Posts in: Workshop

I’d like to find out more about this Divine Glory brand sandpaper I pulled off this old belt sander but all the search results are Christian allegories.

As of yesterday, I finished my two big summer projects: refinish my in-laws’ dining set and build a cabinet for a friend. Today I cleaned and organized the garage, which was getting quite out of hand while I was working on those projects.

My remaining to-do list:

  • Repair and refinish a cedar chest
  • Repair and refinish two antique chairs
  • Refinish one remaining chair for it in-laws
  • Get a few tools acquired over the past year into working order

Plans for next projects:

  • A six board chest using Rex Krueger’s design
  • I’d like to make several dovetail boxes, and maybe give one away as a Christmas present if I get the hang of it in time.
  • Experiment with carving designs into whatever I’m building.

A few months ago, a very generous friend decided to give me some of his grandfather’s tools: a bench grinder, a small drill press, and a benchtop disc sander.

All he asked in return was an open-front, mobile cabinet that he could use in his garage and for cookouts. He already had a countertop. So I built it of birch plywood and added four lockable wheels and adjustable shelves.

Auto-generated description: Two men are standing beside a newly-built kitchen island, smiling and posing for a photo outside near a driveway and basketball hoop.

I also surprised him with a memorial to his grandfather burned inside the cabinet.

Auto-generated description: A wooden shelf displays a small plaque that reads IN MEM JMW 2024.

I experimented with burning through the paint on some scrap and it looked okay but it also had a decent chance of going wrong. I decided to leave it unpainted and then finished the spot with some spray polyurethane for protection.

Here it is in its new home

Auto-generated description: A workshop setup with a metal storage cabinet on wheels, a pegboard wall holding various tools, and a filing cabinet in the background.

Bad news: I got a minor cut from one of my chisels. Good news: I’ve successfully put a sharp edge on a chisel.

Over the weekend, Rachel harvested 3.5 pounds of Concord grapes and made jelly! I’m having some on biscuits now. So cool!

Easily my favorite, most used flea market tool is a Klein folding rule. Sturdy, compact, and better than a tape measure in several ways. And the solid feel when each section snaps into place is satisfying. 😄

Two unlikely dreams re: the Bedford pie safe:

  1. Acquire one of the 16-20 known to exist and preserve it. Something this unique shouldn’t be allowed to vanish.
  2. Build a reproduction. I will never have the skill of an actual 19th century professional cabinetmaker but it would be a heck of a project.

Pickled some banana peppers tonight. Should be about a week until they’re ready to eat.

Work has begun on my next project: building a cabinet for a friend. It’s in trade for some of his grandpa’s tools. He already had the countertop so I’m building the carcass and attaching it.

Before and after on the table and chairs refinishing project for my in-laws. I have one chair (not shown) I’m going to start over. Apart from that, I think I’m done.

Before:

Auto-generated description: A round, wooden table with a slightly worn surface is set on a concrete floor. Auto-generated description: A wooden tabletop is scratched and worn, showing signs of heavy use. Auto-generated description: Three wooden chairs with armrests are aligned in a row on a concrete surface.

After:

Auto-generated description: An oval wooden dining table with six matching chairs is set in a workshop or garage environment with various tools and equipment in the background. Auto-generated description: A wooden chair with a spindle back design is positioned on a white cloth with a cardboard box and other items in the background.