Birdhouse Trim, Perches and Stands 2

Have Metal Poles, Will Travel

 I've got another metal pole ready to go

Almost as tall as the bird feeder in background

Rescued cedar block + barnboard base + metal pole = sturdy birdhouse stand.

Once I build a support platform for a birdhouse (Which one? I'm not sure) I will display it outside the shop to see if any birds are curious. I don't know if I will get any takers this year.

Please link to Birdhouse Trim, Perches and Stands

Photos GH

Custom Shelf 10 - Vintage Trim

Trim From the Top of the Pile

"One last piece to go on the front... lower right"

Shelves are in place, made from rustic cedar rescued last year from Joe Flagler's dock demolition. And because I have more of the fine lumber on hand (yeah, a lot more), I turned some of it into strips of trim and put it all in place on Saturday afternoon.

Now it's time to think about the finish line. I'll apply a coat of wood cleaner, then concoct a jar of colour-rich finish (thinner + stain), and some type of final wax or varnish coat for the table top. Exciting, shiny times ahead.

Link to Custom Table 9

Photos GH

The Workshop - Mystery Projects 5

Satin Finish

With the help of Tinker Toys I built a support for six beer tap handles while the Satin Finish dries overnight. Today I had a second coat and on Friday - if all goes as planned - I deliver the goods.

This was an enjoyable project using just a bit of western red cedar from Joe Flagler's old dock.

Link to The Workshop

Photos GH

The Workshop - Mystery Projects 4

Moving Along

Once I'd assembled a wooden jig to hold the tap handles steady (at a three-degree angle) under the drill press, I was almost off to the races. Before drilling 1/2-inch holes into the handles I had to raise the drill press about six inches. Easy task w leftover 2 by 6s.

Holes are drilled, wood conditioner has been applied to the handles, as well as a thin coat of Cabernet stain. I'll add two coats of Satin Varnish, today and tomorrow, then deliver on Friday.

Link to The Workshop

Photos GH

The Workshop - Cedar Birdhouses 2

Draw Them, Roof Them

["This new design adds 30% more floor space. Spot the mod*"]

Besides making a roomier floor space, I used up a bit of rescued cedar and pine when assembling this first batch of BHs for 2015.

The floors and two roofs are from western cedar slats that were gathering dust in the wood crib. Six roofs are from white pine scrap a fellow dropped off last fall. To help the pine last longer I will apply two coats of paint, so I have some work ahead besides just adding trim. All worth the time.

Link to The Workshop

* Sides are attached to outer edge of face

Photos GH

The Workshop - Cedar Feeders 5

Assembly Line

Before Christmas I finished two nicely painted bird feeders of similar size to these in my workshop. I will describe the project as follows: Lovely rescued cedar, solid construction, easy pace.

I am now repeating the process for two more - an aromatic project to be sure - before going onto a project that breaks all the rules!

More to follow shortly about 'squirrel houses'! WTheck!

(Has Gord gone over to the dark side?)

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Photos GH

The Workshop - Cedar Feeders

Two in a Row

I cut up enough western cedar slats for four feeders and will finish two this week before assembling the others. The first one has a pine roof because I had one length in The Annex that will paint up nicely.

If I can have two painted by Wednesday I'll be happy. And I find it's important to keep me happy! : )

And busy.

Link to The Workshop

Photos GH

The Workshop - Nick's Cedar Box

Down to the Hinges

Handles inside and out look AOK,
And hinges I finish later today.

I stand and deliver on Wednesday.

Yaaaay!

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Photos GH

The Workshop - Four Cedar Feeders

Treasure in Them Hills

The next few projects will make use of lumber from an old cedar dock. The boards look 'scrappy crappy' on the outside to some degree but wait 'til you see the inside.

More to follow as feeders get underway.

Link to The Workshop

Photos GH

The Workshop - Nick's Varnish 1

First Coat of Satin 1100

Over the next few days I will apply multiple layers of the sticky stuff. Monday delivery?

