Friday, July 25, 2014
Tables
I actually made these before the bench but didn't get a chance to photo them until after. Made in the same style and methods as the writing desk, it's now a set. :P
Thanks to Steve over at woodworkingformeremortals.com for the inspiration.
Too long
It's been far too long sing I put something here. I've been dealing with stuff. But, here we are again.
I was able to get out into the garage/shop again a few days ago and work on a project or two I'd been meaning to get to for a week or more. I finished that (pics later) and then, because I still had some time to work with, I built this bench:
It's based on plans provided free by Jay over at Jayscustomcreations.com and is made from salvaged 2x4's. It still needs to be sanded but, otherwise, it's done and I like it.
Be Well.
I was able to get out into the garage/shop again a few days ago and work on a project or two I'd been meaning to get to for a week or more. I finished that (pics later) and then, because I still had some time to work with, I built this bench:
Be Well.
Friday, June 27, 2014
please help if you can
I will freely state that I did not know this even existed until I
checked one of the blogs I recently found and this is totally NOT my
idea, but I’m spreading the word.
April Wilkerson is a woodworker who’s blog of the day told of an email she’d received about http://www.gardenofinnocence.org/ , how they provide burials and cremations for abandoned and unclaimed children and that they are looking for volunteer woodworkers to make caskets or urns for abandoned and unidentified children.
This brings back a lot of tough memories as my wife and I nearly lost our daughter twice within her first three months of life. I know that there are many, many others out there who have lost children and I can’t say I understand how you feel, but I can get close.
If you can, please contribute to this fantastic charity by making a casket or urn. Plans are available on their website.
Thanks.
April Wilkerson is a woodworker who’s blog of the day told of an email she’d received about http://www.gardenofinnocence.org/ , how they provide burials and cremations for abandoned and unclaimed children and that they are looking for volunteer woodworkers to make caskets or urns for abandoned and unidentified children.
This brings back a lot of tough memories as my wife and I nearly lost our daughter twice within her first three months of life. I know that there are many, many others out there who have lost children and I can’t say I understand how you feel, but I can get close.
If you can, please contribute to this fantastic charity by making a casket or urn. Plans are available on their website.
Thanks.
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edit | remove (for another 60 minutes) |
I will freely state that I did not know this even existed until I
checked one of the blogs I recently found and this is totally NOT my
idea, but I’m spreading the word.
April Wilkerson is a woodworker who’s blog of the day told of an email she’d received about http://www.gardenofinnocence.org/ , how they provide burials and cremations for abandoned and unclaimed children and that they are looking for volunteer woodworkers to make caskets or urns for abandoned and unidentified children.
This brings back a lot of tough memories as my wife and I nearly lost our daughter twice within her first three months of life. I know that there are many, many others out there who have lost children and I can’t say I understand how you feel, but I can get close.
If you can, please contribute to this fantastic charity by making a casket or urn. Plans are available on their website.
Thanks.
- See more at: http://lumberjocks.com/mIps/blog/41603#sthash.oWdkLkDK.dpufApril Wilkerson is a woodworker who’s blog of the day told of an email she’d received about http://www.gardenofinnocence.org/ , how they provide burials and cremations for abandoned and unclaimed children and that they are looking for volunteer woodworkers to make caskets or urns for abandoned and unidentified children.
This brings back a lot of tough memories as my wife and I nearly lost our daughter twice within her first three months of life. I know that there are many, many others out there who have lost children and I can’t say I understand how you feel, but I can get close.
If you can, please contribute to this fantastic charity by making a casket or urn. Plans are available on their website.
Thanks.
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Wall Cabinet
I didn't do a "progress blog" on this one because it only took me about an hour to make. Not really worth it.
The old cabinet that this was is was 24"x24"x12" and I was always digging around in it for stuff. I replace that with this one:
It's 36" tall x 18" wide by 5 1'2" Deep. no putting stuff in front of other stuff. Much better.
The old cabinet that this was is was 24"x24"x12" and I was always digging around in it for stuff. I replace that with this one:
Monday, June 2, 2014
Done enough
Well, the finish and the glue are still drying but I’m gonna call
this done. It’s not perfect, there are flaws that I know where they are
but, as I built it out of scraps and stuff I found, I think it’s darn
good.
I’m putting this in my room tonight!
