Pear and maple scraps |
Great in theory, but now things need to get in the mail if they are to have any hope of getting to the intended recipients on time. A project that can be finished in one session is called for.
I came up with a brilliant concept to help me out with this - a cribbage board.
What could be simpler? It's just a board with a bunch of holes drilled in it.
I found a clever design while googling for ideas. I wish I could take credit for it, as it is a neat little cribbage board. It is intended to be a travelling board, as it it easily transported. OK, a regular cribbage board is easily transported, too, but this one has a more unique look.
I started by looking in my scrap bin for a nice hunk of something, and came up with an offcut of pear.
Don't ask me for measurements on this piece, I don't know. It's about "yea" long because that's how long my scrap was. It is "yea" thick because that is the biggest this stick would be after planing everything flat.
I know, it doesn't look like much. |
That, and I think the more one practices this skill the more accurate and faster one becomes.
After that, I marked a line on two faces, and planed down to the line to establish the big chamfer which will become the bottom. It only takes a minute with a course plane.
With small pieces I sometimes clamp the plane up and push the stock over the blade. |
No need to make this rocket-surgery. |
An easier way would be to buy a store bought template. |
I used my eggbeater Miller's Falls #5 to drill the holes. A drill press might be nice for this, but I don't have one. I don't think it would have been any faster, as I am only drilling 1/8" holes about half an inch deep or so.
If I didn't have an eggbeater, I would probably use a cordless drill. Just be carefull not to go too far. I used masking tape here for a depth stop.
Do yourself a favor and buy some of those nice drill bits from Lee Valley. They made this job a snap. |
I have to say, these are really cool shavings. |
Hopefully, someone doesn't bang it in too hard and split the pear wood.
This tool is great for bits that are too big for the MF#5. |
And a deck of cards.
In case you are wondering, I am using store bought pegs from Lee Valley. |
I would love to make a bunch of furniture as Christmas gifts, but I just don't have the time to properly finish it. If my relatives wouldn't mind unfinished furniture (unless you want to count wax as a finish) I would be all in.
ReplyDeleteFunny you should mention wax. I'm working on my next blog post right now.
DeleteHi Brian! Pear wood? it becomes that dark when waxed? My bench top is made of pear, 2 slabs 2 m x 20 cm x 7 cm.I haven't put any finish on it yet, I wanted to put blo + varnish +ms mixture, but now I don't really want to do it...
ReplyDeleteHi Aymeric,
DeleteThe pear wood I got is supposedly a true pear. Also, I'm guessing it was kiln dried and probably steamed, like beech often is, to boot. Steaming really brings out a red color in beech, perhaps it does the same with pear. It really is gorgeous wood.