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248K views 2K replies 141 participants last post by  mafe 
#1 ·
This, My Friends, Is a Pencil Sharpener!

EDIT: Resurrected from Photo(scum)Bucket Hell, Feb 2018. Smitty

Picked this up at an estate sale, and only knew what it was because P. Leach had one in a Tool List some months ago. Yeah, I wanted the one he had, but just couldn't pull the trigger. This one was more affordable…

Gesture Finger Religious item Thumb Artifact


Consider this style of sharpening an evolutionary dead end. At the time this was available, the other prevalent style of sharpeners were thimble-like devices with wings, that were turned. This is mounted to the edge of a table and the pencil is drawn across the iron. Not this one, though, 'cause the iron is jagged and quite dull. So out came the DMTs.

Old habits die hard; I wanted a flat back to the iron and that wasn't as easy done as said.

Flooring Wood Floor Tints and shades Composite material


Wood Finger Household hardware Automotive exterior Thumb


So I moved the stone to the edge of my bench hook to get better alignment of thumb and fingers.

Wood Hardwood Outdoor shoe Flooring Metal


With the back honed and flat all the way in, up to about 1/4" from the edge, all was right with the world. I'm confident the iron will not get more use than that in several lifetimes… I held the iron very low to the DMT to get a primary bevel on the face of the iron, the did just a bit of polishing with strop as final cleanup. There was lots of back and forth at this point, and I didn't take pictures. I did stop before getting it to my best level of sharpening… too small to hold, and it's only sharpening pencils, for goodness sake. That, and I'm certain someone will run their thumb across the blade to 'see if it's sharp…'

Anyway, another old habit. I simply had to flatten the 'frog' before setting the iron in place and giving it a try.

Wood Finger Thumb Gas Household hardware


Wood Finger Creative arts Thumb Art


Wood Motor vehicle Gas Steering wheel Auto part


It'll take some practice, like all good toolwork, but not bad for a shop pencil! Okay, it's pretty bad.

Wood Gas Desk Office equipment Office supplies


Love the new toy! Thanks for looking.
 

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#563 ·
Saw Files

There has been a great deal of chatter across the interweb on saw files, or the lack thereof, and if nothing else it's heightened my awareness as I look through rust piles at fleas, auctions, etc. Yesterday I stopped at what otherwise is a regular haunt to find an irregular site: Bins containing saw files marked $1, $2, $3 etc based on length.

Well, I bunched up all the Keen Kutter files in whatever bin had them, then rounded out the search will files marked Nicholson USA and even a Simmonds or two. 25 files, $25. They look to be NOS / unused, especially the KKs. With this assortment nothing stands in the way of me and sharp handsaws but learning how to do it.

Wood Stairs Natural material Hardwood Tints and shades


Between Andy and Stef, I'll get there. And I'm looking forward to it!
 

Attachments

#564 ·
Saw Files

There has been a great deal of chatter across the interweb on saw files, or the lack thereof, and if nothing else it's heightened my awareness as I look through rust piles at fleas, auctions, etc. Yesterday I stopped at what otherwise is a regular haunt to find an irregular site: Bins containing saw files marked $1, $2, $3 etc based on length.

Well, I bunched up all the Keen Kutter files in whatever bin had them, then rounded out the search will files marked Nicholson USA and even a Simmonds or two. 25 files, $25. They look to be NOS / unused, especially the KKs. With this assortment nothing stands in the way of me and sharp handsaws but learning how to do it.

Wood Stairs Natural material Hardwood Tints and shades


Between Andy and Stef, I'll get there. And I'm looking forward to it!
Excellent Find.
 

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#579 ·
New Medicine Cabinet, Pt 2

Last go-round, I insisted the project was moving along quickly. Hah. Today it was still like this (foot in the picture and all), on the floor of my shop.



Some planing of the inside face got the post-glueup faces cleaned up, then the #62 was called on to get the mirror doorframe to size for the cabinet's overall frame.







It fit!



Now onto some hinges. Old hinges, found screws in the wood screw drawer (which was tough, eight of them rqd), got to do some chislin' and malletin' work, which was nice.







Drilled the holes with a Mohawk-Shelburne eggbeater.





And the hinged door fit too!



Stuff the mirror inside the back rebate (with a bit of silicone caulk applied for a bedding), then clamped all into place so the caulk has time to set up.





Time to hit the cabinet with primer and get ready for finishing overall! Thanks for looking (and it was nice to get back into the shop!!)
 
#604 ·
Pewter Cupboard in Milkpaint

Can't find where I introduced this, but it's a cabinet my son made in HS shop class last year but didn't finish. A 'threshold' was missing below the door that needed to be added.

Wood Flooring Floor Wood stain Hardwood


Used the #66 to create add a detail to the main shelf,



And with crown moulding it was ready for finishing.



I applied 3:2:1 mix to the T&G back (all material is reclaimed), taped that off and primed the rest for milk paint.



Tonight was the night to experiment with the stuff, a first for me.





And I ran out of said paint. Must order another bag to finish, but I like what I see so far / should complete very well…

==== ==== ==== ====

More milk paint today, doors and carcase done, piece was 'stressed,' and 'antique oil' has been applied. With the blue tape pulled, here it is (just need to finish shelves)!

Cabinetry Furniture Wood Fixture Hutch
 

Attachments

#605 ·
Pewter Cupboard in Milkpaint

Can't find where I introduced this, but it's a cabinet my son made in HS shop class last year but didn't finish. A 'threshold' was missing below the door that needed to be added.

Wood Flooring Floor Wood stain Hardwood


Used the #66 to create add a detail to the main shelf,



And with crown moulding it was ready for finishing.



I applied 3:2:1 mix to the T&G back (all material is reclaimed), taped that off and primed the rest for milk paint.



Tonight was the night to experiment with the stuff, a first for me.





And I ran out of said paint. Must order another bag to finish, but I like what I see so far / should complete very well…

==== ==== ==== ====

More milk paint today, doors and carcase done, piece was 'stressed,' and 'antique oil' has been applied. With the blue tape pulled, here it is (just need to finish shelves)!

Cabinetry Furniture Wood Fixture Hutch
I like the color Smitty. Will you wear the paint in different spots to replicate an aged piece?
 

Attachments

#653 ·
Cupboard in Milkpaint - Complete!

