Norse Woodsmith Blog Feeds

This is a project I've been thinking about for quite some time.  We have a little step stool in the kitchen that helps my wife reach some things on higher shelves.  But she has to reach to the floor to grab it and move it.  I don't know where I first saw a design like this, but having a tall handle seems like a great idea for a kitchen step stool.

It'll look something like this

I made this out of the red oak I got from a neighbor's kitchen remodel.  The handle is about 30" tall, the step is 8 1/2" wide and 12 1/2" long and is 9" off the floor.  The joint between the step and the low upright (front legs) used dovetails.  It's been a few months since I dovetailed anything, and I felt a little rusty.

Tails cut and waste chopped

Pins cut and waste chopped out

The fit wasn't perfect.  I filled a couple of small gaps after glue-up.  For the joint between the step and the tall handle, I used multiple (roughly) square mortises and tenons.  I left the tenons about 1/16" proud, because I like the look.

Handle board below, step above, marked and ready for cutting

Another view.  The left/right extents of the mortises and tenons were marked with a panel gauge, referencing off the same side (edge)

Mortises in the handle piece were first bored, then chopped to the lines

Checking for square inside walls

Looking pretty clean

The tenons came out pretty good, still a little paring to do here

Got a good fit

Added a rail under the step.  Through tenons.  The tenons were offset from center of the rail so that I could leave more meat on the handle piece between the mortises for the step and the mortise for the rail.  A curve was added to the rail's underside later.

I wanted to add something for visual interest (and so my wife might like it), so I cut out a heart shape at the top of the handle.  The heart doubles as a hand hole.  I practiced with scrap first, and that was a good idea so that I'd get a good heart shape on the real thing.

Practicing on scrap of same width

Making a template: two overlapping circles of 1 3/8" diameter, from the bottom of those circles, mark down 1 3/8" along the centerline.  Then join the outside of the two circles with a slight curve to that point.  The larger heart is 1/2" offset from the smaller one.

The heart/handle came out pretty good

Next was shaping the handle piece and creating feet.  The handle had gentle curves starting 1" above the step and ending a couple inches below the heart.  The feet were made by cutting out a half-ellipse, 5 1/2" minor axis and 10" major axis (only half the major axis length was used because I'm using a half-ellipse).

Template used to mark out the shape on the handle

Handle sides shaped - awaiting the half-ellipse for creating feet (no pics)

Before gluing up, I did a few dry-runs to figure out my clamping strategy.  The glue-up went fine, but it always looks so silly with all those clamps in place.  There's a lot going on in the picture below.  They're not seen in the photo, but there are two pieces of scrap placed between the front feet and back feet.  They are the exact length as the distance between the step's two shoulder lines - the dovetail side and the tenon side.  These pieces were placed between the feet so that the joints would stay square when clamped up.

Those deep-reach clamps extending out left and right are clamping the rail to the underside of the seat.  I made these many years ago from plans in Wood magazine (I think), and they really come in handy at times.

The glue-up

These cauls were used for clamping the multiple tenons (top) and the dovetails (bottom)

I'm happy with the result.  The dovetails look pretty good and the the through tenons fit well.  The following pics are after a first coat of shellac.

The dovetails and through tenon of the rail

The multiple mortise and tenon joint, with rail tenon on the handle side

And the final product:

First coat of shellac applied

I've got three coats of shellac on now, and I'll give it another coat or two tomorrow (but not on the underside).  Time will tell if it gets used in our kitchen.  It's intended to replace (or be in addition to) a step stool that has huge sentimental value to my wife.

I come up with them all the time and this one should knock your socks off . . . Or at least take incredible shavings for you. New to woodworking or a seasoned machinist, I often get woodworkers lamenting that they sometimes get a good edge to Card Scrapers, but mostly not. I put this...

Source

If you’ve followed me for some time, you’ll know I’ve always been passionate about celebrating the timeless beauty of woodworking. From sharing expert techniques to publishing insights on traditional methods, my focus has been on preserving and celebrating this craft. But, as with any journey, there comes a time to turn the page and start a new chapter.

I am excited to introduce Wooden Wares Handwork, a new iteration of my brand that reflects a shift in focus. While my blog will remain as informative and engaging as ever, I’ve chosen to channel my energy into creating handcrafted wooden wares for the public, rather than publishing magazines or catering to wholesalers. This change represents more than a business decision it’s a commitment to making my craft accessible to everyday people who value the charm and sustainability of handmade goods.

Over the years, I’ve received an overwhelming amount of feedback from readers and customers who wanted more than just advice or inspiration. Many of you wanted to bring a piece of this craftsmanship into your homes. While publishing magazines and working with wholesalers allowed me to share knowledge widely, I felt it was time to connect more directly with individuals who love and appreciate handmade wooden pieces. This new focus lets me put my skills directly into your hands.

