Chris McDowell's Blog Archive

• Cutting Board Tablet Stand - 01-17-2016 09:50 PM | 2 comments

  I had an oak pallet which I broke down and was able to salvage enough to make two iPad stands. Th...

• Kreg Jig Pen Press - 12-19-2015 01:39 PM | 5 comments

  I’ve been using a combination of a quick clamp and the drill press to press pen kits togeth...

• Woodturning a simple candle holder - 12-12-2015 02:09 PM | 3 comments

  Before this project, I had never made anything other than pens on the lathe. I had some scrap pie...

• DIY Christmas Tree Stand Cover | Rustic Christmas Tree Box - 12-02-2015 03:09 PM | 3 comments

  I didn’t know this was a thing until this month when my wife showed me pictures and asked m...

• Woodturning - Making a Cocobolo Pen - 11-13-2015 06:32 PM | 2 comments

  I got a lathe in June 2015. It’s a Rikon mini lathe. For more on it, watch this video. Any...

• Simple Pen Blank Drilling Jig - 10-24-2015 01:09 PM | 1 comment

  I got a new lathe in June 2015, but couldn’t use it until I was able to purchase some tools...

• I met Rob Cosman! My first trip to Woodcraft. - 10-14-2015 12:11 AM | 8 comments

  I went to Woodcraft for the first time ever in order to get some tools so that I can start doing ...

• My Wife Makes A Pumpkin Door Hanger On The Scroll Saw - 09-27-2015 01:27 AM | 9 comments

  Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdAK5fz7n3A My wife has picked up the sc...

• Farmhouse Table Build - Construction Grade Lumber - 09-13-2015 07:00 PM | 12 comments

  You can see how I built the table in a video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL0kh2faVpk ...

• Shop Update #6: New Rikon 70-100 Mini Lathe - 07-26-2015 12:06 AM | 7 comments

  I recently did a little belated spring cleaning in the shop. My wife helped me pull out everythin...

• A coffee table made from an old fire pit - 06-01-2015 12:56 AM | 6 comments

  View a video of this build here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16o0Ic0RPro We had an old fir...

• Harbor Freight Oscillating Spindle Sander - 05-15-2015 11:48 PM | 10 comments

  I bought a Harbor Freight 14” oscillating spindle sander. I had my eye on it for a while a...

• Make a Pallet Sign - DIY Project - 05-04-2015 01:08 AM | 5 comments

  Watch the build video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWKm2X-hBqc I’ve made a few ...

• Rustic Wall Sconces - 03-29-2015 06:35 PM | 6 comments

  My wife follows shanty-2-chic.com and saw some wall sconces on the website. She decided that she ...

• Cigar Box Guitar | Part 2 - 01-17-2015 08:36 PM | 2 comments

  I finished up the cigar box guitar I started in the last video, which you can watch here: http://...

• Cigar Box Guitar | Part 1 - 01-11-2015 10:16 PM | 3 comments

  I have wanted to build a cigar box guitar for over two years from the date of this video. I found...

• Shop Update #5: 2014 Wrap up, Thank you, and 2015 goals - 12-31-2014 07:30 PM | 2 comments

  2014 was a good year for woodworking and for YouTube. I was able to complete several projects (I ...

• 2x4 Bench: A cheap Pottery Barn knock-off - 12-28-2014 07:19 PM | 5 comments

  My sister-in-law sent a picture of a bench and asked if I could make one to go in her entryway. ...

• Last Second Christmas Project - Wooden Soap Dishes - 12-23-2014 04:48 PM | 7 comments

  I made 10 wooden soap dishes for a relative. I used cedar from a scrap 4×4 post. These are e...

• Miniature Router Table - 10-26-2014 11:19 AM | 6 comments

  I had to roundover the edges of some small work-pieces. I have a router table, but the Craftsman ...

• French Cleat Square & Measuring Tool Storage - 10-18-2014 10:39 PM | 5 comments

  All of my measuring and squaring tools were spread out throughout the shop. I wanted them all in ...

• French Cleat Screw Storage / Screw Caddy - 10-04-2014 12:14 PM | 2 comments

  As to be expected, do enough woodworking and you will need various sizes of screws for all the di...

