More Photos of Yacht Tender

These are just a few photos, of the finished boat and what it looks like today.

 

 

It was an ambitious project, but I learned a lot about woodworking during the process.

Read More..

what a week

well, im gonna try your patience here. i havent been writing much lately, (too busy, the weathers too nice, pick an excuse ) so i thought i would catch up with a monster post summarizing the last week or two. here goes:
the photo above is not from the guggenheim, but rather from the house where we delivered the circular bench this past thursday. fit like a glove, as the saying goes.
the pictures were a challenge as the light was intense at the top of the steps late in the day ... you get the idea. the stairchoice is three full stories and is a 6 radius at the outside of the curved railing
the bench went to the same house as the swinging bench
and weve got two claro slab dining tables underchoice in the shop .. a ten footer and a twelve footer. both slabs are from the same log and are going to two different clients, one in chicago, and one in northern vermont. one of the table tops will be finished in a satin black color, which should be interesting as its the first one of these tables we have made to be stained. the sample was elegant, so im looking forward to seeing it finished ... this week?
the 10 footer will have our regular natural finish, and both slabs are now routed for the bases. on to the finishing room monday with this one.
while were talking about claro walnut, were also working on some pieces for an upcoming show at a new venue in the berkshires opening on the 21st of july. its a converted mill space in housatonic, mass., near great barrington, and while i haven;t seen it yet, the space looks fantastic in the photo above. we started out figuring on a minimal presence, but at the urging of the organizers, were now making a bigger effort. were working on a couple of pieces using the small claro slabs we purchased back in february.
weve got a funky mdf desk mockup going, which sam will fabricate in steel this week. im not sure yet about the vertical things and well have to see as we go along. i might try some more polished rebar instead.
weve also got this coffee table slab. the base is completed and will be like the one we finished recently. ive decided not to reinvent the wheel with every piece we build. enough is enough.
also early last week, we started a new pool table. this is a long story i will eventually tell in a dedicated blog post, but for now, heres what we have so far ...
a bunch of parts roughed out, the slate, the slate support pieces and below,
a mockup of the leg details and and full size drawing. the table will be walnut, with quilted maple panels, which will veneered earlier last week.
and weve got this very funky bench project in the works, proceeding from the sketch above,
to the cad drawing ...
to the actual thing nearly completed. the last thing will did friday was cut the back on the cnc and hell fit it up and fabricate the round cap on manday ... its made from reclaimed white oak. hopefully, it will be ready to roll out by the end of next week.
and, speaking of rolling out, the benches for the copper top table left tuesday and are now on the porch in connecticut. im waiting for a photo of the whole setup from the client ... these are, like the table 11 long and have reclaimed chestnut x bases with new, distressed and painted ash tops.
and, that copper top table and benches led sam to create this 8 table for one of his clients. hell be making matching benches with steel x bases soon .... take an object, do something to it, do something else to it. this is a perfect ...
and we cut this quickie elm slab desk top from a slab we purchased at berkshire products ... in the door; meet with the client and cut it to shape; apply some finish; out the door last wednesday ... love a quick turnaround. still with me? almost done now .... my A D D is kicking in and it is a BEAUTIFUL day here in vermont ...
this one was a rescue operation ... it had been previously altered (20 years ago?) with some bad cast iron rail hardware that never quite was iustalled correctly. if you touched a post, the whole bed wobbled and schoiceed and seemed ready to collapse. we reversed the repair by removing the improved rails, patching those moritises and made new wider rails that were attached through the original bed bolt holes. new bolt covers and a ply mattress support and this bed is ready for the next hundred years. nice turnings and design. solid as a rock ...
and it seems things are picking up a bit ... these are just a could of projects that popped into the design quay this week ... more on those as they (hopefully) progress.
im outta here ... time to go watch the orioles ... click this one .. its one of my best bird photos ...

Read More..

Sams Balcony

A couple of weeks ago, Sam installed the balcony he was working on back in September and October ... It was a very cool project with some somewhat daunting challenges. Build it here ... install it there, 15 in the air ... Make it safe ... That kind of stuff. I swung by last week and took some pictures ... Looks like it was made to be there .. Click the photos to enlarge them ..
The platform with its expanded steel floor and outline of the rails
Sam had made a couple of sketches but mainly, on this one, worked as the spirit and his vision moved him ..
Until he had had basic decorative design figured out ...
Next were the support brackets with some ideas sketched in ...
Back to the circular elements of the main railingand then a test assembly on the wall of the shop ...
All welded up and ready to prime and paint
One of the fishies on the floor of the balcony ...
From afar
From below
From the end, showing the 4 supporting brackets

Read More..

Architects Artisans

Dorset Custom Furniture got a nice mention and post about our work on the blog Architects + Artisans ... Thoughtful Design For a sustainable World ...
"Architects + Artisans is a sophisticated, well-informed provider of content, images, and knowledge concerning excellent architecture, artisanship and sustainability for the 21^st century. It is not just about designers – but about the people and products that make a well-designed place ring true. It is written and edited by J. Michael Welton, whose work on architecture, design and travel has appeared in The New York Times, Interior Design, Dwell, Green Source and Travel + Leisure. "

Michael titled his post about us Clients as Friends, Friends as Clients. Since were currently working on a wall of cabinets and a fireplace surround for our friends who own Mother Myricks Confectionery, his post is very appropriately titled. Our first project with Ron and Jacki was in 1983 when they opened their candy store in Manchester and we have been friends ever since. I appreciate his publishing our work and encourage you to check out his blog.

The Mother Myricks Confectionery store in Manchester, Vermont, 1983

Our current project for them, a wall of bookshelves, a place for a tv and a fireplace surround ... It will be installed this week sometime ...

Read More..