I am starting on a job, this past Friday I headed on out and picked up about 200 bdft of pine from my favorite lumber dealer Reel Lumber in Riverside CA.

 

My customer wants a solid pine lower cabinet, and upper as well. The lower overall height is 36" and the upper overall height will be 41". There will be another smaller cabinet at the other end of the room as well. All the cabinets will be painted antique white with the interior's left natural, and we will have a dark color butcher block for the tops. Saturday I completed my cut list and glue up of the 12" wide boards, then yesterday Sunday I started assembling. The first lower cabinet case is complete, I need to install the rear boards, and the doors of course.

 

 

The photo below is a 10 length of butcher block that will be cut in two, one piece will be installed over the cabinet above, and the other piece will stretch between two walls and over a front load washer and dryer. I am going to strip the finish off the butcher block and stain it a dark color, perhaps a cherry stain.

 

 

 

Of course I had my helper by my side most of the time, below is my hard working 8 year old son taking a break and drinking a juice after we unloaded some of the pine. My son liked to hang out under the shade of the pine boards, you cannot tell but it's hot this day, and the sun would peak out and with the monsoonal clouds, the humidity would hit the upper sphere of the barometer.

 

 

After a while my boy took to using a hand saw to cut some pine boards and with a Veritas low angle block plane, he squared up the ends to each other. He and I have really been working closely this last year in the shop, and it's paying off, he understands, and he knows the steps, and he is using hand tools with a lot of pride. It'll be a matter of just years before he passes up the ol man in the skill of woodworking.

 

 

After planing the boards flush to each other I was very proud to notice him pick up his square out of his pouch and check for accuracy. I was in the shop quietly observing him, he did it perfectly, planing, and checking for square till it was all perfect and 90.

 

 

He is light years ahead of me already when I was his age.

 

I'll keep the pics coming as I get the work done, and hopefully my son will be out there with me.

 

Looks like you're raising him right. Giving him a biblical work ethic. Can't wait to see the project.

Great looking projects in the works- the cabinet and the young helper!!

Very nice project John and looks like you are way faster than I am when I do one. Mine become antiques before I get them finished.

 

It is nice to have them in the shop and share special memories. Those are lasting and even when you think he is not watching, be sure that he is. They take in everything and want to imitate you in every way.

 

 

 

Keep us posted, fun to watch it all come together and see the process unfold in front of you.

 

 

 

Thanks Ron, it is completely cool how he is taking it all in, I am so proud of him.

antiques before you are finished, now that is funny John! I have done about 400 cabinets in my life so far, seriously, in my earlier days I put out a ton of them, and I can cut and assemble cases very quickly, with no drawings. It's just second nature to me. All cases are the same, it's just what you put on em and the doors you install that make it different then the next one. I am happy to do this one, it's been a fun project, specially with my boy in the shop with me.

 

You know you are so right about our kids taking it all in, sometimes I see myself in my son, most of the time I like what I see, there are a few minor instances where I have had to take corrective actions with my own behavior or philosophy so the kids would not pick up on my bad habit. We grow so much by observing our kids, as they observe us. Incredible.

Thanks a million Lew!!! I'll keep the pics coming.

John,

 

Nice work on the cabinet.

 

 

 

 

At the rate I've been getting things done the projects are antiques before I get started.

 

 

What am I saying, they are antiques. So what's older than an antique?

 

 

 

 

 

Always great to have family or friends involved in what you do.

 

Thanks a heap Larry!

My boy has fun with it all Charles, and he gets pretty danged serious about it too. He's on his way!

John

 

Love seeing you boy working with you. When my son was younger he felt it more necessary to play then learn things or work with the old man. You are truly blessed, and as for your comment about watching yourself and habits. Isn't funny what we learn from our children ? Enjoy the time together. BTW nice cabinet too.

 

Thanks a million Wayne, you are so right, the growth one gets from having kids, is incredible. I am looking in the mirror when I am around our kids, and we grow as you said.

 

We are truly blessed man, thanks.

What's older than an antique? Me. I'm a fossil.

 

Ron, you belong in the petrified forest!!!! But you look good for being so old man!

Ron,

 

I came to the conclusion that what I start with are ancient artifacts.

 

 

I hadn't thought of them being fossils, but since I have been using the best bones from more than one machine ( plus later replacements ) for a couple of them the "fossil" term fits.