Any woodworkers here?

[Tikiman]

I know that Norm makes very nice shadowboxes, and that DAB makes some fantastic cutting boards. Surely there are others who while away their time making some sawdust. When I am not housing hand wired guitar amplifiers in hardwood cabinets, I like to make boxes. I hand cut the dovetails (London pins), line them with suede, and give them an oil and wax finish. I never stain them, preferring the look of the real wood.

[Tikiman]

Here are just a few of the steps involved in making one of these boxes. I get the pieces roughed to size and squared up in the wood shop that I have out in one of my barns. Then I bring the pieces over to a small workshop that I have in my basement where I can be warmer and listen to my radio while I whittle away.

[Tikiman]

Once the dovetails are cut, it is back out to the wood shop for some machine work. Cut the hinge mortises with a router and a home made jig. Fashion a lift out of some Gaboon ebony. Almost there.

[Tikiman]

Line some thin plywood for the bottoms. Mucho sanding and then the coats of oil are applied. Really makes this padauk pop.

[Louie Detroit]

Not anymore unfortunately, but in the late 60's, 70's and early 80's my old man had an awesome amateur wood-shop setup/general workshop in the basement. Hardcore Sears heavy as **** and stable for use iron table saw, with dove tail joint jigs, which appeared when I asked the old man about them.

Wood and metal lathes, a nice jig saw and several sanders/grinders.

I worked on many projects for many friends and family, shit like speakers, aquarium stands and various dovetail applications.

Deft was always one of my preferred finishes. FTW

[Don Rickles]

:seasix:


I'll have to try to get you guys a picture of the stacks of lumber I have squirreled away! Hundreds if not a thousand or so board feet, of PA hardwoods and many softwoods. Shop full of tools and plenty of experience, just not much time for it, just yet.....One stack I think of often is about a dozen boards of black walnut, they're like 16"+ wide, with the sapwood removed. I've planed and jointed the edges, a really nice project to be made!

I've had this pile of lumber air drying for over 20 years indoors, it's all ready to use! Most of the wood was standing trees on my property I felled, then took to a local farmer with a Woodmizer to be milled.

Last item I did take the time to build was our custom cherry wood kitchen island. Full extension drawers and a spot for the microwave, and cookie sheets.

[SnikPlosskin]

Not anymore unfortunately, but in the late 60's, 70's and early 80's my old man had an awesome amateur wood-shop setup/general workshop in the basement. Hardcore Sears heavy as **** and stable for use iron table saw, with dove tail joint jigs, which appeared when I asked the old man about them.

Wood and metal lathes, a nice jig saw and several sanders/grinders.

I worked on many projects for many friends and family, shit like speakers, aquarium stands and various dovetail applications.

Deft was always one of my preferred finishes. FTW

My dad was the same except he owned a custom cabinet shop with 18 employees. I would love to have that shop again. Now I don’t even own a proper saw.

I had the dream of setting up a garage shop but the cost is prohibitive.

[mrvette]

My dad was the same except he owned a custom cabinet shop with 18 employees. I would love to have that shop again. Now I don’t even own a proper saw.

I had the dream of setting up a garage shop but the cost is prohibitive.


Cost of every hobby worth having is just outta SITE these daze.....from electronics parts through woodworking and even CARS.....

:confused5::issues:

[Black95]

My woodworking is more into the larger stuff. I made this hutch years ago for my wife to store her good dishes in. I also made the small barn for the Christmas manger from old barn wood from my parents' farm.
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Another project was a record cabinet for my vinyl collection.
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A pair of end tables for the living room. They also have a secret compartment under the floor of the cabinet (held open by barbell in 2nd picture.
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I also like to make clocks The first is a grandmother clock and the second a mantle clock out of walnut.
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[Black95]

Some of the fun things I have made are a table top carbide cannon, a coffee table out of a real old lobster trap, a number of wood frames for pictures and hiking sticks for every member of my family.
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As I was a science teacher in my life before I retired I also used a turning lathe to make my big pencils. Teachers used them for pointers or class decorations. I even had one teacher tell me that her son drilled a hole in the end to put a real pencil in so she could actually write with hers. These guys are just pretending to write. I ended up making about 500 of them during my teaching career. They were always the desired door prize at our state science teaching conventions.
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[Bill]

9.7/10

Thread needs more pictures. Still, would view again.


Nice looking work, OP and others!

[DAB]

I’ve also made kitchen and bath cabinets, tables, entertainment centers, bookcases, sideboards, and small stuff like boxes and bowls and cooking spoon sets. Lots.

[DJ_Critterus]

I know that Norm makes very nice shadowboxes, and that DAB makes some fantastic cutting boards. Surely there are others who while away their time making some sawdust. When I am not housing hand wired guitar amplifiers in hardwood cabinets, I like to make boxes. I hand cut the dovetails (London pins), line them with suede, and give them an oil and wax finish. I never stain them, preferring the look of the real wood.

Nice work. Have you considered dabbling in the art of making humidors? If so, I'd purchase one from you.

