Woodworkers are a pretty diverse bunch, to put it mildly. But, one thing we have in common is the capacity–no, the propensity–to dream, of projects that we would like to make, if skills and resources were no object. Tapping Into this theme, I asked our visitors the open-ended question, “What is your dream project?” The range of answers reflect the diversity of the WoodCentral community, and, in many cases, a shared motive of pleasing a special person in their life.
Building the nest… and feathering it.
“To build a timberframe home in the mountains. I’ve been studying techniques and working on a design for years. A one-of-a-kind home without a single nail… the ultimate woodworking accomplishment.” *…an Arts & Crafts bedroom suite that will let me fit dresser and chest sizes to the oddly-sized walls in our bedroom. Or, a couple of corner cabinets for the dining room.”
“…a complete dining room set-a table that seats 6-12, chairs, a china cabinet, and a side table that all match-just for my wife.”
“…a sleigh bed of Cherry, complete with relief carvings. If I could bulld this project, I would really consider myself a craftsman.”
“…an Arts & Crafts home on a few acres. Of course, I would also want a stand-alone shop with the same design intent. Ah, long winter nights. in the shop with hockey back on TV. I can dream, can’t I?”
“…a grandfather (or ‘waisted’) tall-case clock. It’s only the huge cost of the brass works that keeps me from starting.”
“…any Seymour piece. Turning, carving, veneer-even metalwork-It’s all there. Or maybe a nice highboy. So many pieces, so little time!” …a complete bedroom suite using Mahogany and Tiger Maple. I have the wood. I need to find the time.”
“…a Greene & Greene-inspired hall bench; not literally, but with a stylistic nod to their design touches. Or a Frank Lloyd Wright torchiere floor lamp.”
“Why not go for the gold? The Goddard-Townsend Newport Secretary represents the highest level of design and craftsmanship in American period furniture. I’d try it out of Poplar first, though.”
“My dream project is to open a bed & breakfast with my wife, where all the furniture in the place is designed and built by me.”
*…a Maloof-style rocker and other furniture. I just might do it, too, because I’m considering taking a course from Hal Taylor.”
“…a highboy with a bonnet top, carved fans, Queen Anne legs, and balland-claw feet. I’d use Curly Maple or Cuban Mahogany, and it would be mistake free.”
“…a dining room set, but what I have in mind has never been done. It would defy the laws of physics, yet be totally functional.”
…a Japanese or Chinese-style low table with all the intriguing joinery made by hand, with no color added to it, just an oil finish.”
“…a dining room set with a table, chairs, and a buffet that will harmonize with my adobe casa. The table will have a tiled section in the center for hot dishes, and the chairs will have hand-woven seat covers.”
“…a roll-top desk. I just can’t seem to get it started!”
“I’d really dearly love to make a Morris chair and matching ottoman. I don’t have the courage to tackle that one yet.”
*I’d like to turn some of my 12/4 Cherry slabs into a rocking chair designed by yours truly, along the sensuous lines of Maloof’s chairs.”
…a raft of other ambitious ideas…
*…a twenty-foot daysailer, complete with wooden spars.”
*…a Tardis garage, from the Dr. Who British TV show, so my shop would expand to meet my needs, er, wants.”
“I lust to hand forge a set of tools from slicks to veiners to draw knives to adzes, all socketed or tanged with Cocobolo handles with silicon bronze ferrules… 150 or so, all having M2 HSS forge welded inlays on 4150 base metal arrayed in sets stored in sheep-tallowed leather tool ralls. Whadda project “a boat. Preferably a sailboat of some type. Does it matter that I don’t know the first thing about salling?”
“I’ve always admired those who’ve built really nice sounding acoustic guitars. Even more impressive is an archtop (‘f-hole,’ or jazz) guitar.”
“…a speedboat! Mahogany strip-planked in epoxy, with CC type fold down windshield. It will be a two-seater, 15 ft. long (so it will fit in the garage), with a big 1800cc automotive engine.”
“… my own lumber mill. A band mill capable of slicing a 36″ wide log, with a stout steel frame and traveling carriage covered by a nice hardwood shell.”
“My dream is to write a published article. Maybe it will be about a chess set, with pieces 2″-3″ dia. at the base, and a board with storage. underneath that would hang on the wall and display the pieces.”
…and some wishful thinking!
“My dream is for just one project that goes from concept to design to completion without one hitch. No changes, what-ifs, arm chair quarterbacking, etc. You get the idea.”
“With my own drawings in hand, I go to my shop. My pal Forrest is tuning the tablesaw. Sam will do the bandsawing, and Garrett will plane the boards. Tage Frid will OK the proportions and joinery. Mario will give me a hand on small parts, and Lee will do the carving. Bill and Ellis will do turnings with detail help from Wally. Sandor will do the sanding, and Jimmy Carter will be in town, so he and Norm will help with the glue-up. Michael Dresdner and Jeff Jewitt will assist with the finish. R-r-i-i-n-g. ‘Hello, Nancy? No, I’m not laying on the couch…”
What are your thoughts on this? Add your comments below!