Woodworking

My girlfriend purchased a home a few months ago, and the cabinets are a little dull. They appear to be oak, stained what I would call “medium brown”. They also appear to have a satin top coat. I’m wondering if there might be a product out there that might darken them a bit and liven them up some??? We looked into refinishing, but the cost estimates were crazy high…...could have purchased new cabinets. Thanksjoe

Happy Friday to all. It was a crazy busy day at work and the time flew past. It also tuckered me out. I took the post-work nap and feel it may be best to go back and continue on into a full-on sleep. During the nap, though, I had all sorts of crazy dreams. The last one was about publishing. The person I was talking with was excited about a new book she was releasing. It was fun to listen to her describe her marketing plans. She asked how my month had been going. I told her that it was better than I had expected with 172 Henry Wood Detective Agency sales and 26 for Time and Again. The woman seemed impressed. We started talking about reviews. I had a new one appear, five stars, for Time and Again, and was about to read it to her when I woke up. It is a bummer when one wakes up before the best part of a dream. I don’t mean the review, I’m referring to the BLT that I had ordered. I distinctly recall a voice yelling “pick-up” and my dream mind knew it was my order. I guess it doesn’t matter. I can make my own bacon laden sandwich. Still, it would have been nice to at least get a bite. I bet it was yummy. Regardless, it has been a pretty good month thus far. Thanks for continuing to cheer me on. Go Team…Go Bacon!

Hi I scored a Delta 16 1/2” model 17-900 drill press in like new condition today off craigslist for $75.00. I put my dial indicator on it and got runout of about .004 to .005. Is this acceptable for a press? I have my table saw within .001 and thought this might be a bit much? Thanks for any input.

I made about 20 of these from scrap pieces of a 317 year old white oak tree at my church for the teachers of the preschool classes there. The design of the oak tree at the bottom was done freehand with a woodburning tool based on the outline of the tree that stood for so many years. These bookmarks have been quite a hit with the folks at the church. I was just glad to find a way to use almost all of the wood for something other than firewood.

I finished the console table. It’s all solid Cherry. I finished it with Minwax Teak oil ,(when I read the can it said label may contain pictures of teak. Mine did. It’s got to be Teak oil…....Right? :) and 5 coats of water born satin Varathane. To get the curved front pieces I sliced 2 pieces of 4/4X6 into 1/4”x6”X 26” long ( 3 pieces from each, built an arch from scrap 2×4, then glued and clamped 3 at a time to the jig. Turned out ok for my first crack. The top I glued up 3- 5×55” boards and planed it to a bit over 3/4” by hand. I really enjoyed my first real hand planning job. All said and done, the Mrs. is very happy,so, so am I. Please don’t mind the mess on the bench. :( Thanks for lookin’.

After seeing how organized all you other LJs are, I was ashamed of how unorganized I was. So I was motivated to do something bout it. The Sand paper cabinet was my design and the tool cabinet was from Wood Magazine. It was all made with some scrap plywood I had been saving for just such project. Now that I have all this space, I am perplexed with what tools and supplies to put where. I think I have spent as much time rearranging as I did in the build.

I was listening to the FWW Shop Talk Live #31 podcast and the argument was made (unequivocally) that you NEVER use the CMS for furniture grade joints. Something about the blade flexing as it dives into the wood (CMS) or slides into the wood (SCMS). I always go to my Makita 10” SCMS for precise angles and consider my TS to be a rough cutter. I never heard this before. Is it just that I don’t have the right mitre guage or sled on my TS? Anyone else share thoughts on this? What am I missing (besides experience).

This Table made ?of buffalo horn, shells,ebony wood,copper,walnut wood and camel bones. Manufacturing in three months. It’s composed of 48 legs each corner 12 legs , like a small column from buffalo horn. From top of buffalo horn and walnut wood. Thanks

Made from Spanish Cedar. The aprons are connected with dowel joints and top is attached with shop made table top fasteners. First table with tapered legs. Finished with Watco teak oil and rubbed down with a few coats of finishing paste.

maple, cherry and walnut12” x 12”, 1 5/8” thick