2, 2014

Porch Update The Front Door


Hi there... I hope you have had a wonderful Fathers Day!  I thought Id give you a little update on our front porch progress.  Were not quite to the fun decorating stage yet, but were getting a lot closer! 


 The porch remodel has actually been a lot of work, but its exciting to see it shape into something that is more our style and hopefully more fitting for our house.

BEFORE


AFTER


You can probably get a better view in the first photo above, but the very first thing I did was tear off the shutters.  I know its a little shocking, since it does give a much simpler look, but they were non-functional and certainly not original to the house.  I love how it opened up the porch. 


Next we replaced the light fixtures with these energy efficient lights that Lamps Plus sent.  I spent a lot of time deciding what color scheme I wanted to go with... I alternated back and forth between nickel and black, but in the end, I felt nickel was the best choice, especially with our nickel colored barn lights in the back.  These light fixtures are very lightweight and let off a surprising amount of light. 

Justus actually rewired to accommodate these fixtures... its hard to tell in this picture, but he lowered them a good few inches so that they were more in proportion with the door frame. 


 One of the biggest changes for me was painting our front door because it has always been a bright red.  I wavered between black, green and gray and then after being inspired by this picture, realized I could bring in a dark color that would still be in the green family.  I loved the idea of a color that would match our green metal roof, but wouldnt be the exact same shade.  I went to our local Benjamin Moore store, picked up this swatch and knew it was perfect.  The color is Essex Green (semi-gloss, exterior).  

Our front door is original, including the wavy glass.  We have a storm door as well, which had gold hardware.  After reading about Rust-Oleums Universal Hammered spray paint here, I found it in the color Titanium at our hardware store and set out to spray paint the door hardware to match the nickel lights.  And once again was reminded why Im terrified of spray paint... I have never once had a successful spray paint story (user error).  It stuck, it chipped, you name it... it had to removed with paint thinner and then I let the expert (Justus) spray them the second time around!  It was a great, affordable way of changing out the color though.


 This weekend I finally picked up a plant for the round galvanized tub from Lamps Plus that I chose to use as a planter.  And now heres a confession... instead of the tub sitting, Ive been using it for every imaginable thing around our place.  My most favorite thing to use it for is weeding in the garden... the handles are so sturdy and its just a perfect all-around size.  So I think Im going to have to order another because Ive already been missing it (smile).  

I planted a Mini Penny hydrangea in the tub, which is a compact hydrangea that is re-blooming.


I also spray-painted the number plate beside our door and then this weekend gave the siding a good cleaning.  Ill be giving the porch floor a fresh coat of paint this week, but it will remain light gray. 


 The other side of the porch is still a construction zone.  Were framing in the columns so they are square, and I am so, so excited.  Justus made some great progress this weekend though and Ive been working behind him with wood putty (smile). 


Happy Fathers Day! 

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Monday, February 24, 2014

THE BIG JOB buffet and hutch

 
Holey plate rail Batman, this hutch has 3 levels with a rail on each.
 
 
Doing large pieces like this are not very common for me,
I just dont have the space or back to pull it off.
I had my challenges starting this project 3 days before overhauling our bedroom living space.
 
 
It was solid, had a lot I could work with and could be used in so many different ways.
 
 
I could have just finished the bottom and used the top for parts but I liked the look of these
pieces together and knew together they would make an amazing show stopping statement.
AND THAT THEY DO!
 
 
The two pieces are painted in pure white, then I hand applied clear and dark wax
to the exterior to give it a antique white finish.
 
 
The interior was finished in clear wax leaving a cleaner bright finish.
The secret to getting the interior of cabinets painted well and waxed is to take the back panels off.
It is much easier to get into all the corners with both the paint and waxes,
and you can finish the back panels much nicer when laying down on a flat surface.
 

 I removed the 2 middle doors and added a scalloped trim to the top frame.
 
 
 
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Saturday, February 22, 2014

Pros and Cons of a Day in the Shop

Well, I couldnt control myself today, I skipped the saw handle I promised I would make, and since it was such an awesome day out worked some on the saw horses instead. It feels like spring now that Im tackling a real project. As practice for doing the ren faire shows this summer, I have decided to build these monsters using only hand tools. Usually Im a hybrid kinds guy, little hand, little lectric, but theres a purpose here so Ill do my damndest to stick to the principal though I think I hit my first stumbling block. More on that at the end.

