Category: Wood

This is the first (of hopefully several) band-saw boxes that I've made. I really like the organic nature of these boxes, and they give me a chance to use some of the sculptural experience I got in high school. I can't wait to get started on another of these! The box is made of curly maple, and the finish is two coats of boiled linseed oil and 1 coat of paste wax.

The Morris chair I've told some of you about - and posted pictures of here - is nearly finished! Today I made the seat cushion for it. All that's left to do is make a back cushion. We are currently substituting one of our couch cushions for the back cushion, because we couldn't wait to try it out. The chair is made of solid black walnut. The finish is 3 coats of boiled linseed oil and 3 coats of water-based satin polyurethane.

I'm finally getting back into woodworking, after a long hiatus. The last time I built anything was before Sean was born. So, by popular request (well, maybe only Dad's request), here are some pictures of projects that I've been working on.

This first pair of picures are of a toybox I've been making for Sean. It's made of pine, and only needs a couple coats of poly and some hinges before we can put it into use. It's my own design, simple as it is. It came out much bigger than I had pictured it in my mind, but that just means more room for toys!

This next set of pictures are of a Morris chair that I am making. It is getting pretty close to done. I need to attach the back to the rest of the chair, install a bottom to support the cushion, and cut some decorative brackets to go between the arms and the legs. Then I will need to sand, finish, and make some cushions so I can try it out! It's made of solid black walnut. Some of the pieces of walnut have some great figure. I've wiped a few spots down with mineral spirits to give you an idea of what it will look like under finish. This chair is pretty big - Sean will be able to sit in it with me until he's 4 or 5, probably.

These next two pictures are of a steel string guitar that I had started over a year ago, before Sean was born. I still plan to finish it someday. The back (and sides, eventually) are quartersawn bubinga, with some decorative stripes of maple and ebony. The top is bearclaw sitka spruce. The rosette is made of spalted maple and bubinga, with trim of maple and ebony. I am especially proud of the rosette. Not only is it the most complicated one I have ever made, but it is also the best quality. All of the pieces fit together tightly, with no gaps anywhere. I can't wait to finish this one someday.

This last picture is of a decorative box I made over a year ago. It wasn't meant for anything specific - I was just noodling around in the shop one weekend. It was inspired by a photo I saw in a book. All I really need to do is trim the pivot pins and apply a finish, and it would be done. I'd like to finish it and keep it on my desk at work, and maybe put some candy or something in it. I don't have anything I've made at work, and people have asked me what kind of stuff I make. I'm kind of proud of this little box, so maybe I should show it off.

I just finished making these building blocks. They are made from Northeastern Hard Maple, and are colored with water-based dyes, and finished with a water-based finish - so they are totally kid-safe. I made matching sets for Sean and Ryan. I hope they like them!