First and foremost, let’s be clear: this blog isn’t going anywhere. Wooden Wares Handwork will continue to be a space for woodworking enthusiasts to learn, share, and grow. Whether you’re looking for tips on crafting with hand tools, exploring different types of timber, or learning about the history of woodworking, you’ll still find the content you love here.

My dedication to educating and inspiring the woodworking community hasn’t changed. The only difference is that now, alongside sharing knowledge, I’ll also be offering you the chance to own a piece of my craft.

With Wooden Wares Handwork, my focus is on creating smaller batches of handcrafted items from Jewellery Boxes and Clocks to trays and decorative pieces. These items are made with the same care and traditional methods that I’ve always championed. Each piece reflects my commitment to sustainability and the beauty of natural materials.

By selling directly to the public, I hope to forge a more personal connection with my customers. Each item tells a story of skill, tradition, and creativity, and now those stories can find a place in your home.

I’m thrilled about this next chapter and what it means for our community. Wooden Wares Handwork is more than just a business it’s a celebration of handmade craftsmanship and the people who cherish it. I hope you’ll join me on this journey, whether you’re here for the insights I share or the pieces I create.

As always, I welcome your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Thank you for being part of my story, and I look forward to crafting the future together one piece at a time.

 I'm still slugging my way through getting the finish on the cherry cupboard. It seems like its all I've done for weeks. I'm making a dent in though and I think I see a pin hole of light at the end of the tunnel. I'm optimistic about maybe being done with it early next week.

I slipped a little bit on it today. In the AM I had to bring the truck in for service and in the PM I went with my wife on a road trip. It isn't often that she asks me to go with her on her dead people trips. It was a nice afternoon even though I didn't have a lot to do while she did her thing. 

closing in

The back side of the door is done and I started on the front. I remembered to leave the middle of the panel unfinished. That is where I will glue the tile and it needs to be raw wood.

done?

I got one coat on it and it looks good. I went and looked at it again after dinner and my opinion of it didn't change. Shellac is a wonderful finish that is able to heal itself. I will put one more coat of shellac on it and call it done.

didn't fit

Says it will fit most sprayers but it wasn't a fit for my Moen one. This was the cheapest one that Lowes sold ($9). I'll toss it in my plumbing parts box for a future use.

from Amazon

Is there anything that you can't get from them? Next day delivery and I then spent a bazillion minutes trying to get it installed. 

gave up

I tried my hardest to replace the hose too but I said NO MAS. I could not figure out how to release the existing hose. Along with the sprayer hose were the two hoses for the hot and cold feed. I couldn't see the sprayer hose clearly and I had to rely on feeling for it. That didn't work and I ended up replacing the spray head

I felt my age today first by spending a ton of calories clearing out the space under the sink and running up and down the stairs to shut/open the water main. I had to  flip myself onto my back a bazillion times which got slower and slower each time I had to do it. Lying on my back and looking up to work against gravity sucked pond scum.

The only options I saw were to remove the sink basin and replace the spray hose that way or call a plumber and have him/her do it. Wasn't thrilled with paying out a lot $$$$ so I replaced just the spray head. Not ideal IMO but it is working again. 

The existing broken one stuck open constantly spewing water. I had to whack it against the side of the sink to shut it off. At least I don't have to do that anymore.

I used to do all my own home maintenance but with aging I don't want to do it anymore. But I'm between a rock and hard spot - having someone else do the work ain't cheap. Especially so when both of us are retired.

accidental woodworker

If you see my substack blog, you can skip this one – it’s the same chair that I posted there the other day…

I have the last chair from 2024 for sale now. I made it in the fall, then it sat around before I put the seat in it. Then sat again before trimming the feet & photographing it…but now it’s done.

This is my standard Jennie Alexander-style chair. It has red oak posts and slats and a mixture of oak, ash and hickory rungs. The bark seat is inner bark of hickory that’s been split in half to reveal the smoothest inner bark.

The middle front rung gave me some trouble the day I assembled the chair – and I replaced it right away. So there’s one through-mortise on the front post. It’s as sound as new – that joint is tight, glued & wedged. So it’s a chair with a story. They all are at some point.

