The panel glue up went well. Now it’s on to the Rails and Stiles for the door.

As you can see, this is a very common door construction. Some details you can’t tell from that image include a groove on the interior of both the Stiles and the Rails. I have seen 2 common options for joining the rail to the stile. One way, the simplest, is to simply create a small tenon that matches the groove in the edge of the stile. Another way is to create a longer tenon which is matches a deeper mortise that is actually inside the groove on the stile. I haven’t decided which will be the way to go for me. The first is probably not as strong but if the door isn’t large or holding up items (common to a wall hanging tool chest), then strength isn’t the issue. I plan to have the door not holding any tools so the only strength needed is for the door to hold together while hanging. The size is 30″ H x 18″ W.

I’ve cut the Rail and Stiles from 1×3 pine stock. I’ve squared one of the edges so that I can dial in the precise lengths of each board.

After I dial in the precise lengths, I will create the grooves and decided on a shallow or deeper tenon on the Rails.

Post from: This Week in Wood (c)2009 Glenn Thompson. For Downloads, Pictures, and other great content go to This Week in Wood. See This Week in Wood Legal Information Page for specific usage rights.

Rail and Stiles

My normal pattern between projects are usually minor shop improvements, simple adjustments, and sometimes even bigger projects like shop furniture. As I wait for the wood for my next project (remember, I’m going to tackle my 2nd guitar), I thought about what has worked and what hasn’t.

My first project was a hack improvement. By that I mean that I took scraps and made some larger shelves to replace a set (also a hack) of smaller shelves. These heck jobs are all about function and not style or finish.

I’ve also been working on storage. In a shop this size (it’s 9′x16′), storage is always an issue so I’m always about improving storage. I always seem to find something to fit better in a certain location than others.

My last improvement project was simply adjusting the lighting. I have plenty of light (some florescent and some incandescent) but based on my last few projects, I wanted to move one of my lights. I think everything is in good shape.

My next project while waiting on the wood is sharpening my plane irons and chisels.

Post from: This Week in Wood (c)2009 Glenn Thompson. For Downloads, Pictures, and other great content go to This Week in Wood. See This Week in Wood Legal Information Page for specific usage rights.

Transitions – New Project Ahead

I haven’t been in the shop much over the last 2 weeks.  We are in the last days of summer and the kids will be going back to school next week.

My one exception is that I got a few minutes over a few days to put the final finish onto the handcut dovetail hopechest and sand it.  The finish is feeling and looking really good.  I’m quite happy with it.  I still have to get some handles, a latch, and some form of lid support (still thinking about that one) before it is totally finished.  I have a simple idea for handles which will work if my primary objective is to use it as a hand tool transport.

My hope after school starts is to get some pine and some other wood (oak, cherry) and make small scraps to cut dovetails over and over again to improve my skills.  I want to get to the point where repairs are not necessary.  I may spend a week or two on that (while finishing the hopechest).

After that, I don’t have a specific project locked in.  One possibility is to create a standing desk (smaller than my main standing computer desk) for my laptop which I use in my music station.  I may also redesign and build the music station itself.  One of the goals in this possible project is to come up with a design that is more like real furniture rather than ikea furniture.  Another possibility may be a deskset (pencil cup and note holder).  One other idea, is to create a bench top router table or a router table that could be clamped to an existing bench though I’ll have to think about the design on that.

My posts should get more frequent again beginning next week.

Post from: This Week in Wood (c)2009 Glenn Thompson. For Downloads, Pictures, and other great content go to This Week in Wood. See This Week in Wood Legal Information Page for specific usage rights.

Last days of summer

A long while ago, my in-laws moved into town and asked for a desk set to hold pencils. Here is the prototype (the actual one turned out about the same but is at the in-laws house):

I found the project very challenging due to it’s diminutive size. Till this point, I’d only worked on larger, furniture sized, projects. I though the results of this effort were great but working with small sized parts has made me veer away from small projects. In fact, this is one of the reasons I have an interest in hand tools as I believe working with small parts is safer with hand tools (to some degree as any tool can be dangerous).
I liked the design elements of this project and in fact really liked the opening lid for the Note and paperclip holder.

It’s been functional and stylish on my desk. It holds lots of pens and pencils.

Post from: This Week in Wood (c)2009 Glenn Thompson. For Downloads, Pictures, and other great content go to This Week in Wood. See This Week in Wood Legal Information Page for specific usage rights.

Desk set