I’m putting this in my room tonight!
Finishing (not done)
Today I got the drawers built for the desk. I would have liked to
have used some good quality 1/2 ply for the drawer sides but I couldn’t
find any, so I used a 1/4 sheet of OSB that I got from a construction
site.
I put another 1/4 sheet of OSB for a temporary work table so I could more easily coat the legs.
I also made and put on the edge banding on the desk top.
Sadly, all my polyurethane went solid to the point were it was unusable. But, apparently, at some point in the past I found or bought a can of satin finish brushing lacquer and there was still about 1/2 can left! So, I’ll be using that.
Almost there…
I put another 1/4 sheet of OSB for a temporary work table so I could more easily coat the legs.
I also made and put on the edge banding on the desk top.
Sadly, all my polyurethane went solid to the point were it was unusable. But, apparently, at some point in the past I found or bought a can of satin finish brushing lacquer and there was still about 1/2 can left! So, I’ll be using that.
Almost there…
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Assembly
Well assembly is now firmly under way.
Adding 1/8” facing to the inside of the center spine so it’s flush with the bottom rail and center post.
Here’s the carcase, glue is drying on the facings, but otherwise assembled. YAY!
First pair of drawer slides installed.
Adding the edge banding to the top. this is what you do when your longest clamps aren’t long enough…
Adding 1/8” facing to the inside of the center spine so it’s flush with the bottom rail and center post.
Here’s the carcase, glue is drying on the facings, but otherwise assembled. YAY!
First pair of drawer slides installed.
Adding the edge banding to the top. this is what you do when your longest clamps aren’t long enough…
Friday, May 30, 2014
It's got legs...
I finally decided to taper the legs for the desk.
A picture of my tapering jig
One of the legs
All four, done. you can see the color differences in the legs made from two different woods. I’m not too worried about it, though, as I plan on putting the 2 pine legs on the back of the desk where they’ll be seen less.
Gluing the front block onto the middle assembly. I guess the plywood that I used was actually 5/8 or 11/16 as its not quite as wide as the bottom rail or the front block. I’ll deal with this later.
A picture of my tapering jig
One of the legs
All four, done. you can see the color differences in the legs made from two different woods. I’m not too worried about it, though, as I plan on putting the 2 pine legs on the back of the desk where they’ll be seen less.
Gluing the front block onto the middle assembly. I guess the plywood that I used was actually 5/8 or 11/16 as its not quite as wide as the bottom rail or the front block. I’ll deal with this later.
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Replacement Desk
My neighbors lent me a desk for a while and, although I didn’t use it
a lot (it was a bit small), I did like having it in my room. Since they
took it back for their son to use, I’ve really missed having it. So I
am going to attempt to build a replacement. I am using the writing desk
from WWMM as a template.
The sides and back are a glue-up of construction grade 3/4 ply and 5mm ply that I had from previous projects. the center spine is a glue-up of 2 pieces of 5/8” ply. The bottom rails are just 1×2 furring strips cut to length.
The front legs are cut from a piece of “whitewood” 1×4 that I had
from a previous project and the back legs are cut from a piece of 1×4
pine that I was able to scavenge. They are glued together then cut to 1
1/2” square. I haven’t decided yet if I want to taper the legs or not.
The top is a piece of 3/4” birch-faced plywood (not birch veneer ply) cut to 20”x40”.
I already cut most of the pieces to size and am now staining the top, sides and back a darker color for some contrast. Once this is done and all is assembled, I plan on giving the entire thing a layer or two of clear poly for protection.
The sides and back are a glue-up of construction grade 3/4 ply and 5mm ply that I had from previous projects. the center spine is a glue-up of 2 pieces of 5/8” ply. The bottom rails are just 1×2 furring strips cut to length.
The front legs are cut from a piece of “whitewood” 1×4 that I had
from a previous project and the back legs are cut from a piece of 1×4
pine that I was able to scavenge. They are glued together then cut to 1
1/2” square. I haven’t decided yet if I want to taper the legs or not.The top is a piece of 3/4” birch-faced plywood (not birch veneer ply) cut to 20”x40”.
I already cut most of the pieces to size and am now staining the top, sides and back a darker color for some contrast. Once this is done and all is assembled, I plan on giving the entire thing a layer or two of clear poly for protection.
