Sewing Table-Part 2

Posted on August 20, 2017 by Greg Merritt

I managed to mill up some of the parts the sewing table.  I ripped some 8/4 red oak stock down for the legs and a few white oak bits for the stretchers.  My setup for breaking down stock is pretty basic, bordering on the sketchy.  I have an old Craftsman job site table saw.  No guards, no stand.  I just drag it out into the middle of the floor and squat down to run stock through it.  It’s a crappy way to go, but it works.  For an outfeed stand I use one of my Japanese trestles. I purposely set the lower stretcher height just for that use. Continue reading →

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Sewing Table-Part 1

Posted on August 15, 2017 by Greg Merritt

I spent the better part of my shop time last week and this past weekend trying to get the shop cleaned up and organized.  It is amazing how far out of hand something can get before you really stop and say enough.  So I took the time to get things under control and take care of some basic housekeeping type projects before committing to my next full-fledged project.

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The Magic Attic-Mahogany 

Posted on August 8, 2017 by Greg Merritt

If you have been following along for very long then you have heard me make mention of my magic attic.  When we moved into this house, just over two years ago, I discovered that the previous owner had left behind some wood in the attic.  Well, “some” is an understatement. Almost half of the attic is covered in boxes of and slabs of wood. Continue reading →

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Clamp-On Pincushions-Part 2-Complete with a Bonus

Posted on August 5, 2017 by Greg Merritt

The plan at the end of my last post was simply to complete the second version of clamp-on pincushion and complete the design drawing for the first version.  A simple conversation changed my plans.

My mother stopped by over the past weekend and while showing her the pincushions I have been working on, management made a comment about something she had put back from her grandmother.  A pincushion that her grandmother had made her that held scissors, bobbins and a thimble.   Continue reading →

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Clamp-On Pincushions-Part 1

Posted on July 28, 2017 by Greg Merritt

I mentioned in a previous post that several years, eighteen to be exact, we spent an impromptu weekend at the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill.  We fell in love with the Shaker furniture and, at the gift shop, I purchased three little books of measured drawings.  I had big plans to make a bunch of the projects in those books.  Unfortunately about all I had were plans and ambition.  I didn’t have a place to work, practically no tools and a very limited skill set. Continue reading →

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Ratcheting Book Stand-Redux

Posted on July 16, 2017 by Greg Merritt

It’s not very often that I get requests for projects that I build.  Some of my stuff is a little out there.  But, when I do get a request, I try to accommodate.  My version of the ratcheting book stand design that Peter Follansbee brought back into focus has proven popular among family members. Continue reading →

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Shaker Stool 128 Mod-Part 3-Complete

Posted on July 15, 2017 by Greg Merritt

I spent a few days working on the milk paint finish of that I had started at the end of my last post.  I’m going to hold off on the details of the process for now.  I’ve been asked by Salko Safic to write an article for an upcoming issue of his new, online, hand tool centric, magazine, “Handwork“.  After reading through the first issue, I’m pretty sure I’m in way over my head, but I’m going to give it my best effort.  So if your interested in my process, keep an eye out for next issue of “Handwork”.  At any rate, the finish on the stool is almost complete, but before I complete the finish, I need to weave the seat. Continue reading →

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Shaker Stool 128 Mod-Part 2

Posted on July 10, 2017 by Greg Merritt

Turning the remainder of the three legs for this little stool went fairly quickly.  Helped in part by and early start and a cool morning.  A welcome change from the heat that is the norm for this time of year.

 

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Shaker Stool 128 Mod-Part 1

Posted on July 8, 2017 by Greg Merritt

In a perfect world I would be using riven stock for building stools and chairs, but my world is far from perfect.  So I make do with sawn stock.  Which means that I have to be creative when milling stock to obtain pieces with straight grain and minimal run out. As a result, I end up with a fair amount of off cuts.  Since I’m too frugal to throw them out I’m constantly trying to find ways of using them up.  Otherwise I would soon be drowning in little bits of wood.  Which brings me to the project at hand. Continue reading →

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Shaker Stools 240 Mod-Part 5-Complete

Posted on July 8, 2017 by Greg Merritt

I spent my evenings after work weaving the seat for the second stool.  I was a little more comfortable with the process this time and actually enjoyed applying the rush.

 

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Posted in Shaker Stool 240 Mod | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments