Featured Content

A few pics of some of the things I do.   Not a lot of fancy but it keeps me occupied and just enough variety to make things interesting.                           

I'm still working on these jewelry boxes. There are lots of first time things going on with these boxes for sure..This box was the goat so I have a few things I wanted to see for my self. I had nothing on paper just in my head. It is sitting there with 4 screws holding all the pieces together so I could exchange things and then put it all back together. In a round about way this is almost like the rest of the carving I do.  Like I have different carvings , some up and others down and one end is different that the other.  Some of the pieces was in the wood pile from things I built from long ago....Like the handle on the top was the cut off sides from two pieces and I just glued them together back to back and I ended up with about the right length handle for the top. The brown base is four small pieces glued together and the brown top piece is four small pieces glued together and those are holding it all together or else the box would fall apart... I learned not the have the carvings too close to the ends for the wood is tapered 45 degrees and would cause problem later...These mistakes will stay with this box for a reminder for later..al the carving pieces was my own design and they will be pushed out more for the finished product.... and I still can't decide which way the carving should be , right side up or up side down?  And since I tapered the lid, hinges and the screws that close to the edge might be a problem?   Also I don't have to worry about ever seeing another box exactly like this for no one has a weird brain like mine!

Introduction Please welcome to our community, our new supporter General Finishes. We are very proud to have our new friends "General Finishes" here among our folks and our endeavors. I have personally always loved the General Finishes brand, before I ever tried General Finishes I always thought them a company of quality and class, and I knew by word of mouth they have been making high quality finishes for a long time, no frills, no fuss, with Made in the USA quality and care. Then I tried General Finishes "Topcoat" on my Cherry Rocking chair and I was thrilled with the results. That was three years ago when I first tried the product, and now here we are with the support of General Finishes! I know many of you use their finishes, and I have heard very positive results from you, just one more reason to invite them to our community.   We called, they answered Our supporters, I don't just mass mail an advertisement calling all brands to come support us, I do the research, "Made in the USA" grabs my attention, where they are based, their workforce, the product line of course, the management, the overall feel from the woodworking community at large, then once those quality attributes are ticked off, I invite them here.   Once that invite is made, our potential supporter will do the same to us, they will research who we are, then upon marking off their own check list, they decide if they want to support our community and our causes. Thankfully, General Finishes decided that our community is worthy of their brand. And yes, on a personal level I am very proud to have their presence. As it is with our supporters already here, I feel we have another very high quality and classy friend among us, supporting our ability to keep our forums open, and supporting our ability to help our veterans.     General Finishes has also gone the extra mile, they support our community as a whole, but they also signed on to support the Finishing Forums as well, that incurs an extra cost on our supporter, and we hope you will consider that when making your next product purchase for a finish. Thank you General Finishes for your extra support. To see their presence in our Finishing Forums click on the proceeding link.   Your support Given all that is stated above, I'd like to ask The Patriot Woodworker community at large, to support our supporters! They have outlaid funding for us, they are trusting us to carry their brand with respect, dignity and class, they are supporters of the veterans we help! And for that reason, I hope you all will consider General Finishes for your next woodworking or restoration project.   In closing We are very pleased and proud to have General Finishes aboard, with the rising costs of server and licensing fees to keep our community running, and with our eyes on the main objective, helping our veterans anyway we are able, the support of General Finishes is allowing us to branch out more and to reach out to our veterans more, and to also help them when they come calling to us. Thank you General Finishes, and thank you Patriot Woodworkers.   Links of interest The Patriot Woodworker page for General Finishes The Patriot Woodworker page for GF Videos Our Finishing Forum supported by General Finishes   General Finishes Home Page Where to Buy General Finishes General Finishes YouTube Channel General Finishes Facebook Page General Finishes University Facebook Page  

Chieftan by Mahendra.

I should have some time after this holiday and found this photo that was taken on the Island of Gamla stan in Stockholm, Sweden. My wife and I spent a week's worth of time visiting the Old Town before picking up our car and driving around Sweden/Denmark for 15 days. This shell was on a government building, just as you entered the Old Town from Norrbro street. Good memories!!!