Monday, May 19, 2014
Project update and other stuff
My project fell flat. It looked like poo so I decided not to give it. I was a bit sad about it but there ya go. I was attempting to make a gift box out of some salvaged pallet wood but not all the slats were the same thickness and, since I don't have a thickness planer, there wasn't much I could do about it. maybe someday.
I did manage to get my compact router table built and usable so that's a plus! I build the router lift based on images from ibuildit.ca. This was a bit more difficult that I thought it would be as I had to reverse-engineer the thing from pictures of the finished product. The router table was a salvaged piece of counter top that is very nice and should work well. I got *a* fence built for it but I'll likely build a different one once I get a chance as the one I have now doesn't really work great.
In other news, I got to run lights for Bad Agent, A local band that plays at the theater I do stuff with. It was a really good show and I had fun.
I did manage to get my compact router table built and usable so that's a plus! I build the router lift based on images from ibuildit.ca. This was a bit more difficult that I thought it would be as I had to reverse-engineer the thing from pictures of the finished product. The router table was a salvaged piece of counter top that is very nice and should work well. I got *a* fence built for it but I'll likely build a different one once I get a chance as the one I have now doesn't really work great.
In other news, I got to run lights for Bad Agent, A local band that plays at the theater I do stuff with. It was a really good show and I had fun.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Building!
I started working on a project last week that involved my fledgling wood working skills. (I'm still a newb so don't expect much)
IF I can get it done, I'm wanting to gift it. Here's hoping.
IF I can get it done, I'm wanting to gift it. Here's hoping.
WOL: Stalled
I knew it would happen, I just didn't know when.
Progress has been made and some things have evolved. Here's where I am:
I have started working on the four major classes (Cleric, Fighter, Thief and Spellcaster) and have decided to have specialties within each class that will have different talents available (E.G. a Battlepriest will have different talents than a Invoker or Healer).
Talents are proving to be more difficult than I'd hoped...
Skills are separate from the classes and any class can take any skill to allow for LOTS of customization of your character. Skills are skill being worked on.
Magic is being a pain in the behind, as I knew it would. Figuring out the sweet-spot of power by tier is hard. I want to have enough but not too much and having no real "spell level" makes it that much more difficult.
Armor and weapons have not even been started. Same with "monsters" and the "base world" all this will start in.
I'm still banging my head on this and will try to keep up with this better.
Progress has been made and some things have evolved. Here's where I am:
- Attributes were based on the classic 6 but some were changed for the sake of flavoring:
- Strength becomes Brawn
- Dexterity becomes Agility
- Intelligence becomes IQ
- Wisdom remains the same
- Constitution becomes Body
- Charisma becomes Presence
- All attributes got descriptions and examples
I have started working on the four major classes (Cleric, Fighter, Thief and Spellcaster) and have decided to have specialties within each class that will have different talents available (E.G. a Battlepriest will have different talents than a Invoker or Healer).
Talents are proving to be more difficult than I'd hoped...
Skills are separate from the classes and any class can take any skill to allow for LOTS of customization of your character. Skills are skill being worked on.
Magic is being a pain in the behind, as I knew it would. Figuring out the sweet-spot of power by tier is hard. I want to have enough but not too much and having no real "spell level" makes it that much more difficult.
Armor and weapons have not even been started. Same with "monsters" and the "base world" all this will start in.
I'm still banging my head on this and will try to keep up with this better.
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Warriors of Light - Dice mechanic considerations
Yep, my idea of a game now has a semi-official name: Warriors of Light. It'll do for now. Therefore, until I change it again all game-related stuff will be labelled with that or "WoL" so you can follow along at home if you like.
So, right or wrong, I am starting this colossally-huge project by thinking about the dice mechanics. I know a few things I want and a few that I don't so here's how this went:
Dice scheme What I like What I don't like
D-20 It's simple, roll a d20, add your mods Pass/fail, no greys unless
compare that to a target and your done the GM adds it.
GURPS Still fairly simple More complex than
d-20, Still no grays
Dragon age Stunts Still pass/fail
FUDGE Pluses and minuses give some grey
Warhammer Success & Fail AND Advantage & A bit more complex than
Disadvantage built into the dice I was hoping for with the dice pool
Well, as it's the closest I found, I am gonna steal Warhammers' "Story Dice" because, with the dice pool and 4 states, you can Succeed but cause a Disadvantage as well as Fail but cause an Advantage. I like this. Also, in WFRP the PLAYER rolls all dice and helps shape the story by interpreting the results.
