I have been a little low on the energy and inspiration side when it comes to finding a suitable project this time.
After chatting with Brian Eve from Toolerable, I was eager to try to build a Rorkhee chair. It seemed like an appropriate challenge that didn't require too much wood, and the thing could be brought home in the airplane as well.
I tried to see if I could find some wood that would be fitting for this project, but sadly I don't have any thing that will make a good chair. I have a few small thin boards of some oak (from a pallet), but the only wood of a larger dimension on board are some construction grade spruce boards.
My thoughts are, that making a chair out of that will be a waste of time and energy, and I will be angry when the project fails due to some wood that is not strong enough. So I guess that I need to find some other thing to build. I'can always make a Rorkhee at home some time.
A folding camp stool would be a nice thing to make, but the same problems concerning the source of wood applies to that project. Maybe I will make a triangle bolt or two to bring with me home, that way I can have a head start when I decide to build a stool in the future. My idea is to make a triangle bolt by hard soldering 3 bolts together, so the legs of the camp stool can get very close to one another.
Chris Schwarz once blogged about a Roubo stool that looked like that.
Maybe it could be a fun project to make with the children?
Asger (our youngest son) has developed a keen interest in steam engines. That could open up for some interesting projects.
I have considered building a split demonstration model of a steam engine to better explain the working principles to him. That doesn't require a lot of wood, and it shouldn't be too hard. After all, the various parts doesn't have to be steam tight.
Yet another possible project is to build some sort of machine or contraption that can be driven by his steam engine at home.
E.g. a conveyor belt, a small crane or something along those lines.
But so far I haven't advanced past the sketch and dream phase of any of the above mentioned projects.
Do you ever find yourself in a similar situation?
I have no advice to offer, as I am in a somewhat similar situation. I suppose that the summer weather in Denmark is a bit more moderate than in my part of the USA, though I'm not altogether sure. Here, we generally have hot and humid weather for much of July and August, though last summer was cooler, with more rain. So far this spring we've had very seasonable weather, but also very wet and fairly humid. Just like I won't usually woodwork when it is very cold, I don't plan on building any furniture during the humid weather we usually get during the summer.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I may make some shop furniture. If I remember rightly, your workshop already has a nice tool cabinet, but I'm sure you could build a nice saw till or something like that, of course that would be if you actually need or want one.
Shop furniture is the stuff that most woodworkers really don't feel like making but at the same time are happy to have done it once its finished.
So it looks like I was absolutely no help :)
It is nice to hear that I am not alone.
DeleteShop furniture will probably just end up with me making yet another tool chest or sea chest, and I need to take a break from these. It should also be something that was fairly easy to transport home.
Humidity and the following wood movement can really take the joy out of woodworking.
Thanks for commenting.
Brgds
Jonas
Anything to do with steam has to take priority Jonas! With construction grade spruce you could build a back-saving bookstand for us in bed, or a typewriter/laptop stand: http://buildingdesks.blogspot.com/2014/04/typewriter-or-laptop-stand-part-1.html
ReplyDeleteThat last comment was supposed to be for "use" in bed, not for "us" in bed.
ReplyDeleteHi David.
DeleteI am glad that you like the steam idea.
the typewriter stand looks cool, but I have never felt the need for one, so I think I'll prefer to stick to the steam idea.
By the way, did you finish your Milkman's work bench?
Thanks for stopping by.
Brgds
Jonas
I built two of the Milkman's work benches Jonas, I've been using them about a year, and they are the most useful things in my workshop apart from my main bench! Both are made of construction lumber with cut down metal clamps instead of wood screws. They use Jorgensen hold-downs, mounted underneath, to clamp them either to the main workbench or the knock-down base I made. The base makes them portable, so they don"t have to be attached to a rickety (or expensive) table, and the top is at a consistent height. Mounted on the main bench they save my back when cutting dovetails, leaning in with my shoulder on a chisel, and planing small pieces. Thank you so much for your detailed photographs and measurements of the original.
DeleteBest regards,
David
I am really glad that you like the bench.
DeleteI haven't taken the time to build one myself yet, but I think I ought to do it some time.
Best regards
Jonas
Make some tools.
ReplyDeleteTools are great small projects that can be done with only a little scrap.
The Wierix square is fun, but so is the anarchist's layout square. A mortice guage, panel gauge, winding sticks, even. You should challenge yourself to see how many you can do in the time you have left.
My guess is that to build a Roorkee, you might have to take some wood with you. The good news is, you could take the blanks in your suitcase. I'm sure a nice Danish elm would make a fine chair. Better than pallet spruce, anyway.
Funny you should mention it, I was actually considering making a dovetail marker.
DeleteI too think that elm would look really great for a Rorkhee.
Bringing wood on board could be a solution, but I think that I will be more inclined to do it for something a bit smaller like the folding stool. Theoretically I could also bring canvas and some needles, and finish it completely out here.
Maybe I am just having a "dead" period, the last home period was a lot of work, so that could be why I feel like relaxing. But that is a bit unusual for me.
I thought about bringing my new Stanley Bedrock plane, and do a restoration job like I did with the Anchor plane, but I was afraid to loose my luggage (which happened, even though I got it back), and then maybe I would never get it back. That is one of the reasons why I try to keep the stock of tools brought on board to a minimum.
Brgds
Jonas
Jonas,
ReplyDeletePerhaps a fun project would be what we call "whirleygigs". which are wiind driven devices that feature animated things as well as indicating wind direction. These could also be converted later to steam power by replacing the wind rotor with a pulley.
Clark
Hi Clark.
DeleteThat is a good suggestion. Thanks for the idea.
Brgds
Jonas