Dimensions are about 33 1/2” high, width across the front c. 17” and depth of the seat about12”. Seat height around 17 1/4”. The price is $1,500 plus shipping in US, about $250 depending on distance from southeastern Massachusetts. If we use paypal, I’ll add their fee to the price. Otherwise, a check in the mail. If you’d like the chair, or would like to order one – email me or leave a comment. Email is PeterFollansbee7@gmail.com

The finishing I'm doing played well with me today because I did a boatload of running around. The first road trip was to the Frame It shop and Maria wasn't there but said she would return at 1100 (opens at 1000). To kill some time I went to Starbucks to get coffee and Lowes to get a replacement kitchen sprayer. Spoiler alert - the sprayer didn't fit. But Starbucks had the decaf coffee I wanted.

Back at the Frame It shop and I got things settled with Maria. I have learned not to ask for a done date. I'll check it next week sometime and I'll be surprised if it is ready then. 

Right after lunch I went to the car wash to get the truck washed. My wife said she was sick of looking at the truck being so dirty that she paid to get it washed. When I got there there were 9 cars waiting. It was a shock because every time I have driven by it, it looked like it was closed. I'll try it again tomorrow.

done

I like the contrast between the bottom and the lid. It is almost like night and day.

lid is off

The left side of the lid at the back is slightly higher than the right. It is tapered low on the right going higher on the left. It also isn't centered, there is more overhang on the right than the left. I don't remember it like this when I first attached the hinges. Don't know what kinked things. 

Not a biggie as this is an experimental box. Used a japanese dozuki to saw the pins/tails successfully. And I used tung oil for the finish with which I am pleasantly surprised by how well it looks and especially how it feels. I have one more box, smaller than this one, that I will dovetail using the dozuki saw again. That is in the batters box.

no brush marks

I made up a quasi french polishing ball to lay down the next shellac coat. I was having a difficult time with the panel on the door. I had puddling and drip marks on it that were giggling at me. I just couldn't seem to lay down the shellac with a brush. The stiles and rails came ok but not the edges of the panel against the stiles and rails.

One of things I read in the new book I got was how to make up a shellac application ball. They recommended this over using a brush to lay down the shellac. I used the ball to shellac all the cherry I had out to be done. It will take more coats than a brush can do but I like the results from the ball over the brush, hands down.

sigh.....

There are 4 horizontal lines on this side of the panel and of course it is the inside face. There isn't a lot I can do to remedy it because it is veneer and it looks to be maybe 2 frog hairs thick. I tried to lightly sand it being oh so careful not to sand through the veneer. They are still there but only visible in raking light so maybe I'll be ok. It will be the back of the interior and not lighted so fingers crossed it won't be noticeable.

I finally found a magnetic door catch for the cherry cupboard. I got it from Lee Valley where I ordered a couple of them. It is exactly what I was looking for. It is small, unobtrusive, and won't be in the way of the shelf placement. I got two sizes, 3/8" and 1/2" and I'll pick one when I get them.

As for the shellac finish I only have the inside of the cupboard and the face side of the door left to do. It is looking like I could be oohing and aahing over it by monday of next week ?????

accidental woodworker from

We’re actually having a winter this year. No grass in sight for weeks, and that’s fine with me. I like how it transforms everything. We walk familiar trails with fresh eyes. Snow seems to defy gravity. Even around the camp … Continue reading →

Although there are several in the pipeline, I do not have any active workbench projects in the barn at the moment.  I am delighted to feature other folks’ work, though, and here is a video from Bob Rozaieski on his new magnificent workbench.

I don’t think Bob and I have met but I plan to rectify that shortcoming the next time I pass near by his shop, which does happen on occasion as we head up and down the highways.  We correspond with some regularity but thus far no in-person fellowship.

Something stirs deeply in new beginnings. The gestation of an inspired possibility in the ordinary of life prompts us to think of things beyond our capacity for a thought is nothing more than the expansion of a small cell, a pulse of oxygen, of blood and our brain reshaping, refolding itself with valleys between ridges,...

Source

The unassuming entrance of what used to be a row of fancy mansions

In 1881, upon the assassination of President James A. Garfield, Vice President Chester Alan Arthur was sworn in in the front parlor of his home located at 123 Lexington Avenue in Manhattan. The building, located between 28th and 29th streets is now home to Kalustyans, possibly the finest purveyor of spices and condiments in the United States.

I mention this bit of trivia because this past week I needed some bay leaves and therefore headed to Kalustyans. I live nearby and Its my go-to spice store. I feel affinity with Kalustyans because - much like TFWW - the shops customer base is the hard core enthusiast, both amateur and professional. And in order to run a business like theirs or ours, you need a certain passion for the work.

And it doesnt easily scale up.

