A Productive Week / Reality Check

Got a ton done this week. I started with a quick afternoon project I’ve been meaning to tackle for a long while. Paul Sellers is a big inspiration to me with his outlook on “lifestyle woodworking.”

One on his video series goes over making a dovetail caddy that is meant to store sandpaper. I really liked the simplicity of it and how it looked so I watched the videos and drew up a plan I could take to the bench. 

  
It was a great afternoon project which I had completed in just a few hours.  I ended up using some of the wood from a luuan/mahogany looking pallet I scored from the dump. 

 
I finished it with shellac and a quick coat of wax and called it done. 

  
It’s always nice to smash a quick project out. And after building it I will probably use spinoffs of this design and use them for quick dovetail practice. I can totally for see organizing nails, screws, etc. using this design.  Oh yes, there will be more! 

Also this week I put out a couple shadow boxes for a couple guys getting out this month.  

 
They’ll be adorned with each members memorabilia by someone else but quite pleased with the results. These are boxes number 5 and 6 for me and seem to be catching on. 
As for the reality check, I told someone I’d take on a rather big project a few weeks ago. It was a big built in entertainment centre/library. About 12′ wide and 8′ tall. Cabinets below, TV centred and bookshelves on the side. I left feeling very exited to take this one on. So after a couple of weeks of planning and designing the grim reality began to set it. Man this is a huge project! I began to realize that I simply do not have the facility nor the time to accomplish this task with a perfect result. 

Well, I gathered my beans and brought the bad news in person. I explained myself and it seemed to go appreciated that I quit while I was ahead. I offered another local woodworkers name that may be of better help and went on my way. 

It wasn’t easy to drop that bomb but I’m definitely happy that it’s off my plate as I just couldn’t even fathom how I was going to complete this giant task. That being said, I’ve got a few ideas ringing thrugh my head on how to realign my shop outlook and ensure I don’t bite off more than I can chew again. 

Cheers~