2024 Review

I probably wrote the same thing last year, but it seems like I didn't do enough woodworking in 2024.  As I look back on my posts, here's what I got.

Projects

I started out the year strong with a really attractive box to hold tea bags.  The project came out great and my wife loves it.

Tea box in mahogany (or some mahogany imposter)

Then a neighbor gave me a bunch of red oak from their kitchen remodel, so I made them a two-step stool from that wood.  I was quite happy with how it came out.

This is probably the 4th of these I've made

In April or May I modified our silverware drawer with a nice organizer.  This has worked out nicely.

The top level slides back to reveal the lesser-used items in the bottom

In May I had a request from a neighbor for a pet food stand for their cat.  It was a simple three-sided "box", but I made it a little more complicated with angled dovetails.

The neighbors really like it

I didn't write about this one during the year, but in May/June I made a couple of Roubo phone stands for family who were visiting.

Woodwork complete, awaiting a finish

In June, I made a wooden toolbox to carry tools to the "Repair Cafe" that I volunteer for.  This was a really nice project and it came out great.

It has a lift-out tray, storage under that, and a drawer at bottom

My most involved project last year was a Schwarz stick chair, completed in July.  It was very challenging to build, but it came out great.  Still, it's not as comfortable as I thought it might be.  And more than one person has tripped on the front feet, which stick out a bit too far.

The Schwarz "short back" chair

My last project of any importance was a stool for the granddaughter.  The woodworking was easy enough, but my wife did a really spiffy job painting it.

Stool for Felicity

Tool Making or Rehab

Knowing that I was going to make a Schwarz chair sometime during the year, I had to figure out how to make a rounder plane.  After some prototypes, I made one for 5/8" and one for 1/2" tenons.

5/8" rounder plane for making cylindrical tenons

As further preparation for making the chair, I bought and rehabbed a couple of auger bit extensions.  Unfortunately they were too large a diameter to fit my needs for the chair, but I'm still glad I got them. One was pristine when I got it and the other needed significant work to get it working right.  As it turned out, I found another one with the appropriate diameter a couple weeks after I finished the chair.  So I'll be ready when the next chair project comes around.

A Craftsman (above) and a Stanley #180

I finally got a chance to pick up some centre bits for a brace.  I had wanted to try these for a long time.  Now, if I can get my hands on some spoon bits, much of my boring fascination will have been satisfied.

A dozen centre bits

At a few estate and/or garage sales, I was able to score a few new-to-me tools.  They have all been rehabbed and are nice additions to the shop.

From an August garage sale

From a couple of August or September estate sales

Lastly, in October, I made a cap-iron screwdriver from an old steel hinge and a scrap of wood.  Just today (end of December) I used it for the first time.  I guess that shows how much woodworking I've been doing lately.  But I really like the screwdriver - it fits the cap-iron screw perfectly in my Stanley planes.

Looks and feels great

Miscellaneous

The only thing I have for this category is my early December tour of the Museum of American Heritage.  Actually it was a tour of the warehouse where they store all the items that they rotate in and out of the museum.  MOAH is in Palo Alto, CA, but the warehouse is in San Carlos.  It was fantastic - there was so much stuff, and woodworking tools were only a small part of it.

This post drill was just one of thousands of items at the museum warehouse

Well, it was a pretty good year after all.  Here's hoping 2025 will be even better.  Happy New Year everybody!