Shopsmith Forums

charlese wrote:Just gotta comment on this one! Yep! stiles and rails can apply to all kinds of construction - not limited to doors, carcase', panel construction, even fences. Like said - not limited.

Choice of joints - best choice is anything you can think of. Even a bridled miter. Just read an article in Popular woodworking about board construction of boxes, beds, etc. The joinery was nails. Come to think of it, apple and orange crates used to have nail joinery.

Now to mention your lead paragraph into your new assignment.

"In junior high school and freshman year of highschool, I built a small wooden cabinet for her. It was designed and built to house her ice skates (figure skates). To this day, she uses it only now is functions like a 'side table' in which she stores the blood pressure machine and a few other medically related items."

Man! what a outstanding story of a lasting love and what happens to all of us when we are around for a few years. From figure skates to blood pressure cuffs.

By the way - why not show us a photo of that small wooden cabinet that's lasted all this time.

OMG - I didn't realize just how badly this old box had gotten. Maybe I should do some much needed repair and refinish it. But you ask, Charlese, and here they are, pictures of the skate case from the mid-fifties:

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The only aspect to brag upon is how well the glue joints have held up over these many years. Thye were probably done with hot hide glue. That is the only glue I remember having in "'wood shop".

dusty wrote:OMG - I didn't realize just how badly this old box had gotten. Maybe I should do some much needed repair and refinish it.

Heck no, that's the valuable patina!;)

tdubnik wrote:I've switched to pocket screws for all of my face frame construction. It's accurate and fast and very strong. I do use some glue on the joints as well as the screws and the pocket holes are usually hidden once you attach the face frame to the carcass.

The best way to go!

I would like to add that Kregg has a good selection of inserts if you need to hide the screw slots.

I absolutely love pocket screws... I have had a Kregg single for years and this Xmas a Kregg Jr. 2 hole set was among the woodshop related items under the tree.
I have one flat Kregg clamp and one right angle Kregg clamp and love them. I want to add a few more. I have been buying them for gifts for some of my BIL's for a few years now. We do a name-draw birthday thing and since they almost all do woodworking it makes buying easy.

I tend to go through a lot of the screws because I like them for a lot of other uses where the head does not matter.

dusty wrote:OMG - I didn't realize just how badly this old box had gotten. Maybe I should do some much needed repair and refinish it. But you ask, Charlese, and here they are, pictures of the skate case from the mid-fifties:

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The only aspect to brag upon is how well the glue joints have held up over these many years. Thye were probably done with hot hide glue. That is the only glue I remember having in "'wood shop".

Ever hear of an 'Almond stick'? Works wonders on 'scratched' finishes.

Maybe JPW would work as well!;)

dusty wrote:I am reacting to a challenge issued by my wife - bless her soul...

It sits in the family room along side of her chair. A few days ago she challenged be to build another one just like it. She then commented on a possible comparison between the two.

I did that yesterday. Today she laid out another challenge. A new TV cabinet for the TV that she watches the most. Lower she says. It's too high - hurts her neck.

Thanks for showing us the 60 year old keepsake your wife cherishes. It shows pretty utilitarian and useful. How about asking her if a new coating of a clear finish, like polyurethane or spar varnish would work for her. This way she could still see all of the wear and hard knocks the cabinet took through all the moves and growing kids. If she OKs this then just a little sprucing along with the new finish will keep the patina. (as said earlier).

Then you could build a same sized new unit using any kind of joinery that comes to mind. No need to try to duplicate all cuts on the old one.

The story of this cabinet reminds me of the guy that forgetting his wife's birthday, wrote her a hand made card that said he would never again forget her birthday. The wife said this card was the very best gift she ever received. It's not the glitter of the gift - It is what she thinks of it.

Also, best of luck on the new TV cabinet!

Once again, thanks for the picture of this piece of high school woodworking. You did pretty darned well!!

P.S. I believe this is the very first photo of any of you projects. Thanks again!!

Dusty, please post an completed picture of the new one.
This kind of challenge should at least warrant warm chocolate chip cookies.

mrhart wrote:Dusty, please post an completed picture of the new one.
This kind of challenge should at least warrant warm chocolate chip cookies.

I don't believe she offered a reward for accepting the challenge. I think she just wants to keep me busy somewhere other than in the house.

When she realized that I had accepted her challenge (the day the first wood was cut), she issued the request for a new TV cabinet. The current one has served us well for many years but all of a sudden would be "nice" to replace it.

I will post pictures of the project (good or bad) though I seldom do that. Here are a couple in progress photos.

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These are "dry fit" only. It has been my experience that the real challenge is at glue up. Making wide board from small ones is also a challenge for me.

The skate case is coming together slowly because my time has been split between it and the other challenge that SWMBO has issued. All of the pieces for the TV Cabinet have been cut and the "making of big boards from smaller boards" is now under way.

My collection of clamps, though very adequate for most jobs, does not lend itself well to the edge gluing of larger pieces. However, it will get done soon. I want to begin working on my selves for in the shop.

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Waiting for Edge Gluing

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A Way To Cut a Group of Longer Pieces All the Same Length

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My Cross Cut Sled Extension Table

It just proves that woodworkers are crazy... We cut big boards into little boards then use the little boards to make big boards...
Kind of like using toothpicks to glue up a tree.


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