• French Cleat Hooks - Repurpose Project - 09-27-2014 12:37 PM | 3 comments

  We’ve had this old coat/key rack hanging in our garage collecting dust and whatever else di...

• Shop Update #4: September 2014 - 09-21-2014 11:43 PM | 2 comments

  Shop update for September 2014. Topics include:Mobile base for planerReclaimed wood desk organ...

• Reclaimed Wood Desk Organizer - 09-07-2014 07:52 PM | 5 comments

  Recently, I saw some pieces of wood with holes cut into them for sale online. The asking price w...

• King Size Shutter Headboard #2: Attaching the top, painting, distressing, and the outcome - 09-02-2014 07:58 PM | 0 comments

  In this video, I attach the top of the headboard, then I show the painting technique we chose, wh...

• King Size Shutter Headboard #1: Making a Frame and Attaching the Shutters - 08-30-2014 04:41 PM | 0 comments

  We were given a king size bed frame and mattresses. We previously had a queen, but with two kids...

• Shop Update #3: August 2014 - 08-24-2014 09:48 PM | 3 comments

  In this shop update I talk about the king size headboard I am building, which I have been showing...

• iPhone Tripod Mount - 07-31-2014 11:35 PM | 1 comment

  I recently made a mount for my iPhone that I could use with a tripod to record video. It was s...

• Shop Update #2: What is up: 07-2014 - 07-18-2014 12:31 AM | 1 comment

  It’s been a month since my last shop update. In this video, I show some of the things IR...

• Shop Update #1: What is up: 06-2014 - 06-11-2014 11:13 PM | 3 comments

  I haven’t put out a YouTube video in a couple of months, but I have been busy. In this vide...

• New Planer - DeWalt DW734 - 06-08-2014 11:40 PM | 19 comments

  I finally added another tool to my shop. It’s my first “big” tool purchase; it&...

• Dovetail a Day #1: Days 1 through 5 - 04-24-2014 12:47 AM | 10 comments

  I’ve tried dovetails before with the one back saw I had before – a $5 Stanley cross-c...

• Rockler Quick-Release Front Vise Install - 04-18-2014 12:55 AM | 6 comments

  I’ve wanted a vise for quite some time. I was finally able to get one with some money I re...

• Miter Sled on the Cheap - 03-26-2014 10:30 PM | 12 comments

  I have a few projects coming up that I need to make mitered corners for, like picture frames and ...

• Intro & Shop Tour - 03-15-2014 11:56 AM | 6 comments

  I have posted 8 videos on YouTube thus far and have never introduced myself. I enjoy watching oth...

• Desperate Woodworking - 03-10-2014 01:17 AM | 15 comments

  Sometimes I just want to make something. I get the woodworking bug so bad I just gotta do someth...

• Organ Leg Coat Rack Video Series #7: Stain and Finish - 11-23-2013 06:02 PM | 2 comments

  Watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8hT5VQCUSM In this episode, I stain and ...

• Organ Leg Coat Rack Video Series #6: Cutting/shaping the base and legs, gluing the legs - 11-02-2013 06:31 PM | 1 comment

  Watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDfdmsKaSPo In this episode, I cut the ba...

• Organ Leg Coat Rack Video Series #5: Cutting out legs, flush trimming them - 10-19-2013 01:48 PM | 2 comments

  Part 5 of the coat rack build: http://youtu.be/SMbNqkkUldE In this video, I finish up cutting ...

• Organ Leg Coat Rack Video Series #4: Cutting the tenons - 10-12-2013 02:22 PM | 3 comments

  Here is part 4 of the video series: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_STCn7xmlY In this one, I ...

• Organ Leg Coat Rack Video Series #3: Chopping mortises, cutting leg template - 10-05-2013 12:05 PM | 0 comments

  Watch part 3 here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2pcOue9ub0 In this episode, I chop the mort...

• Organ Leg Coat Rack Video Series #2: Base prep, Modifying Organ legs - 09-28-2013 05:28 PM | 2 comments

  I just posted part 2 of this series on YouTube. Click here to view it. In this episode, I clea...

• Organ Leg Coat Rack Video Series #1: Getting started - 09-21-2013 02:14 PM | 5 comments

  In progress: We inherited my father-in-law’s mother’s organ when she passed aw...

