I have been between a couple of big jobs and so we got time to clean up the shop and trying to knock out a few of the small jobs that just seem to get pushed back at times.

Tuesday night of this week I got two speaker stands cut out and glued up for a customer. He wanted them out of MDF and is going to paint them black.

All four corners were mitered and I put a rabbit around the top and the bottom for so it would drop in and be flat.

Thank goodness for clamps to pull all those miters up good and tight.

Got one of them done and the other in the clamps Wednesday night.

and then both of them out of the clamps. I have one more to do for the sub and the center channel that I will get first thing Saturday morning.

Then in will be on to a few other jobs. I have a new rocker cut out to replace one that broke on an old rocker.

Just needs a little sanding and the hole drilled and the slot cut and it will be ready.

Then I have another rocker in the shop that has to get two new rockers, so while I am working on this one and I going to finish that one also.

So what about the rest of your Patriot Woodworkers? What is on your woodworking agenda this weekend, you working on new projects, old projects, cleaning the shop, building jigs, restoring tools or being lazy and getting some R&R in the recliner?
 

We here at TPW love to see and hear about your projects so post your weekend plans here and share them with us.

Get busy and make some sawdust!
 

I have nothing on my workbench right now. I just got finished getting all the stuff done in my wife's "K-1 Moderate-Severe Autism" classroom as her kids came back yesterday for the new school year. Since my wife was changing things around in her classroom I had to move some stuff as well as attach things together and to the walls so that they won't fall over. Also she has a new kid in her class this year who likes to knock things over when he gets upset, so I had to put some runners on the bookcases and cubbies that my wife uses as dividers for work stations. Since the bookcases/cubbies back up to a wall, I just put 1 runner on on the back side so no one will trip over it. So if the kid gets mad and bangs into them they may slide but they won't fall over.

I also got a large box shipped out to my son and daughter in law in Indianapolis full of various tools and fasteners for their new home. My kids just bought and moved into their first house about a month ago now and the only tools that they have is a set of Husky Tools that I bought my son when he was 18 (he is 25 now). When we were out there in Indianapolis a couple weeks ago and I was finishing up a walnut blanket chest for their new home, I had to buy a small shop vac, random orbit sander and a 12v drill driver with some driving bits and left those all there for them to use. So now I bought some basic hand tools that they will need to get things done. I bought a locking parts organizer suitcase that has 2 levels of storage bins and filled it with the most used screws, nails and fasteners that I have used over the years. I have one just like this and really love that it locks solidly and the screws/nails don't migrate into the other bins when it gets bounced around in the back of the truck.

 

I also got a new stud finder as they have stuff to hang on the walls. I got them a hand wood saw and metal hack saw and a set of drill bits with some standard twist bits as well as some spade bits and masonry bits, a square and a level and set of 4 "Quick Clamps" along with a number of other things. The last thing I put in the box was one of those canvas 5 gallon bucket tool organizers to put all the tools in. They will have to buy their own bucket. I started using these bucket organizers back in 2001 when we moved into our new construction home. I had to do a lot of work around the house and I fell in love with them. I keep mine on my workbench with all my necessary tools so I can just grab the bucket and the suitcase of fasteners and head out.

So between the Husky tool set with all the typical standard/metric sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers and pliers and these tools I sent them now, they should be able to handle most of the basic things that they need to do around their house. My only regret is that I should have bought all these tools when we were there in Indianapolis as it would have saved me the $40 shipping and insurance costs. :-)  

 

That is a very nice home/care package you sent them though. As you said, that should take care of their basic home upkeep items.

You are a good dad, Allen. 

Great idea for the anti tip runners. 

One of the Autistic classes where I consulted had a 3' dia. tube manufactured with material that resembled wrestling mats. When a kid was beginning to get agitated, the teacher or aide would suggest that he crawl into the tube. Seemed to have a calming effect. 

While the other half is in MI, I've been doing some stuff around the place to keep away the lonelies. 

Just finished up a pad for the standby generator that's coming later this month. Now I need to find a place for the excess pea gravel. 

Bought some Evaporust for the files and rasps. Gotta get them soaking. Then spray with PB Blaster. 

Planning on routing some 45s on the ends of some jewelry chest feet. Made a coping sled as I don't have a "T" slot in the RT. Still have to attach the DeStaco clamps. 

Son and his wife are coming up to the cool country from Tucson this evening. They are bringing TAMALES! Can't wait. 

Experimenting on cutting out one of these-

 

Well Lew, it looks like the experiment was a success!

How did you do it?

Gene,

My wife used to have one of those tubes in her class for her kids. She called it the squeeze barrel. Children with autism struggle with self regulation of their senses and body compression and downward pressure on their head and shoulders helps to calm them down. Kind of like getting hug or wrapping yourself up in a warm blanket.

 

Might get all these parts put together?

Then try and find out WHERE I stashed the hinges I bought for this project......

 

Lew that is pretty cool. I hope you get it cut out so you can share how you do it with us.

I didn't even know it was already Friday!

Road trip Monday to S. Calif for 3-4 weeks. Mom's having hip joint replaced so going to help her out and see how she recovers.

Oldest Grand daughter's birthday is while we're there so since she has a thing for the Beatles and John Lennon, I made her this.

It's going to be difficult being away and not doing any woodworking but we'll keep busy.

Gene,

That is the picture I was given to make one. So far, not having a lot of luck. Ordered a new router bit From Woodcraft in hopes it will improve the cuts.

Lew, I've made candy dishes about 2" deep with a bowl bit and a collet extension. But that cube's cuts looks to be deeper. 

With the candy dishes, I had a template and I hollow out the blank as close to the pattern as I dare with a big forstner. The bowl bit has a bearing on top like a pattern bit. It follows the template till it's deep enough to follow the cut that it's made.

Without going to the shop and measuring, I think the extension and bit would only allow a 2 3/4" deep cut. 

I'm thinking you could rout from both ends and then add the bottom. You'd need a way to accurately register the template to both surfaces.

 

 

I was supposed to be working on a communion table this week but I moved my daughter's kitchen cabinets ahead of the table.  Something about blood being thicker than water.  My daughter bought a new refrigerator and it is three inches wider than the old one so the upper cabinet had to come out as did the lower unit.  Her particle board units are being replaced by real for sure cabinet grade plywood and there will be a lighted shelving unit above the base cabinet.  The old cabinets were maple and it has been real interesting trying to match the raised panel doors but I think I may have succeeded.  In these pictures the rails and stiles for the lower unit are on my saw but the panel is still in the clamps.