I actually do make things...

Here is my toolbox Pt 1.

Mark Harrison -- in Sydney, Australia

>Primary material is Tasmanian Oak (really one of three eucalyptus species, most like likely E. Delegatensis) and panels are again Huon Pine.

Note the curly figure on the top Tasmanian Oak panel.

This is the first major piece I made. The design is inspired by the ShopNotes design but it has been significantly changed by me to suit my needs.

The finish is Organoil again.

Here is my toolbox Pt 2.

Mark Harrison -- in Sydney, Australia

>Here is the side. This is why I wont use Organoil on Huon Pine again. It has gone very yellow. Still attractive but I prefer the whiter look.

Some interesting Australian wood samples

Mark Harrison -- in Sydney, Australia

>Here is a picture of REAL birds eye Huon Pine (on the top) and Tiger Myrtle on the bottom. I wiped the Huon Pine with mineral spirits to give you a better idea.

Re: Here is my toolbox Pt 1.

Jim Shaver, Oakville Ontario

>Hi Mark,

I recognize the design from Shop Notes, but WOW, seeing your work really is great!!

Take care,

Jim

Beautiful !!

Rob Overton,Houston, Texas

>

Great job, keep up the great work.

Victor Parisian

>

Re: I actually do make things...

Bob Hutchins in central Texas

>Howdy Mark!

Very nice work! The table is beautiful and the toolbox is . . . well, tool porn. Really great job.

Tell us more about the red gum. To my knowledge, we don't have that here. I wonder if it's anything like sweet gum.

Thanks for the pics.

BobH

Re: I actually do make things...

GolfSteve in Calgary

>Hi Mark. Nice looking table. I also learned that Red Gum is not fun to work with. I found it very irritating to my skin, rather unstable and when I used a power tool on it there was brown dust stuck to everything in my shop. Nevertheless, I've seen some beautiful red gum slabs and came close to buying a few and shipping them back to Canada.

I love the look of Huon pine. My personal preference is that the top should have more of an overhang or a different edge profile...but I see lots of tables with little overhang and square edges and every one jars me a bit.

Are you planning on oiling just the cockbead and not the drawerfront? This would be nice to help keep the pine as white as possible, but if the cockbead is already glued on, I don't know how you will do it.

Beautiful Work Mark - You

Howard In Toronto

>have great taste.

That table is SENSATIONAL.

I love the hardwoods you Aussies access - and take for granted!

Keep us posted with more photos.

Howard

Re: Here is my toolbox Pt 1.

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>A toolbox to die for, very nice, Mark. Does it have internal sliding tills and the like?

Pam

Excellent jobs Mark...

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>The tables is very nice. Love the contrasting colors of the woods used. I must admit I find your tool box is very drool worthly! Any shots with the drawers open? Again very nice.

Re: I actually do make things...

Mark Harrison -- in Sydney, Australia

>What you call Sweet Gum could be one of Liquidambar acerifolia, Liquidambar formosana, Liquidambar maximowiczii or Liquidambar styraciflua. Most likely the latter.

I'm talking about Eucalyptus camaldulensis (most likely there are other eucalypt species that include Red Gum in the name).

As I mentioned it is a complete PITA to work with and I ended up resorting to taking the tops to the man with the big belt sander. Unfortunately a lot of our hardwoods really need abrasive tools to be used effectively otherwise nothing would ever get made. I can understand the frustration the pioneer carpenters had and why they ravaged the few native timbers they found usable with the tools they had.

Re: I actually do make things...

Mark Harrison -- in Sydney, Australia

>I also learned that Red Gum is not fun to work with. I found it very irritating to my skin, rather unstable and when I used a power tool on it there was brown dust stuck to everything in my shop. Nevertheless, I've seen some beautiful red gum slabs and came close to buying a few and shipping them back to Canada.

It can be unstable if not well dried. This has been sitting in my shop for three years. I haven't had any irritation problems and I tend to suffer from allergy problems so I think you are a little unlucky.

As I mentioned in a previous note, you would need to take the slabs to the man with the big belt sander to get the best out of this stuff. The interlocking grain while beautiful makes edge tools impractical. In my experience anyway.

I love the look of Huon pine. My personal preference is that the top should have more of an overhang or a different edge profile...but I see lots of tables with little overhang and square edges and every one jars me a bit.

Normally I would agree with you and I cut the tops bigger to start with and eventually, after several iterations, ended up back as per the plan. This is somewhat unusual for me to make something as per the plan. I usually can't help myself :-)

Are you planning on oiling just the cockbead and not the drawerfront? This would be nice to help keep the pine as white as possible, but if the cockbead is already glued on, I don't know how you will do it.

The plan is to shellac the face including the cock bead up to the apogee (for want of another word) of the bead then sand it back on the cock bead. That's the plan anyway. How well it works is another matter! I have to admit that this was a (Shhhh) mistake.

Re: Excellent jobs Mark...

Mark Harrison -- in Sydney, Australia

>Believe me, it's better with the drawers shut :-) They are not the best part of the piece and I have not made any effort on the interior. Too many other priorities I'm afraid.

Re: Here is my toolbox Pt 1.

Mark Harrison -- in Sydney, Australia

>Under the lid are my hand planes. The central drawer with the Huon Pine veneer face has my Stanley 112 as it is too tall to fit under the lid. Otherwise the organisation (if that's not too strong a word) is based on the drawers. Still, I do know where everything is and it has improved protection of my hand tools from rust problems.

Re: Here is my toolbox Pt 1.

Don Thompson - Cutler Ridge, Florida

>That is a very nice toolbox, Mark. I have thought about making one, but the idea of all of those dividers and drawers is daunting!