Nice design!

Change of Command is this week, which means I get my 4th boss in three years (FML) so I decided I'd fabricobble the command gift.  The outgoing skipper is a Navy diver who has a penchant for clapping to build morale.  So I decided that I needed to work all that into the gift.

So the rough motif is a replica Navy diving bell mounted to a plaque with our command logo and major project logos engraved into brass coins.  

but the kicker is that the helmet sits on an LED base that lights up and yes, can be controlled by a Clapper.

 

Another nice piece Nate!

Al and I are building a bathroom vanity, and a closet door for his Sister in law, and her wife. We've built many things for them in the past, including a full kitchen remodel. This vanity will be a modern, White Oak, 60" unit. Center mounted single sink, and three drawers on each side. 

If you've ever had to squeeze into a 14" opening to install drawer glides, you will have learned to measure and install them prior to assembling the cabinet. So that's just what we did today.

Not too much head scratching, before figuring out the correct placements. 

 

Those are the interior dividers. The side pieces were done before these.

Steve wanted a couple to action shots. 

 

If I wasn't certain that I haven't been drunk since I was 16, I'd swear I was shit-faced in that second picture. 

I've come to terms with having a bald spot, but Foster Brooks has to go!

Progress report

 

Update on the bathroom vanity cabinet, and some shots of two matching white oak linen closet doors with a slat design. Not fully assembled in these shots but you can get the gist. 

 

Edited July 14, 2025Jul 14 by Voltron

The slatted door style has a lot of intricacies and places for failure. It looks simpler than the actual design. Many dados and places where parts have to fit exactly. 

But they went together easier than either of us expected. Not an accident, but Al's planning and forthought.  

Absolutely worth the effort, as they'll be an eye catcher for sure.

This has been a rewarding project in several ways. Now that I'm no longer working as a carpenter, it's my much needed release for creativity. And Al and I are really enjoying the woodworking and smashburgers.

Edited July 14, 2025Jul 14 by swt61

No handles yet, but Steve will hopefully help with the install and then put on the handles in place. He will also frame the closet doorway and hang the doors when the time comes. Photos aren't great but you can get a sense of the finish and how the Rubio oyster pigment works into the grain and enriches the overall tone of the white oak. Pretty darn happy with the results, and the "clients" are going to check it out tomorrow so hoping they feel the same.

 

Looks gorgeous to me, Al.

x2

I'm in love with the color. It looks good in pics, but even better in person. And Al's door design is stunning IMO.

I will build new door jambs out of the same White Oak, as well as mill up new casing. These doors are heavy, and will require 3 hinges per side. I'm excited about seeing it all in place, but that will be a bit in the future.

I can't imagine them being anything but impressed. 

Beautiful 

 

Well it's earlier than I expected. I'll miss all of you!

But I'm here at the pearly gates, talking to St. Peter. I've had a good life!

What's that? Oh, just Peter? Peter Johnson?

What? I have to leave now? I can't stay here for eternity? You say that you close at 5:00? Oh, OK. Can I come back sometime? Oh cool, thanks. See you next time Peter!

Well everyone has their own idea of heaven I suppose. 

I'm gathering supplies to build a multi-function table saw jig.

Something I saw recently on YouTube. Bourbon Moth Woodworking. It also has several accessories to build for it as well. It'd take a while to explain everything it does, but cutting raised panels easily and safely is just one. I think I'll also build a splining accessorie too. Al built a basic one, but this should be a little easier and safer. There's a mortising attachment as well, but we built one years back for the router table.

Might get a start on it tomorrow. More to come. Now I think I'll go eat at Red Robin, since I'm in Concord, CA.

Yes, I bought the prettier Blue T tracks!

Edited July 27, 2025Jul 27 by swt61

I should have more than enough left over Baltic Birch plywood for a splining jig accessorie and even more. T tracks, hold downs (another set of hold downs packaged with the long T track), knobs and a stop. All of this will make more sense once the jig is completed. 

Plenty of leftover Black laminate (I assume from the chop saw station), and some Ipe to build the bridge part of the jig, that will overlay the existing SawStop fence.

Got a good start today. I laminated the parts that needed laminating.

I got the channel section that rides over the existing table saw fence built. The plans didn't call for the insides of the channel section to be laminated on the inside, but I knew that it would slide on the existing fence so much better, so I made that improvement. The channel has no slop whatsoever, but slides absolutely perfectly over the fence. It's also put together with screws alone, should I ever need to micro-adjust it.

Tomorrow I hope to dado the slots for all of the T-track, put a water based poly on all of the raw plywood parts and assemble said T-tracks. Possibly even route the arch for the adjustable angle arm.

After that it's just building accessories. A splining jig, a slide rail that has several functions, including a tapering jig etc...

Woodworker:

An official title that one earns from buying clamps.

41 minutes ago, swt61 said:

Woodworker:

An official title that one earns from buying clamps.

Nipple, or otherwise?

That depends entirely on which wood is being worked. 

Today I installed the door jambs that I milled up, for the bathroom the Al and I built the vanity and doors for.

Unfortunately the GC didn't listen to me, and built the door opening smaller than requested. It was already the size we wanted, but for some odd reason he filled in the opening a bit. Not the end of the world. I had already discovered this before building the jamb. However the finished doors will now have to be cut down. As I'm picky about symmetry, I'll need to take a little off of each side. It's not a lot. Maybe 3/16" to 1/4" on all sides. The height also needs a bit off, but we anticipated this. I'll only need to remove some at the top, as the bottom rails are taller, which looks better IMO.

I don't want to install the casing or doors until the GC builds out the closet system.

He's expressed to me that he'll be very careful, but why make it more difficult for him and nerve wracking for me?

SawStop safety mechanism not quite as advertised, but still worth it.

The tiny little nicks you see in advertisements might not be totally accurate.