Kalustyans was a force in New York culinary circles long before they started selling on-line. For decades the store was known as a very reliable source for all sorts of spices, herbs, condiments, and flavor ingredients from all over the world. I have no idea how many thousands of items they sell. But seriously, How many different types of bay leaves are too many? (See photo.) Their assortment of types of bitters for drinks is astonishing (see photo). The subtle differences between types of pepper are largely lost on a duffer cook like me. But when I needed some Panch Phoran for a Bengali style curry, Kalustyans had many package sizes of this spice blend.

So I definitely recommend a visit to their shop if youre in NYC and to the Kalustyans website, if youre not. But my larger topic is why independent stores like Kalusyans are so important to American culture.

At TFWW, our product mix reflects our thoughts about what a good store should offer. As a merchant, we sell products we like; as a manufacturer, we try to produce tools that we think should exist. This isnt always an easy road. Every day we get calls wondering when well be getting a certain Ashley Iles carving tool back in stock. We sell them not only because they are fantastic tools, but because you arent going to get that No 34 bent back spoon gouge so readily from another maker and you really need it for your carving.. We reintroduced real oval-handled mortise chisels into the market because we like them. Holdfasts came about because I used them as a kid and the cast ones sucked. Many of our products start out as a Wouldnt it be cool if we had thought. I have a touch of what my wife considers delusional optimism (a well known state of mind among people who start businesses). Certainly if I fully understood how challenging the treadle lathe would be to develop I might have talked myself out of it, which at the moment I think would be a big shame. We keep certain low volume products around (Im talking about you Spoon Bits) because the few people who need them, need them. And this is what independent companies are able to do.

The owners of Zabars, the quintessential Upper West Side food shop, turned down offers to open multiple stores because they didnt think they could maintain quality. Balduccis, a legendary gourmet store, tanked as soon as the Balducci family sold to investors who figured they could easily replicate the Balducci magic. It turns out that a lot of their products - and ours - dont scale up. Relatively speaking, there isnt a lot of either demand or supply.

In the tool world, most of the traditional tool businesses are privately owned family businesses. Their dedication to bring quality tools to the market and avoid the race to the bottom is tested every day. Do you want a great wheel gauge that people love? You get a Tite-Mark from us or another retailer. The reason it marks precisely without play is because it is made by Kevin Drake to his standards of what a great wheel gauge should be. Or you can do what many people do, which is buy a clone at a fraction of the price (and shame on any woodworking magazine that features knockoffs of the Tite-Mark). Unfortunately for these shoppers, these gauges dont work as well as the Tite-Mark, which is discouraging, and makes it harder for users, especially for beginners, to accomplish what they think they should be able to do.

I love supporting my local vendors. Not only is the shopping experience educational and fun, its deeply satisfying to know that should I need any other spice, not matter how obscure, someone at Kalusyans will tell me, as if I were in a big box supermarket buying Twinkies, Yeah, aisle three, near the window, the second shelf from the floor. And there it will be.

The store is actually three storefronts and a second floor - all crammed with stuff
The endless permutations of variety and package size goes on forever

8 different types of Bay Leaves

The chili department is overwhelming
And goes on forever
Section one of drink bitters and mixers
Section two of drink bitters and mixers

No idea what this stuff is for
Meyer lemons and desserts

 I finished the picture frame yesterday and I totally zoned out about bringing it to Maria. Hopefully tomorrow I'll do that if I don't forget it again. The other project with a completed check mark is the box. I just need to put the hinges on it for it to be at ooh and aah stage.

lots of squirrely grain

I also forgot to get shellac on these. After the first coat I could see 3 of them had tear out that I'll need to fix. Thankfully the one I painted the fake gum pockets on looked free of tear out.

one more

The instructions on the bottle said to apply 3 to 8 coats. I got 7 on it and that is all it is getting. The finish still feels new born baby butt soft too. The box looks like it has a finish but the lid is so-so. I think it mostly because how white it is - light doesn't reflect off it like it does on the bottom box part.

I settled

The #3 didn't work any where near as well as I thought it would. Only one of the three cleaned up nicely with it. The other two I had to use a card scraper but I couldn't get 100%l of the tear out cleaned up and smoothed out.

end grain work

I tried to use a card scraper first to clean up some glue on the end grain without success. I had to chisel it away - took two swipes to get it all. I had to be careful with how much I removed because I don't want a gap between the door rails/stiles and this end. 

All I got done today was applying shellac. I got a couple of more coats on with a bunch more to come. I sanded and scraped the book/dvd/cd shelf and promptly forgot to get any shellac on it. I also have the toy box lid that I have to get shellac on. I remembered it today as I was heading back upstairs. Just as well because I don't have any horizontal surfaces left for either one use to apply it.

