New Shop Up and Running-Mostly

Posted on October 10, 2015 by Greg Merritt

I’m finally at a point where I can start working wood once again.  It seems as though its been years instead of weeks and I’m surprised at how much I have missed it.  I took a long hard look at the new garage and came to a few conclusions. Continue reading →

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Bookcase-Progress 1-Design

Posted on October 3, 2015 by Greg Merritt

As we continue the never-ending unpacking of boxes and putting away of stuff, it has become apparent that the Hillbilly household is in immediate need of a bookcase.  This of course means that the nightstands have been bumped from the top of the list to the #2 position.  In either case, neither of these projects can be started until I have the new shop space up and running.  I’m getting close on that front and might even post about it as early as tomorrow.  Anyway, back to the bookcase. Continue reading →

Posted in Design, HBD Bookcase | Tagged , | 11 Comments

Nightstand Design-Part 4

Posted on September 26, 2015 by Greg Merritt

Well, now I have a completed design for the nightstand.  I’ve been calling it a nightstand because that is my intended use for it.  Obviously its just a little table with a drawer and could be pressed into service for just about any purpose that calls for such an item.  Anyway, this design will also easily scale up or down. Continue reading →

Posted in Design, HBD Nightstand, Illustrating | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Nightstand Design-Part 3

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Greg Merritt

In my last post I finished up with a front elevation for the nightstand and a promised to explain how I arrived at the final decorative details.  Before I go into that, I think I should move forward and show the establishment of the side elevation.

Again, like with the front elevation, I’m building the side elevation based upon a 1:1 ratio square.  The means that the entire nightstand is built around a 1:1 cube.

So beginning with a square. Continue reading →

Posted in Design, HBD Nightstand | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Nightstand Design-Part 2

Posted on September 23, 2015 by Greg Merritt

I ended my last post with a final sketch that was ready for refining into a workable design.  Before I go into the next stage I want to talk a little bit about proportions.

I design all of my projects based upon proportions, as opposed to dimensions.  Why?  Using proportions gives a structured way of sizing elements as well as spacing elements.  If you rely on dimensions how do you choose the sizes of parts and their layout?  What rule do you apply?  I used to design projects with dimensions and used the “best guess” method for establishing sizes and layout.  It worked, but it was hit-and miss as well as stressful.  By using proportions you gain two very helpful benefits. Continue reading →

Posted in Design, HBD Nightstand | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Nightstand Design-Part 1

Posted on September 22, 2015 by Greg Merritt

In a recent post, OK rant, I addressed a complaint that Mr. Sellers does not go into enough detail as to the design of projects. Like I said in that previous post, design is not part of his promised package. However, this set me to thinking and then searching for someone or something that does go into the details of project design. Unfortunately, I came up mostly empty-handed.

The best resource that I can recommend Continue reading →

Posted in Design, HBD Nightstand | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Embellishment

Posted on September 12, 2015 by Greg Merritt

I still don’t have a shop space up and running yet.  Unpacking from the move seems to be some sort of perverse Aesop’s fable.  No matter how many boxes I empty, the pile seems to grow by two-fold.  I’ll be damned if I can work out the moral though.  Add to that a particularly virulent summer cold and the shop space has been slow to materialize.  On the bright side, unpacking is a fairly mindless chore and has allowed me to think and design in my head.

One design element that has been weighing heavily on me has to do with Continue reading →

Posted in Design, Illustrating | Tagged | 8 Comments

Expectations and the Literal Thinker

Posted on September 4, 2015 by Greg Merritt

In the past few days there has been a, lets call it lively, discussion over on Paul Sellers’ Woodworking Masterclasses forum.  Generally speaking, the entire thing centered on two complaints voiced by a single member.

The first complaint was that the when and why of which joinery to employ was not being directly addressed.  The second complaint was that the woodworking instruction was not directly addressing how to design a piece of furniture.  While these issues are technically correct, all of the information Continue reading →

Posted in Thoughts-Views | 16 Comments

New Shop Space

Posted on August 23, 2015 by Greg Merritt

Just a quick one.

Here is a shot of what will eventually be the new shop space.  Once all of the moving boxes have been emptied, sorted and their contents put  away.  Really just a back corner of a 2-stall garage, but waaaay more space than I had before.  It needs more lighting and the only restriction is that I have to leave enough room for Continue reading →

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Not Exactly Woodworking

Posted on August 12, 2015 by Greg Merritt

I’m still neck-deep in moving into a “new-to-me” house.  Boxes are everywhere I look and the project list grows longer every day.  Most for the new place and a few to ready the old for going onto the market to be sold.

The new shop space still is just a glimmer in my eye, but I hope to be back up and running in the next few weeks.  I’ve staked a claim on a back corner of the garage for my new shop space.  I have to admit that it’s a little daunting to think about a new shop setup.  Heck, I was just getting comfortable in my little shed.  The possibilities can be a little overwhelming Continue reading →

Posted in Bamboo Wall | Tagged , | 13 Comments