PROJECTS

Welcome to the projects section, each post below details photos and construction information about each project. Keep in mind, nearly all of these projects were completed before I purchased a reasonable quality digital camera so a number of close-up pics are not always as clear as you might expect.

Likewise, some pages are more detailed than others since WoodworkingMatters.com started after my woodworking pursuits. Projects are listed in chronological order and since I am still in the process of moving all of the files and copy over from the old site to this newer version, not all projects are available, however, those with a link are up and ready to go!

Practice Table

Practice Table

This was a “special use” project was for my wife.  After building a “disposable” practice table out of cut offs for her to keep in a temporary apartment while was playing with the Richmond Symphony, she wanted one for her studio back home.

She uses the table as a place to set her recording equipment, tea pot, tea cups, portable phone, cell phone, etc.  Since she usually stands or sits on a tall stool when practicing the table was designed to be much taller than usual for a piece that size: 35″ tall.  At that time, cash flow was tight so I decided to see how nice of a table I could build for the lowest cost.  (more…)

Plant Stand

Plant Stand

This is another one of my favorite projects that falls under the category of environmentally friendly as all of the wood used came from a piece of furniture that would have otherwise been tossed into a landfill. Furthermore, the entire thing cost less than $8.00 to build in material so it was a win-win.

All profiles were cut on my router table with either a 1/4″ or a 1/8″ round over bit. I used a 1″ template bit to cut the small curved pieces. Their template was hand cut using 1/4″ hardboard. The piece stand 27″ tall and the top is 12″ x 12″. All pieces are finished with Bartley’s Satin Gel finish. (more…)

Magnifying Glass

Oh Snap! This project page isn’t quite ready for v.4.0 yet.

Tansu Pet Feeder

Tansu Pet Feeder

This project started summer of 2000 and finally finished up summer of 2002 (can you tell I move from project to project randomly?). It’s the same basic tansu design as the aquarium stand but in mini-form and used as a cat feeder. The frame is solid 3/4 red oak, the side panels are 1/4 red oak faced plywood, the top is cypress, and the trim is solid bloodwood. I used my planer, router table, free hand router, drill press, sanders and bench saw for this project. the project is finished in four coats of Bartley’s Gel Stain.

DESIGN IMPROVEMENT: Although I joined the case with wood dowels (you can see the walnut plugs in the pic to your left) I later discovered that it was much easy and faster to make each side (rails, stiles, and panels) separately and then join them together with a biscuit joiner. This took at least 40% off of fabrication time for later units I made. I was a little concerned about gluing hardwood trim directly to the plywood panels but after several years, there is no sign of wood movement damaging the pieces or creating unsightly gaps. (more…)

Computer Speaker Stand

Computer Speaker Stand

This project began in the summer of 2002 with the desire to get rid of some ugly speaker stand/storage boxes I made a few years ago (which you can see in some of the pics of the monitor stand project). In addition to serving as speaker stand, the boxes store CD’s and office supplies

The case is 100% solid butternut and joined using the Porter Cable 12″ dovetail machine. Why use half blind dovetails to join the box? For practice. Additionally, this was the first project where I tried my hand at installing barrel hinges. They are neat but I don’t think they were worth the effort. I can only imagine using them again for something which requires their use. Another new trick was using rare earth magnets as a sort of invisible door catch. I think they worked out perfectly and were a breeze to install plus took up less space than a traditional door catch. Likewise, they were an ideal solution for small cases like these. This project used the dovetail jig, router table, power sanders, bench saw, planer and drill press. (more…)

Rotating Weather Station

Rotating Weather Station

This was one of those projects that took longer to complete than it should have due to a few construction mishaps along the way. In this case, the lid had to be redesigned a few times but in the end I believe the final version works much better than the original plan.  My wife is an avid weather buff and has been wanting a weather station for some time.  Me being me, however, I design projects for a specific setting and purpose and this little box is one of may absolute favorite projects because of its targeted purpose.

I wanted her to be able to have the instruments close at hand without taking up the room to mount them all face forward.  So the box idea made sense, and to make seeing each instrument easy I decided to mount the unit on a tiny lazy susan.  The box is solid butternut and the lid and base are solid walnut.  The small “skirt” that covers the lazy susan is padauk.  Everything is finished in three coats of Bartley’s Satin Gel Finish. (more…)

Tansu Entertainment Center

Tansu Entertainment Center

This tansu inspired entertainment unit was made for my brother-in-law to accommodate his 40-in.(that started out as a 27″ and who knows how big they are now)  flat-screen TV and audio-video gear. I drew the plans from scratch, custom-fitting most of the shelves for his A/V components. The overall dimensions of the piece are 54 W x 27 D x 28 1/2 H.

All the joinery is wood on wood — not a screw or nail to be found! The tansu frame is made entirely from solid Australian lacewood, and the side panel and front door frames are solid padauk. The drawer fronts are solid tiger maple, and the side panels are 1/4-in. rock-maple-faced plywood. I used basic power and hand tools to build this piece, including a mini biscuit joiner to join the interior parts of the front doors. there isn’t a drop of stain anywhere on the piece, instead, all the wooden parts are finished with three coats of Bartley’s Gel Satin finish, applied by hand. (more…)

Monitor Stand

Monitor Stand

This project grew from the frustration of having to reach behind my computer one too many times to connect/disconnect A/V cables. Keep in mind, in 2001 most computer manufactures did not include front mounted A/V and USB ports so I decided the solution was to simply mount A/V jacks in a monitor stand and leave the cables running from the back permanently hooked up . All I had to do was come up with a cool design for the stand.  I wanted to include something with a curve but since I do not own a band saw, it would have to be done with a belt sander and a router table.  As a result, this project had a five month gap in the production sequence (click here for more on that incident).

After getting back on track the project came together very quickly.  The top and front panel are butternut and the legs are cypress.  I picked up the A/V jacks at a local electronics store and the mini-clock at Woodcraft.  Tools used were power sanders, router table, drill press and biscuit joiner.  All in all, the lumber cost less than the A/V jacks and the entire project was under $40.  Sometimes it just feels great to be a woodworker!  Everything is finished in Bartley’s Satin Gel Finish. (more…)

Repurposed Credenza

Repurposed Credenza

This was my first rehab and repurpose project. The piece started life as chest of drawers that I found on the curb of an apartment complex I used to live. At the time is was finished in an ugly opaque “brown” finish and the back was a piece of warped hardboard. Fortunately, the case, including dovetailed drawers, was in good shape.

Fast forward several years and we decided it was no longer a needed piece of furniture but I didn’t like the though of tossing it out just yet so I drug it into the shop, tore off the back and started to strip away the opaque finish. Low and behold here was this wonderful veneer which I gave a list stain to bring out the grain. I put a new back in place, and cut a space to accommodate heavy-duty drawer slides so it could find a new as a filing credenza in my office. (more…)