This is the page for my actual woodworking projects. It's my sincere hope that this page will grow and the videos I share will serve as a help and inspiration for others. While my favorite styles of woodworking may be somewhat limited some of the techniques I use and even the designs should be transferable to any style of furniture.
Unfortunately I've never made videos of my past projects. I don't even have photos of most of them.
Walnut and Myrtle Wood Table
I decided to take a quick break from building my workbench to try out my new lathe. Turning is something I haven't done in over thirty years. In fact Pam was reminding me that the turning I did was on the coffee table and end tables that we had in our first apartment when we got married in 1971. This is my first project on my new lathe and I am pleased at how well my skills are coming back to me. Yes, I'm very rusty but I'm sure I'll be able to get better. I'm sorry about the length of the video. I was so excited about how well the handle came out considering how long it's been. This video was entered in the #TOOLMAKE18 contest by Mitch Peacock on YouTube.
Coming - Not sure when. When I finally decided that I needed to stop everything and fix up my workshop I was in the middle of this table project. It's a table with a walnut base and myrtle wood top, shelf and perhaps the drawer front. At least that's the plan. As soon as possible I'll get back to it and show the table here. It will be a while unless I decide to do it in small segments which I'm considering.
Ice Cream Scoop
I took a table leg that I turned for a table back in 1971 into a wood carver's mallet. This video is about turning the first one. This mallet was entered in the King's Fine Woodworking Mallet Challenge sponsored by James King on YouTube as well as Mitch Peacock's #TOOLMAKE18 on his YouTube channel.
Wood Carver's Mallet
James King from YouTube announced around the first of July 2018 that he was having a Mallet Challenge. I decided that I couldn't pass up the opportunity and Mitch Peacock was having his annual #TOOLMAKE18 contest. The following two part video and resulting mallets were entries in the two contests. It's now official. I won the James King Fine Woodworking Mallet Challenge for 2018 with my dead blow mallet. Special thanks for James and his family for sponsoring this contest.
Dead Blow Mallet
Batching Out
Ice Cream Scoops
I made a dozen ice cream scoops for Christmas presents in 2018. The video shows the process and what I learned from batching out a project than actually turning the handles. I covered that in my video on the ice cream scoop (see link above).
When James Wright offered his Hand Took Make 2018 I decided to turn a second mallet and make a more instructional video for him. The first mallet was actually given away to another woodworker who could use one and I kept the one I made in the second video.
Pizza Cutter Handles
This is going to be another one of my Christmas present projects. Pam and I decided to give pizza cutters as Cristmas presents to close friends and family. I turned Zebrawood for the handles. This video chronicles the process of batching out fifteen.
Long Shoe Horn Handle
This project actually started with a pair of shoes. I bought a great pair of sneakers but was having some difficulty putting them on because they have high backs. Over the years I've wanted one of the long handle shoehorns but always thought I could make my own. During a visit to Rockler I picked up one of their wood turning shoehorn kits. These videos are the result.
Coffee Scoop
Handle
This coffee scoop handle was turned from material supplied to me by FrogBlanks. While the wood was free there was no other renumeration nor specific requirements for creating this video. It expresses my views on turning this piece of wood. I also have no connection to Rockler. I bought the coffee scoop kit from them. I turned this handle on my Nova Comet II Lathe but have received no incentive to use this lathe for turning.
LINK: Information on Zebrawood
I created a second version of this video that's more of "how to" video on batching out these pizza cutters. You may find it helpful especially if you need to turn a lot of them or even something else. They made great presents.
Arts & Crafts Style Frames for Tiles
I'm not sure when I'll get back to this project because I need to buy a Forrest Number 1 Grind blade for it. They aren't cheap nor in supply right now. A ceramicist friend gifted us with a couple of tiles and I'm making frames for them. The tiles honor two of our basset hounds that we lost last year, Miller and Sassy. Rough drafts of the designs are shown below. Miller's frame will be made in a Stickley inspired design from quarter sawn white oak and Sassy's frame will be made in a Greene & Greene inspired style from cherry.
Pie/Cake/Pizza Server Handles
I haven't published the video for this project. It isn't scheduled to be posted on YouTube until fall of 2023 because that's when most woodworkers start thinking about what to make for Christmas presents.
Birdcage Awl Series
My woodworking schedule got all mixed up when Rob Over at Make Things on YouTube challenged his viewers to make a stubby awl. I'd been interested in creating a birdcage awl for several years and saw this as an opportunity to make one. This is a series of videos that came from this project.
Coming Soon