And it feels very good. Here’s what I’ve been working on. Finally have the chest lid underway for the video series on making this chest. The past few days I’ve been gluing up these 3 oak boards to make this lid, shooting the videos to go with it. Today I planed the top & bottom surfaces of the full lid. Even though this stock is long-air-dried, I temporarily clamped boards to the underside so I get no surprises overnight. I think I’ll chop the lid-video in 2. The first part’s nearly done, working the boards, gluing up the lid & planing it. Next will be making & fitting the cleats then installing the hinges. That video series doesn’t expire – it’ll remain available for sale on vimeo, and the plans here on the blog. Then if anyone needs a chest, get a hold of me.
I’ve been prepping the oak for the next cupboard and some of it was ready for joinery. Here’s the 2 end frames of the lower case. Beside them on the left are the 6 rails to the upper case.
Here’s the lower case of last year’s cupboard showing how those end frames work:
Meanwhile more oak for that project is planed and stickered to let it air-dry some before cutting the joinery in those parts. This is one pile in the shop, there’s two others as well.
I have been planning on shooting another video after the chest one is done – making the Jennie Alexander chair. Started it in fact, before the Lyme disease got me. Lots of people are making JA chairs now, which would please her to no end. And many have made changes, adjustments, etc. I remember Alexander saying of one chairmaker “he has passed me by…” and was perfectly happy with that. Well, I haven’t passed anybody by. The way I make them is mostly the way JA made them, one or two tweaks here & there. I’ll show the whole process, including harvesting and weaving the hickory bark for the seat. It will include details of JA’s chair that I have in the shop, along side me making one. This time I’ll make the whole video before it goes up – not dribble it out like the chest. I’ll keep you posted.
Other news is that I’m planning on actually leaving home at some point to teach a class or two. Not till late winter/early spring. I’ll post information about that when I get them finalized. The only one so far that’s certain is making the JA chair at Pete Galbert’s in March. No details yet – so sit tight. I’ll let you know.
The vimeo series, now 18 hours & counting vimeo.com/ondemand/follansbeejoinedchest
The chest plans are here https://pfollansbee.wordpress.com/carving-drawings-plans/
PETER FOLLANSBEE: JOINER’S NOTES 
busy busy you are
Please do yourself a favor and get on craigslist or facebook marketplace and buy yourself a chuck of railroad rail or a small anvil before beating the hickory bark for the seats; I remember last time you blogged about it you pulled a bunch of muscles in your back or some such thing. After being out of commission with lyme disease that last thing you want is a muscle injury!
Beautiful work, as always. Someday I’ll make enough money to buy furniture, and when I do you are building me a box or a chest!
Thanks, Choirboy, but you’re mixing metaphors. Pounding is for ash splints for basketry. I don’t recall injuring myself doing that, but I do remember a sore elbow from splitting wood with a sledge hammer & wedges. Hickory barks peels off the tree. like a 30′ banana. But I appreciate your concern.
Looking forward to the JA chair video!
What is the unusual-looking hammer in the photo of the assembly of the end frames and panels?
3 lb mallet, iron with rawhide faces.