Deer, Cleaning, Cutting Board, and Bookcase

Well, some major progress has been made in the shop as two projects have been completed. The bookcase and the cutting board have been finished. Check out some of the pictures.

The deer were out on Saturday at high noon...this picture was taken right out of the shop window, and no zoom was used. They get more and more courageous.

Back to business...Here is Ruth cleaning out the canister filter for the dust collector...dirty job, but it keeps the shop super clean, and makes much less work in the long run.

Here is the completed cutting board. Instead of wiping on the mineral oil countless times we decided to invest in a container and a few bottles of mineral oil. We just let this one soak over night, then I just put the board on Ruth's nice pampered chef cooling rack while still in the container to let the oil drain off. Wipe it clean a few times and it turns out perfect.

This was donated to be auctioned off at a benefit held this weekend for a local family friend who has cancer. The board did sell, but I am not sure for how much. The event was a great time, and was a huge success, many people attended.

Here is a picture of the bookcase coming together...here Ruth is clamping on one of the side rails. Anyone who does woodworking knows that no matter how many clamps you have...you never have enough...I could use a few dozen more!

Here is the top and bottom for the case clamped up and almost ready for final assembly.

Case all put together...just some final sanding, a good wipe down, then time for stain!!

Speaking of stain...here it is. Jacobean is the color the customer wanted for this piece...a great dark stain.

Stay tuned as many many more things will be happening in the next couple weeks before we head west. Next on the list is the oak tabletop...then the sure to be challenging gun cabinet.

Two Nights in a Row !?!?!

Today I did get a little progress done on the bookcase, nothing really noticeable but progress was made. I also got another cutting board in the clamps today too.

Here are the two sides of the bookcase. It does not look like much, but setting up all of the holes, and the dado's take some time.

Cutting board in the clamps.

Here is a simple lumber rack I put up a few days ago. This is not for bulk storage, but to let the lumber for the current project "acclimate" to the shop. This way the lumber can sit a few days in the shop climate and do all of its "moving" before I mill it square. Has been nice clearing up some shop space.

Hopefully by the end of the day tomorrow the bookcase will start to resemble a bookcase, and the cutting board will be almost done as well.

No Pictures Necessary

As I am sitting here watching the Yankee/Red Sox game with the laptop....well....on my lap, I realize it has been a while since I have posted on the old blog. I have been super, super busy in the shop lately, basically starting a bunch of projects. I have step-stools, a bookcase, a gun cabinet and two cutting boards all in progress right now. The shop looks like a bomb went off, but things are definitely happening. Nothing that really makes an interesting picture. I will post some pictures when I have a little more progress done on each project.

On a lighter note, Ruth and I were asked today if we would like to go to the Mt. Rushmore/Badlands area in a few weeks for a week. We will be going with her parents. So, we will be doing that. I have never been out there, but all of them have, so it should be fun for us to get away.

Stay tuned...as I really do plan on posting more often...no, really....I mean it this time!!

Update

It has been a very busy week, not only working on projects but preparing for projects. We will be starting 3 very large projects next week. The table top, a large bookcase, and finally the gun-cabinet for my brother. So this coming week will be spent planning, getting lumber, getting tools and supplies, and cleaning the shop! Here are a few pictures of things we did this last week.

I quickly made this little table for my mom to put her printer on at work.

Ruth's parents dropped of the table last Saturday, so we spent a few days stripping the finish off of the old legs. Here you can see how well it actually worked, I was impressed with the results.

The stipper had to be applied in two coats. The first coat would take the bulk of the finish off, and some of the color. The second coat would really get into the pores, and with a little light brushing with a brass brush we could really get it cleaned up nice...followed by a light sanding.

Here are the legs all ready to go.

On Friday we went to Pickett to pick up this awesome pile of lumber from my Dad's cousin. He had it cut, milled and kiln dried 8 years ago, and never found a use for the wood he did not use for trim in his house. There is about 180 b/f (board feet) of 4/4 (1"thick) & 5/4 (1-1/4" thick) white oak here. About $500 dollars worth of wood, and I just drove away with it!

Another view of the take!

Ruth and I have been playing allot of cribbage in the shop while waiting for stripper to work, and whenever we have a down momemnt. She has been whipping my butt by the way. We decided to make a dedicated shop cribbage board. Of course it cannot just be any old cribbage board, we have to turn it up a notch or two. This baby is 9" X 27" made out of a solid piece of oak. The drill press would not reach the center row of holes, so I had to do it will my centering block and hand held drill as seen above.

Here is Ruth burning in a line for every five points.

Tracing the perfect 29 hand so that can be burned in as well...she is the artistic one, I could never do this as well as she does.

Here is the finished board with a coat of poly on it. We used Brewers colors to paint the pegs, and the score-keeping area at the base of the board. We will have many years of playing on this board, and I might even win a few.

Stay updated, I plan on posting my progress a few times this week, like I said not much will be actually done this week, mostly planning and setup, but there is always something to work on.

Progress Report

Well, I broke my promise right away, I have not been posting every night. Oh well, at least I am busy in the shop. The cutting board is done for the animal shelter. The shadow box and diamond case should be all done by tomorrow morning. Ruth's parents are stopping by on Saturday with their kitchen table. I will be making them a whole new top, and will be stripping and re-finishing the base. Should prove to be a very challenging, but rewarding project. Stay tuned for progress on that. I have a few more cutting boards to make, should be starting those soon.
I know my brother is probably still wondering where the hell his gun cabinet is. I promise I have not forgotten, and after we get our taxes back I should be able to buy the tools I need to make it the right way, the way I want to do it.

Here is the cutting board I will be dropping off at the animal shelter, as soon as I am done with this post.

Stay tuned...many fun projects will be starting up soon.

Still Alive

Once again it has been a while since my last post. From here on out I am going to do my best to post every day.

All of a sudden I am busy again. I did finish that DVD case, and should have some pictures of it as soon as I get them from the customer. I wanted pictures of it filled up and in use for the website.

On the burner I have quite a few things. I have a large bookshelf, a solid oak table, a small step to be used by little ones at the sink to wash hands and brush teeth, and some small toy trucks for other little ones. I also have another diamond case, and another shadow box to do for Mary and Mike. I am also in the process of making three cutting boards. One of the cutting boards is for a customer, the other two are being donated to help some local causes. One is for the local animal shelter, they are hosting a Casino Night Fundraiser...the cutting board will be one of the raffle prizes. The other is being donated to help a long family friend who has come down with cancer, she has chemo every other week and it is super expensive. Once again the cutting board will be for the raffle at the benefit being held in May. I will post more about that as things progress.

Stay tuned as I should have some pictures of what is going down in the shop.

Killing Time

Once again it has been a long time since I have posted. Not up to a whole lot lately, just using my free time to catch up on the small things around the house and shop. I do have 4 diamond cases, and one shadow box in the works right now. I will be delivering 3 of the diamonds and the shadow box on Friday. I have gotten allot of my paperwork done, and my taxes are being done right now as well. I would rather be at work, but this free time is kind of nice once in a while...I am hoping to sneak the boat into the water in the next week or two.

Ruth and I are definitely looking for jobs, but are enjoying our time off. Keep in touch, and check in, as any changes will be posted. Hopefully a few jobs will be found, but we are not holding our breath, as we know how bad it really is out there.

Hopefully soon I can post Ruth and myself holding up some nice Wisconsin River Walleyes!