 I started the day by cleaning up the shop, I had a ton of shavings on the floor from testing rehabed planes. (god damn its fun to make shavings!!!) I got them all swept up and in the trash, ahhh nice clean shop.

Then I took out the 2x12s I bought for this and began to measure and cut for my rough pieces. Two 3 foot long sections and 4 18 inch sections. The other thing I have done without so far is the modern contrivance of measuring tape and pencil. Instead I have done my markups with a pair of dividers and a scratch awl or marking knife. My rosewood tri-square had some inch gradations on it and I will have that with me a faires, so I thought it was fair to use them to set the dividers at 6 inches and step things off. Im not sure how absolutely accurate my measurements turned out, but I think I have to let go of that anal side of myself for this stuff. Measuring out what looks right, and going with it. Using one cut board to get the matching length for another, works just fine. Who needs a tape measure anyhow?

This is really the first time I have ever concentrated on breaking down my stock using a hand saw. I have done plenty of reading lately, and the blogs of all the hand tool junkies out there have helped give me options and knowledge (thank you!!) I tried a couple techniques but felt most comfortable starting the cut traditional and then switching to an overhand technique. One of my newly sharpened crosscut saws worked out great, followed the line and moved the saw dust out. You gotta feel good when something you worked hard to learn pays off. Since I was building the saw horses, I decided to use the steps to hold the board . . . hmmm I though, I cant clamp it down here . . . no hold fast . . . out came my faithful shout that usually brings me some kind of help,  "I need a girl here!" two out of three daughters responded. You can see Infinity, my youngest, dutifully standing on the long board and providing balancing weight to the wood, and my middle one, Fayth, took on the photo-journalism responsibilities. You can also see that as I cut I am tending to tip the saw away from me. I am not sure if this is good technique or not, the experts out there will have to decide, but I sure liked the way I felt in control of the saw and where it was cutting while I did that. Either way this was all too much of a work out for a fat man, I think I should try to do it more, it could help, or it could only make me more hungry, life is a vicious circle sometimes.

With the boards cut down to length I took them into the shop and started planing the edges down square. removing the rounded corners the mills put on them. I never have quite understood the reasoning behind why they do that extra tooling like that, youd think less tooling would mean less investment, maybe its because a board with rounded corners might play an optical illusion and look straighter and closer to true than most of their twisted crap would look with squared corners. I dont know. Either way, Im taking it down to square.




Now you get to see the hell that the Wood Shop Jr. can be for me, I have three reasons from today, The first two are illustrated in this picture.
First off, edge planing a board that is three foot long in an area, maybe five and a half foot wide, it sucks. I banged the toe of my #5 into the wall on the right of the picture a dozen times. I am shocked I didnt catch one of my fingers. The other reason is all I have right now is this little wimpy vise. It works OK for a lot of things . . . but seriously not for this. I had the sucker tightened down as hard as I could, and it would still lever out and drop one end down while I worked with the plane. That was frustrating The third reason is shown here:
One of my bench mallets, a two piece joined one I picked up with a lot of four mallets off eBay about a year ago, broke while I was chopping out the center between two tenons. I have used this mallet a lot and I never had any cracking or sloppiness that warned me the head was going to go. I blame the fact that I have to work off a cabinet top instead of a real workbench, Its like pounding into a trampoline in comparison. I feel the energy of a blow come back into the mallet all the time instead of traveling through the chisel and into the board completely. Thus I probably swing harder than usual as well. harder hits and bounce back energy, I wonder why this didnt happen sooner. . .  oh well, we can fix this, we have the technology.

Next I laid out the cut outs I wanted for the legs. I believe if you click on the picture you will get a larger resolution that shows the scratch marks for the layout. Again this process was done all with two pairs of dividers. This is a big change of thinking for me. I am usually pretty meticulous and have been known to draw out grids and use carbon paper and templates to achieve that "perfect symmetry" but I have come to realize through just this process today that I should just trust my instincts and my eye a bit more when it comes to this kind of stuff. If it looks right, then it is right. and if Im really trying to recreate something medieval then I need to work harder to trust the craftsman inside myself and let him do the work rather than over dissect what I want it to look like.

In the end, it turned out OK. I like the proportions. I shortened the triangle cut out below on the fly and it was a good decision. It has a vaguely medieval style and feel to it. I used this one to mark out the other three remaining legs. Then I decided to try and solve my last problem. Carving the designs into the legs.

