Spurdog

I have been working on this for the past few months but I am not exactly sure how long but I have been fitting it inbetween work and stag do's. I really wanted a new board and as I have been worming I looked into how to build one on the net. There are came across Grain hollow wooden surfboards, which looked fantastic and cheap the only problem was they were based in Amercia and after shipping the cost increased and just seemed to complicated. However reading my subscription of Surfing life, introduced to me by Surfers against sewage the was a advert for grain build you own surfboards brought to you by, (and this is the last plug) Fyne boat kits. So I ordered away and the kit came in the post with a book of instructions that at first seriously dented my confidence due to it large and precise nature. Building stands and tables out of scrap was right up my street and I enjoyed following the steps much more than anticipated. So things were taking shape and due to glue times and prep work I realised that making the most of my available time was key, and not to work after a couple of beers as damage was easily done. I took a few pics along the way but wish I had taken more looking back, many people said it was not going to be sea worthy but it's had a full weeks surfing and gave as good as it got. The last varnish stage though had to be rushed but it needs a regular top up coat so it should be fine, it's 6'4" sherry fish named after a spiny dog fish a type of shark. I enjoyed the build so much I am planing board number two using self bought materials, but I have a different project line up which should take up less garage space.

Wine Rack Extension_2

I came up with a new design which meant using the back and front as the front and drilling holes in a piece of hardboard for the back. I made it thinner as the bottles hold in place better. At the moment I don't have any wine in it but will soon sort that out but I like the design and look. I could use wood instead of the hard board and joints instead of screws to improve. I think I'm going to paint this so was not too bothered about the finish, and unfortunately I have seen an extra large bottle that this new rack couldn't, accommodate but luckily they could sit on top of the old rack. So for the next edition I think it will have to be all wood, with joints, and the top open so any odd shaped bottles can be stored.

Fixed Drying Table

Unfortunately another project which needed repairs, this time it was the gale force winds which put pay to the sturdiness. I increased strength by increasing the size of the mortise joints by an inch on each. I broke one of grand ads chisels in the processes snapping the metal after getting it stuck too deep, and got a cut for my troubles which is standard, the joints aren't exactly flush but there holding so far. Since its creation there was always a surface area limitation which I wanted to address so the collapse of the original was a opportunity for innovation not to be missed. The fold out extension has clips to hold the struts out of the way from the old boiler in my room which is being redecorated. Big jobs in the pipeline, mainly surfboard, bench and wine rack.

planter

The base of this planter is embarrassingly an old one that did not survive. Granted the weight of soil will push the sides out however I'm pretty sure it was broken through moving it roughly, but I will give refunds! On the bright side I've increased the durability of the design so hopefully it will last a decade at least.

Pine draw

After putting this project off for a long time a weeks holiday from work to get other things sorted meant i could eventually get round to starting it, and was pleased to finish it before the week was out. This is my first attempt at dovetail joints so i didn't know how long it would take. To be honest I'm not very happy with the joints as they are messy and poor fitting, but they hold firm with glue and the hardboard base keeps everything sturdy. The draw is for an existing table with no draw and i had to take some screws out of the hole where the draw goes as they were sticking out so i hope the table doesn't fall down. To get the draw to fit i had to do a bit of sanding which made the dovetails look a lot better, i used some skate wax to help it slide as was suggested, but your supposed to use beeswax. Some yacht lack er finished it off. Have been forgetting to put completed jobs on woodwormer and need a new project as the chicken house will have to wait till after winter.

Wine rack extension.

After ordering a wine box from a promotion I had too much wine for the old rack, so I set to work on the extension. I didn't get off to a good start as I couldn't find a piece I didn't use on the first one and as I wanted to use the same wood i ended up using different wood. The whole design is different and it doesn't fit the other one so I shall need to build another section that fits them both together and as I found the left over piece when nearing completion I can use that.

Notice board

When using the ceder to make plant boxes I'm often left with nice thin off cuts which can be useful to make frames. I was lazy with this one and have not made a frame but just used glue and plane pins the attach the wood to the hard board. The hard board is a bit difficult to put pins into and i think it would be easier if it was the other way round, they go in with a bit of extra force.

Drying Table

Now that the onions are coming out of the ground if they are dried before strung up they will keep for longer. A place to dry them out of reach of the chickens was needed and therefore a table with chicken wire as the top was ordered. I used the same method of mortise joints for the frame, when building the big oak table but didn't feel the need for a middle support, as i don't think there will be a vast amount of weight on it. Its difficult to see anything getting dry at the moment which is also a good excuse for not getting on with other jobs such as another shelf, chicken house restore and a draw for pine table. The drying table isn't totally fixed but I'm hoping it will stiffen up with time out in the elements. The chicken wire helps hold the shape being fixed with a staple gun which i hope holds as I have had staples fall out after time with previous projects

Drying Table

wine rack

i started trying to to make this wine rack a long time ago but broke my electric jigsaw in the process. i ordered a new one but when it came the plug was industrial, so half of it sat until i could sort out the power issue. turned out i needed a 110 volt transformer which i got and it works great. it was tricky because it was half done and i wasn't sure id been successful as i glued it and wrapped it in sellotape. For now its stuck and i put a couple of bottles on it, i think I'm going to drink the red now though. its small at the moment but the plan is to add more layers to it as my wine stock increases.