A couple years ago now, my son and I worked through some reclaimed 1x stock for him to take to school for a shop project: a Pewter Cupboard. He and I jointed the edges with ole' Heft and Hubris (the #8, course!) and had fun with that, but it was his project to work over the course of the year at shop class. Well, he got close to completing it, but some final pieces were left undone and the carcase came home to roost. Here's what it looked like at that stopping point:

Wood Flooring Floor Hardwood Wood stain


Wood Flooring Floor Wood stain Hardwood


No crown, no base under the doors. So it sat for about 14 months while I worked around it in the shop. Finally I had a number of items cleared and could dedicate some time to this cabinet. A shelf detail…

Hand tool Wood Tool Metalworking hand tool Wood stain


And crown…

Wood Kitchen appliance Flooring Gas Gas stove


With those parts added, it was ready for finishing.

I went for milkpaint.

Food Ingredient Packing materials Packaging and labeling Plastic wrap


With a couple coats and some 'stressing,' it looked pretty good!

Cabinetry Furniture Wood Fixture Hutch


That's it, thanks for looking!
 

Attachments

#654 ·
Cupboard in Milkpaint - Complete!

A couple years ago now, my son and I worked through some reclaimed 1x stock for him to take to school for a shop project: a Pewter Cupboard. He and I jointed the edges with ole' Heft and Hubris (the #8, course!) and had fun with that, but it was his project to work over the course of the year at shop class. Well, he got close to completing it, but some final pieces were left undone and the carcase came home to roost. Here's what it looked like at that stopping point:

Wood Flooring Floor Hardwood Wood stain


Wood Flooring Floor Wood stain Hardwood


No crown, no base under the doors. So it sat for about 14 months while I worked around it in the shop. Finally I had a number of items cleared and could dedicate some time to this cabinet. A shelf detail…

Hand tool Wood Tool Metalworking hand tool Wood stain


And crown…

Wood Kitchen appliance Flooring Gas Gas stove


With those parts added, it was ready for finishing.

I went for milkpaint.

Food Ingredient Packing materials Packaging and labeling Plastic wrap


With a couple coats and some 'stressing,' it looked pretty good!

Cabinetry Furniture Wood Fixture Hutch


That's it, thanks for looking!
That came out really nice! So are you keeping it or giving it to your son?
 

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#680 ·
Labor Day Labours - Pine Tree to Future Stock

Cut down a 50' ponderosa pine in the spring, today was the day my #2 son helped me load up the 9' trunk for a short trip to a nearby buddy with a Wood-Mizer.





1" boards for the whole thing.





90bf, cost me a thirty pack of beer…



Oh, and he had this pile of cherry… 330bf… headed for Houston TX. Beautiful!



===== ===== ====== ===== ===== ===== ===== ====

I brought my modest pile of pine back to the shop, where it's now stacked and stickered here at home, ready for a project (maybe) in 2016!

Under weight and a cedar plank:



:) Thanks for looking.
 
#695 ·
Grandpa's Bench

My grandad at various times of his life was a union carpenter as well as cabinetmaker. Ran his own shop and had, I'm sure, a number of workbenches in his cabinet shop. Well, many years ago at my great aunt's estate auction this bench came up for bid. I had noticed only minutes before it had been stamped with Grandpa's cabinet shop mark. Bought it for $5 and had it bouncing from garage to shed to wherever until my shop hit the scene. It's been there ever since, and got 'freed' tonight as I prepare to put down a wood floor.

Thought I'd take a decent picture of it.

Wood Creative arts Saw Hardwood Art


Yellow pine, or heart pine, or whatever tough grained, easily splintered, resinous, smells-good wood was commonly available in So. Ill. in the late 40s is what this is. Extra time has dried the 2x stock hard as a rock. Drawer is on my bench, visible at the top right of the pic.

The Stanley 400 and hand crank grinder are my add-ons but may not stay attached if the bench finds a new (better) location post-floor.

That's it, nothing necessarily spectacular, just wanted to post the picture. Wonder what Grandpa would think if he knew a number of his hand tools and even an old bench was here, together again?
 

Attachments

#696 ·
Grandpa's Bench

My grandad at various times of his life was a union carpenter as well as cabinetmaker. Ran his own shop and had, I'm sure, a number of workbenches in his cabinet shop. Well, many years ago at my great aunt's estate auction this bench came up for bid. I had noticed only minutes before it had been stamped with Grandpa's cabinet shop mark. Bought it for $5 and had it bouncing from garage to shed to wherever until my shop hit the scene. It's been there ever since, and got 'freed' tonight as I prepare to put down a wood floor.

Thought I'd take a decent picture of it.

Wood Creative arts Saw Hardwood Art


Yellow pine, or heart pine, or whatever tough grained, easily splintered, resinous, smells-good wood was commonly available in So. Ill. in the late 40s is what this is. Extra time has dried the 2x stock hard as a rock. Drawer is on my bench, visible at the top right of the pic.

The Stanley 400 and hand crank grinder are my add-ons but may not stay attached if the bench finds a new (better) location post-floor.

That's it, nothing necessarily spectacular, just wanted to post the picture. Wonder what Grandpa would think if he knew a number of his hand tools and even an old bench was here, together again?
He would be proud to know you have and use them I'm sure. I still have a few of my Pop's tools myself.
 

Attachments

#713 ·
Cut-offs Bin

A very early build for my shop was this cut-offs bin. It was my first attempt at frame and panel joinery and is all salvage material. I joined the side boards via half-lap, used no screws until it was glued up and set (just added some runners on the bottom and inside slats to the sides). So far it's held up well.



It's outta there now to clear the shop room as it goes cleaned top-to-bottom. Not much of a blog entry, I know, but wanted to capture it as it's not been mentioned before. Thanks!
 

Attachments

#714 ·
Cut-offs Bin

A very early build for my shop was this cut-offs bin. It was my first attempt at frame and panel joinery and is all salvage material. I joined the side boards via half-lap, used no screws until it was glued up and set (just added some runners on the bottom and inside slats to the sides). So far it's held up well.

Musical instrument Wood Musical instrument accessory Rectangle Electronic instrument


It's outta there now to clear the shop room as it goes cleaned top-to-bottom. Not much of a blog entry, I know, but wanted to capture it as it's not been mentioned before. Thanks!
Smitty, not very big!! :0)
 

Attachments

#721 ·
Grandpa's Bench, Redux

Last installment of Shop Stuff showed Grandad's bench as it moved out the shop.

