Wood Working Projects

I loved wood shop in high school. At college, we had a very nice wood shop that students could use for $8.00 a term. What a deal! When I moved to Missouri, I was disappointed to find out we didn't have one here. Then, about a year ago, I got an itch to buy a table saw, so I did. I thought, "I can make anything with a good table saw." Well, of course, one good tool deserves another, and another. To date I have added a planer, a drill press, a band saw, a router, an orbital sander, a saber saw, a bench vise, C-clamps, bar-clamps, and a gillion other accessories. I built three fixed work benches, and one I can roll around. I built a router table, and various jigs. I am in heaven. I still want to get a lathe, and a ....

My first project was a little ambitious, since I haven't been wood working for years. But I find I have a lot more patience now than when I was in high school. I started with a coffee table and an end table for the living room. I got the plans off the web at Plans Now. They have very good plans, with step by step instructions, which is what I needed at first. Wood is expensive, and I didn't want to spend a fortune on trial and effort methods. They took a couple months to finish and turned out well. They are made from red oak, with oak plywood for the top panels.

The next project was a bill minder. I am always misplacing my bills, so I wanted a place to keep them. It was really an excuse to make something using box joints (drawers.) It is made with red oak. I still lose bills, but I know where my stamps and envelopes are.

The next project was a pair of night stands for some good friends. These were a good opportunity to get the hang of mortise and tenon joints for the frame, and dovetail joints for the drawers. The mortise and tenon joints are a pain, but it was great to be able to test-assemble everything without glue, and they made the night stands very sturdy after they were glued up. They were made from red oak (hey, I like oak!) I found a great guy nearby who sells all kinds of hardwood, and a lot less expensively than the finished boards I was buying at the big home and garden center. I bought a 1" thick board for the drawer sides, and re-sawed it to two 1/2" boards with the band saw. In the end, I hated to see them go. I spent so much time on them, they started to seem like my children, but I know they are happy in their new home.

My current project is a small hall table for another friend who just built a nice new home. (More mortise and tenon joints!) Then I am building some CD boxes and a marble-top coffee table for some friends and coworker. Then, I want to work on some more furniture for my home, namely, a night stand and dresser for the guest room, and a rocking chair.

My next project is a dresser for my spare room. I am working on the design. Here is what I have so far, done in bryce.

This Christmas (2002) I made this billminder as a gift. The drawer front is from a dead tree in my back yard that I scavanged for turning material. It has spalting and I thought it would add some interesting contrast to the piece.