In
the last issue of the eZine, Rob wrote about searching for projects
for a newly expected grandchild. We heard from several readers who
have built things for their grandchildren: perhaps they will inspire
you, whether or not your family has a baby on the way in the new
year. - Editor
We
began with the sleeping arrangements. - Editor
"Eight years
ago, my first grandchild was born, and I was entrusted to build a
crib. But it wasn't just for him; it was for all of my grandchildren
and hopefully for my great-grandchildren and beyond. With that
in my mind, there was a 'whole lot of lovin'' in each cut and each
stroke of the scraper. As you can see, he was pretty proud of it,
too! Have fun. This may well be the most meaningful project of your
woodworking career!" - Rick Anderson
"I
remember when my kids where little getting excited about the
opportunity to build all the furniture for their rooms. I think my
favorite project was building my daughter's youth bed (the bed that
uses the crib mattress). She was so excited to get to sleep in it the
first night. I can still remember the huge hug I got when I tucked
her in that night. Enjoy the projects, and don't forget to take
pictures of their faces when they get their new piece.
Congratulations on the grandbaby." - Kurt Barker
"One
thing I have looked for and wanted to build for my grandchildren is a
floor model cradle. Like many of us, we have dogs and cats. The
cradles that are on a stand bother me, because I worry about the dogs
trying to look in the cradle and knocking it over. After all, they
have a new family member, too, and are nosy. I have seen pictures of
them but no plans. The Amish style is very nice also. I went to
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, looking for one, but it seems like they
don't make them anymore. In any case, good luck with your grandchild.
They are a gift and a blessing." - Jim Newman
"I
don't have any grandchildren yet, but I have a great plan for a
cradle that I make for all my friends who are expecting. As you can
see, it breaks down for easy storage ,which is a massive plus, I
believe. This
one has a family crest laser-engraved on the headboard
and is made frommesquite with some turquoise inlay. I actually came
upon this plan back in the early '90s, after I made my own son's
cradle, and I wish I had had this plan for his! As you probably know,
a cradle will really take up space and begs for some kind of second
use. Ours holds 20-year-old stuffed animals that are waiting for that
grandchild." - E.J. Eiteljorge
"We
made our grandson's crib of cherry with maple accents using the
hardware kit from Rockler. It came out great. Then we made an
armoire, chest of drawers with a changing table top that is removable
when it is time to replace it with a solid top, and a lamp stand.
Some of these have already been passed down to his new sister. Who
knows what we will build for her." - David Lomas
"I
made a cradle for my first grandson, and it's been passed down to
all four grandchildren. It will be in use again in June, when our
fifth grandchild is expected. The Lamborghini beds were made for two
of my grandsons, while the bunkbeds were made for the other two.
Congratulations on your first grandchild! Since it's a girl, it could
be a 'princess bed' instead of cars!" - Carol Johnston
And,
a project for, er, that other thing that babies do besides sleep and
eat... - Editor
"Rob,
like a lot of others, I have been down that road. One project that I
threw together rather quickly for our first child was a change table.
This has proven probably the most useful project. We have seen it in
steady use for our two children, then four grandchildren. In between
times it has done the rounds of almost every newborn household that
we know. It is just a simple stand with two doors that open by touch
latches, allowing one to access the contents with a knee tap when
your hands are full. Build this, and you will be the most popular
guy. The blocks can come later, but this is essential." - John
Rolph
And
then there the fun treats and toys for the kids to play with. (That
is who's playing with them, right?) - Editor
"You
are a lucky man. I started back with my daughter and continue to make
things for my nephews, nieces and grandson. Girls love doll
furniture. Be sure to make things like a little table and chairs that
are strong enough to support a tea party that might include someone
heavier than a doll. When I was charged with coming up with a project
for the Kids Workshop at the Northeast Woodworkers show in Saratoga,
New York, what I came up with was a puzzle chair that consisted of
six pieces. Once we had the design down, we needed to be able to make
a fair number of them quickly. In order to do that, we made patterns
and had volunteers rough cut the pieces. The rough cut pieces were
stuck to the patterns with hot glue. Each of the patterns for the
larger pieces had small handles made of dowels so that, along with a
volunteer, the kids could guide the material around the pattern bit
mounted in a router table. The puzzle chair is actually a rocker and
can be made to sizes to accommodate a small doll or larger for a
toddler. Since all the prices come apart easily, but not too easy,
almost all of the ones I have made are still being passed around."
- Joe DeJulio
"In
response to your question about kids' projects, attached are some of
my favorites. My girls have not been into dolls, so the doll cradles
were not used much – clearly the most used was the rocking horses."
