bonnie & jason

Shed and shelf are done!

The shed is finally done. I might put some more shelving inside but for the time being, I’m saying it’s done. As you can see, it basically just holds all the tools and materials that I used to build the thing to begin with. Bonnie happy I’m not getting the garage all dusty though and it’s nice to have the space back as well. I’ll probably move a bunch of other tools and “man-stuff” in there too. Put a keg and a HDTV in and I can almost live back there!

I also finished off my first attempt at cabinetry. This was kinda my learning project in preparation for making the built-ins for the breakfast nook. It’s made of 3/4″ birch plywood for the casing and shelves and various pieces of solid birch trim. The “toy chest” drawer is also made with 3/4″ birch ply and solid birch trim. I routed the top trim piece with a 1/4″radius round-over bit for a comfortable grip when sliding. It slides on bottom mounted drawer hardware. Finally, the finish is a simple hand rubbed tung oil. It brings out the grain nicely and imparts a warm, golden hue to the naturally pale birch.

Lesson #1: Don’t skimp on tools. I had originally bought a cheap stacked dado set and got crappy cuts with lots of tearout. I’ve since upgraded to a nice set from Freud and expect better results next time based on the test cuts I’ve made so far.

Lesson #2: Prep work is just as important as the actual work. Planning, measuring, tool setup, etc. all contribute to the quality of the final product.

Lesson #3: 3/4″ birch plywood is HEAVY! I almost broke my back trying to get the thing up the stairs.