In the past all my carving has been done with a dremel style tool and burrs. Again, I want this to be hand tool only so the dremel is out this time. The trouble is the set of carving tools I own are crap, serious crap. Cheep Buck Brothers BORG P.O.S. crap. I should just throw them away for all the good they do. I just want a couple that will do some basic work, that will sharpen well and that I can get some experience and grow from. I thought I would try to make due with what I have in the shop. Maybe I can do it with chisels I thought, I have some small, spoon type scrapers, those would help. Ive got to be able to make something work.

Forget it, this is the frustration I was talking about at the beginning of this post. For all the distance Ive come there is just one more hurdle, one more tool that I need to do what I want. . . I suppose it will end one day, just not today. I just spoke with my wife, This weekend we will be making a trip to the Woodcraft store in Madison so I can pick up two or three decent carving tools. Any suggestions?

I guess that will be all for tonight, Cheers!

Oldwolf
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Friday, February 21, 2014

The Test of Love

In the midst of moving a workshop you would think that my blog posts would all be updates on progress or things built to assist in living life in my new space. Im sorry if this disappoints but this article is not about equipment, or the workshop, or a project, or anything else but revealing a moment of questionable judgment.

You see, I love to make my beautiful wife roll her eyes at my sometimes infantile behavior. I believe this constant testing of her tolerance for me may just be the cement that holds our relationship together. (OK that may be overstating it but I know her tolerance of me is a big part of what works for us.) When we were first dating one of the things I loved to do when we went out to eat was to take those little adhesive paper strips that some restaurants use to bind the napkin around the silverware, unwrap it, and stick the adhesive part to my forehead until she noticed. Sometimes minutes would pass before she would see, on one occasion she didnt notice until we were midway through placing our order with the equally unimpressed waitress. I think I got a well deserved kick in the shins for that one.

But these hi-jinks always end the same. I smile, she curses my name and rolls her eyes, I know she loves me, and all is right with the world.

Well I have a confession now. You know those old stories of sailors going out to have a drink or two on the town, and then waking up on ship the next day with a tattoo of a dancing girl on their arm or chest, well thats not exactly the story of what happened here, but you can feel free to fill in any fictional blanks you want once you see the evidence


After finishing reading "The Joiner and Cabinet Maker" I was just too inspired by the spirit of The Schwarz and I couldnt help my impulsiveness. Plus, it got me a fantastic eye roll. I knew she still loved me.

Cheers

Oldwolf
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Making Money In The Wood Working Industry

Are you a woodworking hobbyist, who is hoping to make money in the woodworking industry? If you are, you can make money, no matter what your level of skill. It is a great industry to be in, because of the fact that you can make money as a woodworking novice making simple items and selling them and, when you become skillful, someone will offer you a job or you can stay freelance..

Even a complete beginner woodworking amateur can make clothes pegs and clothes hangers. These can be sold around the neighborhood or to a local shop, if you do not like the idea of selling yourself. After a few weeks, as you gain confidence, you can move onto swing seats, chess boards, stools, bird tables, dog kennels and wine racks. After a few months of that, you could try a garden bench. After that, you are off.

The key to any woodworking project is the woodworking plans. A set of drawings or even just one drawing, an exploded diagram, of the thing to be made. The plans will give a clear, exploded diagram, all measurements and angles, a narrative, detailing what to do first and possibly pointers too.

The pointers could be about the wood to use, the skill level of the project, the estimated time it will take to complete, the tools to use and the finish to give it.

Once you have acquired the skills to make various items of furniture such as garden benches and garden tables, you can go looking for a full-time job, if that is what you want. A word of warning though, do not try to be what you are not. A good foreman carpenter will see your level of skill within 15 minutes, but he will decide to keep you on depending on your ability and attitude to employment.

He may decide that you do not know enough, but he may reckon that you are worth a try, because you appear to be keen and willing to work. On the other hand, you may have loads of skill, but if he sees a lazy or impertinent streak, you may be up the road anychoice. The foreman carpenter will be knowledgeable and will know what sort of person will fit in and whom to give a chance to.

Site work is clearly different from wood-shop work, so bear that in mind when you apply for a job. Just because you can measure precisely and cut tidily with both feet on the ground, it does not mean you can cut a roof in while perched on a rafter 20 feet in the air.

If your line of learning is as I have suggested above, you would probably be better off looking for a job in a woodworking shop or even a cabinet maker’s shop. Or an up market kitchen cabinet manufacturer’s, where you can learn more under supervision.

