woodwork

Jig for Flattening Slabs

I read about this method for flattening large slabs in a publication (Woodwork I think) a year or two ago. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the article in order to reference it. As I work with irregular slabs, too large for my machines, I expect it to be a reasonable and effective method for flattening large slabs, in this case, eastern red cedar.

The router is mounted to a 4′ sled which rides across two parallel fences (jointed 2×4’s smoothed and waxed). The router has an 1-1/4″ straight cut bit, and mounted on the sled can cover the entire face of the slab, removing about 1/32″ of material per pass.

a couple of turned walnut handles help to steer

the whole endeavor sits on my table saw

Workshop . Three Legged Stool

Photos in the workshop of one of a pair of three legged post oak stools. Still in a very raw – and experimental state.

The busy bench top.

The bend and splay and stance of the legs.

Laying out for the black walnut rungs.

Post Oak seat.

Shaping tenons on the rungs.

Workshop: White Oak Pedastal and Stool Legs

Here are some pictures of current work from the workshop. First is a white oak Quercus alba pedestal commissioned for a bronze ballerina. Second are three green-bent post oak Quercus stellata (also a white oak variety) stool legs in the midst of shaping and their black walnut rungs that have been roughly shaved for another commission.

The pedestal, nearing completion here, was turned in segments on a faceplate made more broad with plywood. The main cylinder was turned between centers.

The pedestal with one coat of min-wax black walnut, and one coat of Watco black walnut, which isn’t as dark as the min-wax, but has a little more red which warms the tone. I will add at least one more coat of the Watco.

Detail of the large bead, cove, and fillets.

The post oak stool legs.

Walnut rasp handle.

Making of the Pedestal Cylinder:

Composite box of 8/4″ white oak (harvested at Boaz, KS). Recessed blocks were glued inside the box and then pine plates fitted and screwed on either end to allow installation on the lathe.

The corners trimmed at the table saw.

Spinning the box into a cylinder with a roughing gouge. Very heavy, lots of inertia, but well balanced.

Cylinder.

Post-Oak Stool Legs

Below are some photographs from the process of the rough-shaping and bending (green) of post-oak, which is a variety of white oak, for use as legs in a pair of 3-legged stools -hopefully.

First the log was cut and split. This one has quite a of twist, which I am hoping to integrate into the design of the stools.

Next the halves are split into quarters and then into eighths with froe at the brake (no photos), then the eighths were trimmed with the hatchet.

After trimming the pieces are shaped down with drawknife at the horse.

After this rough shaping each piece was place in a form and bent using clamps, the clamps were removed after a few days and were replaced with wire. The legs will remain in the forms until they are dry and I am ready to shape them to final size.

For deep information on working with green wood please see Peter Follansbee’s blog.

Finished Hope Chest

Here is the finished hope chest. The primary case, and lid frame are cherry, the drawer case and lid panels are black walnut, the trim is hard maple, the secondary wood for the drawers, till, and interior structural is white oak, the floor of the chest is eastern red cedar, and the drawer pulls are ebonized black walnut. The finish is 4 coats of danish oil.

Ebonized black walnut pulls.

The white oak till.

Hammered copper brackets for the lid support.

Show Bowls

A few bowl turning pictures as I have been producing for a part in a few shows this fall.

Below is a stack including walnut, persimmon, ash, cypress and two elm species.

A few more added from above on the workbench, the same species as above with the addition of a few crab-apple.

Hollowing a large cypress bowl on the lathe using a 1/2 bowl gouge.

A few blow-ups from experimenting with the grind on a smaller bowl gouge.

Hope Chest Final Assembly

Below in an essay of photos is the cherry and walnut (red cedar, maple, and white oak as well) hope chest assembled, sanded, and awaiting hardware and finishing.

Milling Lumber

We milled a large quantity of black walnut, red cedar, and green ash with a neighbor and his band-saw mill earlier this summer. Below are a few photos of our operation.

Some of the logs piled in the field.