Welcome to Suncoast Woodcrafters Guild

I too have been somewhat busy in my ‘garage’ workshop.  Not the most ideal working conditions but still managed to complete a few projects.

The major one was building an original design coffee table out of 8/4 cherry from PJ WHITE. The design was to complement the lines of the wood frame of our sofa. 

Still needs to be stained but that’s a story for another day.

Then some handyman projects - dividers for the large compartment over the microwave and oven. Now we can properly store broiler and baking pans and other miscellaneous items.  

Then came a hose box, built around a metal hose reel. It matches the siding of our house.  

Next, I made a king size headboard for a good friend using some left over tongue and groove pine that was used in the ceiling of their house.  

Next, was a router project to cut 2 round discs out of 1” Baltic birch plywood to fit under our scan design chairs. Purpose was two fold - to raise the chairs slightly higher and to broaden the base so the narrow swivel on the chairs did not cut into our carpet. They too, need some sanding and staining to be completed.

And finally, a small garden tool holder for rakes, shovels, etc. to fit into a small space in another friend’s shed.    Woodworking - a wonderful stress reliever in these COVID times

Rick Crook is a real craftsman. Rick was quoted saying " I've completed two projects under the lock down.  First, a matched pair of prospector canoes which were in trade for a lifetime supply of cedar boards. The wood is unbelievable, mostly flat sawn 1 inch wood lengths 16 to 23 feet and widths up to 18 inches!  All select, clear old growth; the second picture was a sliding seat boat, delivered to Sydney BC.  I used my van and did it in one day with social distancing adherence.  I am on to another sliding seat boat started last week.  

Rolling along hiding in the shop."

Here are some photos of a First Aid Cabinet that I made for my church.  

The carcass is left over vertical grain plywood with edge banding.  I assembled it with biscuits.  The top crown moulding, bottom base piece and door frame are reclaimed old growth fir from a guy in Roberts Creek.  The door frame was joined with dowels.  Glazing is plexiglass.  The handle is Peruvian walnut.  I secured it to the wall with a French cleat with some security screws put through into a stud so it could not be easy lifted off French cleat. 

I have been planning on making a crosscut sled for years.  I finally decided to build it to facilitate the making of the first aid cabinet I made for my church.  I dug through a big stack of plans I had pulled out of magazines or printed off the web.  I had 7 of them.  The design really comes down to what works for you.  I took ideas from a couple of them.  The base is MDF (I would have preferred Baltic birch ply, but I was determined not to buy anything to make this).  The runners are Red Oak.  The rest of the wood is 7/8" Big Leaf Maple sourced from Marcia & Bob Cooley.  

The plan I used allows adjustment using playing cards or calling cards.  I got it to 0.009" within square which was good enough for me.  I tested it using the '5 cut method' and digital callipers.  I added two cork-backed stops that slide in a routed t-track and t-track bolts.  The one with a vertical slot is a hold down for small parts and also has cork on the bottom as well as the back.  

The biggest change I made from the plans was adding the dowel rods to make sure I kept my hands on the safe side of the fence.  Don't make the mistake of cutting all the way through the base like I did!!! Argh!  That convinced me to attach a stop block to the bottom of the sled and the side of my table saw table.  I also have attached a photo of GRK screws I used (available at GBS).  In my book, they are the best thing invented since cordless drills - no pilot hole (for most work), self tapping and self-countersinking.  They leave a nice finished look in my opinion.  For utility work they can't be beat

Jonathan and his husband David  landed on the Coast on August 18, 2020. They migrated from the United States to be closer to family in East Vancouver. Jonathan, a recently retired engineer, is the woodworker in the family. David is an artist, writer, gardener, stone mason, web designer, architectural designer, and a few other things. David designed and produced the construction drawings for the remodeling of their current house. 

Jonathan imported a load of rough hardwood boards and a few shop tools. He's setting up a small shop in his garage. He's dabbled in spoon carving, small boxes, cabinets and furniture. He's going to produce furniture for his new home; bed frame, farm table, bar stools and standing desk. He hopes to build a hefty woodworking bench and learn to turn. He's excited to have found a woodworking community on the Coast and looks forward to meeting SWG members.

If you are interested in the woodworking school in Bellingham, WA where Jonathan made the chair check out the link press on it  http://www.terrafirmadesignnw.com/