| Project by Paul | posted 11-09-2007 06:44 PM | 7627 views | 17 times favorited | 26 comments |  |
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I’ve been admiring all the wonderful business card holders that have been posted recently.
So, with some trepidation I post these pictures of a card holder I made over twenty five years ago – I believe it was in my late teens. In those days of youth, I loved going to farm auctions almost every weekend if possible, trying to buy old woodworking hand tools (many of which I still have) and day-dreaming of making fine hand crafted furniture. I was even an early subscriber to Fine Woodworking magazine in the black and white days. Yet, I never stepped out in that direction. Long story, but when I stepped in the direction of another call, doors flew open and I was swept along in Christian ministry. I joyful and meaningful life.
My sister-in-law at the time brought me some black walnut scraps from her uncle’s mill. I set out to make this holder that I believe is in a black and white issue of Fine Woodworking. I made it in a corner of the basement of my boyhood home with a belt sander, handsaw, chisel and probably my Father’s old scarey-dangerous Craftsman table top table saw. A bit dusty in the pictures, you can see the “hand-tooled” interior. Every once in while I think I should find that article again and “do it right.” But on the other hand, every once in a while I also think, “Not bad considering the tools you had.” It reminds me that I don’t absolutely have to have all the bells and whistles and shop space I have now.
It has sat on my desk for the last twenty years.
-- Paul, Kentucky
26 comments so far
Dan'um Style
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#1 posted 11-09-2007 07:00 PM
Very nice. I like yours the best.
-- keeping myself entertained ... Humor and fun lubricate the brain
MsDebbieP
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#2 posted 11-09-2007 07:34 PM
how wonderful – and the story makes it a treasure
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (https://www.facebook.com/DebbiePribele, Young Living Wellness )
CharlieM1958
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#3 posted 11-09-2007 07:38 PM
Quite an accomplishment all things considered!
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
mrtrim
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#4 posted 11-09-2007 08:48 PM
looks like a future family hierloom ! great job and great story
Douglas Bordner
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#5 posted 11-09-2007 09:13 PM
I echo Dan’s sentiment, although his are pretty nice. Now Paul, here is the toughie. Do you think you could lay hands on that FWW plan, or draw/type your way through how this was made? I think this is the sharpest looking card holder I’ve seen. I’d love to make a batch…
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over two decades.
Bill
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#6 posted 11-09-2007 09:15 PM
I agree, I would like to make some of those business card holders as well.
-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com
mot
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#7 posted 11-09-2007 09:40 PM
I’m not sure why you’d post that with trepidation. I really like it. I can see making some like yours.
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
Paul
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#8 posted 11-09-2007 10:05 PM
I’ll look for the article. I’ve built a pretty large magazine library over the past 25 years, so I hope my memory is correct – narrowing my search to the B&W Fine Woodworking issues.
-- Paul, Kentucky
relic
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#9 posted 11-10-2007 01:23 AM
That is a great looking business card holder.
-- Andy Stark
Karson
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#10 posted 11-10-2007 03:15 AM
I went looking on the Fine Woodworking web site and on the 2nd Edition of Fine Woodworking DVD and I could not find anything for business card, card holder.
Sorry about that.
-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Appomattox Virginia [email protected] †
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#11 posted 11-10-2007 04:24 AM
I can’t see nothing that indicates the need to be remake again. The lid and all the pieces fit perfectly and it looks sharp and neat. It is a truly craftsman’s piece, Paul.
Dan'um Style
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#12 posted 11-10-2007 04:30 AM
will sketchup this piece when I’m done in the shop this evening. my wife gets off work late, so I’m taking advantage of my personal time.
Paul this is a really nice piece. I have a memory of this one somewhere too. You might be right. I have a large collection of FWW mags and recall the design from somewhere. Terrific piece to use up those little shorts that any project seems to create and we always hate to through away !
-- keeping myself entertained ... Humor and fun lubricate the brain
Douglas Bordner
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#13 posted 11-10-2007 04:58 AM
See the buzz your old piece has created, Paul! I hope Dan will link to this with his sketchup entry. I’m excited about trying these.
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over two decades.
Todd A. Clippinger
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#14 posted 11-10-2007 06:20 AM
Love the project and the story!
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://americancraftsmanworkshop.com
Andy
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#15 posted 11-10-2007 02:32 PM
Great story! This proves that we dont need Norm Abrahms shop to make nice things.There are many ways to tackle the same task. I made this same design for my dad,about 20 years ago,from plans in a book of projects by FWW. I will look around.
Very nicely done Paul.
-- If I can do it, so can you.
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