Tag: Woodwork

  • Router Table Electrics and Wiring a Contactor

    Now that the frame of the router table is built it’s time to start plumbing in the electrics. As with the rest of this build I’ve gone a little bit over the top and installed an industrial sized contactor. Over all I’m mostly happy with the finished product but read on for details.

  • Build a Game Steering Wheel Using an Arduino – Part 3

    In part 2 of this series I built the circuit that I’ll be using for my controller based around an Arduino Pro Micro. In this part I’ll configure the driving simulation game Dirt 3 so that it works with the controller.

  • Build a Game Steering Wheel Using an Arduino – Part 2

    In part 1 of this series on building a gaming steering wheel from an Arduino I installed and tested the library that I’ll be using. In this part I build and test the circuit that the controller will use. I’m quite new to electronics and I thought this would be a challenge but it turned…

  • Build a Game Steering Wheel Using an Arduino – Part 1

    Since I was a boy (which was a depressingly long time ago now) I’ve wanted to play a racing game using a steering wheel. I’ve played using a keyboard, mouse, joystick and game controller and they range from terrible to awful as controllers for driving. None have the control and accuracy that a steering wheel…

  • Building Sash Windows – Part 1

    Materials Paint On my first batch of windows I used Johnstone’s Flexible Primer Undercoat and Johnstone’s Flexible Gloss. It’s not cheap but it came highly recommended by people who have used it and I would be happy agree with them and say this is good stuff. The data sheet claims an 8 year life time…

  • Wooden Rosette

    Wooden Rosette

    A friend asked me if I could make some wooden rosettes / bosses for the house he is doing up. The doorways (and windows) have decorative surrounds and these are positioned at the top corners. I made a around twenty in total. The picture below shows what I’m aiming for. Prepare the Blanks I’m going…

  • Pallet Wood Board

    Pallet Wood Board

    We’ve recently had some building work done and so I had a load of pallets available to try and do something with. As a general rule I don’t like reclaiming wood as it’s invariably full of junk (sand, nails, knots, etc) but there was so much of it I couldn’t just leave it. In the…

  • Building a Custom Sink Cabinet

    Building a Custom Sink Cabinet

    Something I’ve always wanted for my workshop was a sink I could call my own. For years I’ve made do with a bottle of water and a bucket or, if more water was needed, going down to the kitchen to use the sink there. I managed to lay my hands on a free stainless steel…

  • French Polishing – Notes from a Short Course

    I recently went on a French polishing course and I took a few notes while I was there. What follows below are the notes I took typed up neatly so that I don’t forget everything. Some of it might be a bit disjointed but there are some gems in there and it’s in roughly the…

  • Quick and Simple Picture Mounting

    Quick and Simple Picture Mounting

    A few months ago my parents bought a children’s map of the world for my daughter. They had the map laminated which is great as it means it won’t succumb to sticky fingers. Unfortunately though it means it’s developed quite a spring while it’s been rolled up in the tube. In order to hang this map…

  • Resources – Tools, Materials and Equipment

    Resources – Tools, Materials and Equipment

    I always shop around to get the best deal for the materials and tools that I buy and I though it might be handy to record where I’m buying things from (because I always forget and end up having to do the research all over again). I won’t cover obvious things like screws (which you…

  • Converting a Quick Release Vice into a Regular Vice

    Converting a Quick Release Vice into a Regular Vice

    A few years ago someone gave me this woodworking vice as a present. At the time I had no bench to attach it to so it sat in it’s box. When I did finally get a bench and install the vice I discovered that it had a problem with the quick release mechanism. When the…

  • Woodturning Journal April 2006

    Woodturning Journal April 2006

    April was the first full month where I could turn and therefore it saw me do a great deal more turning than I managed in March. I started the month with the intention of leaning to produce a good bead and I think I got close to being able to do that. The first piece…

  • Woodturning Journal March 2006

    Woodturning Journal March 2006

    March 2006 marks the start of my woodturning hobby – a hobby that I think will stand the test of time. Before getting to the actual turning I should recount what happened at the start of the month since the turning only occupies the last few days. Some aspects of this entry actually occurred before…

  • Getting into Woodturning

    Getting into Woodturning

    I wrote this article in early 2006 when I first started woodturning. For about a year I was completely focused on turning and I thought nothing could drag me away from it. I had visions of becoming a turner full time. Sadly life got in the way, we had to move house and the lathe…