• New (old) Router Table - 08-05-2013 12:53 AM | 4 comments

  We brought our daughter to her friend’s birthday party yesterday and my friend (the dad) sh...

• Craftsman Style Framed Mirror #4: Inner Frame - 07-23-2013 12:45 AM | 5 comments

  All I have left as far as construction goes is the inner frame and muntins. The inner frame will...

• Craftsman Style Framed Mirror #3: Making the corbels & screwing up the cove molding - 07-08-2013 12:29 AM | 3 comments

  I had a major screw up in this segment and was so aggravated that I almost scrapped the whole p...

• Craftsman Style Framed Mirror #2: crack repair and cutting a cove on the table saw - 06-30-2013 07:58 PM | 1 comment

  At the end of the last post in this series I was beginning to try to repair a crack, or gap, that...

• Craftsman Style Framed Mirror #1: Starting off, mortises, tenons, a curve, some glue, and clamps - 06-29-2013 02:39 PM | 11 comments

  I was initially going to post all of my progress when I posted the final project, but there wer...

• Shop Clean Up - 04-28-2013 10:01 PM | 7 comments

  My wife is 38 days from her due date. She is in cleaning mode and wants everything clean, includ...

• Table saw is now mobile - 04-24-2013 12:24 AM | 6 comments

  My shop (our garage) is basically the only storage room we have in the house. The attic is ridic...

• First Router Action - 12-08-2012 04:10 PM | 3 comments

  I finally got to use a router for the first time. I’ve had a router for a few months now (...

• 1st Cigar Box Guitar #1: Getting ready - 10-14-2012 12:50 AM | 2 comments

  I recently stumbled upon something that I had heard about before, but never gave any thought to u...

• My 1st Crosscut Sled #3: Putting it all together - 10-09-2012 11:20 PM | 2 comments

  First, I put some 1” screws into the front fence to help keep the two halves together. Tho...

• My 1st Crosscut Sled #2: Making the fences - 10-06-2012 03:34 AM | 2 comments

  My previous post was about making the runners. After they dried I ran both halves through the sa...

• My 1st Crosscut Sled #1: Making the runners - 09-30-2012 09:09 PM | 5 comments

  I realized early on after receiving my table saw that I would need a crosscut sled. The miter ga...

• Gifted again - table saw and drill press - 09-08-2012 04:12 PM | 12 comments

  So a friend of mine found out I was getting into woodworking. Well, it turns out his father-in-l...

• My pre-woodworking wood projects - 08-26-2012 11:28 PM | 4 comments

  I mentioned on my profile page that I’ve had an interest in woodworking for a long time now...

• Scary Sharp - my first attempt ever at sharpening - 08-20-2012 12:28 AM | 6 comments

  It took about an hour, but I got my 1” chisel sharpened today, at least the main 25 degree ...

• New, old tools and $40 I didn't know I had - 08-18-2012 09:25 PM | 6 comments

  First, the tools… A new friend of mine, who is also a fellow Lumberjock, sent me a packa...

• First joint other than butt joint - mitered half-lap - 08-11-2012 02:46 PM | 5 comments

  First, here’s the outcome: Not perfect, but better than I expected on my first try. ...

• side clamping honing guide - 07-30-2012 12:41 AM | 7 comments

  I ordered a side-clamping honing guide I found online for $15 that I will use when I sharpen the ...

• My first yard sale woodworking find - 07-21-2012 08:07 PM | 9 comments

  First of all, I went to 4 yard sales last weekend and didn’t find squat. So today, my wi...

• Irwin Marples - 07-19-2012 12:48 AM | 13 comments

  I had $30 Amazon rewards, so I ordered these: My woodworking budget is nil, so I was looki...

• jig saw jig - 07-09-2012 01:19 AM | 5 comments

  So I made a jig for my jig saw. I had the Kreg square-cut jig in mind when I made it. I used a ...

• Greene & Greene finger joint with a jigsaw - 07-07-2012 08:09 PM | 6 comments

  I really like the Greene and Greene style design. I watched Marc Spagnuolo make some finger joint...

Chris McDowell

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