Wood Working Skills
When I lived in WA state I had a lot of wood working tools, unfortunately the move to CO I left most behind. I was never really any good at it anyway. The last few weeks have had some project ideas that required rekindling my love for wood working. I finally busted out my old craftsman router that I have had for 20 years probably. Only to decide to upgrade it to a new top of the line bosch. I also upgraded my circular saw to a nice cordless craftsman one. I already had a chop saw sitting around to make miter cuts. The rest is glue and screws.
First project: I have been thinking of ways to display Enzo’s ashes and coming up blank. A visit to my brothers house gave me an idea, a shadow box. That was just the start, the idea. I then went through 20 different ideas and ways to make it. It started as a simple box then evolved to this one. I cut the box using 1x6 pine wood to a 11x14 size with mitered edges. Then used a 1x1 on the router to make this inside trim piece. For the plexi glass front and the back I also used the router for rabbet and dato cuts.
Staining is a pain. I tried a black stain but it did not work out well. Then once I started to sand it down I liked the washed out stain look and stayed with this. Sprayed with clear lacquer to cover it. Inside I kept with the natural pine, only sanded and clear lacquer.
For the back, I put a picture of him in the snow with his shadow. The picture was taken in our backyard giving it more meaning. The song Landslide by Fleetwood Mac is really the inspiration. Mainly due to the lyrics “I've been afraid of changin' 'Cause I've built my life around you” and “if you see my reflection in the snow-covered hills”. The lyrics and meaning really resonate with the life I had with him.
I also started to make a new box to move his ashes from the tin to, I opted to not do this. I knew it would be too much for me to open the tin and move him. I will keep his ashes in this tin and put the tin and a paw print inside the box.
Second project: With camping and road trips I wanted a better organized way for all the gear in my vehicle. I searched the internet for pre-made drawer systems but man they are expensive and generic. They aren’t meant for my application and car. So again with the router and circular saw I knocked out a drawer system. about $120 in lumber (would have been $60 a year ago) and $120 for the metal slides. So for under $250 I made one for my needs and my car for nearly 1/10th of the price of a pre-made one.
The actual drawers I used 3/4” on the side and 1/2” on the ends and bottom. Cut a dato cut for the bottom to slide in to and be stronger. Rabbet cuts on the ends to flush in to for strength. The drawer sides also got a rabbet cut down the top for flush tops to sit on. And 1/4” dato cuts down the side for dividers. The outside frame is all 3/4” plywood for strength and blasted with spray on bed liner.
For my wood design ideas check out this link, I have used it for other ideas from these plans
Shadow Box for Enzo