Wood Creative arts Hardwood Art Machine tool


The wood floor is done now, and it's time to move stuff back in. The bench was no exception, and it found new life as the base cabinet-like piece for my not-a-Wall Hung tool cabinet.

Cabinetry Wood Building Picture frame Flooring


But, long story short, I just didn't like that it was so much deeper than the tool cabinet. The aesthetic was wrong, and I need the depth when the workbench comes back into the space. So I debated a mod to Grandad's bench, to make it a long-term fixture in the shop that I love vs. one I feel obligated to keep as is.



I opted to mod the piece, in the Depression-era mantra of Make Do or Do Without. Nine inches was the number. I'll re-use the nails, keep all the material, etc. The bench is nailed together, not glued, so the knock-down was quite easy.

Wood Wood stain Flooring Hardwood Plank


Wood Hardwood Plank Wood stain Metal


Time to cut the top. One pass, then a second pass with additional depth, and it was done.

Wood Chair Flooring Floor Hardwood


Wood Flooring Gas Wood stain Hardwood


A few more cuts for the drawer…

Wood Wood stain Hardwood Flooring Rectangle


Hammered a few nails through the piece to get them ready for a new pounding; these drive through the back stretcher and into the drawer runners.

Wood Natural material Hardwood Plank Composite material


Here's the ones that were used.

Gesture Finger Wood Thumb Household hardware


Replaced the backsplash, shortened the drawer and set it in place. Love it.

Wood Hardwood Wood stain Audio equipment Flooring


This part of the shop move / setup is done, thanks for looking.

Wood Window Flooring Floor Fixture
 

Attachments

#722 ·
Grandpa's Bench, Redux

Last installment of Shop Stuff showed Grandad's bench as it moved out the shop.

Wood Creative arts Hardwood Art Machine tool


The wood floor is done now, and it's time to move stuff back in. The bench was no exception, and it found new life as the base cabinet-like piece for my not-a-Wall Hung tool cabinet.

Cabinetry Wood Building Picture frame Flooring


But, long story short, I just didn't like that it was so much deeper than the tool cabinet. The aesthetic was wrong, and I need the depth when the workbench comes back into the space. So I debated a mod to Grandad's bench, to make it a long-term fixture in the shop that I love vs. one I feel obligated to keep as is.



I opted to mod the piece, in the Depression-era mantra of Make Do or Do Without. Nine inches was the number. I'll re-use the nails, keep all the material, etc. The bench is nailed together, not glued, so the knock-down was quite easy.

Wood Wood stain Flooring Hardwood Plank


Wood Hardwood Plank Wood stain Metal


Time to cut the top. One pass, then a second pass with additional depth, and it was done.

Wood Chair Flooring Floor Hardwood


Wood Flooring Gas Wood stain Hardwood


A few more cuts for the drawer…

Wood Wood stain Hardwood Flooring Rectangle


Hammered a few nails through the piece to get them ready for a new pounding; these drive through the back stretcher and into the drawer runners.

Wood Natural material Hardwood Plank Composite material


Here's the ones that were used.

Gesture Finger Wood Thumb Household hardware


Replaced the backsplash, shortened the drawer and set it in place. Love it.

Wood Hardwood Wood stain Audio equipment Flooring


This part of the shop move / setup is done, thanks for looking.

Wood Window Flooring Floor Fixture
Awesome.

If I my share some OCD. May I suggest an extension cord from the outlet that runs along the floor, up the corner behind Grandad's bench to a concealed power strip.

I hate electrical cords. They kill the look. Maybe it's just me.

Edit: hey! Wait a minute. I see ( or I don't see) that cord has been moved in the very last pic.
 

Attachments

#745 ·
Cabinet Changes, Cont'd

Long time ago, I lamented about underutilized space in this cabinet and did some rework to it.

Furniture Shelf Shelving Wood Cabinetry


With the shop being re-assembled post-floor, some more work needs to be done on this cabinet that was originally in a hardware store. it does come apart, top unit and bottom unit. And the top unit includes a curved back to it (visible above the coffee cans and gray parts bin), apparently when there were curved 'seed bins' that pulled out.

Time to go, it's cramping my style / wasting space.



It's very thin (1/8") masonite, easily removed.



The dream is to put a row of small parts bins in top portion of the space cleared of this curve (note the upper unit is upside down in the last two pics). Here's what I have in mind - a row of these, oak faced.



I have the oak, and plan to dado the cabinet sides to accept a new 'shelf' that defines the cubby shelf to be. Oh, and all the day-glo green has to go. More to come.
 

Attachments

#746 ·
Cabinet Changes, Cont'd

Long time ago, I lamented about underutilized space in this cabinet and did some rework to it.

Furniture Shelf Shelving Wood Cabinetry


With the shop being re-assembled post-floor, some more work needs to be done on this cabinet that was originally in a hardware store. it does come apart, top unit and bottom unit. And the top unit includes a curved back to it (visible above the coffee cans and gray parts bin), apparently when there were curved 'seed bins' that pulled out.

Time to go, it's cramping my style / wasting space.



It's very thin (1/8") masonite, easily removed.



The dream is to put a row of small parts bins in top portion of the space cleared of this curve (note the upper unit is upside down in the last two pics). Here's what I have in mind - a row of these, oak faced.



I have the oak, and plan to dado the cabinet sides to accept a new 'shelf' that defines the cubby shelf to be. Oh, and all the day-glo green has to go. More to come.
Smitty, library card files?
 

Attachments

#795 ·
Cabinet Changes - Making a Board (?)

Yeah, I titled this "Making a Board (?)" because that's what it entails. I have a need for a board that is 17" wide and 93" long, oak along the front edge. Ain't got one of those handy, so I have to make it out of a salvage piece of pine along with some rough cut red oak. How, you may ask? Well, I doubt that you asked, but I'm certain you know the process is forthcoming. If you know anything about my installments here on LJs, you know a process is forthcoming.

But, I digress. And I'll digress again before making progress on board-making… So here goes.