The foot is better, not 100% yet, but it is getting closer. I can walk barefoot now pain free and I also walk with shoes for long distances pain free. I wish it heal so I can get back to my post lunch strolls. At this pace it will probably be another week before that happens.

accidental woodworker

 I posted to my Substack this afternoon. Check it out and subscribe!

My foot didn't hurt when I first got up and walked around after waking up. Decided then and there to spend the day in the shop. Went down to it about 0830 and I killed the lights at 1450. The foot had some echoes of pain but nothing that slowed me down. I got a lot done and it was a productive shop day.

nixed it

This isn't super blond which is clear. This blonde shellac has a yellowish hue to it and I don't want to impart any color to the blue. I'm going to leave the blue milk paint as is and keep an eye on it to see how it shakes out with dust settling on it.

first coat

I am putting 3 coats on the entire drawer, inside and out. After that I will put 2-3 more on just the cherry fronts.

shellac popped the cherry

Cherry is my favorite wood and shellac, IMO, looks better than oil on it. I wish I could afford to use it more but I can't. On the other hand pine isn't that much less a BF than cherry.

glue bond failed

About an inch or so at the front let loose. Made a pit stop to reglue it.

almost 9 years old

Fixing this because it is going to my sister Kam. When that happens is anyone's guess but it will be ready when that time comes.

not now

I was going to attach the top and bottom moldings but changed my mind. I think it would behoove me to apply the finish first and then do the moldings. I'll be securing them with screws only so I don't need the surface to be raw wood.

finished prepping the main carcass

Scraped and sanded it with 180 and 220 grit. I tried using the 4 1/2 with the high angle frog but it didn't do any good on the squirrely grain parts. The iron needs to be touched up but I didn't do it. Instead I used a couple of card scrapers.

hmm......

Scraped and when I sanded with 180, it showed a couple spots of plane tear out. It took a few spins on the dance floor before they disappeared.

plane divots

I remember these being caused by the hand plane. For whatever reason the plane was digging in hesitating and tearing out on the lead in. Planed ok for the rest of the trip to the other end. Even tried skewing the plane without much success. The card scraper removed them lickety split for me.

door and shelf prepped

The inside of the door and the bottom of the shelf just got sanded with 180 and 220 grit. The fronts got scraped and sanded. 

sign

Both drawers had splotches on the tails/pins on the sides. Not sure if it was glue or something else - didn't matter as I used a card scraper to remove it. I did it because the sides, especially at the front, are visible when the drawer is opened.

been a couple of hours

Using my japanese 'wooden nails' on holding the shelf in the dado. Used two of them on each end.

I can't tell

I think the nails are made from bamboo but since I can't read japanese I'm not sure. The nails looked like wood but I'm pretty sure the Amazon write up said they were bamboo. However, the package for the nails and the tapered drill bit both said 'Made in China'.

angled

I drilled the pilot holes at a slight angle with the front ones this way and the back ones opposite this angle. Should help with keeping the shelf where it belongs.

sanded

The finish on this is shellac and I will sand it with 180 and 220 and apply a couple of coats. Whatever the nails are, they cleaned up and flushed without any problems with a chisel.

order of attack

The back will get 3 coats on the back and that is it. The top/bottom will get 4-5 and the sides a few more. 

at least one

I will get 3 coats on the inside of the door  before I flip it and do 5-6 on the front. The shelf will get at least 3 and maybe a few more. The moldings will 4-5 and maybe more. It depends upon how they look against the carcass after I install them.

two new to me books

The left one is a bust IMO. I was expecting a higher level of woodworking in it. I don't think any of the plans in it would be liked by Miles or Leo. The other I already a fourth printing of it, this one is a ninth one. Got fooled by the different cover.

mixed a new batch

Based on how much shellac I went through already I knew I might not have enough to do the entire cherry cupboard. Went and got a bottle of Everclear for $36 and I think the last one was maybe $32? Anyways I mixed a batch with 12oz of the booze and 3.4 oz of shellac flakes - 2 pound - ish cut? Noticed that the new batch has a yellowish tint to it and the  one from yesterday is darker.  Doesn't matter much because I plan to mix the two together tomorrow.

accidental woodworker

I’m never sure how yootoob executes searches, as I frequently have something pop into my Recommendations that I had unsuccessfully searched for many moons ago.  Much to my delight this is one such example that showed up last week.

As I have already indicated I could listen to Delphine Galou sing the phone book.  I am no fan of operatic music but somehow this oratorio by Vivaldi is captivating.  I am such a fan of hers that were she to tour the US I would make every effort to attend a concert.  Even if it meant going to NYC, especially if Congress manages to pass CCW reciprocity.

