Archive for the ‘Woodworking’ Category
It took me far too long to begin seriously making cribbage boards. When I started … I couldn’t stop. I can’t stop.
I’m obsessed.
I’m currently in the throes of preparation for the largest holiday events, and this year, I’ve committed myself to two very large events. So, I had to get to making. And that’s what I did, as you will see.
These cribbage boards are uniquely designed so you can combine the top of your choice with the bottom of your choice. Two styles are offered: a 3-track, oval design and a 4-track round design.
You get to choose.
I trust that these will prove popular with holiday gift givers. The initial reaction to these has been rather spectacular, honestly, so as I’ve built out more & more options … well, I now have 4 containers filled with, uh, options.
Here are the latest.
Still to come: a simpler 2-track version. God willing, the first ones of those will be done before Thanksgiving.
Cribbage 18 – 17. Hard Maple, Purpleheart. 3 track bottom.
Cribbage 18 – 25. Cribbage top is a fir tree, 3D carved. Birds Eye Maple.
Cribbage 18 – 29. Cribbage top is a cat mandala. Yellowheart.
Cribbage 18 – 18. Hard Maple, Jatoba, Purpleheart. 3 track bottom.
Cribbage 18 – 19. Hard Maple, Jatoba and Bloodwood. 3 track bottom.
Cribbage 18 – 20. Bloodwood top for a 3 track board.
Cribbage 18 – 21. White Oak, Hard Maple & Black Walnut. 3 track board.
Cribbage 18 – 22. Dolphin top for a 3 track board.
Cribbage 18 – 23. Hard Maple. 3 track bottom.
Cribbage 18 – 24. Hard Maple top for a 3 track board. Seahorse.
Cribbage 18 – 28. Yellowheart top for a 3 track board.
Cribbage 18 – 26. Wolf top for a 3 track board. Cherry.
Cribbage 18 – 27. Cherry top for a 3 track board, for lovers of the grape.
Cribbage 18 – 41. Merbau, Hard Maple, Canarywood, Black Walnut & Bloodwood. 4 track board bottom.
Cribbage 18 – 33. Cherry top for a 4 track board. Butterfly 2.
Cribbage 18 – 36. Sapele top for a 4 track board. Tribal Owl.
Cribbage 18 – 34. Black Walnut, Cherry, Yellowheart, Purpleheart and Bloodwood. 4 track bottom.
Cribbage 18 – 37. Sapele top for a 4 track board. Crown prince frog, painted gold & green.
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This Cribbage Thing Is Catching On
New: Cribbage Board Sets
Since I’ve finally broken through and started making cribbage boards, I’m getting obsessed. Variations abound, and I’m only scratching the surface.
Last weekend, I sold more cribbage boards than cutting boards. That’s a sobering thought … especially since so many people comment that this is a game for old folks that so few play anymore.
But then, people also tell me that no one uses wooden cutting boards, either.
I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing, and people get to choose. That seems to be working out so far!
All cribbage boards are finished with lacquer. They are not cutting boards (yes, I’ve been asked), and they are not food ready. They do, however, come with the cards and pegs for playing, held in the convenient storage slots under the top. All of these sets are customizable: any 4-track set top can go with any 4-track set bottom (the 4-tracks are the round ones, about 14″ in diameter). The oval sets are 3-tracks, and are 10″ x 14″.
Cribbage 18 – 12a. Cherry Top, Black Walnut Bottom.
Cribbage 18 – 12 detail. Yes, the cards & pegs are included.
Cribbage 18 – 09. Bloodwood top, Hard Maple, Bloodwood, Cherry & Black Walnut bottom. Sold in its first showing.
Cribbage 18 – 09 detail.
Cribbage 18 – 10. Cherry top, Black Walnut bottom. Sold in its first showing.
Cribbage 18 – 08. Cherry Top & Purpleheart, Bloodwood, Bubinga, Jarrah & Cherry bottom.
Cribbage 18 – 08 detail.
Cribbage 18 – 06a. Hard Maple Top, Black Walnut, Padauk & Cherry bottom.
Cribbage 18 – 11. Cherry top, Hard Maple bottom.
Cribbage 18 – 16. Hard Maple top with colored stain, Black Walnut bottom.
Cribbage 18 – 16a detail.
Cribbage 18 – 13. Cherry Top, Hard Maple, Purpleheart & Bloodwood bottom.
