And it comes in orange'

A few weeks back I made a bench out of some pallet wood and scrap pieces I had. It turned out better than expected. The bench is simple in design and very comfortable.

I've been collecting vintage vinyl ottomans for years. I used the legs to create my bread side table that I made in episode one.
I love mid century modern, especially the colors.
I've been wondering what I would do with the ottoman cushions.

Well - I really like the bench, so I scaled down the bench measurements to accommodate the ottoman.
I changed some of the joinery as well. Instead of just gluing and screwing the seat stretchers to the legs I cut a dado and rabbet in the legs and posts to help reinforce the chair joints. I also had to shorten the stretcher by an inch to fit the ottoman properly. I raised the back and shortened the legs a little because the ottoman is three inches high. You can take the ottoman cushion away and still sit comfortable on the pine slats. Again - you can use whatever wood you like to make the chair. I chose some pine for the back rest and seat slats, and spruce 2" x 6"'s for the legs and posts. For $19 I have enough material too make two chairs. I'm going to paint them a white wash. I think the teal and orange ottomans will fit nicely with the white.

I think I have my next project for the show. I'm going to make the bench and a chair. Don't ever be afraid of just playing in the shop, experimenting with parts and materials. You never know what you'll yield from it. I made a jig to cut the legs and posts to size. I used it to make the chair and it worked beautifully.
I'll post more about the jig later. And - I'll put on the website.

As always - Thanks for following
Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve

Get a leg up'

Check out these two fantastic' treadle lathes I saw at the Sloane Museum. I worked as an interpreter at a living history museum in the cabinet shop eons ago - I can attest at how hard these are to use.
Don't get me wrong, they work wonderfully but you certainly give your legs a work out. Also- The rotation of the lathe can be tricky to get use to. Your feet are doing one thing and your hands another. Not an easy task for some of us''

These are two great early woodworking machines.

As always - Thanks for following
Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve

Yesterday I finished building the work bench. I'm really happy with the way things worked out. I imagine we'll take a little break from shooting for a bit. We have a lot of material that needs to get edited.

As always - Thanks for following
Be safe and be creative
Best

Steve

More Museum

Here are a few images of the wooden ware at the Sloane Museum.
I love the shovels.
Check out the barrels. They would carve them and then burn out the insides to hollow them. Fantastic'

As always - Thanks for following
Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve

Eric Sloane Museum

Who drives 126 miles just to see a bunch of old tools?
Well - I do''
Yes, I am a woodworking tool geek and I packed up the family and yesterday we drove to Kent, CT to visit the Eric Sloane Museum.
Here is a description as found on the website.

"A man of great energy and many talents, Eric Sloane (1905-1985) was a prolific artist, author and illustrator of over 30 books, and an avid collector of Americana. His extensive collection of hand tools is displayed in a building gifted to the State in 1969 by Stanley Works, the Connecticut-based tool manufacturing company, to mark their 125th anniversary. The collection tells a fascinating story about bygone times and the great American heritage of craftsmanship."

The museum is in Kent, CT. an absolute beautiful part of the world.
The winding country roads through the Berkshire mountains is breathtaking. The museum of tools is such a visual treat. It's small, a single building, but there are tools from every trade and aspect of early american life. Sloane saw tools as works of art and literally would hold art exhibitions displaying his collection of tools.

I took so many pictures that I'll post over the next few days.
I was afraid that our family field trip was going to be selfish in nature but it turned out to be beneficial and fun for all of us.

On the same ground as the tool museum are other museums and buildings, such as The Mining and Gem museum. Connecticut was the birthplace of America's mining Industry. From the 1630's to modern times , iron, along with copper, tungsten, granite and brownstone were mined.

On the same ground is the Connecticut Antique Machinery Museum. The collection consist of 100 year old railroad equipment, gigantic combustion engines and stationary steam engines, and agriculture steam and gasoline tractors and other machinery.

It turned out to be a great day for all of us. My son ( with the help of the museum volunteer ) did a little gem mining and came away with a large piece of phrenite. Very cool'
My wife, who is a jeweler, admired the room full of gems.
And I got to drool over the fantastic collection of tools.

If you have an appreciation for the hand made and early american life then this trip is for you. After visiting the museum make sure to drive six miles further down the road to the quaint, yet hip town of Kent, CT. There are great places to eat, shop, and peruse.

As always - Thanks for following
Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve

Shark Tank

My son decided he needed to build a box to house his collection of sea creatures he got at the aquarium.
So we spent a little time in the garage yesterday.
I'm always amazed at how a few pieces of wood, some glue and some nails turn into a couple hours of amazing adventure.

It's a great opportunity to teach a skill, as well as a great opportunity to listen. In a couple of hours I learned so much about my sons friends, his favorite fish, the kids on his baseball team, and what he likes and dislikes about the lunches we pack him everyday'

What a great opportunity- What a fun day'

As always -Thanks for following

Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve

Mid century pallet bench

Well - I finished the bench. I have enough parts made to make another, but I only put one together.
This was a fun project to make. I really didn't have a plan. I just needed to make something, and the scrap wood I had laying around decided that i should make a bench.

Thanks to Edwina for all of the spruce cut offs. I've had them sitting around for a while now, just wondering what to do with them. I used a few pieces I took from a pallet for the seat slats and the back rest.
Surprisingly - the bench is really comfortable. All of the parts are cut at a ten degree angle.

Now - to sit back and enjoy those libations.

As always - Thanks for following
Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve

Pieces

It's a beautiful day out and I'm itching too make something.
if i don't I get the heebie jeebies.
I don't want to be indoors so I've been rummaging through my scrap wood outside. I have some pieces of spruce construction boards, and I have some pieces taken from a pallet.
I think I might make a quick bench with the pieces.
I'll take a picture of the project when it's done. That's only if I don't get distracted by the sunshine, warm weather, my grill and some libations'
All in a days work.

As always - Thanks for  following

Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve

Hold downs

For the past few days I've been working on a jig to help make cutting the bench parts to size easier, quicker, and more exact.
There are many methods but I decided to make a jig that the bench post and legs will fit into, so I can cut the tapers using my table saw.

The jig is made from a 3/4 inch piece of plywood that is 28 inches wide. There are many pieces of one inch plywood attached to it that hold, or nestle, the bench parts in place. Lining them up correctly.

One edge of the jig will ride along the table saw fence and the other will be against the saw blade, cutting off any material hanging over the edge of the plywood jig. I'll turn it around, lining up the other edge to the fence, attach the other leg and make the same cut. Now I'll have two pieces tapered and ready to be attached to the bench stretchers.

I made my own hold down clamps using the off cuts of spruce I had and some small pieces of 1/2 inch ply. I used spray adhesive to attach some bits of leather to the underside. I drilled a hole through the pieces where a 1/4 inch machine bolt fits through. I then sprayed the clamps with lacquer. I also sprayed the plywood jig with a coat of lacquer. It helps keep my instructions and layout lines from wearing off. I scuffed up the leather so it will help grip the wood.

I drilled a few holes in the plywood jig where I inset some threaded insert nuts. This is where the machine bolt fits into. Once my material is set in place I simply screw in the bolt and the spruce hold down clamps tighten to the material, keeping it in place.
Store bought toggle ( hold down clamps ) can cost at least $20 each.

Why spend money when you don't have to. Besides - it's much more rewarding to see your hard work work'

As always - Thanks for following

Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve