| Blog series by SquintyPolock | updated 08-04-2014 04:29 PM | 7 parts | 11159 reads | 13 comments total |
Part 1: Planning
My niece, CC is graduating from the 8th grade this month and asked me to build her a book case as a present. How could I say no? A little planning: I find a shop sketch is vital for getting things right. We use shop drawings at work all the time, for the big stuff, it stands to reason that they’re good for the small stuff, too. Case will be made from solid oak. Heavy as can be, stong, able to take the abuse of a young person, and I hope it stays with her for a long time....
Part 2: Swapped boards for plywood and saved a bunch of $$$
I posted this question and received a ton of great LJ responses! This web site is really awesome for getting good advice. http://lumberjocks.com/topics/50382 So, Craigslist looks like a great source for lumber, but I lack a jointer and planer. Next best thing was to return all the 1×12s to HD and bought a sheet of 3/4” plywood. The total lumber cost dropped from $265 to $115, which is much more palatable. I set up a straight edge and my Skil-saw to rip the plywood into 11...
Part 3: Glue Day!
It’s been a heck of a June. Two camping trips, a wedding, graduation parties, birthday parties, and needless to say – CC did not get her book case in time for graduation day. Oh well. She didn’t make a big deal. Today, I had some free time. I ripped down some boards and edge glued the top. A bit of sanding will be needed to clean up the faces. I cut and dadoed the plywood about 3 weeks ago and its been sitting in my basement shop during all these family events. A...
Part 4: Top of the case
I used a chisel to knock off most of the glue squeeze out. Then I used 80-grit sandpaper on the orbital sander to smooth out the joints on both sides. Nothing makes your arms tingle like using that sander for a good 15 – 20 minutes! Squared up the sides on the table saw and trimmed the corners round with the jig saw. I used the jig saw to cut up to the lines and used the orbital sander for the final trim. Last, a little hand sanding to get the corners right. (The boy got into so...
Part 5: The Bowman and The Spearman
On my way home from work, the other day, I passed though Grant Park. “The Bowman and The Spearman” sculptures caught my attention. The sculptor did not make the weapons – you have to imagine them. I was inspired to make a bow. http://chicago-outdoor-sculptures.blogspot.com/2007/09/bowman-and-spearman.html A 1/4” piece of scrap oak and some string made a bow (no doubt, Mestrovic would have been impressed). I used a bunch of clamps and some blocks to keep...
Part 6: Face Frame
It’s been such a beautiful summer that I haven’t spent any time in the shop, and the project has suffered. My wife reminded me this present is way overdue (graduation was in June). That lit a little fire and I got back to work over this long Labor Day weekend. It really felt good to get back in the shop and start building again – really cleared my mind of life’s clutter. So, I put on some feet… Then, I built the face frame. I started with just the four ...
Part 7: TaDUM!
Well, 14 months later, CC’s 8th grade graduation present is complete (She graduated last June, ugh). At work, I like to say that “Excuses + No Results = No Results”. So, I will spare you my excuses, as they are plentiful. But, I finally got her done. CC asked the case remain unfinished, as she plans to paint & decorate it herself. I figure I spent a total of about 30 man-hours and about $150 in materials on the project. My wife love’s this bookcase ...
