Latest house design - the kitchen’s done
Finally! I’m cutting the sides for the drawers now, and the whole house smells like blocks. I love maple. Here’s the latest, with what I think is a pretty complete kitchen design. The goofy sink-in-front of window setup was stolen straight out of Susan Susankas’s “not so big” house series. I don’t know if that detail will last, but the sink will remain. Otherwise, the kitchen is - I think - done. I’ve modeled a commercial stove, which have different (larger) dimensions than standard stoves. They go for very little, used. Sometimes free, sometimes $200. I don’t mind a 15 year old stove. Oh, and the countertop is something I’ll do myself, using a variant of this method. I may do some end treatment for the peninsula, but otherwise I think this is basically it. I hope.
Trash hut
Since the shop is JAMMED because of the plywood and maple delivery that I got last week, I needed to clear out space. This is a little open-backed hut that I made to hold two trash cans. It turned out better than I expected .It’s made from old Sun Microsystems pallets, cedar fencing, and 2 hinge sets. Not bad! I need to add a little vanity board on the bottom, ’cause you can see the shims I used to level it. I built the entire thing in the shop (2 days!) and then kinda walked it up the driveway, and voila! When it weathers in, it should match the shingled house nicely.
Always in motion
I have a terrible habit, which most of my friends will happily confirm. I impress myself far too easily. Every time I complete a step, I stop to admire it. “Gosh, will you look at that. Can’t believe I did it myself!” I waste amazing amounts of time this way. So, I made a rule. If I’m in the shop, I have to keep moving. Since most woodwork requires at least a little planning, this usually means that I’m cleaning. The floor is the obvious thing, of course. But really, “cleaning” means:
- sharpening, sharpening, sharpening
- oiling tools
- removing rust from surfaces (thankfully, that’s rare)
- lubricating machinery
- sweeping
- vacuuming dust out of strange places
- emptying the dust collector
- putting tools away
- making new tool holders
- sorting (finishes, hardware, fasteners, scrap wood)
- stacking and unstacking wood
I can’t recall where I read it, but someone said, “every week, do one thing to improve the shop.” Make a new tool holder, install some lighting, improve dust collection, etc. Today, I’m going to improve the dust collection on my lathe. Right now, it loves to spew dust behind the lathe cabinet, which is where the heater is. Dust in the heater is bad.
Four-and-twenty bluebird houses
There are loads of bluebirds up in Petaluma. It’s not the right season, but I made some bluebird houses. I usually buy extra plywood, ’cause it’s such a pain in the butt to tote around. The problem with plywood is that when it’s improperly stored on edge, it warps, and it’s in the way. I don’t have any decent plywood storage space. So, I had these two sheets of ugly exterior grade 1/2″ plywood getting in the way. I decided that I would make two sheets worth of bluebird houses. Plans here.
This is with the primer on. They’re mostly pained red now.
Comments(1)