[slewfoot]

DAB is very talented

[LATB]

I’ve done quite a bit of fine woodworking. The regular stuff, boxes and tables and benches and many children toys. I gave it all away as gifts.

Then when I dove into the home building biz, my efforts turned to doors and windows and flooring and cabinets and baseboards and crown molding and built-ins….

I’ve been dreaming of a wood shop and maybe I’ll incorporate a modest one in my new shop / barn.

And I concur on the oil rubbed finishing vs polyurethane.

[slewfoot]

If you guys are looking for something interesting,

When I was a teen, a family friend built a kitchen table. Base was a reconditioned whiskey barrel. Strengthened up on the inside. Placed on top was a wagon wheel, Then a huge tempered piece of glass with a hole cut out in the middle that hung out about 6 inches from the wheel.

Was very impressive.

[Norm]

That's some really nice pieces displayed, excellent work from talented wood working individuals. I would not rise to the level of that craftmanship, I'll have to stick with the store bought stuff, and a few things that DAB has done for me..:D

[Tikiman]

I worked on many projects for many friends and family, shit like speakers, aquarium stands and various dovetail applications.




Ah, speakers always interest me. I have a particular fondness for two-way speakers. Always have. Not really sure why. A few years back, I decided to scratch that itch and I built these. My budget was $1,000 and, when the dust had settled, they came in at $950.

The mid-woofers are Scan-Speak 15W/8530K-00 Revelators and the tweeters are the incomparable Hiquphon OW1, regarded by most audiophile magazines as the finest 3/4" soft dome tweeter in the world. The crossovers are fairly simple, yet use quality components. The tweeter filter is third order electrical and the woofer filter is second order electrical. Air core inductors used throughout.

I made the cabinet from void-free furniture grade plywood. I doubled the plywood all over, making for 1-1/2" walls. I wanted no resonance. The finished cabinet was lined with 1-1/2" acoustic foam to dampen any standing waves. The cabinet is ported in the back with a 2" diameter vent that is 7" long. This tunes the enclosure to 43 Hz with an F3 of 39 Hz. Scan-Speak bass at its very finest. I really had a great deal of fun building these. I set them up next to some Polk Audio towers that we've had for years and they sound so much better than the Polks that we haven't listened to anything else since.

They look a bit funny because they are actually deeper than they are tall, but the sound is nothing short of incredible. The Hiquphons resolve cymbals better than any tweeter I have ever heard and bells actually "shimmer". Now I have an itch to do this project one more time - this time using Illuminator mid-woofers from Scan-Speak. However, that will double the cost of the build to just under $2k.

[Tikiman]

A shot of the components.

[Tikiman]

Nice work. Have you considered dabbling in the art of making humidors? If so, I'd purchase one from you.

Never made one, but it can't be very difficult. Make a box, line it with Spanish cedar, and add a commercial hygrometer. :shrug:

Never sold a box either. Everything you have seen, and more, have all been given away as gifts.

[GTOguy]

Much respect for anybody who can accomplish this with wood, especially using obsolete technology and tools. I never had the feel for it and always cut off too much in wood shop as a kid. Can do better today (have done some gunstock repairs, etc. ) but I admire and respect true craftsman, as shown here. I hate hate hate it when people paint over nice wood. See it all the time and it makes me cringe. Natural grain is the way to go.
Very nice, gents. :cert:

[DAB]

i have 2 dovetail jigs for use with my router and matching bits.

i still don't know the difference between pins and tails. i've done a few drawers with that joinery, some for a kitchen long ago, some for a coffee table pair of drawers.

not my favorite corner joint.

:DAB::DAB:

[snide]

Nice work. Have you considered dabbling in the art of making humidors? If so, I'd purchase one from you.

Never made one, but it can't be very difficult. Make a box, line it with Spanish cedar, and add a commercial hygrometer. :shrug:

Never sold a box either. Everything you have seen, and more, have all been given away as gifts.

Was going to ask the same question as DJ. But I don't know if I want to start smoking cigars again. :shrug:

[Tikiman]

i have 2 dovetail jigs for use with my router and matching bits.

i still don't know the difference between pins and tails. i've done a few drawers with that joinery, some for a kitchen long ago, some for a coffee table pair of drawers.

not my favorite corner joint.

:DAB::DAB:



Pins are on the right and the tails are on the left. Pins go into tails. "London pins" are when the pins are so fine you cannot slip a dime between the tails. :thumbs:

I have a Leigh D4 dovetail jig, but only pull it out when I am doing large carcass work like blanket chests or something. For boxes, I prefer the finer hand cut dovetails.

[Tikiman]

Sometimes, when I am just fooling around, I try to see just how fine I can cut them.

[SQUIRMIN VERMIN 84]

Love those big pencils!:D

[DAB]

the tails are on the left, Pins are on the right. Pins go into tails. "London pins" are when the pins are so fine you cannot slip a dime between the tails. :thumbs:

I have a Leigh D4 dovetail jig, but only pull it out when I am doing large carcass work like blanket chests or something. For boxes, I prefer the finer hand cut dovetails.

small pro tip:

run your text in the same order as the picture.

i could stare at this all day long, and tomorrow, i'd still fail a quiz about dovetails.

not something i mess with often enough to remember it or care about it.