To effectively joint 8' boards using a 6' bench is tough. And jointing said boards when they're 14" wide is even harder when there's a crochet preventing the board's edge from assuming a comfortable working height when held by the leg vise. So for the first time EVER since building my bench more than three years ago, I removed the crochet. And man, I don't remember using such long, honking' lags…

Table Wood Guitar accessory Musical instrument accessory Varnish


Brown Wood Flooring Floor Wood stain


With that off and the board in place, I found one edge had a split repaired with a couple long, finish 'cut' nails. That came apart and was glued up.

Wood Wood stain Flooring Floor Hardwood


Wood Gas Machine Engineering Metal


Here's the wide board next to the oak pieces that will be drawer fronts as well as 'front edge' material.

Wood Door Building Material property Hardwood


Turned my attention next to the red oak 'edger' board by jointing one edge of that one to mate to the pine that was getting repaired. Chalked a straight line (board was bowed worse than it looks to be in the pic), ended up using the #40 scrub to get it roughly shaped before finishing up with the #5 then Heft and Hubris himself.

Wood Gas Hardwood Building Machine


Plane Wood Houseplant Picture frame Hardwood


Wood Gas Auto part Engineering Metal


Motor vehicle Wood Engineering Automotive exterior Auto part


Wood Gas Motor vehicle Auto part Engineering


A final couple passes with the #95 ensured all was square… (beginning to like that tool)

Hand tool Office equipment Wood Metalworking hand tool Circuit component


A couple of passes on the pine board (glue set up fine after a couple hours of errands…) got it nice and straight, and the dry-fit matched up both boards with no light between on the first check! Wow…

Wood Water Wood stain Brick Rectangle


Clamps applied, and I've made a friggin' board.

Wood Loom Interior design Flooring Hardwood


Next installment, I'll use the panel gauge to mark this board for consistent width, joint it again, then rip it into two pieces to run through the lunchbox planer for consistent thickness. Oh, then glue it back together again. Ah, such fun… :)

As always, thanks for looking!
 

Attachments

#796 ·
Cabinet Changes - Making a Board (?)

Yeah, I titled this "Making a Board (?)" because that's what it entails. I have a need for a board that is 17" wide and 93" long, oak along the front edge. Ain't got one of those handy, so I have to make it out of a salvage piece of pine along with some rough cut red oak. How, you may ask? Well, I doubt that you asked, but I'm certain you know the process is forthcoming. If you know anything about my installments here on LJs, you know a process is forthcoming.

But, I digress. And I'll digress again before making progress on board-making… So here goes.

To effectively joint 8' boards using a 6' bench is tough. And jointing said boards when they're 14" wide is even harder when there's a crochet preventing the board's edge from assuming a comfortable working height when held by the leg vise. So for the first time EVER since building my bench more than three years ago, I removed the crochet. And man, I don't remember using such long, honking' lags…

Table Wood Guitar accessory Musical instrument accessory Varnish


Brown Wood Flooring Floor Wood stain


With that off and the board in place, I found one edge had a split repaired with a couple long, finish 'cut' nails. That came apart and was glued up.

Wood Wood stain Flooring Floor Hardwood


Wood Gas Machine Engineering Metal


Here's the wide board next to the oak pieces that will be drawer fronts as well as 'front edge' material.

Wood Door Building Material property Hardwood


Turned my attention next to the red oak 'edger' board by jointing one edge of that one to mate to the pine that was getting repaired. Chalked a straight line (board was bowed worse than it looks to be in the pic), ended up using the #40 scrub to get it roughly shaped before finishing up with the #5 then Heft and Hubris himself.

Wood Gas Hardwood Building Machine


Plane Wood Houseplant Picture frame Hardwood


Wood Gas Auto part Engineering Metal


Motor vehicle Wood Engineering Automotive exterior Auto part


Wood Gas Motor vehicle Auto part Engineering


A final couple passes with the #95 ensured all was square… (beginning to like that tool)

Hand tool Office equipment Wood Metalworking hand tool Circuit component


A couple of passes on the pine board (glue set up fine after a couple hours of errands…) got it nice and straight, and the dry-fit matched up both boards with no light between on the first check! Wow…

Wood Water Wood stain Brick Rectangle


Clamps applied, and I've made a friggin' board.

Wood Loom Interior design Flooring Hardwood


Next installment, I'll use the panel gauge to mark this board for consistent width, joint it again, then rip it into two pieces to run through the lunchbox planer for consistent thickness. Oh, then glue it back together again. Ah, such fun… :)

As always, thanks for looking!
Yuo are a staunch friend of inginuity! In the southern venacular "Ya done Good." That's quite an achievment.
 

Attachments

#823 ·
Just Another Shop Cabinet In-Work...

Really nothing much to see here, just goofing around with storage stuff in the workspace, post-floor, and wanting everything to match at least kinda…

So I have a large base cabinet that I call an assembly (assy) table. It was painted up when it came back into the space with colors that complimented the hardware cabinet in the background.

Wood Interior design Shelf Floor Flooring


Table Desk Wood Cabinetry Writing desk


Time, though, for a shelving piece that sits at the wall-end and compliments the styling of said hardware cabinet as well. So I pulled some on pine 'stuff' from inventory to make a shelf using only hand tools.

Table saws Table Wood Floor Flooring


A pair of fixed shelves set into side dadoes…

Wood Composite material Gas Machine tool Engineering


Joint the edges that will 'show on the front of the piece, initially.

Wood Machine tool Hardwood Engineering Flooring


Test fit…

Wood Hardwood Gas Wood stain Machine


After a distraction the last couple days, fixing something in the house, I came to the shop tonight to this sight and decided to take a picture.

Wood Flooring Engineering Event Metal


Pulled the #50 into service for another dado, this one with the grain and on the underside of one of the fixed shelves; it will hold a piece that the bead-board will sit against.

Motor vehicle Vehicle Wood Automotive exterior Urban design


Love that plane…

Wood Gas Metal Auto part Soil


Then it was time for glue-up of what I had so far…

Wood Table Motor vehicle Automotive exterior Gas


... and cut some bead-board.

Wood Tints and shades Natural material Gas Human leg


Here's how the unit is looking from the backside, right now:

Wood Table Tool Hardwood Gas


There's a single vertical piece to be done, along with a couple face trim elements that will pull it into style with the other shop cabinets. Then, of course, paint. heh, I know how some of you love my painting… not…

Until then, as always, thanks for looking.
 