- Mike Collinsworth
"This
has been my favorite. I made these eight years ago so the kids could
watch grandma make their favorite cookies. They still use them today
to reach the cookie jar of (you guessed it) grandma's famous and
delicious cookies." - Calvin Wisdom
"Rob,
I can relate to what you are experiencing as you wait for your first
grandchild. I now have six grandchildren and some of them are now in
college, so not so young anymore. What I did as each grandchild came
along was to design and build for each of them a savings bank of some
kind. All of them were animal themed: one was an elephant with a long
trunk, another was a dinosaur ,and yet another was a actually a piggy
bank. The pig was about 8" tall and 4" thick at the middle.
I used thick leather obtained from a shoe repair shop for ears and
tail. The dinosaur was about 10" tall, and the coins went in
through the mouth of the 20" long creature. I made the coin
slots in all the banks to fit a half dollar coin. I wanted to cover
my options there. The elephant was probably the most difficult as it
was a challenge to keep the long trunk from breaking off. I wound up
laminating it for strength. I used plastic eyes and a lot of time on
some of them. I hope you enjoy doing for your grandkids as I have.
Just wait until you get boys, then you can build all those work
trucks and equipment; I have four boy grandkids and built several of
them." - Bob
Hoyle
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A
couple of readers shared stories of making things for the grandkids,
with the grandkids. - Editor
"I
have had many, many hours of pleasure making toys for grandchildren.
However, the greatest pleasure I have had is working with my
11-year-old grandson in the shop this summer making toys for him and
his four-year-old brother. We spent a week making two biplanes, a
racing car and a toy box. I
had him do most of the work, including designing, and really only did
the cuts on the table saw and the jointer. He learnt how to band saw,
scroll saw, run my bench sander, orbital sander, thickness planer and
the essentials of gluing and clamping. He had a ball and is asking
when we can do it again." - Ron Orr
"I
have built all of my grandchildren’s bedroom furniture, toy chests,
pull toys, etc. However, my favorite is the following. My
granddaughter is now 6-1/2 and grandson 2-1/2. I pre-cut and drill
projects and let them do the cordless screw driver to assemble them.
For example, my granddaughter and I assembled two red cedar bluebird
houses along with the mounting posts – one for her yard and one for
mine. She had bluebirds in hers before mine. She loves working with
me on these projects, and so do I. My goal is to have her and my
grandson share my love of the craft. I have loved my life, but the
funnest part has always been being a father. Being a grandfather is
as good and maybe better." - Randall W. Engle
Then
there were a couple of other comments relating to Rob's question
about your favorite grandchild project. - Editor
"Favorite
grandchild project: finding a girl for my 40-year-old son." -
Rich Flynn
"I
know we've never met, but I've been reading your posts for so long
you feel like a woodworking buddy. Congratulations on your future
granddaughter, and I'm looking forward to the projects you will be
building. With three daughters, myself chances are I may need some of
those project ideas in the future. Wishing you the best." - Joe
Cumbo
Here's
My Shop Experience
We
also heard some feedback on some of the questions and answers in the
Q&A section of last issue's eZine: opinions on preseparators and
the Sketchup drafting program. - Editor
"There
is no need to buy a preseparator. I made one from a large round
plastic garbage can, a 3/4-inch round plywood for a lid and a few
aluminum elbows. Cut a hole in the center of the plywood lid and
another near the circumference. Place the duct from your pickup in
the outer hole with an elbow under the lid, pointing along the
outside of the bin. The center hole is for the duct coming from your
vacuum which you just point straight down. If you use some flexible
ducting, you can easily lift the lid and pull out the bin to empty
it." - Ted Brydges
"I
read your recommendation for using Sketchup. I have tried to use it
several times and have been very frustrated. I have been using the
old-fashioned drafting techniques I learned in high school and
college 50 years ago. I have not found a good tutorial for using it
for woodworking. Evidently Google thinks everyone is designing large
buildings and landscaping." - Ed Frankenfeld
And
another reader told us about what happened when he tried to match the
stain on an old piece of pine -- just like a question that appeared
back in eZine Issue 289. - Editor
"I
had the same issue with a door and trim on an older home. I went to
the local home supply store to see if I could find a match, but the
dilemma was how much oxidation had taken place and would I find a
stain to match it. I took a piece of the wood to my local paint
store, and they scanned it and were able to machine mix an exact
duplicate. It saved me time and money buying stain and trying to
match something myself." - Mike Holan