August 16, 201312 yr Between cussing out the dog catcher and yammering about my drunkard mayor over in Free for All I haven't been posting much wood stuff This doll house has been a journey. It started over a year ago when my granddaughter in need of some quality time with a positive male figure asked me if I'd help her build a doll house. Well the answer was a no brainer. So we took off in the car on a chilly snowless early winter day to go house shopping in the country side round about our home. We early on settled on older style farm houses and she found one that we decided to study and replicate. So we began with a 2x4 stick built structure after discussions of balloon frames and how they are no longer legal and rejected the idea of a pole frame because it'd produce wobbly interior walls without more for bracing. And the project began. I made all the component parts the 2x4s. 2x6 and 10s and 12s in scale and we assembled it together. The walls and sheathing were just gel super glued on. One of the personal Firsts I had to over come was electronics. I wanted good solid lighting. the pretty doll house lights are nice but I wanted good interior lighting so I designed the electronics to drive a set of LED lights calculated the reistors needed and soldered up the circuitry and built the ceiling fixtures to augment the doll house specialty stuff. So the whole thing is electrified with wall outlets too She picked out the paint colors and painted the house with her little sister ( whose house is in the wings now) There's going to be additions on each side over time just as did the original owners did and eventually a front formal door stoop too. But this is pretty much loyal how they built it originally ( interior rooms notwithstanding).
August 16, 201312 yr Cliff, That's My wife just said that's neat! Â Larry Old Woodworking Machinery Forum Host
August 16, 201312 yr Cliff that is so absolutely awesome. Wow the detail you put into it is super. What an experience for her and for you. Do you have any pictures of it with the lights on where you can tell through the windows? I know we always have to ask for a picture you didn't take.I am very impressed with it. I wish while mine granddaughters were younger I had done something like this.I love the stairs and the railing around them.Great job.John MoodySite AdministratorJohn Moody Woodworkshttp://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com
August 16, 201312 yr Well I think it's Cool AND Neat!! I really like the LED solution to lighting. The neighbor lady has been hinting about one of these for her girls. Not sure I'm up to the task. Lew Kauffman-Wood Turners Forum HostTime Traveler and Purveyor of the Universe's Finest Custom Rolling Pins!
August 16, 201312 yr Wow Cliff!!!! That is awesome!!! I feel cheated you did not share this journey with us! LOL And all this time I thought you were only thinking of woodworking! But believe me, I know what busy is, and sometimes we just cannot get into the shop as much as we'd like. Hey Cliff, my hat off to ya, what a neat home, and your grand will keep it forever. Thank you for sharing. So it looks like Luan paneling for the exterior walls? Then covered in clapboard siding? John MorrisThe Patriot Woodworker
August 16, 201312 yr It's a big task Lew, I built one for my niece years ago from a kit, and that was a huge task! Imagine doing it how Cliff did! Custom made components. Incredible.Lewis Kauffman said: Well I think it's Cool AND Neat!! I really like the LED solution to lighting. The neighbor lady has been hinting about one of these for her girls. Not sure I'm up to the task. Lew Kauffman-Wood Turners Forum HostTime Traveler and Purveyor of the Universe's Finest Custom Rolling Pins! John MorrisThe Patriot Woodworker
August 17, 201312 yr Author Yah 1/8 luan is the sheathing Here's a video of it early on showing the LED fixtures on the first floor.  There's two more upstairs ad another
August 17, 201312 yr Wow, what a great job. Unfortunate that my only grand daughter that could enjoy it lives in Texas. Guess it was a dream of mine. Hats off to you.Wayne MahlerGod bless and protect our troops that serve so we can be free.
August 18, 201312 yr Very nicely detailed, great jobCharles NichollsSite Hostnicholls61@att.netProud supporter of The Wounded Warrior Project, Homes For Our Troops and the NRAhttp://www.etsy.com/shop/nichollswoodworks
August 18, 201312 yr I love the lighting. That is so very cool.John MoodySite AdministratorJohn Moody Woodworkshttp://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com
August 19, 201312 yr Wow! That doll house looks well designed and well crafted, has a lot of great and intricate details. Like the stairs, windows, roof and the chimneys. It looks even better than my house. I'm sure the grand kids love it. They could play with it forever and hand it down to their daughters' daughters. Excellent work Cliff!To know but not to do is not yet to know.WWW.SAWBLADE.COM
August 19, 201312 yr Wonderful! Great job, Cliff.Gene'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton
August 21, 201312 yr Author Thanks for the kind words.I gotta say, I'm happy fr the closure. There's other things I want to get to.
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