:DAB:

[Black95]

Line some thin plywood for the bottoms. Mucho sanding and then the coats of oil are applied. Really makes this padauk pop.

I really admire your boxes and dovetail joints. I have not developed that talent yet. I am still pretty much a “butt” jointer. Now you guys can have fun with that statement! LOL

[mrvette]

I really admire your boxes and dovetail joints. I have not developed that talent yet. I am still pretty much a “butt” jointer. Now you guys can have fun with that statement! LOL

When making my kitchen cabinets some 20 years ago, I just used butttttt joints, and the smell was a bit off......:dance:

[Louie Detroit]

Ah, speakers always interest me. I have a particular fondness for two-way speakers. Always have. Not really sure why. A few years back, I decided to scratch that itch and I built these. My budget was $1,000 and, when the dust had settled, they came in at $950.

The mid-woofers are Scan-Speak 15W/8530K-00 Revelators and the tweeters are the incomparable Hiquphon OW1, regarded by most audiophile magazines as the finest 3/4" soft dome tweeter in the world. The crossovers are fairly simple, yet use quality components. The tweeter filter is third order electrical and the woofer filter is second order electrical. Air core inductors used throughout.

I made the cabinet from void-free furniture grade plywood. I doubled the plywood all over, making for 1-1/2" walls. I wanted no resonance. The finished cabinet was lined with 1-1/2" acoustic foam to dampen any standing waves. The cabinet is ported in the back with a 2" diameter vent that is 7" long. This tunes the enclosure to 43 Hz with an F3 of 39 Hz. Scan-Speak bass at its very finest. I really had a great deal of fun building these. I set them up next to some Polk Audio towers that we've had for years and they sound so much better than the Polks that we haven't listened to anything else since.

They look a bit funny because they are actually deeper than they are tall, but the sound is nothing short of incredible. The Hiquphons resolve cymbals better than any tweeter I have ever heard and bells actually "shimmer". Now I have an itch to do this project one more time - this time using Illuminator mid-woofers from Scan-Speak. However, that will double the cost of the build to just under $2k.

Dude, your speaker game is tight af. What tunes do you use to evaluate the fruits of your labor?

[Tikiman]

Dude, your speaker game is tight af. What tunes do you use to evaluate the fruits of your labor?

Interesting question. Primarily acoustic music. While I like AC/DC as much as the next guy, it's still going to sound like shit no matter what speakers you play it through. In my opinion, to really hear what a speaker is capable of, you must know what the source really sounds like in person. While my main listening preference leans towards big band swing, when I am testing speakers I tend to pull out some exotica. Arthur Lyman, Martin Denny, Robert Drasnin, Les Baxter, etc... Listening to "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" by Les Baxter through these speakers is a sheer delight. As is "Brazil" as played by Tino Contreras. Listening to "Solitude" off the Duke Ellington and John Coltrane album, you would swear that they were in the room with you. Same with the Diana Krall trio on the "All For You" CD (a dedication to Nat King Cole). Owning a grand piano myself, I know what they are supposed to sound like. I also pay particular attention to the percussion sounds. Many speakers struggle with resolving cymbals without making them sound "splashy". And I tend to avoid tweeters with metallic domes because, no matter how good they may sound at first, I have yet to hear one that doesn't lead to listener fatigue. My opinion only.

[DJ_Critterus]

Was going to ask the same question as DJ. But I don't know if I want to start smoking cigars again. :shrug:

I keep a few for special occasions, but don't smoke them regularly. Right now, I have 10 Cuba Cuba Acid flavored sticks in a portable humidor.

When I was in Afghanistan, people would send us thousands of sticks every month so we turned a conex into a humidity controlled storage room and sent boxes of sticks out on every convoy and supply delivery. I'd pick through the left overs with a couple of other officers and usually kept about $1K worth in my office and another in my quarters. Hoarding....greed...smoking? Nope. They were used to bribe contractors to extend their orders and finish the work I needed done. Worked pretty well, too. It got to the point where contractors from Bagram would jump at the chance to fly out to my FOB to do some of the commo repairs I needed because of it.

[Tikiman]

I keep a few for special occasions, but don't smoke them regularly. Right now, I have 10 Cuba Cuba Acid flavored sticks in a portable humidor.

When I was in Afghanistan, people would send us thousands of sticks every month so we turned a conex into a humidity controlled storage room and sent boxes of sticks out on every convoy and supply delivery. I'd pick through the left overs with a couple of other officers and usually kept about $1K worth in my office and another in my quarters. Hoarding....greed...smoking? Nope. They were used to bribe contractors to extend their orders and finish the work I needed done. Worked pretty well, too. It got to the point where contractors from Bagram would jump at the chance to fly out to my FOB to do some of the commo repairs I needed because of it.


I enjoy the occasional Nub with a maduro wrapper.

[DJ_Critterus]

I enjoy the occasional Nub with a maduro wrapper.

double maduro during cold weather.... lighter wraps when it's warmer :yesnod: