Author Archives: woodworksbyjohn

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About woodworksbyjohn

I'm a retired woodshop teacher. I build one of a kind furniture pieces and custom picture frames. You can see some of my currently available work, boxes, carvings through my Etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/WoodworksbyJohn?ref=si_shop Contact me about your project -- always up for the challenge of unique work.

Custom Order for the U.K.

Allow me to give you the “back story” of this newest project I just received via the Etsy store.  There was a new, upscale shopping center that opened here in Las Vegas in 2011.  It’s called Tivoli Village and is designed … Continue reading

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Platform Bed Installation and Sleep Test

Happy to say the bed went together as planned and after a good nights rest I can say the project was a success!  There’s always a lot of satisfaction for me personally when projects go as planned and the outcome … Continue reading

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Platform Bed, Next Blog and I’ll be in It!

Now that it’s almost all said and done this project went together pretty quickly!  It was last Saturday that we purchased the mattress and Monday when I purchased the Poplar and Maple (shop grade) plywood to make it.  I guess … Continue reading

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Platform Bed Progress

End of the day and this is what I have to show for it!  These will be the insides of the platform so there was no need to add the panels — just the frame for strength.  In my teaching … Continue reading

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New Project: Platform Bed

In my last blog I lamented a bit that I pretty much had my fill of cutting the dovetails to make the 5 new boxes.  Add some problems with the Spalted Maple grain structure, turning a clamp the wrong way … Continue reading

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Hand Cut Dovetails — Part 2

In my last blog I was working on the sliding lid boxes which are almost completed.  All that remains is the shellac finish, lining the bottoms, and adding dividers for some that will be marketed as remote control storage boxes. … Continue reading

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Hand Cut Dovetails — Mass Produced?

One down and seven corners to go for this first run of these dovetailed, sliding lid boxes.  The Lore of the Dovetail is one that has always interested me.  Obviously I’m not alone in that since I’ve had numerous students … Continue reading

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Dovetailed Boxes with Spalted Maple Lid

Work is progressing nicely on the sliding lid, dovetailed boxes using the pieces of Spalted Maple I received as a gift.  If you recall my last post I referred to this wood as being “punky” — wonder what that means? … Continue reading

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Mystery Box Postponed

You probably recall what I referred to as my Mystery Box project.  That was because the end use for it couldn’t be divulged as it was for marketing an item my client wanted to “keep under wraps”.  Apparently there’s quite … Continue reading

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Hand Cut Dovetails & Spalted Maple

If you’ve ever heard of or seen a wood that’s been “spalted” you’ll appreciate the unique beauty of it.  Here’s a photograph I attempted to crop to give you a good view of it. When wood is spalted it means … Continue reading

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