Mrs. Galou is firmly ensconced in my current pantheon of female vocalists along with Jennifer Warnes and Eva Cassidy, with Alison Krauss, Gloria Lynne and Deborah Holland in the bullpen.  Full confession — I just don’t get Billie Holliday.

Against the glory of Mrs. Galou’s singing is the ridiculous visual of the chamber music ensemble wearing face diapers in keeping with the edicts of the Fauci Flu fraud purveyors and their gullible myrmidons.  Was the Fauci Flu a real thing?  Of course, I spent nearly two weeks in the hospital with it.  I know folks two degrees of separation who died from it, usually in forced isolation as they died.  Was Fauci Flu something “special” epidemiologically?  Other than its sponsorship and source, not particularly.  Periodic lethal respiratory flus sweep the nation with only slightly less mortality.

I have a good friend who was a BCN specialist in the military.  That’s Biological, Chemical, and Nuclear weapons.  His expertise indicates that the only protection against viruses the size of Fauci Flu would require a full, sealed hazmat suit with independent air source.  Face diapers are futile, as the unfolding medical literature is confirming.  (Mrs. Barn is a trained scientist and reads the stuff)

Thus, the sight of this instrumental ensemble performatively wearing completely ineffective “protection” is more sanctimonious virtue signaling than anything else.  I wonder when or if we will look back at such posturing with the ridicule it demands, or if any of the perpetrators will ever receive justice..

Ironically, one of the guys who got this exactly correct, and was systematically silenced and defamed by the “smart people,” will soon become the most powerful person in the US medical establishment.  Karma, baby.  Karma.

If my comments about the Fauci Flu disturb you, I will give your concerns all the gracious consideration is appropriate.

Okay, I’m done with those considerations.

And if you are not enamored with the voice of Delphine Galou?  You just might be a barbarian.

There, I’ve said it.

 Behaved myself and vegged for most of the day reading and watching muted football games. I did spend some time in the shop in the AM. I also went to the shop once in the PM session to get my camera and I was going to work some on the picture frame but that didn't happen. Tomorrow I'll start back up on the cherry cupboard. It will be good to get that finished and out of the shop.

4 coats

The box shows it has a finish more than the lid. Neither of them have a raw wood look anymore. #5 went on today and the 6th and final application will go on tomorrow.

nope

I wanted to put a coat of shellac on the blue paint but nixed it. The only shellac I had was a mixture of gossamer and blonde. That would impart a color on the blue I didn't want. I haven't applied shellac over milk paint before so I don't know what to expect. A coat of shellac will make it easier to clean/dust the frame.

new batch of blonde

I had more than enough shellac flakes but I wasn't sure about the Everclear. Turned out I had just enough to mix up a batch. It will be interesting to see how much it costs this time - the last two bottles I bought both cost more than the previous one.

from flakes to powder

IMO this is the best way to mix shellac. I whiz the flakes in a spice/coffee grinder. It is a powder but no where as fine as a talc powder. I used to put the flakes in a baggie and beat the snot of it.

big flakes

They are big but they are also thin. I did an off the cuff cut mix today. I put 2 1/2 oz of shellac flakes into 6oz of Everclear (pound cut ?). I can't find a can sized somewhere between a quart and two quarts. I can't mix up a batch of shellac and utilize the entire quart can.

dissolved

The shellac powder dissolves easily and readily but I have found that it doesn't stay dissolved. I stirred every 15 seconds or so for about 5 minutes and it stayed in solution. I stopped stirring and ten minutes later it was clumping on the bottom of the can. I easily stirred it back into solution. 

I then used the shellac on a scrap of cherry - I usually wait until the next day before using the shellac. I was curious as to how the shellac would look and feel being used so quickly. Laid down ok and it didn't feel any different when it dried.

scrap I did

I was half expecting to see little undissolved bits of shellac flakes but I didn't. I decided to wait a while longer before applying any shellac to the picture frame.

yikes

I came to the shop in the PM and I was going to apply shellac to the picture frame. However, the shellac had other ideas. The bottom of the can had clumped up solid and I had to use a thick scrap of pine to scrape it up and get it back into solution. I stirred it until this clump of shellac on the stick dissolved. 

I killed the lights here and brought the can upstairs to my desk. I agitated it off and on until I hit the rack. I'll apply the shellac in the AM

accidental woodworker

I probably wrote the same thing last year, but it seems like I didn't do enough woodworking in 2024.  As I look back on my posts, here's what I got.

Projects

I started out the year strong with a really attractive box to hold tea bags.  The project came out great and my wife loves it.

Tea box in mahogany (or some mahogany imposter)

Then a neighbor gave me a bunch of red oak from their kitchen remodel, so I made them a two-step stool from that wood.  I was quite happy with how it came out.

