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While going around, getting pictures of that saw vise wannabe, could not help myself....I just HAD to do a little work on this cherry project.. Got out the Stanley#45 again. Set it up with a #11 cutter. Only needed the main stock, and not the sliding one. No room. Then added a fence. Used a part to set the depth of cut at ~ 1/2 way through. Something like this. As you can see, I already tried it out....hey ....this is fun, again And we have curlie Qs! Had to adjust the jig a bit, the top of the screw would hit the depth stop before the part would.. So much fun, I did another one! Hey, 2 for 2! Had to keep checking each and every part I put into the jig...yes, there is writing on the INSIDE, yes, the top of the part goes to the outside of the jig. Took a few tries to get things to go right, for a change Well both short sides are done, used them to double check the long sides. Once they checked out.....almost too long for the jig. This one needed some adjustment after the picture was taken....didn't have the part just right. Came out ok. Then got the fourth and final groove cut. Left it in the jig, for now. Used it and the short sides to mark the sizes of the panel. Next time down to the shop, I can cut it to the final size. then do a little P.Sellers trick,and raise the panel with a hand plane. Stay tuned...maybe another week of this, and I can put on the finish....

Something a bit different....as a way to use up a pile of scraps? One such pile. Have already sliced a couple of these scraps. I don't think the old 1/2" bandsaw blade will be of much use... Been a bit too beat up, lately.....I do have a 1/4" blade in the saw, right now.. Not really a new one, but it is at least...sharp. Maple tends to turn a bit brown. Cuts were a tad wavy. Motor at first didn't want to work this hard....and tried to shut down....until I pointed out to it, that the motor it replaced, was STILL in the shop...and YOU CAN BE REPLACED......motor started right up....imagine that Thought I could just jack plane these smooth....plane was a bit too big, for this job... The Stanley No. 3c that I had just rehabbed, happened to be sitting out, where I could grab it...seemed to do a decent enough job.. I even used it to joint a few edges... Got one looking decent enough as for width...needed trimmed on the ends for square, though.. Works for me. Got a few all the same width, mainly by bandsawing to width. was able to gang a bunch up.. Used the #3c again. to make them all the same width. Had two pieces, came from the same board.. Figured I could book-match these two into a panel for a lid....they needed a bit of work, one end being wider than the other end...bandsaw to correct that, plane to do the edges straight...try to make the grain as close as i could.. May need to add a bit, to get to the width I need. Set the thin stuff aside, for now.. These will be sawn down into 1" to1-1/2" wide strips....to make the frames to house those thin panels..had to set up a jig on the saw... Set for 1" width, for now....may go with the 1-1/2" instead....more to work with. Made a big mess today... May be about time to bring the trashcan back down to the shop? May need to do some glue-ups, and make some frames. Stay tuned...will see IF I can get this done, before next Tuesday morning...

Ok, kind of a "part 2" to that long thread. Camera still has issues, but I think Santa might get one for me...someday. Dovetails? Well, we did a few today Once I got the pins done, I could use them to lay out the tails Pencil to make the marks, then bandsaw to saw on the waste side. Quicker and I can see what side of a line I'm on. Test fitting as I went. BTW, waste was usually just chopped out with a chisel. Will fine tune all four corners..Tomorrow. Checked things with a square, too, Doesn't take all that long to do these things, either....finally got all four done.. I'd got this far earlier today, when the camera went dead. Came back down after the camera had charged back up. Time to clear the deck....set the frame over on the lid panel.... Both will need a bit more work. Rigged up a jig.. That big old "B" tells me that is the bottom of the side. I went through and labeled all four this way, while they were assembled. Joint numbers were marked at the top, too. Why the jig? Well, I had a Stanley #45 to use. It was still set up from the last job. Long rods, cam rest, wider cutter..all went back into the case. Short rods, and a 1/4" cutter was installed.. They are a PITA to set up, but once they are, they work very nicely..IF you don't set it too deep. Candle wax was rubbed onto the skates and the fence,,,and away we go.. Could have not used the second skate, but it balances better with it. I start at the far end and work backwards until the depth stop rides the full length. And this is what usually happens Screw is there to lock things into the jig. I wasn't always going with the grain on this.. But I can make curlies. I checked to make sure this grooves lined up as I went around the box.. Not too bad. Better than what I used to get with the router table.. So, all four sides are grooved and things match up, bench is still cleared off... And...this is as clean as it gets. Maybe tomorrow, I can fine tune the dovetails? Need to go and buy a 1/4" plywood bottom piece. All out of the thin stuff. Once I get the sides tuned up, I can cut the bottom panel to size, and maybe do a glue up? Right now, just a bit tuckered out...

It was too cold in the shop yesterday and my 7 year old daughter was "SO BORED" in the house that I suggested a trip to the local antique mall to hang out for a bit. To my surprise, she agreed, so we went and did a little rust hunting. Although I cant say that we found much in the form of complete tools, it was a fun afternoon for her and I plus we did come home with a few useful and unexpected items. I was only in for 14 bucks for the whole day and 25 cents for gumballs. Our treasures included 2 router plane cutters that will fit nicely in my Stanley 71 which had none when I bought it, a few irons for the Stanley 45, a medallion for a Simonds saw, a full leather hide to be used for whatever projects may come, and an old WS badged with split nuts. The saw is a bit of a bummer as it was shortened to just the far edge of the etch. I really bought it because I certainly have use for the split nuts and handle if I choose not to clean up what is left. The etch is visible enough to make out Brown Cast Steel number 3 and the keystone emblem leading me to believe it is a Disston built saw.