Quoridor

I watched Steve Ramsey with Wood Working for Mere Mortals make a game called Quoridor. It looked like a fun game to play. I think games make good gifts, and most the time fairly easy to make.

I wanted to make a few copies of the Quoridor game.

The field of the game board is mode from plywood. Grooves are cut every 1" with a 1/4 dado stack on the table saw. I am making 3 games so I was sure to make each groove in all 3 boards before I changed the setup on the saw.

 After all the grooves were cut I trimmed the their final sizes.

 Next I used some solid maple to make a frame around the plywood fields.

Next I made the walls that are used in the game and that go into the grooves.

 Since time is running short everything is getting a few coats of spray lacquer.

I then turned some game pieces.
The games were a hit and it is a lot of fun to play.

I finished up the two that were gifts but still have to finish the one we were keeping.

Bottle Stoppers

I decided to give making bottle stoppers a try. I ordered kits and a bottle stopper chuck.

I have seen some amazing bottle stoppers online and one of my favorites looked like a wine glass.

Maple blank

 After rounding the blank it was time to hollow the goblet

 After the goblet was hollowed I shaped the outside.

Another Maple Stopper

Purple Heart Stopper

Shop tour December 2014

Last night after getting onto my son about how messy his room as I felt very convicted about how messy my shop was. I've watched Dyami's monthly shop tours and saw how his shop has evolved. I decide maybe some accountability might help me to get the shop cleaned up and organised with the hopes of being a better example for the kids.

So here is my tour video.  I didn't pick up before shooting this so it is embarrassing to post how much of a mess it is.

New Lathe

My desire to make bigger bowls and turn bigger projects got the best of me. I bought a new lathe to replace the 1942 model I was using.  I bought a Steel City 60100G. It has a granite bed and head stock. 12" swing with 27" capacity, Variable speed.

I've only messed with it a little but I am happy so far. I need to build a stand for it (all my other work surfaces are too tall for it.)

kitchen goodies

It is gift making time for the shop. Last night I made a french style rolling pen from some hard maple.

Ready to turn

Roughed out

Finished maple rolling pen and cherry spatula

I also made a cherry spatula.

Season of Pens

Pens are a very popular gift which means I've been busy making pen.  I really enjoy making pens here are some of my recent pens.

Top to Bottom: Gun metal camo bolt action, Chrome Brazilian Cherry bolt action, hickory pencil, purple heart pencil

Acacia Wood Pen

Camouflage designer pen

An order of supplies

I ordered more acrylics to try out.

Bolt action pens, Left to right:
Brass with Walnut x2, Brass with Cherry, Gun Metal with Hickory, Gold with Bird's Eye Maple, Chrome with Tiger Wood

Two Cocobolo pens and a Brass Bolt Action with Tiger Wood.

Inside out Ornament

Last year turning ornaments was good practice on the lathe. I wanted to try something different this year and I have watched several videos on how to turn an inside out ornaments. I had some figured walnut I had been saving.

I glued 4 piece together with paper in each glue joint so I can easily separate the piece after this first step.

 Next after squaring up the ends I put the blank on the lathe and turned a pleasing curve.

 After turning the inside of the ornament I used a chisel and separated the piece.

 Each piece was rotated 180 degrees and glued together.

I didn't get a picture while turning the outside, but here is the ornament ready for finish.

Here is the ornament with a coat of spray shellac. I will sand between coats and probably apply four coats.