Useful, simple, quick, fun

[PerranOak]

So, my skills are improving ... well, my mistakes are reducing!

I've made a small box for wood scraps and a tools tray.

What would be good projects to develop skills but create useful (outdoor for shed, workshop, garage, garden, etc. - she'd never let my "attempts" be seen inside!) items?

I don't have much space or fancy machines (except a router) so smaller is best. Any ideas would be most welcome.

Cheers.

 

[Escudo]

How about a bird box for the garden?

For the shed a bench hook and shooting board are useful projects and will always come in handy.

Don't forget to post some WIP pictures.

Cheers, Tony.

 

[PerranOak]

Cheers mate, good ideas! I keep sawing my bench-hooks to death!

The bird box would also earn me some Brownie-points!!

Believe me, you don't want to see my efforts!!!

 

[ProShop]

How about a bird box for the garden?

Cheers, Tony.

Shhhhhhhhhh, don't mention bird boxes here, we have 16 of the damn things already :shock: :roll:

Box No 16 has a camera in, It'll be like spring watch soon :roll: .

 

[Derek Willis.]

If you don't mind I'll go Sssssh as well, in case you wake the little darlings up that go to bed in my boxes, year after year, bird boxes, make them and enjoy the result, nothing quite like it, we sit here and say, there she goes, bedtime, every day.
Derek.

 

[PerranOak]

Yes. The more I think about it, the more keen I am.

It's a good way to practice the essential skills while makink someting useful where it's not so important if it's not quite, so well made.

We have loads of sparrows here, on a baren Cornish hillside, that nest in the roof (yes, I know but the ladies love 'em :roll: )

It'd be good to attract other species. Is there anything I should know? size of hole, size of box, holes in the bottom?

 

[joiner_sim]

A couple of simple projects are on this very site for you:
https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/projects.html

 

[Ironballs]

How about a box for your marking and measuring tools? Could put in an insert with the cut outs for the various pieces, line with felt etc. Fairly simple but will look good and be very practical

 

[Benchwayze]

How about a chisel rack, with a rebated strip underneath, to take the sharps?

Chisels eventually become shorter, so make the holes large enough to accommodate the widest parts of the handles. Then you can always rest the edges safely in the rebate. (I use Terry clips, except on my best chisels. )

Edit:

Tell you what, if possible tomorrow, I'll photograph the set-up!

 

[Escudo]

I reckon a one inch diameter hole is perfect for **** and other small birds.

T

 

[Mattty]

Box Size Hole Size Species
Small 25 mm Blue ****, Marsh ****, and Coal ****
Small 28 mm Great ****, Pied Flycatcher and Tree Sparrow
Small 32 mm House Sparrows and Nuthatches
Medium 45 mm Starling

'borrowed' from here-

http://www.garden-birds.co.uk/informati ... oxplan.htm

 

[Derek Willis.]

Perranoak,
Just log onto R.S.P.B. and then you will get all the information that you will need, plus a few ideas.
derek.

 

[PerranOak]

Great ideas! I'm gonna make a list!

Not sure I'm up to a lined box though - silk purse/sow's ear scenario with my "skills"!

I fancy one of those little stools - about my level, I guess?

Chisel rack? I only have one! Still, I'll get more as time goes on, of course!!

I mentioned the bird box to the boss (Mrs) now I have firm orders, so thanks for the pointers.

 

[HeathRobinson]

Small and simple, the same qualities I look for in a project!

How about a wine bottle balancer? Can't see anything going wrong with a project like this.

If the 'boss' is into knitting then perhaps a sock blocker might be the way to go? It's used to stretch the knitting into the correct shape for socks. This involves some use of steam or sprayed water and so the holes in the middle help the wool/cotton/silk to dry. It kind of looks like a push stick doesn't it? :lol:

Slightly more advanced, someone over on Lumberjocks has made up a set of piggy banks using laminated bits of pine and some darker woods and wire for details.

Some actual joint cutting needed this time, albeit minimal. I made up one of these little japanese tool boxes for my chisels. I did it on my second project. I'm pretty sure you could do one too. The lid even makes a pretty good stand if you want to have the box sit upright when it's open.

Simon

 

[big soft moose]

Small and simple, the same qualities I look for in a project!

How about a wine bottle balancer? Can't see anything going wrong with a project like this.

If the 'boss' is into knitting then perhaps a sock blocker might be the way to go? It's used to stretch the knitting into the correct shape for socks. This involves some use of steam or sprayed water and so the holes in the middle help the wool/cotton/silk to dry. It kind of looks like a push stick doesn't it? :lol:

Slightly more advanced, someone over on Lumberjocks has made up a set of piggy banks using laminated bits of pine and some darker woods and wire for details.

Some actual joint cutting needed this time, albeit minimal. I made up one of these little japanese tool boxes for my chisels. I did it on my second project. I'm pretty sure you could do one too. The lid even makes a pretty good stand if you want to have the box sit upright when it's open.

Simon

yep i like simple too - nice projects might well need to make swimbo a sock blocker.

i fancy trying to make myself one of those tool boxes like gidon got from secret santa - probably cant do it to that standard but it would be fun to try - give me something to try the saw , marking knife and guagy thing that secret santa gave me out on too

toast racks are nice and easy and give you something to practice your mortices on .