Cribbage 18 – 13a detail.
Cribbage 18 – 14a. Cherry Top, Hard Maple bottom.
Cribbage 18 – 14 detail.
Cribbage 18 – 15. Cherry Top, Hard Maple bottom. Sold in its first showing.
Cribbage 18 – 15a detail.
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New: Cribbage Board Sets
A year ago – A YEAR AGO – I brought out my first cribbage boards. They were simple pieces, and I knew I could do better. So, it was back to the drawing board computer for some Research & Development.
I bought some Cribbage Pegs. I bought some playing cards. I wanted to offer complete sets.
I got better at using the CNC.
And today, I’m pleased to show you the first 4 new prototypes of the Cribbage Boards I’ve developed. There are 2 sizes.
- The oval board has a 3-player track, and is 9″ x 14″ x 1-3/4″.
- The round board has a 4-player track, and is 14″ in diameter, and 1-3/4″ thick.
Both styles offer you the opportunity to customize both the top and the bottom.
- The top can be engraved with your name or other words that celebrate an occasion, anniversary, etc. The top can be engraved on the top side or even on the bottom side of the lid, if you prefer. If you’d rather have visuals engraved, I can do 3D engraving as you see below. Since the engraving is the star, wood designs shown here are simple, in either Hard Maple or Cherry. Note that woods can be stained, as the carved bass design is. Carved words can be painted, as the name is painted on the example, below.
- The bottom can be any wood design you like. Here, you see Hard Maple, Black Walnut or a striped version that has Hard Maple, Cherry & Bloodwood. Any combination is possible.
Pegs & playing cards are included with both sizes (the large round board comes with 2 decks). Finish is a penetrating oil stain (in the case of the bass & alligator), and then all pieces are finished with spray lacquer.
Cribbage 18 – 01. Hard Maple Bottom, Cherry 3D carved top.
Cribbage 18 – 01a detail.
Cribbage 18 – 01b detail.
Cribbage 18 – 02. Alternative top, Hard Maple with 3D carving of oak leaves & acorns.
Cribbage 18 – 02a detail.
Cribbage 18 – 03. Hard Maple top is stained Mahogany. Bottom is Hard Maple, Bloodwood & Cherry.
Cribbage 18 – 03a detail.
Cribbage 18 – 04. Black Walnut bottom & Maple top with bass carving, stained very lightly.
Cribbage 18 – 04a detail.
Cribbage 18 – 05. Hard Maple. Carved name is backfilled with gold acrylic.
Cribbage 18 – 05a detail.
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New: Cribbage Boards (2017)
There’s hot stuff out there, and I intend to protect it.
It’s an important task.
We remodeled our kitchen several years ago, and were hosting a dinner party soon after. Mrs M had cooked a vegetable lasagna, as I recall, in a glass 9×13. She took the dish out of the oven and sat it directly on the counter. The hot dish touched the cool stone counter, and the glass dish cracked immediately.
The dinner party was fine, but this dish … not so much. It broke, for wont of protection.
These trivets were on display at our last event, and the last pair on this page are made from Hard Maple. Only. They are noticeably plainer than most of my trivets … but I do like to shake it up for those that want a simpler design. In any event, one customer picked them up and said, “These just look like a mistake.”
To each their own. If you like them plain, or if you like them “stripey,” I am here to help protect your hot stuff.
These trivets are 8-1/2″ square, 3/4″ thick, and made from a wide variety of hardwoods. Finish is mineral oil.
Trivet 18 – 740. Black Walnut & White Oak.
Trivet 18 – 739. Black Walnut, White Oak, Padauk & Hard Maple.
Trivet 18 – 738. Black Walnut, Hard Maple, Goncalo Alves & Purpleheart.
Trivet 18 – 737.Black Walnut, Purpleheart, Hard Maple & Jatoba.
Trivet 18 – 736. Sapele, Goncalo Alves & Hard Maple.
Trivet 18 – 735. Purpleheart, Jatoba, Hard Maple & Bloodwood.
Trivet 18 – 734. Black Walnut, White Oak, Padauk & Hard Maple.
Trivet 18 – 733. Black Walnut, White Oak & Goncalo Alves.
Trivet 18 – 732. Black Walnut, Purpleheart, Jatoba, Bloodwood, Goncalo Alves, Mesquite, White Oak & Hard Maple.