Attachments

#824 ·
Just Another Shop Cabinet In-Work...

Really nothing much to see here, just goofing around with storage stuff in the workspace, post-floor, and wanting everything to match at least kinda…

So I have a large base cabinet that I call an assembly (assy) table. It was painted up when it came back into the space with colors that complimented the hardware cabinet in the background.

Wood Interior design Shelf Floor Flooring


Table Desk Wood Cabinetry Writing desk


Time, though, for a shelving piece that sits at the wall-end and compliments the styling of said hardware cabinet as well. So I pulled some on pine 'stuff' from inventory to make a shelf using only hand tools.

Table saws Table Wood Floor Flooring


A pair of fixed shelves set into side dadoes…

Wood Composite material Gas Machine tool Engineering


Joint the edges that will 'show on the front of the piece, initially.

Wood Machine tool Hardwood Engineering Flooring


Test fit…

Wood Hardwood Gas Wood stain Machine


After a distraction the last couple days, fixing something in the house, I came to the shop tonight to this sight and decided to take a picture.

Wood Flooring Engineering Event Metal


Pulled the #50 into service for another dado, this one with the grain and on the underside of one of the fixed shelves; it will hold a piece that the bead-board will sit against.

Motor vehicle Vehicle Wood Automotive exterior Urban design


Love that plane…

Wood Gas Metal Auto part Soil


Then it was time for glue-up of what I had so far…

Wood Table Motor vehicle Automotive exterior Gas


... and cut some bead-board.

Wood Tints and shades Natural material Gas Human leg


Here's how the unit is looking from the backside, right now:

Wood Table Tool Hardwood Gas


There's a single vertical piece to be done, along with a couple face trim elements that will pull it into style with the other shop cabinets. Then, of course, paint. heh, I know how some of you love my painting… not…

Until then, as always, thanks for looking.
Good work on the rustic shelf unit and that new bench too Smitty. It looks like you are getting a lot of enjoyment out of your hand tools and I have to admit that your shop looks very inviting without all the heavy machinery and dust coating we see in most other shops (including mine).
 

Attachments

#852 ·
Artwork: Carlyle (IL) Swinging Bridge

I have this painting of the General Dean Suspension Bridge in Carlyle, IL. It is painted on a 4'x8' sheet of masonite, with a pencil sketch on the reverse (smooth) side and the finished work on the textured side.



The painting is signed R. Czerwonka, and I know nothing of this gentlemen but it may be:



RAYMOND CZERWONKA of Hoffman IL

Date of birth: December 13, 1927
Date of death: June 15, 2007

Just posting it here because Google finds nothing on any of this. Maybe someone will find it here now and tell me more about this great painting.
 
#866 ·
New Tool Arrival: A Fine Bronze Head

Short and sweet.

A mini-swap with Jim "Boatman" of LJs, he sent me something first: a brass (no, make that bronze) mallet head he made. It's small, it's beautiful.

Wood Musical instrument Metal Wind instrument Grass


I have to come up with a suitable handle, but started with a simple dowel to get some idea of ideal length. What I didn't realize was balance may be optimized if I choose a handle style that can incorporate some kind of counterweight. Not a lot, but you know what I mean.

Anyway, I love it!

Wood Metal Event Fashion accessory Jewellery


What will I send back? Well, that's a tough one that I've told Jim will take some time. The bar is set high based on this tool, so we'll see.

Thanks for looking, I'll update with a blog entry when I make the final (?) handle for this mallet!
 

Attachments

#867 ·
New Tool Arrival: A Fine Bronze Head

Short and sweet.

A mini-swap with Jim "Boatman" of LJs, he sent me something first: a brass (no, make that bronze) mallet head he made. It's small, it's beautiful.

Wood Musical instrument Metal Wind instrument Grass


I have to come up with a suitable handle, but started with a simple dowel to get some idea of ideal length. What I didn't realize was balance may be optimized if I choose a handle style that can incorporate some kind of counterweight. Not a lot, but you know what I mean.

Anyway, I love it!

Wood Metal Event Fashion accessory Jewellery


What will I send back? Well, that's a tough one that I've told Jim will take some time. The bar is set high based on this tool, so we'll see.

Thanks for looking, I'll update with a blog entry when I make the final (?) handle for this mallet!
Very nice Smitty. I'm looking forward to see the handle you decide on.
 

Attachments

#876 ·
Just Another Shop Cabinet DONE

I left off calling this a Win, even though the upper half had no backside…

Furniture Wood Shelf Shelving Interior design


The goal was to match (more or less) this cabinet to the one alongside it. The backside of that cabinet has T&G beadboard along the bottom, and galvanized metal on the upper half. So I ordered some steel on Wednesday and it was ready for pickup this afternoon.

Got it to the shop, it was time to get busy.

Table Desk Wood Wood stain Rectangle


First task was to lightly punch locations for screws.

Wood Font Bumper Flooring Material property


Then drill holes.

Wood Wood stain Material property Automotive exterior Flooring


The inside has to be sprayed using the same color paint.

Gesture Wood Rectangle Floor Flooring


I was lazy at this point and didn't empty the unit but instead opted to install the back using a high-tech 'Craftsman' clamp to hold it in place while 'screwing.'

Wood Line Propeller Gas Propeller


Wood Rectangle Composite material Door Wood stain


And when all was done, it was done.

Furniture Shelf Shelving Wood Bookcase


First time I've ever built a cabinet with a composite back like this one. Kinda neat, actually. Total cost was the $19 paid for the galvanized steel; the rest was leftover paint and salvaged pine 1x and beadboard material. As always, thanks for looking!
 

Attachments

#877 ·
Just Another Shop Cabinet DONE

I left off calling this a Win, even though the upper half had no backside…

Furniture Wood Shelf Shelving Interior design


The goal was to match (more or less) this cabinet to the one alongside it. The backside of that cabinet has T&G beadboard along the bottom, and galvanized metal on the upper half. So I ordered some steel on Wednesday and it was ready for pickup this afternoon.

Got it to the shop, it was time to get busy.

Table Desk Wood Wood stain Rectangle


First task was to lightly punch locations for screws.

Wood Font Bumper Flooring Material property


Then drill holes.

Wood Wood stain Material property Automotive exterior Flooring


The inside has to be sprayed using the same color paint.

