Update on the lack of wood working

Spring has come which always makes it harder to get to work in the shop. The yard needs work, tractors need work, lots of things to do and even though there is more daylight per day there still isn't enough time in a day.

Also before the soon to be built entertainment center can be install the living room is going to get a coat of paint.  Which is my current  BIG project.  The great room is roughly 40' long by 32' wide with 15' high side walls and the cathedral ceiling goes up from there.  Lots of wall surface area.  So Saturday I rented some scaffolding and got it setup. Sunday I primed the burgundy and got the "small" wall painted by the stairs. Progress isn't moving anywhere close to what I would like. Ideally this would be done on Saturday so I can move onto something more fun to work on like DIY dentistry.

I hate heights.

This was he first coat of green, the 2nd coat has been applied.

last week I finalized the plans for the entertainment center and marked the ouline on the wall in painters tape for my wife to check off on the final size.  Last thing I want to do is build it only to hear "it's to big or not big enough."

Last week we had some very intense rain and our driveway was nearly washed away. So I worked with the road commissioner to patch it up and a new culvert is to be installed this week.

large wash outs on each side of the driveway. the water appeared to have backed up enough that it over topped the driveway.

upstream side

downstream side, all this was previously gravel

Well that' s a peak into what has been going on, I am ready to get back into the shop.

Maple Mania part 10, Finally Done

Maple Mania is finally over. I delivered the Butcher Block Island to it's new home yesterday and the new owner is thrilled.

In part 9 I attached the legs, after even more sanding it was time for a finish.  I finished the butcher block with General Finishes Salad Bowl Finish. Delivering the project was bitter sweet because I really like it, but I am also looking forward to moving onto the next project.

 I am still amazed all the different tones and colors that exist in the maple.

Duck, Duck, No Goose

Last fall my neighbor had a pond dug and before it filled he installed a few poles with the intentions of installing some wood duck houses. This spring he brought over a duck house he had and was asking some questions about building another one. I offered to help him build one, a few weeks later when he came over to help me unload some plywood he had a nice 10' cedar 1x12 and a plan he found for a simple wood duck house. It was a simple project but fun to build.

The side opens up so the house can be cleaned out yearly

The saw kerfs allow the little ducks something to use to climb out

Here is the duck house he originally had and the one I made from the plans he had.

The duck house installed at the pond

I won some Schawg

Matt's basement workshop has a monthly schwag drawing. I usually enter after Matt post something reminding people like me there are only a few days left to enter.

On april 2nd I was reading the post in my RSS reader and was surprised to see my name listed as a winner for the March schwag drawing. By the time I could get to my email I had an email from Matt congratulating me and requesting my shipping information, that was Tuesday   I was really surprised on Friday when my wife texted me and told me that my prize had been delivered.

So what did I win? I won a Minwax Tool Box Kit

Minwax Tool Box Kit

I was amazed at all was inside.

The top layer of goodies

The bottom was full too

Here is a list of what it included. All are half pint cans

• Minwax Wood Finish Stains
• 11 of the 22 shades Minwax offers 
• Minwax Gel Stain
• 3 of the 10 shades offered.
• Minwax Polyshades
• Pecan in a satin finish
• Classic oak in satin and gloss
• Minwax Fast-Drying Polyurethane 
• Gloss, Semi-Gloss, Satin
• Minwax Polycrylic
• Gloss, Semi-Gloss, Satin
• Minwax Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner 
• Minwax Stainable Wood Filler
• Minwax Wood Finish Stain Markers 

I want to thanks Matt's Basement Workshop and Minwax for this nice prize. I look forward to using these products on my future projects.

Maple Mania part 9 and 2 year Anniversary

I can't believe it's been 2 years since I started this blog as a way to share my project that I have done and am working on. Thanks to everyone who continues to read regularly. I have a lot of fun with it, and the last few months the amount of views have really taken off ( almost tripled).

Now back to the maple mania. The weather is getting nicer which means it's harder to get time in the shop. But I am trying, since the last post I've rounded over all the corners and continued sanding.

All corners have been rounded

Next was to attach the legs. The legs are glued and screwed to the aprons.

now it has a leg to stand on

This is where the project stands right now, waiting for a final sanding and a finish.