This week has been a good lesson in that.
The current project is the Hammond Glider restoration. The unexpected arrival of the Morrison saw last week and the commensurate excitement for it almost threw a wrench into things. But when I realized that there is more work on the Morrison than I originally thought, I decided to leave it for now and stay focused on the Hammond.
The Hammond has a number of parts that need painting. I learned the hard way that trying to repaint something like this with spray cans of Rustoleum is an exercise in total frustration. And a false economy.
Powder coating is the way I have decided to go, and I have dropped off the parts at a local powder coating shop. I am anxious to have the powder coating completed so I can commence reassembly.
For the yellow cedar-lined cabinet that I am planning, I continued to search for the 'ideal' piece of wood for the outside. As I pawed through my wood pile again and again, the realization slowly dawned that perhaps I don't actually possess the piece of wood that I want for this cabinet! I understood then that I was approaching this process the wrong way. It should be more with the with the selection of the wood influencing the design of the cabinet, rather than trying to force a certain design on a piece of wood.
This insight was tremendously liberating and reinvigorating, and actually increased the number of possible candidates for the outside. Of course, the shape and design of the cabinet will now be somewhat different depending on the wood I choose, its pattern, colour, texture, weight, etc. But that's all part of the journey.
Crabapple Red oak
In any event, my intent right now is just to select the wood and cut it roughly to size. My hope is that it will dry more while I finsish up the Glider, then I'll be ready to focus on it!Lastly, my first kiln load is now dry, it's down to around 8.5% MC. I am happy it only took two weeks. At this rate I should have three more loads done by the middle of October when the wet weather settles in for fall.
Two Pieces of Catalpa in Kiln After Drying
Yessssss Dan! Myself, I am much more please when I can find a plank that speaks to me and hints at what it might like to become. I don't really have that luxury so much here with no one cutting decent lumber. Since leaving the NW it has manly been coming up with a general design and hoping the wood I order will fit :/. It's getting to be a bit of a drag. It doesn't inspire me and get me going like the previous.
ReplyDeleteMaybe that's part of my problem with trying to decided what to do next. I am planing on going to a small yard this week that has a little Red Elm and some Ash though I fear it all may be KD. Another place I know of has a log-set of Red Elm but cut it all 4/4. Ahhhhhh