Published - Sun, 06 Oct 24
Project Timeline: 05 Oct - 06 Oct (1 days)
Practice Dovetail Box
Before I go head first into the tool cabinet dovetailing, I'm going to create a practice box with some scrap plywood. I'll create the for dovetail corners on the sides and nail on a base. Simple box without much of a plan of what to do with it, but I'll be able to practice dovetails, using the template / guide I've created.
This is a quick little project to practice dovetails before the real project of the tool cupboard. This turned out much more difficult than expected... Well, I did expect it to be difficult and given how hard it is to just saw in a straight line, a perfect dovetail joint definitely wouldn't be beginner-friendly.
I tried out a few joints, testing out different measurements and methods as I went. Hodge podging my way through making the joints fit, until eventually, I decided to downgrade myself to straight box joints. These are simpler 90 degree cuts, with much less room for error. Although still no piece of cake!
Eventually, I achieved a reasonable box joint, ...
Published - Sun, 06 Oct 24
Project Timeline: 20 Sep - 05 Oct (15 days)
Dovetail Template and Guide
Two mini projects I'd like to do here. One is the dovetail template. This will help me draw out the same angles each time. I could make 3 - one 1:6 one 1:7 and one 1:8. The 1:7 is the angle that is used most I believe. The second is a dovetail guide, this i a guide for the saw cut, to make sure you do an accurate angled saw cut each time. Probably even more helpful than the template, but maybe doesn't last as long.
Two mini projects I'd like to do here. One is the dovetail template. This will help me draw out the same angles each time. I could make 3 templates; one 1:6 one 1:7 and one 1:8. The 1:7 is the angle that is used most I believe. Here is an article on how to do it.
The second is a dovetail guide, this i a guide for the saw cut, to make sure you do an accurate a...
Published - Fri, 04 Oct 24
Project Timeline: 16 Sep - 04 Oct (18 days)
Halloween Costumes for Kids
For upcoming Halloween, make two costumes, a ghost and a unicorn. Starter project for costume making. For the unicorn I plan to make fluffy leg and arm warmers. Maybe a jacket. Ghost is pretty simple.
Halloween is coming up and I have a niece and nephew (2 and 4 years old) that will be dressing up for trick or treating of course. As they're getting a bit older, they will really be able to get into the spirit of it and I nominated myself to make costumes.
The origin of this idea is my grandma, who was an excelling seamstress? sewer? She made many of her clothes and all our school play costumes as children. She made some epic costumes back in the day. My goal is to carry on that legacy with the next generation.
The ultimate goal is to be as good as her, but given my interests are quite spread out over not only sewing, this is unlikely to be achieved. But I'm g...
Published - Mon, 30 Sep 24
Project Timeline: 26 Aug - 29 Sep (34 days)
Rikke Sweater
Nordic inspired jumper series. First of three. Pattern: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rikke-sweater Wool: 60% Alpaca Blend with 40% Merino Wool
26 Aug
This project was the first of a series of three jumpers that I was inspired to make during my recent trip to the Nordics. I visited Copenhagen first for a few days, where I tried smorrebrod, an elaborate open sandwich with usually something like shrimp on top. The food in Copenhagen was a big highlight.
Although I don't think i've eve...
Published - Tue, 24 Sep 24
Project Timeline: 20 Sep - 24 Sep (4 days)
Bench Hook
Make a bench jig - as seen in Graham Blackburn video, which can double as a mitre box.
Aim: Make a bench jig - as seen in Graham Blackburn's video, which can double as a mitre box.
This was a simple project, really a way to practice squaring edges with planes. All I did here was glue and nail the hook sections to the main board. The main consideration is making sure its exactly square, as I'll be using this a references for future projects.
I will probably main a few more of these at some point. This one is quite long so next one might be smaller. I've also seen bench hooks where the hook sections are smaller that the full width of the board so you can cross cut more e...
Published - Tue, 24 Sep 24
Project Timeline: 13 Sep - 23 Sep (10 days)
Wand Making
Having seen https://www.youtube.com/@agreatalternative make wand I want to make some of my own. Have never tried carving, and it doesn't look too complicated. This will be a nice small side project.
13 Sep
Having seen @TheGreatAlternative make wands I wanted to make some of my own. Although I've never tried wood carving, it doesn't look too complicated. I'm hoping this will be a nice small side project, while I get by woodworking started.
My first wand attempt, went well at first... then just as I was about to finish it, it snapped in half. The wood I collected was quite old already - I found it outside in the park. I honed a particular weak spot too much and it mad it too fragile. Might need to reconsider the wood I'm collecting. Long dead wood starts to decay / hollow out.<...
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