Wood 'n' Soul

Here is a sketch of the whole center - I think it is really cool looking. The client wanted it to be "floating" and it is - I am excited to be building it.

Here is a big part of the new project I'm working on - an entertainment center inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's the Waterfalls.

Here is the first piece. Looks are deceiving - this is the hardest piece I've ever built. It took some thinking out of the box to make it work right.

I am pleased with it!!

Here is a picture of the chair I am trying to finish. All was going well, after fighting a couple of issues, until I tapped the comb to put it in final position ready for wedges and finishing, along with the legs. I heard this sickening crack... the comb cracked .

At least it happened before I delivered the chair.

I thought it was ready for runging and finish... a couple more days now.

Here is a picture of the first of two shelves. My youngest son is there for scale - also because he's pretty cute.



It is almost 8 feet tall. And all joinery is done with Domino,

"Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off."
— General Colin Powell

I like Colin Powell - he's a smart man.

I'm working on an antique chair to repair the back. It is one of the toughest pieces I've ever worked on.

The wood is brittled and suffused with super glue from earlier repair attempts and age.


Here I'm working to very carefully carve away the old glue. It takes a long time, because I don't want to remove any wood and not have the pieces fit properly.




Later, I drilled out the pins and replaced them with solid wood pins.

The chair has been broken before - the rails are of a different material and there are many pieces that are cracked and broken. You might be able to fool some folks, but you can't fool your chariwright ;-). I wonder what happened to the chair that caused it to be broken this way. My client hasn't had the set for very long and she has not idea how it came to be that way.

I really enjoy working on pieces like these and often wonder at the stories they could tell...maybe I should write a book about them.

A couple of days ago, I visited a very nice lady who had some bubinga for sale. In the course of the conversation, she asked if I used hand tools, which I do and replied accordingly. She asked if I wanted a Record joiner plane - free. It had belonged to her best friend and she couldn't use it. As I stuttered and stammered a yes, she looked around and found the plane.

It is still in the original box [see image].


A #7 Joiner plane from England - just a touch under 22 inches long.


It had a smidge of rusty film, which quickly gave way to a little oil and emory paper [gently applied]. The sole is true and fine.

So I had to test it out. I couldn't even wait to sharpen it. Well you know - it works just fine!



Thank you much kind lady!!! I will use it and my boys will use it, ever thinking =of how it came to be ours...

Here are a couple of faux oldies I did a while ago.

A dictionary/book stand [an obsolete piece of furniture as everyone now uses Wikipedia] - it is well designed. It will fit either free standing or up against a wall. Makes a great storage place for atlases and other large books.



A simple bench - great for tying your shoes, or just sitting in the shade.



Both are built with through tenons and mortise and tenon construction. Milk Paint and a water based poly-urethane, waterproof finish. they should last 100 years or so.