Gesture Wood Rectangle Floor Flooring


I was lazy at this point and didn't empty the unit but instead opted to install the back using a high-tech 'Craftsman' clamp to hold it in place while 'screwing.'

Wood Line Propeller Gas Propeller


Wood Rectangle Composite material Door Wood stain


And when all was done, it was done.

Furniture Shelf Shelving Wood Bookcase


First time I've ever built a cabinet with a composite back like this one. Kinda neat, actually. Total cost was the $19 paid for the galvanized steel; the rest was leftover paint and salvaged pine 1x and beadboard material. As always, thanks for looking!
It is new/redone, but looks old/original…that may be you calling card. The shop is continuing to improve and evolve. Looks great.
 

Attachments

#888 ·
Another "It's Not Walnut" Moment

Okay.

So I did a table refurb that went into it's second or third week before I realized it wasn't walnut but mahogany. Well, early last summer my son bought a pile of scrap wood that included these old stair treads and risers.



Finally getting around to sorting some of the piles of wood moved and arranged for the shop floor project, and inspecting / stacking this material came to the forefront. Anyway…

I sorted the pieces by dividing risers from treads, and that's when I noticed the build of the stairs was different than any I've seen before. All the risers had triangular notches in them, and each tread had a kind of trim piece still attached to their undersides. Stairs typically have a bead / trim detail at the juncture of tread and riser, but it's not normally one that's embedded 1/2" into the underside of the tread via dado.



Then the risers were attached to the treads via a couple of 'pocket screws' set into hand-chisel'd pockets. Very cool to consider the work put into this staircase. And not least. how sharp the chisel had to be the workman used to make these very clean cross-grain cuts.



I thought the stuff was walnut. But then realized it was much heavier, more dense, than walnut. Then it hit me: it's mahogany, and I had been tricked a second time.



How much material? I counted 23 pieces at least 7" wide, 39" long and each a full 7/8" thick. Of that number, nine are treads nearly 10" wide. Very cool.



What to do with this stuff? Don't know, but it's getting properly stickered and stacked this week for a future project or two. Thanks for looking!
 
#905 ·
Shop Art!

Not a huge or complex project, but one that makes the shop a nicer place.

Picked up eight Stanley shop charts a while back. Like, quite a while back. June of this year, specifically.

Well, with the shop floor project done and the charts managing to stay together that whole time, a more permanent solution had to be found vs. having them on a shelf gathering dust. So I slapped together some very rough frames…

Table Wood Desk Wood stain Flooring


Wood Kitchen utensil Tool Tableware Hand tool


glued together all the half lap joints…

Wood Flooring Floor Hardwood Wood stain


then reached for a vile beast… the 'lectric routah. It was used to dirty the shop, make a most holy racket and, as a side benefit, cut the rabbets for glass. Sorry, no pics of that…

After cleaning the shop, I chiseled the corners and measured the openings for glass. A day later, the local lumber yard had eight pieces of glass cut just for me!

I laid the glass in the openings, added a cardboard filler to take up the rest of the cavity space, then added foam backer board via staples to the whole backs of each frame.

Wood Table Floor Flooring Cabinetry


Hung and done!

Picture frame Property Wood Interior design Building


Wood Font Ceiling Signage Event


As always, thanks for looking!
 

Attachments

#906 ·
Shop Art!

Not a huge or complex project, but one that makes the shop a nicer place.

Picked up eight Stanley shop charts a while back. Like, quite a while back. June of this year, specifically.

Well, with the shop floor project done and the charts managing to stay together that whole time, a more permanent solution had to be found vs. having them on a shelf gathering dust. So I slapped together some very rough frames…

Table Wood Desk Wood stain Flooring


Wood Kitchen utensil Tool Tableware Hand tool


glued together all the half lap joints…

Wood Flooring Floor Hardwood Wood stain


then reached for a vile beast… the 'lectric routah. It was used to dirty the shop, make a most holy racket and, as a side benefit, cut the rabbets for glass. Sorry, no pics of that…

After cleaning the shop, I chiseled the corners and measured the openings for glass. A day later, the local lumber yard had eight pieces of glass cut just for me!

I laid the glass in the openings, added a cardboard filler to take up the rest of the cavity space, then added foam backer board via staples to the whole backs of each frame.

Wood Table Floor Flooring Cabinetry


Hung and done!

Picture frame Property Wood Interior design Building


Wood Font Ceiling Signage Event


As always, thanks for looking!
I like it Smitty.
 

Attachments

#940 ·
A Slight Improvement... RAS Dust Collection

A good thing to do in 2014 involved capturing the sawdust thrown from my DeWalt RAS. This solution is stolen straight from "hjt" here on LJs. The key for me was using the Irwin expansion bit to get the right-sized hole in the backboard:

Automotive tire Wood Motor vehicle Rim Gas


Scrap pine on three sides, cut to work behind the saw's rear fence. Also low profile, to ride under the motor.

Wood Hardwood Flooring Plank Natural material


Connected to a very small shop vac.

Table Wood Desk Gas Flooring


A little bit of silicon caulk sealed the inside of the box and a small bead was laid down between the box and the saw top. Total cost was $0, and this 'catches' the vast majority of the wood chips that fly straight back from cross cuts. Big improvement!

As always, thanks for looking.
 

Attachments

#941 ·
A Slight Improvement... RAS Dust Collection

A good thing to do in 2014 involved capturing the sawdust thrown from my DeWalt RAS. This solution is stolen straight from "hjt" here on LJs. The key for me was using the Irwin expansion bit to get the right-sized hole in the backboard:

Automotive tire Wood Motor vehicle Rim Gas


Scrap pine on three sides, cut to work behind the saw's rear fence. Also low profile, to ride under the motor.

Wood Hardwood Flooring Plank Natural material


Connected to a very small shop vac.

Table Wood Desk Gas Flooring


A little bit of silicon caulk sealed the inside of the box and a small bead was laid down between the box and the saw top. Total cost was $0, and this 'catches' the vast majority of the wood chips that fly straight back from cross cuts. Big improvement!

As always, thanks for looking.
Nice! I need something that will work as well for my chop saw. I'm off to google it.
 

Attachments

#949 ·
Shop Art ll

Had eight pictures and posted them to the shop wall a few weeks ago.

Picture frame Property Wood Interior design Building


Thought that was the end of it, then found four more needing a home. So another frame to build!

Wood Automotive tire Tire Wheel Flooring


Wood Bumper Machine tool Automotive exterior Gas


Wood Finger Wood stain Hardwood Natural material


Automotive design Wood Desk Audio equipment Computer keyboard


Content of these is pretty cool stuff, too.

Picture frame Wood Font Art Handwriting


Font Wood Material property Parallel Handwriting


And then there were three sets of four…

Wood Floor Flooring Real estate Chair


As always, thanks for looking!
 

Attachments

#950 ·
Shop Art ll

Had eight pictures and posted them to the shop wall a few weeks ago.

Picture frame Property Wood Interior design Building


Thought that was the end of it, then found four more needing a home. So another frame to build!

Wood Automotive tire Tire Wheel Flooring


Wood Bumper Machine tool Automotive exterior Gas


Wood Finger Wood stain Hardwood Natural material


Automotive design Wood Desk Audio equipment Computer keyboard


Content of these is pretty cool stuff, too.

Picture frame Wood Font Art Handwriting


Font Wood Material property Parallel Handwriting


And then there were three sets of four…

Wood Floor Flooring Real estate Chair


As always, thanks for looking!
Nice addition. I prefer the staggered positioning. Looks great Smitty.
 

Attachments

#967 ·
New Life for an Old Foreplane

My son picked up this woody yesterday at auction (back right in the pic), in a box of other stuff, for $1.

Bottle Wood Glass bottle Hardwood Beer


The iron is a Butcher, the sole was 'patch-ready.' Someone had excavated for a new insert ahead of the mouth but it was either gone or not finished. A donor plane cut up long ago gave me the piece I needed.

Shoe Leg Wood Sneakers Flooring


Then it was time to 'joint the jointer,' if you will.

Wood Hand tool Metalworking hand tool Gas Metal


Something about the left side of this plane that's amazing. An indent where my thumb goes… Lots of use in this tool's past, I believe.

Wood Bumper Automotive tire Fender Automotive exterior


Sensitive content, not recommended for those under 18
Show Content
Hand Wood Automotive tire Finger Denim


Back to work, ready for another century!

Wood Gas Hood Automotive exterior Metal


Wood Motor vehicle Automotive tire Waste Cuisine


Thanks for looking!
 

Attachments

#968 ·
New Life for an Old Foreplane

My son picked up this woody yesterday at auction (back right in the pic), in a box of other stuff, for $1.

Bottle Wood Glass bottle Hardwood Beer


The iron is a Butcher, the sole was 'patch-ready.' Someone had excavated for a new insert ahead of the mouth but it was either gone or not finished. A donor plane cut up long ago gave me the piece I needed.

Shoe Leg Wood Sneakers Flooring


Then it was time to 'joint the jointer,' if you will.

Wood Hand tool Metalworking hand tool Gas Metal


Something about the left side of this plane that's amazing. An indent where my thumb goes… Lots of use in this tool's past, I believe.

Wood Bumper Automotive tire Fender Automotive exterior


Sensitive content, not recommended for those under 18
Show Content
Hand Wood Automotive tire Finger Denim


Back to work, ready for another century!

Wood Gas Hood Automotive exterior Metal


Wood Motor vehicle Automotive tire Waste Cuisine


Thanks for looking!
... pretty smooth Smitty. Great Save.
 

Attachments

#992 ·
Quick but Necessary Repair

Picked up a fun, folding-duet-chair thingy yesterday at auction that had a bum leg. Supposed to look like this

Wood Floor Flooring Road surface Gas


But one was this instead

Wood Wood stain Plank Table Material property


Some cuts with the gent's dovetail saw (in creative clamping get-up) squared things up.

Wood Wood stain Hardwood Gas Flooring


Wood Automotive exterior Bumper Tints and shades Gas


Wood Wood stain Plank Natural material Hardwood


Matched up cuts to a piece of mahogany…

Wood Automotive exterior Bumper Gas Automotive tire


A glue-up ensued

Calipers Wood Tool Bumper Metalworking hand tool


Shaped it, looked great…

Wood Tints and shades Hardwood Automotive exterior Gas


And we now have functional, interesting shop seating!

Furniture Wood Outdoor furniture Rectangle Floor


As always, thanks for looking!
 

Attachments

#993 ·
Quick but Necessary Repair

Picked up a fun, folding-duet-chair thingy yesterday at auction that had a bum leg. Supposed to look like this

Wood Floor Flooring Road surface Gas


But one was this instead

Wood Wood stain Plank Table Material property


Some cuts with the gent's dovetail saw (in creative clamping get-up) squared things up.

Wood Wood stain Hardwood Gas Flooring


Wood Automotive exterior Bumper Tints and shades Gas


Wood Wood stain Plank Natural material Hardwood


Matched up cuts to a piece of mahogany…

Wood Automotive exterior Bumper Gas Automotive tire


A glue-up ensued

Calipers Wood Tool Bumper Metalworking hand tool


Shaped it, looked great…

Wood Tints and shades Hardwood Automotive exterior Gas


And we now have functional, interesting shop seating!

Furniture Wood Outdoor furniture Rectangle Floor


As always, thanks for looking!
Smitty, you have one of the coolest shops I've seen and it's for this reason. You put the neatest things in there. Nice find and repair job.
 

Attachments

#1,024 ·
Quick Look: Stanley S4

Picked up a Stanley SW #S4 recently, thought I'd show some detail in a post.

A faint, stamped "No S4" in front of the knob.

Helmet Wood Gas Bicycle part Electric blue


Here's how it looks apart:

Wood Tool Hardwood Metal Two-way radio


Hand tool Tool Wood Metalworking hand tool Office ruler


Wood Auto part Hardwood Wire Heat-shrink tubing


Worked up the iron, caught an image showing the burr…

Table Rectangle Wood Flooring Floor


Then together.

Wood Gas Engineering Motor vehicle Metal


Just some shots to show a plane in detail that's not all that common. Thanks for looking!
 

Attachments

#1,025 ·
Quick Look: Stanley S4

Picked up a Stanley SW #S4 recently, thought I'd show some detail in a post.

A faint, stamped "No S4" in front of the knob.

