Most of the woodworking that I do is custom, requiring original design, or at minimum a bit of modification of an existing concept. Prior to learning SketchUp, I had developed my designs over the years using pencil and paper, as well as a couple of general purpose computer applications that were not specifically intended for…
I love the name…It describes this clamp pad perfectly! I use shop-made 1/4″ thick mdf clamp pads to protect my work when I’m clamping. My clamp pads are easy to position on clamps across short distances, but impossible to set across distances that are greater than my reach. My solution was to embed a small…
A client recently asked me to design a platform bed for him. Beds are always a challenge; because of the large size, they must always disassemble for transport and delivery yet be rock solid when set up. The large miter on the corner of the platform presented a particular problem. The long joint needed to…
While building a media cabinet, I broke the wise rule of “Measure twice,cut once.” I made a quick measurement for depth on a drawer that would extend to be flush with the face frame, and I forgot to account for the additional thickness of the false front that would be attached. I left myself a…
Time to wrap this office project up by finishing and installing the components. Finish and cabinet assembly: Apply finish to all components. I used a water based poly acrylic product to provide a nice looking durable finish. Set cabinets in place. Be sure they are level, and use shims if necessary. Scribe your face frame…
Part 1 of this story worked through design and carcase construction. Part 2 covered doors and drawers. Now we’re ready to construct the tops and shelves. If you are building this desk as a built-in, sandwiching the desktop between two walls, then the top is the trickiest part of this project because you will have…
It’s not often that you’ll need this trick, but when you do, the time you’ll save will be tremendous. The idea hit me the other day while I stood in front of my miter saw chopping multiple lengths of shelf edging one after another. Oh the boredom! Let’s say you need to make a whole…
In part one of this article I showed you how a half-blind router dovetail jig works, and how to size your drawer parts for routing in the jig. In this final installment, I will explain using the jig to rout the joints, and then how to assemble the drawers. Boards must be correctly oriented and…
“Do you know of a procedure for removing a panel from the rails and stiles of a standard raised panel cabinet door constructed with cope and stick joinery, in order to replace it with a glass panel. I can’t figure out how to make a square opening in the corners on the back side in…