I think I did a piece on these when I did my demo back in November and now have completed 4 more and given to the Widows in my Ministry. So enjoyed making these that since I now have a new woodburner can see making more. We have posted a video of the process on YouTube also with link at the end of post                                                                                                                 Plate colored rim w/ Stick n Burn & Metallic Gourd Inks    

Inspired by Artie, I'm in the process of making 4 Kissmas trees from the current Woodcraft Magazine.  One for each of my three girls' families and one for us.  So they'll be set up for next Xmas season.  The earliest I'll get together with any of the kids is New Year's day.  One set probably won't see until late summer.   I had some unused select pine that someone gave to me when he quit a project, so that's what went into my project.  I ripped into the 1 1/8" strips, then planed down to 1/2".   30 of them a bit over 36" long worked out.    Drilled the 1/4" holes, using a newly-made drill press stop.  Wish I had gone up a 32nd or so as it took some "persuasion" to get them thru 30 pieces.   But got the threaded rods cut to rough length and in.  Laid out to "zig-zag" the cuts.  This reduces waste and optimizes material so I could get all four from my pieces.    Built a big siding cross-cut table (again using some leftover stuff) to use with my MatchFit clamps and it worked great.  I don't know what the angle is, but only the top and bottom width.  So marked them on the stock and lined up to the edge of the cut-off table.        Did some sanding and took apart, numbering each piece 1-30.  Set up to drill the recesses for the kisses.  Likewise, used a spacer.  Figured out which levels took 2 holes, which 4 and which 6.       I think I will work hard to keep each "set" together thru drilling, final sanding, finishing, and assembly.    Finishing: My initial thought is to just apply some shellac.  It makes pine look great.  Hope I have enough left or will need to run out next week.  I think I will lay the pieces out and spray one side and one edge, let dry a few minutes, the flip over and do the other side and edge.   Shellac should dry in less than 30 minutes.  Let dry and apply second coats.    

Can't remember if I posted it here or not but a local wood cutter dropped off a piece of Norway maple trunk at my house about a month ago. Said he thought it was the kind of wood I like. He has helped me in the past and I have made sure to gift turned items to him for his help.

This is my just started current scrimshaw project. Subject matter happens to be a 1784 Kentucke Territory map. The map is the work of a gentleman named John Filson, and as per the fancy cartouche title it was presented to the Congress but more specifically George Washington. It states "Late" commander of the army so he was no longer an active General but this was also before he was president.........things were just getting going  .

This is some really cool subject matter,...time period couldn't be better. Kentucky wasn't a sate until 1792,....this is still the frontier. We had just licked the red-coats,...kentucky long rifles were still the king,....scrimshawed powder horns were their constant companion,....and when you went to the outhouse you better have one eye out for injuns  

I made Shaker berry boxes for a few Christmas presents this year.  Four of the boxes have cherry sides and maple handles & bottoms. The fifth box is made from all poplar. The sides and handle are 1/8” thick and the bottoms are ¼” thick. The construction is 1/8” x 1/8” box joint. The finish is two coats shellac.   Danl          

This is a fun project for old timey waste baskets. It's been a long time since I have seen the joints joined by thong leather or rope, very cool! Have fun!

I found a nice piece of Black Walnut to use on the scratch awl hardware I made.  I was going to nickle plate them but decided to just polish the parts and let them go to a natural patina from there.

Just started working on a couple of walnut claro bowls these are going well.  The only thing I got against it is the simple fact that its an extremely wet wood to work with.  But I'm hoping that they turn out nicely when they are finished....  Still trying to figure out finance situations so I can get the new bench top lathe and a stand for it that would work.  

I found a nice piece of Black Walnut to use on the scratch awl hardware I made.  I was going to nickle plate them but decided to just polish the parts and let them go to a natural patina from there.  I have a small collection of awls and like the patina the older ones have.  I had to buy the acorn nuts so I bought stainless steel nuts and washers.  I turned a small shoulder on the acorn nuts to center the washer as the holes were a bit larger than the bolt.  Take a look.     These are a bolt through design and therefore would not benefit from a ferrule.  Here is another look at the hardware I made on the metal lathe and a link to that thread.       When I went to turn the handles I realized it would be a chore to recess the heads.  I did cut the heads all the same size but didn't think to size them to a drill size, duh.  I ended up using my boring head I purchased from Craft supplies.  @lew posted this video in his January 15, 2020 Wednesday's Wisdom thread and I was inspired to purchase one.        Got it dialed in and everyone was a great fit.         