This is probably the 4th of these I've made

In April or May I modified our silverware drawer with a nice organizer.  This has worked out nicely.

The top level slides back to reveal the lesser-used items in the bottom

In May I had a request from a neighbor for a pet food stand for their cat.  It was a simple three-sided "box", but I made it a little more complicated with angled dovetails.

The neighbors really like it

I didn't write about this one during the year, but in May/June I made a couple of Roubo phone stands for family who were visiting.

Woodwork complete, awaiting a finish

In June, I made a wooden toolbox to carry tools to the "Repair Cafe" that I volunteer for.  This was a really nice project and it came out great.

It has a lift-out tray, storage under that, and a drawer at bottom

My most involved project last year was a Schwarz stick chair, completed in July.  It was very challenging to build, but it came out great.  Still, it's not as comfortable as I thought it might be.  And more than one person has tripped on the front feet, which stick out a bit too far.

The Schwarz "short back" chair

My last project of any importance was a stool for the granddaughter.  The woodworking was easy enough, but my wife did a really spiffy job painting it.

Stool for Felicity

Tool Making or Rehab

Knowing that I was going to make a Schwarz chair sometime during the year, I had to figure out how to make a rounder plane.  After some prototypes, I made one for 5/8" and one for 1/2" tenons.

5/8" rounder plane for making cylindrical tenons

As further preparation for making the chair, I bought and rehabbed a couple of auger bit extensions.  Unfortunately they were too large a diameter to fit my needs for the chair, but I'm still glad I got them. One was pristine when I got it and the other needed significant work to get it working right.  As it turned out, I found another one with the appropriate diameter a couple weeks after I finished the chair.  So I'll be ready when the next chair project comes around.

A Craftsman (above) and a Stanley #180

I finally got a chance to pick up some centre bits for a brace.  I had wanted to try these for a long time.  Now, if I can get my hands on some spoon bits, much of my boring fascination will have been satisfied.

A dozen centre bits

At a few estate and/or garage sales, I was able to score a few new-to-me tools.  They have all been rehabbed and are nice additions to the shop.

From an August garage sale

From a couple of August or September estate sales

Lastly, in October, I made a cap-iron screwdriver from an old steel hinge and a scrap of wood.  Just today (end of December) I used it for the first time.  I guess that shows how much woodworking I've been doing lately.  But I really like the screwdriver - it fits the cap-iron screw perfectly in my Stanley planes.

Looks and feels great

Miscellaneous

The only thing I have for this category is my early December tour of the Museum of American Heritage.  Actually it was a tour of the warehouse where they store all the items that they rotate in and out of the museum.  MOAH is in Palo Alto, CA, but the warehouse is in San Carlos.  It was fantastic - there was so much stuff, and woodworking tools were only a small part of it.

This post drill was just one of thousands of items at the museum warehouse

Well, it was a pretty good year after all.  Here's hoping 2025 will be even better.  Happy New Year everybody!

 The foot ain't healing as fast I as I would like it. It still hurts to walk around but on a brighter note, I'm not limping. When I sit it feels normal after a couple of minutes. So I decided that I am going to limit my shop time to almost zero. I will go to the shop for a few in the morning and nada in the PM. Maybe that will speed up the healing process.

tale of two tung oils

The full strength tung oil is much thicker than the terpentine tung oil. The terpentine tung oil is basically a liquid and the tung oil is like a thick, thick gravy. I used that today on the lid and the box.

There was a difference between applying the two but nothing too exciting. I got the first coat on and 20 minutes later I wiped them both down. So far I haven't seen much of any oil left to wipe off then. The lid and box are showing signs of finish after this first coat of full strength tung oil.

everything I can cross, I crossed

Painted the molding and the inside edge of the frame with what I hope is the final coat of paint. I got the 3rd pic for the frame and I'm hoping to bring it to Maria on tuesday for she can work her magic on it.

Don't know if I will go to the shop to work tomorrow. I will check the frame and put a 4th application of tung oil on the lid and box. I'll have to wait and see what shakes out after that.

accidental woodworker

Happy (very belated) New Year everyone. It’s been a few weeks since my last post on the keyaki tabi-dansu, and I’m long overdue to share an update. A lot of progress has been made over the past few weeks, and I’m moving as fast as I can to get these three cabinets done before the… Read More »Keyaki and Chestnut Tabi-dansu 4

The post Keyaki and Chestnut Tabi-dansu 4 appeared first on Big Sand Woodworking.