In WFRP you can't have a critical success unless you have applied at least one skill rank to what you're trying to do. This makes sense but eliminates the "Critically Lucky" factor of rolling a natural 20.
I may change my mind later but, for now, "story dice" it is.
So, right or wrong, I am starting this colossally-huge project by thinking about the dice mechanics. I know a few things I want and a few that I don't so here's how this went:
Dice scheme What I like What I don't like
D-20 It's simple, roll a d20, add your mods Pass/fail, no greys unless
compare that to a target and your done the GM adds it.
GURPS Still fairly simple More complex than
d-20, Still no grays
Dragon age Stunts Still pass/fail
FUDGE Pluses and minuses give some grey
Warhammer Success & Fail AND Advantage & A bit more complex than
Disadvantage built into the dice I was hoping for with the dice pool
Well, as it's the closest I found, I am gonna steal Warhammers' "Story Dice" because, with the dice pool and 4 states, you can Succeed but cause a Disadvantage as well as Fail but cause an Advantage. I like this. Also, in WFRP the PLAYER rolls all dice and helps shape the story by interpreting the results.
In WFRP you can't have a critical success unless you have applied at least one skill rank to what you're trying to do. This makes sense but eliminates the "Critically Lucky" factor of rolling a natural 20.
I may change my mind later but, for now, "story dice" it is.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
The shoulders of giants
If you know me at all, you know that I've been playing games since I was, well, it's been a while. I started with Dungeons & Dragons red box basic edition and moved on to expert, then Advanced 2nd edition and 3rd edition. I've also messed about with GURPS, Warhammer Fantasy, Toon and others. But I've never been 100% satisfied with any of them, especially when it comes to the idea of Magic.
Magic is one of those ideas that's hard to deal with in a game "simulation" like D&D and I understand that. The problem, in my opinion, is that of "here's the spells that exits and you can choose up to x number of them". What? Magic shouldn't have rules like that. As soon as you say "if I have A, say B and do C I get result 1" that's science; A+B+C=1 is science, not Magic. If 'real' magic did exist, it would be shaped and colored by the person accessing it. Even if there were similar end results, like a magical bolt of pure force, your would be accessed differently than mine and the results could look very different, even from casting to casting as it could be shaded by emotions and such.
It is for this reason and others that I am being dumb enough to try to modify a game to work the way I want. No set spell lists, just a resource pool that you can tap and use in whatever way you want.
It is going to be a HUGE job. I know this. Especially since I will be pulling ideas from at least five different sources.
There are pieces that will be lifted directly from other games so this will likely never be published. Too many legal issues to be worth it. If it ever done, it will only be for myself. But I'm going to try.
Stay tuned.
Magic is one of those ideas that's hard to deal with in a game "simulation" like D&D and I understand that. The problem, in my opinion, is that of "here's the spells that exits and you can choose up to x number of them". What? Magic shouldn't have rules like that. As soon as you say "if I have A, say B and do C I get result 1" that's science; A+B+C=1 is science, not Magic. If 'real' magic did exist, it would be shaped and colored by the person accessing it. Even if there were similar end results, like a magical bolt of pure force, your would be accessed differently than mine and the results could look very different, even from casting to casting as it could be shaded by emotions and such.
It is for this reason and others that I am being dumb enough to try to modify a game to work the way I want. No set spell lists, just a resource pool that you can tap and use in whatever way you want.
It is going to be a HUGE job. I know this. Especially since I will be pulling ideas from at least five different sources.
There are pieces that will be lifted directly from other games so this will likely never be published. Too many legal issues to be worth it. If it ever done, it will only be for myself. But I'm going to try.
Stay tuned.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
2nd try
I had started this once and decided I wasn't able to write what I wanted to because I didn;t have the knowledge to. So here goes again. this is just going to be a collection of thoughts and stuff with no real connection except they all come from me.
All I ask from you is to read with an open mind and, if you comment, try to be positive even if you don't agree with what I have to say. You can disagree without being abusive and stuff.
All I ask from you is to read with an open mind and, if you comment, try to be positive even if you don't agree with what I have to say. You can disagree without being abusive and stuff.
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