Trivet 18 – 731. Black Walnut, Padauk & White Oak.
Trivet 18 – 729. Cherry, Hard Maple, Jatoba & Black Walnut.
Trivet 18 – 730. Hard Maple.
I see it all of the time.
People see my hearts on the table. They smile. They hold one over their own heart, look to their significant other, and smile some more.
Nothing wrong with a big heart. Nothing wrong with showing your heart.
Such is the human drama I inspire when I go a-vendoring. Who wouldn’t love that?
I’m sometimes asked if these are cutting boards. Well, yes, they could be. However, I believe cutting on hearts is not something we should want to do. Surgeons, perhaps. Cooks? Not so much. I think these are serving pieces, not cutting boards. Buy one, and then you’ll get to choose who gets to cut on your heart.
This weekend, I’m going a bit far afield as I go a-vendoring. It will be my first out-of-state solo event for Mr M’s Woodshop! I’ll be at Faire on the Square in Prescott, AZ. I’m leaving Mrs M at home so she can work at her “job,” and I’m doing a holiday weekend road trip.
Pulling the trailer. Putting up the big canopy, solo. Running the booth, solo. Staying at an AirBnB, bachelor style.
Who wouldn’t love that?
Heart 18 – 928. Jatoba, Hard Maple, Purpleheart & Bloodwood. 11″ x 11″ x 3/4″.
Heart 18 – 927. Jatoba, Hard Maple, Purpleheart & Bloodwood. 11″ x 11″ x 3/4″.
Heart 18 – 933. Jatoba, Hard Maple, Purpleheart, Cherry & Bloodwood. 11″ x 11″ x 3/4″.
Heart 18 – 931. Jatoba, Hard Maple, Purpleheart, Cherry & Bloodwood. 11″ x 11″ x 3/4″.
Heart 18 – 930. Jatoba, Hard Maple, Purpleheart & Bloodwood. 11″ x 11″ x 3/4″.
Heart 18 – 932. Jatoba, Hard Maple, Purpleheart, Cherry & Bloodwood. 11″ x 11″ x 3/4″.
Heart 18 – 929. Jatoba, Hard Maple, Purpleheart & Bloodwood. 11″ x 11″ x 3/4″.
The banner on the front of the booth says “Cutting Boards, Serving Pieces & More.”
I am in search of the perfect cheese & cracker server. Today’s offering may not appear to be one at first glance … which is why these pieces need a second glance.
The front side has 5 sections for your various, uh, food offerings. It could be cubed cheeses, of course, but it could be veggies or chips or olives … whatever.
These pieces, though, are made to be used on both sides. When you flip the pieces over, there are no feet to mar the surface, so now you have a nice 14″ square serving piece that would be perfect for charcuterie – or, cheese & crackers.
Of course.
All I’m doing is giving people options. Then, they get to choose!
Each piece is 1-1/8″ thick, and is routed 3/4″ deep … leaving a 3/8″ thick bottom. The pieces are therefore very light to handle. Note these are not cutting boards: even though the flip side is flat and could be used for cutting, since it is so thin it would not hold up long enough to a fine cutting edge. For charcuterie, it’s perfect.
Cheese & Cracker Serv-er 18 – 203. Jatoba, Hard Maple, Jatoba, Mesquite, Bloodwood, Cherry & Black Walnut. 14″ square x 1-1/8″ thick.
Cheese & Cracker Server 18 – 203, the flip side.
Cheese & Cracker – Server 18 – 204. Hard Maple, Jatoba, Canarywood, Bloodwood & Honey Locust. 14″ square x 1-1/8″ thick. The front side.
Cheese & Cracker Server 18 – 204, the flip side.
Cheese & Cracker Server 18 – 205. Jatoba, White Oak, Bloodwood, Merbau & Cherry. 14″ square x 1-1/8″ thick.
Cheese & Cracker Server 18 – 205, the flip side.
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Just Finished: Large Serving Pieces
Yes, These Are Lazy Susans
Trays To Serve
This is a week when I finally got some Cutting Boards done … in several sizes.
I made a couple of commissioned pieces, both of which were my large size: 16″ x 21″ x 1-1/2″. I talked about one of those in a blog post about The 350th Cutting Board.
But, a well stocked kitchen has a few cutting boards in various sizes, so this week, I’ve got options for you.
