Another Good Reason to Have a Woodshop

  With Christmas coming our house will have a few extra folks around. Getting all the appropriate decorations out and arranged will also help fill the place up and so it is a good time to do a little bit of organizing. ( not too much, I'm saving bulk of that job for my retirement)

 Many years ago, nearly ten years ago we were at our local Ikea store and Ikea was selling off one of their small drawer kits. We didn't need the kits at the time but today, ten years after the fact I assembled the last two of the kits.  I believe that we bought six sets of these discontinued products, over time they have been built and adapted for various needs. 

  The product comes flat packed cut to size with nails and screws included. For one of the units I decided to stain the outer box with Varathane wood stain  and give it a coat of orange shellac. 

  You can see the difference between the finish box and the raw one. I am going to use the finished box for my art supplies and the unfinished box is for the Grandchildren's art and craft things. They are here this weekend and I'll invite them to paint their own craft box.

 The title says another good reason to have a work shop. Things like these kits can be assembled on the kitchen table but it sure is nice to go down to the shop, spread the parts and pieces out and not have to worry about getting done and out of the way by dinner time. It is also nice to have a shelf with stain and shellac handy to add that little bit extra to a kit project.

  If you have the urge to organize thetoolstore.ca has a pretty good looking tool box:

Cantilever Tool Box

for a pretty good price.

  The serious Christmas count down is happening.  Don't get stuck with a lost minute solution, we still have time.

cheers, ianw

P.S. a cheap woodworker tip. Ikea has an AS IS room. That is were I buy all my finished dowels, you can get a bag full for a dollar. (20 -25 dowels)

Keeping in the Christmas Spirit

Make a wooden truck system

  Steve at woodworkingformerenortals.com has a good video on a simple 2 x 4 project that would be great as a gift for a little kid.  I made an assortment of wooden toys for my grandchildren when they were small. A real asset of a toy like Steve's truck is that it can be left in the sand box overnight, in the rain and still work properly the next day. As well, a wood truck lasts much longer than the equivalent plastic thing.

 This is also plug for Woodworking for Mere Mortals, the projects are approachable and the video production is excellent. Every time I think my blog should include home made videos I look at Steve and others and recognize my limitations and stay away from making a bad video.

 Here are three Christmas gifts, the fish puzzle is finished and the small snowman is ready to be bundled up and sent overseas. The turtle puzzle is half done and too difficult for Clara.  I am going back to the drawing board on the turtle. This one will get finished and stored away for another time, she will grow into a puzzle of this difficulty eventually. In fact I think the fish is too difficult for the six year old puzzle boy. I think there are not enough clues from the paint pattern to help him put the puzzle together, at first he will need help, but after a few times I expect he will learn the shapes and be able to make the fish himself.

  My finished segmented bowl and it is in our bathroom with shaving soap in it. I still may make a lid.  

  Here it is December 6th and technically I have my Christmas shop projects complete.  That is only because I set my sights quite low this year. I still can't put in more that a hour or so on my feet before it becomes a struggle. It is a bad idea to work with sharp tools when you are not fully comfortable and and in control.

A stocking Stuffer from thetoolstore.ca

  It is December 6th and there has been no snow and very little freezing weather. In better circumstances I would have been out on my motorcycle today, as were two hardy souls this afternoon.

  cheers, ianw