 I was feeling better today and almost at 90% but that changed as the day progressed. I had to help my wife out at the storage unit the dead people society rents to store their books and publications. I didn't pay attention to the foot and did what my wife wanted me to do. By the time I was back at the barn the foot was hurting again, I was limping again, and getting old sucks pond scum. I think this is going to take a while to calm down and go away. The problem is I am not someone who can sit and veg for 16 hours straight.

no elves came last night

I was hoping that I would have gotten a sympathy visit from them. Until these two are done and gone, I will keep wishing for a 12 foot bench too.

it held

This surprised me because I used the white glue that proved to be crap. However, this bottle of it came from the first or second gallon I bought which were both good. I pulled on this hard flipping and repeating it. It held with nary a hint of letting go.

passed the 2nd test

Beat on it with a mallet for the 2nd torture and it held for that too.

nope

I didn't survive not leaving behind imprints from the clamps. I found the best way to remove these is to sand them lightly (220 or 320) and paint it again. Which is what I did.

white-ish spots

The blue paint didn't come that bad. Almost all of the spots cleaned up with a damp rag moistened with water. I still had to repaint it though. This milk paint fared 100% better than latex paint does with being clamped. 

heel is proud

I didn't see this on clamp up and the fix for it is relatively easy and painless. Since it is painted, planing it flush is the best option.

other end

The same long side other end had a heel proud too. Planed it flush too. After planing the heels flush I had to touch up the chamfers to get them to align going around the corners.

3rd coat

This 3rd coat is not the end but it is the last coat of the tung oil terpentine. I will put on at least 3 more coats of straight tung oil. Still amazed after 3 at how new born baby butt smooth this is. but even after 3 coats I don't see any visible evidence that there is a finish on the lid or the box.

another blue and black coat

The blue paint is done but the black will need another coat. Several hours after I applied it I could still see some planer wash board marks. A lot of them are filled but I could see a few of them. It is mostly in raking light that I could see them so I'll try another coat of paint.

one of 5

I have 5 of these tool totes with all of them being slightly different. I made them all in 1997 with a Leigh Dovetail Jig which I sold. I didn't know what my wife really wanted me to do for so I took a lot of tools I didn't need. I have found that what needs to be done and what my wife explains what must be done are always a bazillion miles apart.

moment of weakness

I have a thing for miniature tools and I saw this recently in an email I got from Lee Valley. I wasn't going to pull the trigger on until I read it was a fully functional tool that can square small scale pieces of stock.

$100

The plane and the shooting board cost a $100. I thought it was a bargain too good to pass up. The fence is square to the plane track - dead nuts.

plane track

I could see that it wasn't parallel to the right side of the jig. The bottom was closer to it then the top was. Easy fix - loosen the screws, put the plane in the track, adjust it, and screw it down tight.

right hand shooting plane

This plane has some heft and weight to it. The only difference from the larger version I could see was that the throat isn't adjustable and the handle flops about. There isn't any way to secure at a specific angle. It even has a to scale Norris adjuster.

hmm......

Not getting a warm and fuzzy with the handle. It is loose feeling and flops up/down without needing a breeze to help it. The full size version has a screw to secure it at an angle of your choice.

out of the box shavings

The iron is A2 and it made shavings as is. It felt sharp but I will strop it and see if the shavings improve any. I squared up the end of 1/16 thick piece of pine.

dead nuts at 90°

I initially sawed this end off square and the plane didn't protest squaring it up. I don't see myself using this a lot but I might on smaller, thinner stock like this. The big boys tend to squash this smaller stuff. I'll have to find a spot to display this when I am not using it.

3 tool miniature herd

I have used these several times for projects. The left one is a 1/4" wide tenon/rabbet/dado plane. Used this to clean up and deepen 1/4" wide grooves. The router plane I used to plow/clean up 1/8" grooves. Both work but not as easily as their bigger siblings. But that is mostly due to their smaller sizes and the need to be a little delicate in using them. They do work, albeit slower and on a smaller scale.

before I forgot again

Swapped out the frog on my 4 1/2 from the standard 45° to the high angle 55° frog. I could have used the 55° frog on the cherry cupboard a couple of times. 

thought I had the middle pitch 50°

I don't use the 4 1/2 much now that I have the LN 5 1/2 and #4. Now I have a plane to tackle the squirrely grain that the other two planes balk at.

RML shavings

Took only one adjustment to spit out equal width and length shavings. The iron needs sharpening so I'll have to remember to do that the next time I sharpen any irons.

accidental woodworker

During covid my kids took to using our bed as a trampoline. There was not much else to do, so I never had the heart to stop them. Now its just a thing they do a lot. It is a miracle there is a spring left in the mattress. Eventually the inevitable happened and they snapped one of the battens that hold the headboard on to the bed. Fixing that up made for a nice quick project over Christmas.