Introduction Every year The Patriot Woodworker's adopt a Wounded Warrior or Gold Star family for Christmas. We do this through a great veterans support organization named Operation Ward 57. The Patriot Woodworker's submit an application to Ward 57 to be accepted to receive our family for Christmas, and each year we are chosen to participate. And each year, our sponsors donate wonderful items for us to giveaway for this cause. We use 100 percent of your contributions to purchase gifts for the kids, and a Christmas dinner for the family and to fund related project expenses such as shipping fees for gifts.     Our Mission  We need your help to accumulate funds for Christmas presents for our Wounded Warrior adopted family, who has given much to our nation in physical and emotional sacrifice and much more in family sacrifice.    The Wounded Warrior Family I have had the honor of communicating with Mrs. Hine and learned much about her wonderful family, her husband, the kids, and they are of course just really great folks. I could, in my own words introduce the family to you as I always do, but I thought this time I'd let Mrs. Hine's own words stand for her family, with her permission I am sharing our communications. Quote   Just wanted to let you know a little bit about our family.  My husband is a former Marine Corps sniper/infantryman and was deployed to OEF and OIF.  He was injured in Iraq. He enjoys watching sports, fishing, hunting, and woodworking.    I’m in law school now trying to graduate so I can supplement income.    Our kids are amazing, resilient, military kids.  Haley (13) takes on a leadership role at her school as ASB secretary and gets straight A’s. Haley wants to be a detective when she’s older.  Hunter (8) is currently in ice hockey (as long as his scholarship lasts) and also has excellent grades.  Hunter was nominated for student spotlight early on in the year because he too takes on a leadership role at the school, helping other kids, and always listening to his teacher. Hunter wants to be a pilot or NHL player when he grows up.   Hudson (4) is not in school but is super athletic, helpful, and at 99th percentile for height and weight he’s the “big” baby brother! Hudson says he wants to “fight bad guys” when he grows up.  Makenzie adores hanging out with her siblings and they protect her.   My husband would like to eventually move somewhere farther out of California.  He enjoys his solitude.     We love our military family.  I plan on giving back to the veteran community in a big way when I graduate law school this December and I am licensed.  Because of the challenges we've had along the way with the VA and how many disabled veterans I've seen fall through the cracks, it inspired me to want to work with these heroes.  I'm hoping to get an internship with Veterans Legal Institute out in Orange County.  Please let your vets know that we appreciate their blessing and will pay it forward.    I know a lot of Nick's sniper buddies from 2/7 have either died in combat, committed suicide, or are suffering silently.  People like you and your community of veterans/woodworkers help these guys know they are not forgotten.  We appreciate your service past and present!    Thank you for all you do! Briana Hine    Our Christmas Family Top Row Left to Right: Haley, Mr. Hine, Mrs. Hine, Mackenzie | Bottom Row Left to Right: Hunter and brother Hudson     The Kids Haley and sister Makenzie, and brothers Hunter and Hudson.     Our Guest of Honor 2nd Image: Mr. Hine right, in country on mission. | 3rd Image: Mr. Hine center right with buddies and local boy. | 4th Image: Mr. Hine far right, Marine Corp Ball.   Mr. and Mrs. Hine, their younger years.   Mr. Hine with daughter Haley. Mr. Hine center in country with buddies and locals.   Rules Sorry, only Residents of the US and Canada may participate. Outside countries may contribute but you will not be entered into the system for receiving items due to shipping costs. If you are in an outside country, and do contribute, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. All are welcome to participate, members, forum hosts, admins and non-members. (John Morris (Founder) and family may not participate). Please allow 1 to 3 weeks for delivery of prizes, most of the time prizes are sent out immediately. You may contribute as much funding as you like to earn entries into our random draw. Your contributions will be accepted up to December 31st 12 am Pacific Time, at which time project will close and item recipients will be chosen. 4 names will be randomly drawn by Random Picker software, and items will be awarded in the order of names drawn, starting with the Laguna Bandsaw, then the Easy Wood Tools, then the Woodriver hand planes.   To contribute to our Adopted Family please click on "Donate" button   This year, the items our sponsors have donated can be seen in the image below, these are some great prizes folks! You can donate only 2 dollars with multiple entry bargains, and your odds of receiving a sponsored item are very high given our typical turnout. To view the entry fees, and to purchase your entries please click on the Donate button above!   Item links Laguna 14|12 Bandsaw for one recipient Easy Wood Tools Parting Tool for two recipients Woodriver Standard Block Plane with Adjustable Mouth for one recipient Woodriver No.4 Bench Plane for one recipient     In Closing Ok Patriot Woodworker's, it's time to muster and it's time to show everyone what we are all about! The purpose our woodworking community was created is for this reason, to help those who have served us, and paid the price. Remember this is not charity, this is not a hand out, this is payback!   Thank you sponsors! We also need to thank our sponsors Woodcraft Supply, Laguna Tools, and Easy Wood Tools for their generous support and for donating those wonderful items for the raffle! For without them, we would not have a community, nor would we be able to perform the work we do. Thank you guys!     Prior Years Projects Adopt a Wounded Warrior Family for the Holidays 2015 Adopt a Wounded Warrior Family for the Holidays 2016 Adopt a Gold Star Family for the Holidays 2017 Adopt a Wounded Warrior Family for the Holidays 2018 Adopt a Wounded Warrior Family for the Holidays 2019  

