Woodworking, anyone!

I wish I had the tools and someone to teach me - that has always fascinated me.

 

Woodworking projects?

My project is dating men who work with wood.

 

My husband is a retired woodwork teacher. His current project is building himself a garden shed from design to the finished structure. He has also done some carving and and like to design a lot of what he makes.

He has made most of my jewellry boxes, and most of the bookcases in the house and numerous other items.

 

No problem. Get a Shopsmith. Every man dreams of having one, and those who don't, well, they should... Guaranteed to turn the most inept Tim Taylor into the most apt Bob Vila.

http://www.shopsmith.com/

 

Roger,

Do they not offer woodworking classes in your area? Rob used to teach woodwork to adults at evening class.

Sheila

 

Don't have room for a shopsmith - I may have to consider a course though.

 

Roger,
I have looked at the shopsmith and it looks great, but Rob has a workmate, which is smaller. Maybe that would suit you?

http://power.tools-blackanddecker.com/workbench/ and click on workbench.

 

My son'n'law, my pastor, has a Shopsmith. He's built their bed, their beautiful kitchen table, the cabinets, an entertainment center, endtables, other small tables, a grandfather clock, a podium, small bowls, picture frames, sconces, napkin holders, and a number of other things. He was a cotton farmer before this.

 

I build mostly small craft items-- jewelry boxes, clock mounts, and foot tall windmills that turn by blowing or by a fan. I haven't done too much of this lately, but I probably should start to work to make a few to sell this fall. People do buy these things for gifts.

I have also made a few tables, a small bookcase, and a microwave stand. Most recent table was for my model railroad.

 

I don't have the tools...or the room for tools... for woodworking. So I've settled for refinishing wood furniture. My first project was a table. Still working on it! I also got to get my feet a little wet by helping my father-in-law build his deck. But I've always been fascinated by woodworking...my dad used to do it. He built all sorts of furniture...dining table, entertainment center, bunkbeds, a pulpit...the list goes on. One of these days when we move into a bigger place, I'll start my saw and tool collection!

 

Really? You just became my best friend .

 

Oh yeah~know what ya mean! He's over there right now building a little girl they are taking in(they can't have children) a chiffrobe. I was over there last night for services & he's doing such a fine job. He's made me many things too; such a good son'n'law.

Wha'cha want him to make fer ya? He prolly 'wood' do it in a heartbeat...he's just that kind of person. His dad has an even bigger shop & also their best friend. It's a "thang" around these parts.

I told him he could $ell his stuff to help supplement his income. He's a small-time carpenter.

 

I read that too fast. I thought you said he was building a little girl. I know Shopsmiths are great, but....

Seriously, I've always wanted to build a chairs for my dining table. Actually, it's a harvest table I got on clearance from a local furniture retailer. It's got detailed carving on the legs jokingly reminiscent of Snow White's bedposts. I recently refinished the table in a darck cherry. Mighty spiffy!!! I can't find chairs that fit it perfectly. Currently, I've got clear-finished shaker pine chairs (Ikea specials) for it. They go well, but are of a lower quality than then table.

Also, I've been ini the market for a high-def tv, 42". Being a new item, I've found that wall units for this size are sparse. I want a wall unit with doors, since I've not a TV-holic. Most wall units with doors stop at 36". I guess I'lll have to take on the task of building one myself...

As the Shakers say, hands to work and hearts to God. Add a little dolby 5.1 surround sound to it, and what more could anyone ask for???

 

Chair, four poster bed with carved head board and foot board, coffee table, small box with dovetails and curved top, baby bed, crib, staircases, hand rails, wooden slide, wall cabinet for knick knacks, wood carvings, two workbenches,wall cabinets, base cabinets, cutting table for sewing, etc.

 

I haven't told Rob about the Shopsmith yet...

 

I have built our bed and our table. Nothing real fancy, but fun.

My favorite parts are the projects I design myself. I LOVE building the stuff. Getting all the pieces cut etc, and putting them together.

I HATE sanding and finishing.

 

Really? I LOVE sanding and finishing. Please refrain from sending me your assembled work, however

 

Try learning how to use wooden hand planes and scrapers.

When you use sandpaper you are simply making small scratches on the surface. But when you hand plane the surface you are cutting the wood fibers. I can demonstrate this by hand planing a surface and then use 600 grit sandpaper on a small part and you can see how the wood is dulled in appearance.

I make my own hand planes and they do a much better job than those you buy and a small fraction of the cost. There are a few articles in Fine Woodowrking by Taunton Press that talk about how to make a hand plane. Also some good books to read are those written by James Krenov.

Once you start hand planing wood you will hardly ever sand wood again. The only time I do is when the wood cannot be planed or scraped.

 

Does woodburning count?