- End Grain Cutting Boards, 13″ x 17″ x 1-1/4″.
- Edge Grain Cutting Boards, 12″ x 16″ x 1-1/4″.
- Small Boards, 7″ x 12″ x 1-1/4″.
- Cheese Boards (which are just small cutting boards!), 9″ x 11″ x 5/8″.
You may need a couple in each size if you’re serious about your kitchen tools. Some cooks like to have dedicated boards for meat, fruit & veggies & bread. There’s no scientific reason for that, mind you, but if you like to have purpose-driven kitchen tools, then I’ve got some sizes to help you with that.
All of these boards will be at this weekend’s big event, the 55th Annual Tehachapi Mountain Fest. This will be our 4th consecutive Mountain Fest, and we can’t wait. Hope to see you there!
Cutting Board 18 – 325. 12″ x 16″ x 1-1/4″. Hard Maple, Jatoba & Goncalo Alves. Edge Grain.
Cutting Board 18 – 723. 18 species are in this board! End Grain. Chaos Board.
Cheese Board 18 – 126. Hard Maple, Bubinga, Canarywood & Bloodwood. 9″ x 11″ x 5/8″.
Cutting Board 18 – 722. Hard Maple, Black Walnut & Cherry. 13″ x 17″ x 1-1/4″. End Grain.
Cutting Board 18 – 326. Hard Maple & Purpleheart. 12″ x 18″ x 1-1/4″. Edge Grain.
Cheese Board 18 – 120. Black Walnut, Hard Maple & Purpleheart. 9″ x 11″ x 5/8″.
Cutting Board 18 – 724. 18 species are in this board! End Grain. Chaos Board.
Cutting Board 18 – 324. Black Walnut, Hard Maple, Jarrah, Purpleheart, Bubinga & Bloodwood. 12″ x 16″ x 1-1/4″. Edge Grain.
Cheese Board 18 – 122. Purpleheart, Yellowheart, Padauk, Cherry, Goncalo Alves & Canarywood. 9″ x 11″ x 5/8″.
Cutting Board 18 – 725. 18 species are in this board! End Grain. Chaos Board.
Cheese Board 18 – 128. Black Walnut & Goncalo Alves. 10″ x 11″ x 5/8″.
Cheese Board 18 – 127. Jatoba, Bubinga, Hard Maple, Purpleheart & Caribbean Rosewood. 9″ x 11″ x 5/8″.
Cutting Board 18 – 327. Purpleheart, Bloodwood & Hard Maple. 12″ x 16″ x 1-1/4″. Edge Grain.
Small Board 18 – 213. Black Walnut, Hard Maple, Jarrah, Purpleheart, Bubinga & Bloodwood. 7″ x 12″ x 1-1/4″.
Cheese Board 18 – 123. Black Walnut, Bloodwood & Cherry. 8″ x 11″ x 5/8″.
Cheese Board 18 – 125. Hard Maple, Purpleheart, Cherry, Jatoba & Bloodwood. 10″ x 11″ x 3/4″.
Small Board 18 – 212. Hard Maple, Jatoba & Goncalo Alves. 7″ x 12″ x 1-1/4″.
Cheese Board 18 – 121. Bloodwood, Hard Maple & Jatoba. 8″ x 11″ x 5/8″.
Cheese Board 18 – 124. Chaos Board. 9″ x 11″ x 5/8″.
Small Board 18 – 211. Purpleheart, Hard Maple & Bloodwood. 7″ x 12″ x 1-1/4″.
Big changes in the garage Woodshop.
I’ve entered into a new level of focus: Must. Make. More. My Kickstarter campaign just funded, after all, and now I’ve got a lot of pieces to make … and limited time to get it all done. I have 3 events scheduled in September, at least 3 in October, 3 in November and 2 in December. Big doings.
I took the last week off to help prepare – because I must! – and have successfully grown my inventory to a new height.
One result of that is a new cutting board, a new design … and some eye candy for you.
This large end grain cutting board is approximately 17″ x 21″ x 1-1/2″. It features 8 species of woods from 4 continents:
- Black Walnut, Hard Maple, Cherry and Mesquite from North America
- Bubinga from Africa
- Jarrah from Australia
- Goncalo Alves & Canarywood from South America
This commissioned piece will ship out next week. But for now, enjoy!
Cutting Board 18 – 721. Hard Maple, Black Walnut, Jarrah, Mesquite, Goncalo Alves, Bubinga, Canarywood & Cherry. End Grain. 17″ x 21″ x 1-1/2″. Commissioned Piece.
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The 300th Cutting Board, 3rd Time ‘Round (4/27/18)
The 300th Cutting Board, 2nd Time ‘Round (4/4/18)
The 300th Cutting Board (2/9/18)
The 250th Cutting Board: Back In The Pig Business (10/13/17)
The 250th Cutting Board (4/8/17)
The 200th Cutting Board, 6th Time ‘Round (2/9/17)
The 200th Cutting Board, 5th Time ‘Round (11/30/16)
The 200th Cutting Board, 4th Time ‘Round (10/7/16)
The 200th Cutting Board, Third Time ‘Round (8/5/16)
The 200th Cutting Board, 8 Months Later (4/9/16)
The 200th Cutting Board (9/18/15)
Yes, I do custom orders!
Special engraving. Unique wood combinations. Oddball requests. You name it.
To be fair, I often turn down oddball requests for special one-time constructions. I have trouble making enough pieces just to keep up with my totally out-of-control hobby, after all. Adding ideas that take extra TLC to make it to the finish line usually doesn’t make sense.
But who said I have to make sense? Adding the occasional odd request does help me use my creativity & expand my skill set. At the right time, doing a unique project can be fun. Since that’s why I’m doing this, I try and help people with fun projects as much as I can.
And, no, I still don’t make backgammon boards. Or rolling pins. Or toaster tongs.
But, apparently, if you want a Fire Pokin’ Stick, then I’m your guy.
CNC Sign 18 – 68 Bloom. Hard Maple. Carved lettering with 3D sunflower. 12″ x 16″. Commissioned piece.
Carnivore Board 18 – 901. Purpleheart, Jatoba & Hard Maple. 14″ x 19″ x 1-1/8″. Custom Order.
The B side of Carnivore Board 18 – 901.
Engraved 18 – 0042. Hard Maple, Black Walnut & Cherry. 9″ x 11″ x 1-1/8″. Custom Order.
Special Order 18 – 950. Hard Maple & Black Walnut. The engraving says it all!
Special Order 18 – 950a. Reverse detail.
Special Order 18 – 950b. Handle joinery detail.
Small Board 18 – 210. Purpleheart, Canarywood & Hard Maple. 8″ x 12″ x 1-1/8″.
Small Board 18 – 210a. Flip side.
Engraved 18 – 005. Business Card Holder with V-carved personalization.
Engraved 18 – 003. Maple, Walnut & Cherry. 9″ x 11″ x 3/4″. Custom order.
Sometimes it just takes too long for me to complete a good idea.
I made a bread saw prototype in 2016, and promptly sold it as part of a wedding gift. You would think I would use that success and motivate myself to make more … but no.
I did buy the necessary hardware, which has sat in my cabinet for more than a year. You would think that would motivate … but no.
But, when a Lady walked into the booth last month and asked me to make her not one, but two Bread Saws, I couldn’t say no. She told me she had been searching for them for years.
Just like me & my motivation.
These Bread Saws are made from various hardwoods. The handle helps you cut each slice to the same thickness. Each handle is cut from a single piece of wood with an ergonomic shape that feels very good in your hand. The saw blades are stainless steel, and are so sharp that each saw comes with a protective shield.
Each piece is about 16″ x 2″. The saw blade is 8″ long.
Bread Saws in production. They are curvy.
I took all of the Bread Saws with me to my weekend event, Jackalope Summer Nights in Pasadena. Sold one almost immediately. The buyer had also “been looking for one for years.”
And then she found me. That’s good, right?
Bread Saw 18 – 01. Padauk. Commissioned piece.
Bread Saw 18 – 02. Padauk. Commissioned piece.
Bread Saw 18 – 03. Bloodwood.
Bread Saw 18 – 04. Birds Eye Maple. Sold on its first showing.
Bread Saw 18 – 05. Padauk.
Bread Saw 18 – 06. Hard Maple.
Bread Saw 18 – 07. Bloodwood.
Bread Saw 18 – 08. Padauk.
It took me far too long to begin seriously making cribbage boards. When I started … I couldn’t stop. I can’t stop.
