This reader’s project incorporates some clever “interactive” functionality and plenty of storage.
A family I work with has a son who is crazy about airplanes. The mother sent me a picture of an airplane bed, and I knew I could do better. Attached are the sketchup design, a few pictures of the work in progress and the finished bed with Paulito included. I was disappointed that they added the box springs, as I had designed it for a single bunk mattress only, but I was told when Paulito goes to bed, he feels he is really flying.
It is made from hard maple, padauk, and Peruvian walnut. There is a little maple plywood and veneer, but it is mostly solid lumber with no stain or paint. I made two propellers which are easily removed. One is maple and the other is padauk and walnut. The wings pull out and form a storyteller’s seat, and the propeller really turns. There is plenty of storage in the drawers on the base.
- Joe Byron
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First things first – I’m not a woodworker. Actually, I WASN’T a woodworker. Longtime followers of the blog know that while I certainly appreciate the beauty, precision and creativity of this craft, I haven’t been someone that uses wood to make things that look good, serve a purpose, or both.
That all changed a couple months ago. Long story short, I decided that after almost four years of working with some pretty amazing woodworkers, it was time to join the party.
In a recent conversation with our field editor Chris Marshall about project I’m working on that involves walnut (which I’ll discuss in an upcoming post), he told me a story about a unique finishing situation that he ran into. I thought it would be a great thing to share… (more…)
In addition to the beautiful inlay and the two wood species’ contrasting colors, the coordination between the modified tusk tenons and the extension slide handles are incredible details not to be missed.
This is a kitchen table I made out of tiger maple and purpleheart. The purpleheart table legs kept splitting on me down the center so I decided to hide the splitting with tiger maple inlays to match the table top. I also made two foot long extensions for the table that attach with pegs to sliding boards that are concealed under the ends of the table top. Each extension has two folding legs for storage. The tiger maple top was finished with tung oil followed one week later with multiple coats of General Finishes, High Performance Water-Based Top Coat. The purpleheart legs and apron were finished only with the top coat.
- Stewart Shapiro; Newark, DE
Do you have a project you’d like to share? Click here to send it in!
Red-wing blackbirds are back, the daffodils are up and my grass is just about ready to mow. Dare I say it, but spring has finally arrived. But warmer weather and longer days aren’t the only things you have to look forward to: our brand-new June 2011 print issue is nearly at your doorstep. It’s packed (as always!) with fresh content to keep you busy right on through to Memorial Day and beyond. For a quick preview of what’s in store, here’s a short video that covers the highlights. Hope you enjoy the new issue!
Sometimes being Woodworker’s Journal’s “Field” Editor, I feel like I’m way, way out in some field. What I mean here is, I’m one step removed from the day-to-day feedback we receive in our home office from readers about what we publish. A lot of mail comes in, but generally I don’t get to see it. I work from home, which is several states away.
Calling all flooring guys out there! I’ve got a flooring conundrum to share with you. Care to offer some advice?
Here’s the deal: I’ve had a hardwood flooring project on my to-do list for a long time. It’s my shop floor, actually. A couple of years ago, I got a great deal on 900 square feet of hard maple “shorts.” Tongue and groove, beautiful stuff. My plan has been to lay it over the current flooring in my shop, which is plywood subfloor. Not that I mind plywood, but it gets banged up pretty easily and doesn’t look as nice as a hardwood floor. At $1 per square foot, it was a deal too good to pass up.
The unique grain pattern of this reader-submitted project puts a fresh look on a classic design.
As you can see by the photo it is a Morris style chair. I put a little spin to it like instead of the slats on the sides I used flat panels of Birdseye Maple.
- Jesus “Rocky” Rodriguez
Do you have a project you’d like to share? Click here to send it in!
Reader Denzil Bell sent in these photos of a blanket chase using three different wood species.
Here are some photos of a chest I made for my grandson. The project is made of cherry (cut by the recipient’s great grandfather), walnut and hard maple.
- Denzil Bell; Temperance, MI
Do you have a project that you’d like to share? Click here to send it in!
We publishing folks live and die by the “master calendar,” and according to ours here at Woodworker’s Journal, the August print issue is off the press and in the mail. You should be receiving your copy any day now. So, in between cutting the grass, angling for bass or getting those summer woodworking projects going, be sure to give your new magazine a close look. It’s chock-full of summer sizzlers you won’t want to miss:
