The Melamine Cup

Today Liesl, Quin and I went Jaffrey, NH and visited a store that specializes in mid - century modern furnishings called 'The Melamine Cup'    The store is awesome and the owners are very gracious.  It took us an hour and a half to get there but it was well worth the trip.  It was hard not to buy a lot of product.  We've been searching for the right desk to use as a computer desk.  I know this sounds strange being that I'm a furniture maker but it's like the cobblers shoe less kids.   I can't afford the time off too make something for us or the cost of materials.  Making furniture for yourself and family generally doesn't pay the bills.  

Today we found the perfect desk and an ottoman.  We'll be back soon.  The store and area was perfect.   It was a great day for seeing fall foliage as well.

Providence finger joints

Yesterday I went to visit my friend Glen in Providence who is making a chest for his daughter.  Glen took apart an old pine bookcase and is re purposing the lumber and using it for the chest project.   Glen decided to use finger/box joints as the primary joint for the chest.  Glen did a fantastic job. He cut the joints using a router.  They are precise and aesthetically proportioned.  As always- gluing up a bunch of boards takes more than two hands, so I went to lend a hand.  The glue up went smoothly and the chest looks great.  The original finish is still in tact and looks beautiful.  I love the contrast in colors in the finger joints.  The honey pine of the old boards and the new, raw exposed wood of the fresh cut boards.  It works well.

I can't wait to see the end results.

Works in Wood 2013

Yesterday  I received news that I will be participating in an exhibition called Works in Wood 2013.

Works in Wood is a juried national exhibition that takes place at the New Hope Arts Center in New Hope, PA. In Beautiful Bucks County.  I was lucky enough to participate in it last year.  last year my Tea Lights were accepted into the exhibition.  This year my Tea Caddy ( pictured below ) was accepted.  The tea box is made from Mahogany and rosewood.  It is joined by hand cut dovetails.The opening reception is November 9th.  For more information visit

Works in Wood 2013 

New Hope Arts center, 2 Stockton Ave. 2nd Floor. New Hope, PA 18938 

215.862.9606 www.newhopearts.org

''RRRRRRRRRRRR"

Slowly but surely Quinn's pirate chest is coming along.  Today we added the red maple and burlap handles and the skull and cross bones.  This has been a fun project, it makes you feel like a kid again and there's nothing wrong with that.  

Pirates of Massachusetts

I'm slowly working on my son'd pirates treasure chest.  It's been a fun project.

This simple chest has some great aspects to it, like the coopered lid.  The pine staves are  beveled on each side to fit.  A simple techniques that creates a drastic look. I took a plane to the staves once glued together to knock off the high spots.  I then sanded the chest to 220 grit.  I'll give the entire chest a coat of wax, creating a nice amber look.  I attached small pads or feet on the bottom to elevate the box and make it look lighter.  I also added a pine bottom to it.  All that is left to do is to create some handles for the chest.

  

soles for cleaning

I have a small table top belt and disc sander that I use a lot when I'm sanding pine.    The belts  get gummed up quickly.  I'm not sure of the spelling but you can by commercial rubber blocks to clean the belts and get the gum off.  They are pronounce 'Crape' blocks.  The soles of certain shoes such as hush puppies and desert boots are made out of the same material.  I bought a pair of old shoes for $3 at my local thrift store.  I took the shoes apart and kept the soles.  They work wonderfully'  I'd have to pay at least $10 for one block at a woodworking supply store.  Instead I got two for $3.

They don't look pretty but they work very well.

Pirates and Cider House

When we were apple picking this past weekend we saw a beautiful old cider house that had a wonderful old coopered apple bin. My son loves to dress up and play pirate.  The coopered apple bin inspired me.  Quinn's been asking for me to build him a large pirate chest that he can use so I started to build him one this week.  The chest is made out of pine and constructed using simple butt joints reinforced with square head nails.  The top is made out of pine staves that I coopered  for the lid.  The angle on each piece is approximately nine degrees.  If you have pieces that are the same width you then can do simple math to find the angle of each piece.  I'll take a hand plane to the lid to knock off the sharp corners.  This will make it round.