Later, you can move on to fitting the units others have manufactured in peoples’ homes, which takes another type of talent. People skills come into play here too, because the public can be rotten when they are paying to have work done. Stick with your woodworking or carpentry, whichever route you decide to take and you may be the foreman carpenter within a few years.
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Thursday, February 20, 2014

The Salad bowl wedding present

Hello Again,

Remember the big salad bowl that I was making for a wedding present for a friend?  I didnt think it was going to be finished in time for the wedding as I didnt think it would be dried out and ready for finishing by April. Well, it might be dry enough to at least get the sanding done on it.

Here it is right now:



This is the mother of all salad bowls--its the largest bowl Ive made to date. The weight of the bowl has stabilized and that means the water content has stabilized too.

So, tomorrow Im going to mount it on the lathe and do the finish sanding. I hope I can get it done in two weeks time.

Stay tuned,
VW
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Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Plans for Bedroom Furniture 5 Tips on Getting the Best Woodworking Plans for All Experience Levels

Plans for Bedroom Furniture
 It does not matter if you are a beginner or a seasoned woodworker, quality woodworking plans will help you to enjoy woodworking as a hobby, or as a business much better.


Use Good Sources

While most of us would prefer to download a copy of a free woodworking plan, it is not advisable to do so.
 It is recommended that you purchase a copy of the best woodworking plans for bedroom furniture from professional websites of well-known woodworkers.
 Ideally, the plans should be suitable for beginners to experienced woodworkers and also provide detailed and coloured diagrams or videos as this makes it visually easy for you to follow.
 There is nothing more frustrating than finishing a woodworking piece only to find out that it is too big or too small for the area you plan to place it at.
 You will save a lot of time, effort and money on researching for the right materials and tools required for your project.


Find Out How the Parts Are Connected

Most of the time, people make the mistake of settling for plans that are not visual enough to guide them through the process of building a furniture.
 High quality plans for bedroom furniture will clearly show you where the individual pieces should be connected.
 Before you start on a project, have a good look at your bedroom and assess the items you really need.
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Stenciling In The Early Years

Many art critics turn their attention on colorings and photographs. These art works are two of the most famous and most talked about product of the art world. Painting and photo exhibits generate a large audience from different art societies and the common people. These two art forms are too popular that other art forms are not given much attention. One of these art forms that are often disregarded is the art of stenciling.

Stenciling is the art of producing an image from a stencil pattern. The stencil pattern can be a cut-out pattern or outlining the image that is present in a paper or acetate. There are many types of stenciling like wall stenciling, stencil graffiti and aerosol stencils. Stencils are used in everyday use like when children draw and design their art assignments. Children often use patterns so that they can produce a beautiful and quality work.

The history of stenciling and stencils can be traced back to the Paleolithic era in the 30,000 B.C to 9,000 B.C. The first recorded stencils are said to originate in the Paleolithic cave. Other records show that leaves were used for the first stencils. Natives from Fiji Islands normally use bamboo and banana leaves in doing their stencils. Rumors say that Eskimo natives from Baffin Island use dried sealskin for their stencil art. However, this rumor still remains a rumor up to this day because of insufficient evidence and the absence of fossils of the stencil art of these Eskimos.

Records show early stencils were commonly composed of paper heavily oiled and leather. Later, tin and linen were used to make stencils. These materials are still used up to this day but are rarely utilized because of the presence of plastic.

During the early years, stencils were used as beautification for tombs of Egyptian. The stenciling process would start with the artist outlining a figure or symbol on the tombs wall. After the outlining, a sculptor would carve the sketch in low relief. After the carving, a slim coating of stucco is added to collect the paint. Egyptian stencils and other Egyptian art works tend to use intense primary colors.

On the other hand, Greek stencil artists use the art of stenciling in outlining mosaic designs. Greeks also used stencils in making the letters painted on signboards. These signboards are referred to for directions. The Greeks and the Romans also used stencils in coloring. The Murals is a product of stenciling.

Stenciling was also utilized for producing and designing clothes. Many cultures used stencil to produce a more personal and creative design for their shirts, jeans and sweaters. Stencils were also used for coloring old master prints. It was also used for publications that were mass produced. Stencils were also used for designing playing cards.

The above mentioned uses of stencils and stenciling are only few of the arts early uses. Other uses have materialized throughout the course of history that has helped stenciling art to be popular.

Stenciling has a very colorful history. Its history proves that stenciling is not merely tracing the patterns but more of expressing ourselves and honoring others. Many things and technological advances have helped in the advancement of this art. The Japanese and Chinese have contributed a big part in the promotion of this art.
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Thursday, February 13, 2014

a walnut desk the bethlehem steel series


what is a desk? really? a personal space. a place to write. a place to keep stuff. a place to work. a place to contemplate ... a desk is all of those things and they come in many forms ... this one i designed with a client back in oh, december? has it been that long? i can see by the date on the drawing below that we were at least talking about it then .. i dont think we finalized things until january sometime, about the same time that a bunch of other projects rolled in. anyway, this project is with one of my favorite clients, famous for her support of our art and for her patience ... and now we have finished it up and delivered it to its new home ... click the photos to enlarge them .
this ones now in a room between the kitchen and is actually part of the family room id call it, overlooking the deck and pond and facing the bird feeders ... a great, sunny spot for writing and contemplating. there was a new lamp and income tax stuff on it last time i saw a picture ... i was glad my taxes were already done ...
as far as the design went, our friend had seen a number of our wood and steel pieces, including the bureau, so metal legs were part of the early discussions. at first, in the drawing above, i was trying on sort of planar legs, sort of a two dimensional, flattish, stuck on leg, but in the end, we could tell from the small mockup we made that that concept wasnt going to work ... back to the table leg concept, but we all felt something new was in order. an adaptation of our egypt leg seemed like it might work and we made a prototype ... it looked good, and we were off. sort of ... next to find a one piece top 26" wide and long enough to fold the sides over to become the dovetailed case ends with continuous grain ...
hard to believe, but myron at irion lumber had a piece of 5/4 about 28" wide that we milled on our cnc to flatten it ...
and sanded it with our friend steve holmans 37" wide belt sander ... nice and flat ...
we cut and marked the ends and made the half width sample with the last little cracked end of the board ... we spent sometime on the layout/design of the dovetails as it was an important part of the design .... for inspiration we did a google image search of dovetails and found some we liked that seemed interesting ...
these are sometimes known in the trade as houndstooth dovetails, pins of varying depths and spacing ... attractive; challenging; decorative ... they seemed a perfect way to break the monotony of 26" of hand cut dovetails ... elegant too, i think ..
the fitting of the thick tails and pins was tricky, the cutting and laying out trickier because of the thickness of the sides and the tight points of the pins ... will had to stand on a stool to cut them ... and, we had to build a temporary wall that we attached to a workbench face and braced so that the 62" x 26" top and bottom didnt flex during the handsawing process.
the wall, in action .. you can see how it would hold the top and bottom boards steady for the hand saw cuts. the wall later became part of the tv cabinet mockup in one of my previous posts ...
once they were cut, it was a (sort of) simple matter to rig up the multirouter to waste the pin to pin stock ... we took off the air clamps and screwed a piece of 50" long plywood to the table and then moved it along as needed. we set up the router table to carry the outboard end ... that concept made short work of that process ... check the short video below to see how it goes.
we use this technique on all our handcut dovetails ... cut the pins on end on the table saw with a thin kerf blade, clear the waste; trace, saw, rout and cut out the corners ... a person can get really fast at it ... theres a short youtube video here of this operation.
our second initial leg concept, we also were not 100% thrilled with when we first assembled the desk, but we were able modify the tops of the legs to make them look more like legs than sort of abstract appliques. this is part of our krenovian tendency to sometimes design on the fly, a useful process for extricating yourself from not quite right design visualizations.

for the hardware, we choose an image of a brook trout and had the 3/16ths inch stock waterjetted to shape ...
sam did some shaping and chiseling to add the details and then welded 7/16ths tapped square stock to the center of the backs ... we then chiseled a 3/16ths deep mortise for the ends of the square stock into the drawer face to keep them from turning ... and we were good to go ...

in the end, we added a secret compartment, but if i told you about that, it wouldnt be a secret anymore ... anyway, it would be tough to find if you dont know where it is and involves the use of a tool to open it that will made and hid in the case of the desk ... double hidden compartment, actually. we try to get them in wherever we can... case pieces are easier ....
the back of the desk we used three shop made crotch veneered panels, similar to the drawer faces as you will be able to see the backside of the case from outside on the desk .... we always finish the backs of our desks anyway, so they can be used in the center of the room ...
as they say, all in, all done ... next! ....
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