Link to The Workshop

Photos GH

The Workshop - Nick's Cedar Fish

Progress on Cedar Box

Today I will warm up a bit of glue and place six trout on the top and four faces of Nick's cedar box. Once the glue has dried I will apply the first coat of glossy varnish. And once the varnish is on... there is no turning back.

I can hardly wait.

Link to The Workshop

Photos GH

The Workshop - Future Tasks

Future Starts Now

 ["The cheque is in the mail," I say]

Busy day in the shop. I'd better get started soon.

First up - phone call to Gord M. re "mailbox is ready"

["High-tech day planner keeps me highly organized"]

Second - glue six rainbow trout to Nick's cedar box, then apply first coat of varnish

Third - set aside the second mailbox for Christmas

Fourth - contact brother Kim re "gimme details re this chair you want"

["About my western cedar supply. What one first sees looks scrappy"]

Fifth - continue cutting western cedar deck boards into useful slats, to be used in four bird feeders

Six - dust off the Tonka plane for flight to airport

More than dust will be flying today. I will be too.

Link to The Workshop

Photos GH

The Workshop - Nick's Cedar Box

It's All Down to Fishin'

Let's see now - six trout all lined up in a row, feeling the affects of wood conditioner, waiting for a bit more colour. I have blue stain and paint at the ready, two colours of finger nail polish as well, and need to do a test run on a scrap of lumber.

Before I locked the workshop door last night I fished around storage cubbies and found odds and ends that might also play a part in bringing Nick's cedar box to completion. How I will use them or where, I am not certain. So, more head scratching before the day - and this project - is done.

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Photos GH

The Workshop - Tackle Box

Colourful Fish

["I can easily add colour to the sketch, but..."]

The tackle box for Nick Farmer is going to take an artsy fartsy turn now that I have cut out a school of trout with the help of my Steady Eddie scroll saw. I just have to figure out how to get a bit of colour onto the fish, just the right colour, just the right amount.

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Photos GH

The Workshop - Nick's Tackle Box

Caught a Fish

 ["Drawing toward the final stages"]

The Cabernet stain gives the western cedar a lovely, rich look. But before I apply final coats of varnish I'm going to do something fishy.

The other day I sketched a reasonable-looking picture of a rainbow trout, cut a similar version on my scroll saw and decided to catch a small school of the same fish.

Next I will add a bit of colour... I think.

Stay tuned.

Link to The Workshop

Photos GH

The Workshop - Unique Frame

From Rescued Lumber

As I recall, I rescued the strips of stained pine lumber for the sides of this one-of-a-kind frame from a bed found on a curb a few blocks south of my home on Cathcart St. I spotted it - still fully assembled - while doing errands, inspected it and realized all I needed to take it apart was one Allen key. I delivered it to the workshop in my wee Civic within the hour.

The horizontal slats of well-dried and decorative cedar (filling the frame) were offered to me by a skilled wood worker who had leftovers after completing his own project. I said, Oh, I love leftovers. (Still do).

I was asked, by the frame's new owner (poet and creator of colourful fabric designs) about the black strips. I cut out and painted those strips separately, and glued them into place, after cutting out shallow grooves (using the table saw) on each side of the four framing pieces.

Details. I like details.

Link to The Workshop

Photos GH

The Workshop - Tackle Box of Wine

Cabernet for Certain

I applied Cabernet stain to the already dark western cedar but not straight from the can. Thinned w thinner. It stinks up the house until I put a lid on it. By the time Nick gets his tackle box the only smell in the air will be aromatic cedar.

Up next - a lid for one inside section, hand carvings, hardware.

Link to The Workshop

Photos GH

The Workshop - Nick's Tackle Box

Stain or Red Wine?

["Western cedar, w wood conditioner, but no stain"]

The western cedar was free to me - except for delivery - so I will pass along some savings. The stain, however, was not. Client Nick should expect a pretty high bill.

["Stain or red wine?"]

                                         ["Cabernet or Chardonnay?"]

["Lid, unstained for now"]

A good bottle of Cabernet doesn't come cheap.

Link to The Workshop

Photos GH