Helmet Wood Gas Bicycle part Electric blue


Here's how it looks apart:

Wood Tool Hardwood Metal Two-way radio


Hand tool Tool Wood Metalworking hand tool Office ruler


Wood Auto part Hardwood Wire Heat-shrink tubing


Worked up the iron, caught an image showing the burr…

Table Rectangle Wood Flooring Floor


Then together.

Wood Gas Engineering Motor vehicle Metal


Just some shots to show a plane in detail that's not all that common. Thanks for looking!
Must be great to be able to buy these old planes Smitty. This one looks pretty old. We don't have any old planes for sale here in Norway, at least none that I've ever been able to find. I bought some Lie Nielsen Chinese knock offs. They are wonderful planes, but very heavy, so a bit more tiring to use at my age. I still like using my Stanley jack plane (I bought it new about 35 years ago) and also my Stanley/Bailey #4which is about 4 years old. I use them mainly on softer woods as I have my other planes adjusted for hard woods.
 

Attachments

#1,037 ·
Stanley Clapboard Gauge

Yep, had siding to replace on the house, prior to painting, and used this tool:

Wood Window Wood stain Door Hardwood


I'm going to go way out on a limb and suggest I'm the first in my town to use one of these in the last 70+ years…

Wood Telephone Brick Telephony Gas


Tools that work. Maybe I should do a review here on LJs.
 

Attachments

#1,038 ·
Stanley Clapboard Gauge

Yep, had siding to replace on the house, prior to painting, and used this tool:

Wood Window Wood stain Door Hardwood


I'm going to go way out on a limb and suggest I'm the first in my town to use one of these in the last 70+ years…

Wood Telephone Brick Telephony Gas


Tools that work. Maybe I should do a review here on LJs.
Now if you just get the first course straight and level you got it licked! Cool tool and pics Smitty. Keep 'em coming.
 

Attachments

#1,050 ·
Markwell DP2 Diamond Point Stapler

Not a big thing, but definitely one of those "used one a long time ago, now I want one" things that so many of us can identify with.

I worked at the local lumber yard when I was in high school, and spent many hours repairing windows, storm glass, picture frames, etc. in the back room. When my wife wanted an old window re-glassed for pictures, it reminded me how much I hate using these things:

Rectangle Grey Font Wood Electric blue


ebay is a wonderful thing for finding the most obscure things… It appears diamond point staplers were marketed as either Red Devil or Markwell, with the latter being much less expensive (sought after?). So that's what I found, along with a box of NOS fasteners that will last me several lifetimes.

Tool Wood Bicycle part Household hardware Composite material


here's the 'ammo'

Wood Rectangle Hardwood Office ruler Font


And a pose:

Table Wood Outdoor furniture Hardwood Desk


That's it, just a quick welcome to a new shop tool. As always, thanks for looking.
 

Attachments

#1,051 ·
Markwell DP2 Diamond Point Stapler

Not a big thing, but definitely one of those "used one a long time ago, now I want one" things that so many of us can identify with.

I worked at the local lumber yard when I was in high school, and spent many hours repairing windows, storm glass, picture frames, etc. in the back room. When my wife wanted an old window re-glassed for pictures, it reminded me how much I hate using these things:

Rectangle Grey Font Wood Electric blue


ebay is a wonderful thing for finding the most obscure things… It appears diamond point staplers were marketed as either Red Devil or Markwell, with the latter being much less expensive (sought after?). So that's what I found, along with a box of NOS fasteners that will last me several lifetimes.

Tool Wood Bicycle part Household hardware Composite material


here's the 'ammo'

Wood Rectangle Hardwood Office ruler Font


And a pose:

Table Wood Outdoor furniture Hardwood Desk


That's it, just a quick welcome to a new shop tool. As always, thanks for looking.
Nice, I put some points in a cheap hobby lobby frame recently. I used a "putty" knife to push in the points. I was afraid I was going to break the glass.
 

Attachments

#1,057 ·
Another Connection to the Past

A couple of years after my uncle saw fit to send of few of my grandfather's tools home with me, an aunt visited today with a very special gift.

Wood Musical instrument Gas Audio equipment Automotive exterior


It's a Stanley #103 block plane, one that was her father's plane (my grandfather); the same that ran a cabinet shop and used the saw, sandbags, M-F eggbeater, etc. that are each in my shop. Why the orange color? To tell his tools apart from anyone else's, my dad says. The color is a dead giveaway, as we have an alum. string level of his in a hand-made case that's painted the same color. Guess I know where my Shop Style Guide tendencies originate.

Wood Motor vehicle Gas Machine Metal


With no sharpening at all, it was able to edge pine. Needs honing, of course, but using it was thrill. And it's an older one… How can I tell? It has a certain trademark that I recognized…

Wood Musical instrument Gas Helmet Metal


Guess I know where my SW tendencies come from, too. :)

Wood Wheel Motor vehicle Automotive tire Gas


That's all for now, and as always, thanks for looking!
 

Attachments

#1,058 ·
Another Connection to the Past

A couple of years after my uncle saw fit to send of few of my grandfather's tools home with me, an aunt visited today with a very special gift.

Wood Musical instrument Gas Audio equipment Automotive exterior


It's a Stanley #103 block plane, one that was her father's plane (my grandfather); the same that ran a cabinet shop and used the saw, sandbags, M-F eggbeater, etc. that are each in my shop. Why the orange color? To tell his tools apart from anyone else's, my dad says. The color is a dead giveaway, as we have an alum. string level of his in a hand-made case that's painted the same color. Guess I know where my Shop Style Guide tendencies originate.

Wood Motor vehicle Gas Machine Metal


With no sharpening at all, it was able to edge pine. Needs honing, of course, but using it was thrill. And it's an older one… How can I tell? It has a certain trademark that I recognized…

Wood Musical instrument Gas Helmet Metal


Guess I know where my SW tendencies come from, too. :)

Wood Wheel Motor vehicle Automotive tire Gas


That's all for now, and as always, thanks for looking!
Smitty, I'm always torn that I never wanted my grandpa's WW stuff until years after the fact. Always intend to try tracking some of it down if ever possible. It's always great to keep that visceral connection to the past through the living artifacts that help define it. I think that's a draw for most of us with the old tool obsession. I didn't personally retain a large portion of my own connections, but what I have I certainly cherish. It is beyond doubt that those things you have are in great hands, thanks for sharing!
 

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