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A treasure chest for Sierra

November 10, 2008 By

Just about a year ago, while our 7-year old granddaughter Sierra and I were spending some time in the shop, she asked me if I could make her a “…treasure chest, with a domed lid – you know, like a little curved top?”

I finally made it! Sierra will soon be 8 years old, and this will make a special gift for her, on her special day. It is a little whimsical chest, not associated with any period furniture, but it does have the domed lid!

Sandy and I spent some time in the shop this past weekend, which gave me the push I needed to get started on Sierra’s chest. Sandy had not been in the shop for ages, as a result of her knee replacement surgery, and our daughter’s move to her new home – Nana helped with the move for months and months…

I finished the chest yesterday, minus the little sliding shelf. As a result, I spent some time today completing the job.

Here is Sierra’s treasure chest – it is 14 inches wide, 9 inches from the bottom edge to the edge of the domed top, and 10 inches deep. The wood is pine. It took less than one 10-foot long, 12-inch wide board to make the chest:

It is amazing that something like this will make a lovely 8-year old girl very, very happy. I can’t wait to give Sierra her chest, and watch her smile beautifully!

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Filed Under: Blog

Episode 28. The prayer kneeler Finale – Part 3 of 3

November 6, 2008 By

Download Quicktime (*.mov)

In this final episode I share the following tips:

  1. Advantage of using router bits with perfectly-matched height.
  2. For best results, align router bits with the fence using a straight edge.
  3. Practice your router cuts doing “dry runs”.
  4. When routing stopped grooves on the router table, use stop blocks when possible for best results.
  5. When using a routing pin on the router table, always know which direction avoids climb cuts – this will save you a kickback!
  6. Always do a dry fit prior to your final glue-up. It save you much cussing, and is likely to result in tight fit most of the time – unless you mess up something…
  7. While on dry fit, measure distances if you need to fit something else within any space. Much better do do it now than to take things apart and having to do another dry fit.
  8. Threaded metal inserts might work for you, if you don’t want machine screw heads showing on outer surfaces of a project.
  9. Waterlox Sealer / Finish is a wonderful wipe-on finish on quarter-sawn sycamore. You will love it, too!
  10. Always take photographs of your finished project, especially if you will publish the project somewhere.

Guess what?

Due to a tight deadline, I never took a photo of the prayer kneeler fully assembled, and with the beautiful cushion my wife made, in place – I had to meet the deadline to submit the kneeler to the church Silent Auction. But our daughter has promised to contact the person who submitted the highest bidder, to request permission to photograph it.

Thanks for following along this build, and for your wonderful comments and encouragement to keep producing this type of project on video.

I learned in late October that the kneeler had sold for close to the estimated retail price, which was most generous on the part of the winning bidder at the Silent Auction. This was truly for a great cause!

Filed Under: Blog, Shop tools, Video

Announcing the November giveaway from Sommerfeld Tools

November 5, 2008 By

I am pleased to announce the November drawing / giveaway from Sommerfeld Tools.

This month we will give away the 4-inch Mitered Molding Bit – one lucky winner in North America (sorry – cannot ship outside N. America at this time):

From the Sommerfeld Tools catalog:

Before now you had to pay high, custom-tooling dollars to get this elegant look on a mitered raised panel. After you’ve made your first set of doors with your new mitered molding bit, your work will be the admiration of all your woodworking friends.

Click on the image above to go to the catalog for a full description. Using this bit with the tongue & groove cabinetmaking set makes great-looking cabinet doors!

To register for the drawings, send me an e-mail to sandal_woods@bbwi.net with your name and full address. And please remember that if you have registered for the monthly drawings before, you do not have to register again. Good luck to everyone!

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Filed Under: Blog

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