Well, the Christmas Gift Exchange list is out.....I have to find a present for my Grand daughter-in-law...... Bought about 25bft of Quarter Sawn Ash, today.... There are 11 boards in that stack..average width is just under 6"....all are around 3/4" thick.   Hmmmmm, how about a Blanket/ Hope Chest build?    Frame and panel?   Or maybe a "6 board" style?    been a while since I built a chest....maybe see what I can come up with?   Give things about a week, or so...while the Single Brain Cell Sketch Up works things up into a "Plan" have to work around the snipes, though.   grain looks decent enough....fellow did have a rack of these boards, so I might go back IF I need any more... Dovetailed corners?   or, Tongue & Groove corners?     Raised of flat panels....Bread board ends on a lid?   Stay tuned..

Here's a chance for our turners to help make a difference in the life of a service person-   Click on the above image for the complete details.   You don't have to  visit a Woodcraft store to participate!      

  Another Christmas is here As you all know, every year we adopt a wounded warrior or gold star family for Christmas and we all come together and provide Christmas presents and food for that family, I am proud to announce that today we have been invited back to Operation Ward 57 Adopt a Family For Christmas event for 2020. I am very proud that they keep having us back, and I am very proud of the big way you all come through for these families in the past. I just completed the application and I submitted it just seconds ago, later this month we'll know who our family is, and how many kids we are supporting!   Our Past Projects Follow this link and scroll towards the bottom of that page to see some of our past projects with Operation Ward 57   Thank you In advance, I'd like to thank all of you who will no doubt participate in this annual tradition of ours to bring a little happiness to a warrior family for Christmas 2020! Stay tuned for your marching orders, and here's to another great Christmas Season! As always, 100 percent of the proceeds for our fundraiser raffle will go to the family project.

... this piece of mine in the Gallery ...

My next carving/gilding project has been found. I took this photo somewhere in Spain(Salamanca?) and will concentrate on sizing it to fit an 8X11" plaque, retaining proportionality, of course. This was above a doorway/window in the city. Stay tuned.  

I built one prototype bar stool and two kitchen side chairs in times past, using poplar wood, and I had to do something with them.  So, I decided to practice spraying colored lacquer (a new technique for me). 

I had a little fun in the shop this morning. Soon I'll be firing up some chairs to build, and right now I am kind of jigging up and tooling up for this big project. Besides the jigs my son and I have been working on, today I got in the shop and made one complete mallet, and I have a couple more in the wings that need to be made as well.

 
 

Made this countertop utensil holder for Mom’s birthday . She picked the color of stain.