Chain saw bench 2

after a long winter having nicks taken off it the old bench came in for much needed repairs. it did need running repairs over the winter which the cows get blamed for causing but i put it down to inaccurate chopping. it is nice to do a renovation job as your not starting from scratch and can make improvements to the old design. as some of it was still standing i could use its dimensions to get the replacement parts together. it went well and only took two days but is a bit wonky and there is a slight wiggle which might suggest it wont last long but hopefully a bit better than last year.

It's back again!!!! I was decommissioned earlier in the year being told it was a easy job 'only a few nails' but when the full task became apparent I reluctantly agreed. But secretly I was stoked about getting old bettsy back into action. Also came up with new cross supports to try and prevent the support being chopped. Before and after photos tell the story.

shallow planter

Another shallow planter made to order. One of the side logs is an old piece of chain saw bench which i tried to focus the picture on. i also did a bit of machete work on the centre log to fit it snugly, no nails, which i enjoyed far too much and will have to repeat but it makes a lot of mess. There is also a impressive set up of a grow bag on a previous table supported by bricks which even I'm surprised is standing!! Leonardo Kahuna Burrows is a good dog and therefore deserves to be in the picture. The planter had to be removed from the front of the house to the back, which is a blatant lack of a appreciation of garden features.

Oak Shelf

I had to wait until management went away on holiday until i could put the shelf on the wall as it wasn't given the okay, but now its up its staying. There have been obvious improvements pointed out but that goes without saying. I used the table saw to cut through the oak plank, which was easier than the hand held circular saw, when i used it the right way round, so due to poor workmanship it has left some marks on the top as a reminder. I did sand it a bit but my sander came in a big help when i needed a dowel pin to fix a draw handle. I've been to the wood supplies in Wickwar, but its country supplies and they would have to order a large amount of pine so ill have to go further a field.

Picture frame

I made this oak frame from cuts from making the table. It's been assembled for some time but I needed some hard board for the back. It was made to fit the picture which was a present. There is a slight issue with the level of it when up, but I should be able to adjust the position of the hole or use two nails and some string. For now it rests nicely on the next picture

Wooden Crib

This is a small crib for my nieces dolls as ordered by management. i had to smooth of the edges so as not to cause any injuries. its not been used much yet but i look forward to seeing them rock it. the rock is not that smooth and is one thing id change. Management has also been treating it with something so it looks suitable. It used to be a oak wheel barrow which has seen better days. this is just wood from the top half of the wheel barrow which is still operational but needs a repair and is also full of apple for storage. Ive not been very hands on recently due to the cold weather but I'm hoping to start a couple of projects, using a new circular saw i got from a work colleague. One is a large oak shelf for books, which i keep imagining falling off the wall , and another is a pine draw, to go in a pine table. I want to get the pine locally in Wickwar as there is a wood yard I've been meaning to visit. So i have the best intentions of using my weeks holiday to make real inroads in my plans. But its the festive period and the copising season has begun. I have also received interest from a old friend for a bookcase, which funnily enough i have already made something similar for my shoes. 'Bird man if this is acceptable your in luck' (but i fear its far to small to hold a small portion of your knowledge.

Table two

The new draining board had a left over slab which i made into another outside plant table. Used a old metal side table base which should be bolted to the wall so making it stand up is difficult. the solution is to place it underneath a window ledge which makes it stable. Painted the top with varnish after instructions from pops. My nice had to help me as i broke the end of the wood off standing on it showing its security, so nailed it back in place with a little helper.

Table

Table with fold out side table. The top is a old draining board and has drainage grooves which inspired the fold out lower table which the excess water draining on to it, as it is going to be used to put plants on. gave it a lick of wood stain as the top had already been stained.

Fence

I should have taken a pic of the barrier of pallets i had in place of these planks before but i didn't have the for sight. Its wobbly on purpose to deter any animal invaders coming over to frighten the chickens. i might strengthen it with a middle post and add another plank if it doesn't prevent any trespassers

Small table

This was a much quicker project finished in a few hours, mainly due to the legs being a off cut from a table my mum wanted made smaller. The table is destined for my aunties tree house for her grandsons. She hasn't accepted it yet though so i might have to call it a bonsai stand but i was really happy with it. It looks like a miniature pub table, the top planks are off a old gate and pretty weathered. I would put some wood stain on it but my auntie is hopefully going to take it today.

Oak table

Its finished! Well i was thinking of trying to make it look finished but the rustic look always seems to become the sensible option. Its taken what feels like 3-4 months and probably was. But i blame unforeseen distractions like holidays and other more important jobs. I followed the instructions in the book a bit more so had less tweaking to do once all the parts had be made, but that is what took the majority of time. I used about 2/3 of one large plank cutting lengths of wood with my circular saw and have left a half moon shape off cut i was thinking of making a CD/DVD rack with. Once i was happy it wasn't falling over i had to clear out the garage of all of my tools and of cuts as it was looking like a beaver dam or something.