New shop dog

I’m going to be on hiatus for a few weeks, as I have a new shop dog that needs some basic training, and a lot of attention.World, say hello to Wrigley the goldendoodle, yes I’m a Cubs fan. I won’t be on a complete hiatus, I will probably spend most of my nights designing projects (gota love Sketchup) that will be built in the spring.

Wrigley the Goldendoodle

Raised dog dishes

After a few shop projects, I can finally start my next “real” project. For several reason, some intensely personal, & others less so, this project is very important to me. This is the first piece, of “fine furniture” that is 100% my design. All my previous projects, have been a copy of, or my take on someone someone Else’s design. The Sketchup file linked below,shows what several might find excessive for something as mundane as raised dog dishes, but nevertheless it illustrates what I consider my evolving style.

Over the weekend I tried my hand at exporting an animation from Sketchup, and I must say it was a lot simpler than I though it would be. In less than an hour I went from knowing nothing about it’s animation capabilities, to producing the video shown below. For those that are interested in the animation functionality, I found this tutorial very informative.

Design details:

• Legs tapered on two sides
• Apron beading
• dovetail joinery
• buttons to attach the top
• made from solid walnut

The plan: raisedDogDishes.skp

Router Table (Pt. 2)

It’s been really cold outside and in the shop  so I haven’t made much progress on the router table, other than rough cutting a few of the major components to size. Since my Bench dog lift arrived on Monday, I was able to get dimensions off of it, so I could  complete the table design (seen below). I think I might need to add some bracing under the top to support the lift, as it’s a lot heavier than I expected (22 lbs. without the router mounted).

Router Table (Pt. 1)

For the last two weeks I have been designing my next big project, a router table based on the NYW  deluxe router station. I’m making several changes to the plans, The biggest one being that my router station needs to be mobile, so it’s designed to rest on 3″ casters.  I’m also changing the bit drawer sizes, I sized the two bottom drawers to hold the longest 1/2″  bits Freud sells (4-3/4″), The top 4 drawers are sized to hold normal length 1/2″ bits, and long 1/4″ bits. The only other change worth noting, is how the back is attached. Norm used biscuits to attach the back, I’m going to use dado’s. Unfortunately since my design is based so closely on Norm’s commercially available plans I can’t post the Sketchup file, but I can post a screen shots of it.  Hopefully I will have the design finished by the end of the year, and be able to start construction in early January.

My design about 90% done.