Popular Post rpike Posted December 19, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted December 19, 2018 I've been a lurker here for years reading posts and soaking up knowledge, but I rarely post. I recently took on a project that I felt was well above my skill level, and I learned a lot form it. This post is meant primarily to encourage those who feel they don't have the "right tools" or the skills to go ahead and give it a shot anyway. You'll surprise yourself with what you can do. A bit about me, I am by no means a pro. During college I worked as a framer for about 6 months before my fear of heights got the better of me. I then got a job via classified ad (that'll date me) for a finish carpenter. When I called the number on the ad, the guy asked me only a few questions; 1.) Do you own reliable transportation? 2.) Do you own the following tools: table saw, compound mitre saw, jig saw, router, palm sander, air compressor, nail guns...the list goes on and on. 3.) Can you start tomorrow? I did own a vehicle (that couldn't fit all the tools needed) , I could start the next day, but I didn't own any tools other than framing hand tools (but I said I had them). I went out that night and convinced my young bride that dropping a load of money on these tools for the job was a good idea. So I did. I showed up the next day with a car load of new tools (not the nicest) I'd never used and proceeded to get an education. I had no idea what I was doing, but I made some money and loved the job. I did finish work for about 3 years to put me through school, and that is the extent of my woodworking experience. Fastforward 11 years since I left woodworking to park my butt in the cockpit of a jet for a living, and my wife called upon me to jump into the way-back machine, dust off my tools and build her a new kitchen. I foolishly said okay. This project included gutting our existing kitchen, removing walls and ceiling, rewiring and new pluming, so It was more than just a new cabinet build. Apologies for the mess in the foreground/background. I have kids...and they are messy. Kitchen before: Kitchen after: Loos smaller than before, but the wall to the left includes the pantry with didn't exist before. All in all we gained a lot more usable cabinet space than we previously had. The peninsula with the oven (far left of kitchen) used to have a floor to ceiling wall behind it that blocked the dinning room (where my ladder is sitting), so we lost the upper cabinets there. We doubled the width of the island and added storage on the back and also added 3 feet to the length. Various Details - Vent Hood Back of Island Pantry wall with faux beams Dovetail maple drawers Anyway, that's the gist of it. If I can do it, anyone can. So go ahead and jump in and start something. Reading blogs and watching videos online is great and motivating, but nothing beats making sawdust (and mistakes) in the shop. I may post construction pictures and techniques if there is interest. This was a fun and occasionally frustrating project that took about 6 months from beginning of demolition to finished product. 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted December 20, 2018 Report Share Posted December 20, 2018 A ambitious project with a very nice outcome. Well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted December 20, 2018 Report Share Posted December 20, 2018 I'd be interested in some construction pictures if you ever get around to it. Looks like a great outcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted December 20, 2018 Report Share Posted December 20, 2018 Ya done good for a bus driver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted December 20, 2018 Report Share Posted December 20, 2018 Very well done, all of it. I like the vent hood surround. So mamma had to have new appliances as well I see! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted December 20, 2018 Report Share Posted December 20, 2018 Nice work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick S Posted December 20, 2018 Report Share Posted December 20, 2018 Very nicely done! Hopefully she's happy enough with it to justify a few more toys for the shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpike Posted December 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2018 Thanks, all. Yes, my wife did want new appliances, so that was a driving factor for the kitchen remodel. We also didn't like the wall separating the dining room and kitchen. I originally didn't want to do any of the work in the remodel as my work schedule was pretty hectic, but I a was motivated financially to take it on myself when we started to get bids from contractors. This project had so many upsides. My wife wanted a new kitchen, and I wanted more tools. We both got what we wanted. When I started, I had basic job site power tools from my finish carpentry days and a 3 hp cabinet saw. I added a second 3 hp saw to the shop (I set one for ripping and one for crosscutting with a sliding table attachment). I also added a 20" planer, 12" jointer, 22" drum sander, 3 hp shaper, 18" bandsaw, second dust collector, and a Leigh dovetail jig. Even after all these tool purchases we came in 10's of thousands under what what our bids came in at for the remodel by doing it ourselves. Here are a couple more pics. The dining room ceiling got a tongue and grove makeover: The stairs also got a makeover (removes carpet and made oak treads): Before: After: Setting Boxes: Making drawer parts: This is about 1/4 of the drawer parts. Our lower cabinets are almost entirely drawers. We ended up with 25 drawers total. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted December 20, 2018 Report Share Posted December 20, 2018 I’m impressed! And you fly big boy planes as well, as in your aviator? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpike Posted December 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2018 12 minutes ago, K Cooper said: I’m impressed! And you fly big boy planes as well, as in your aviator? Thanks! It was fun to play builder for a while. I got to play rough carpenter, finish carpenter and cabinet maker all in one job...plus various other trades. I've got a lot of respect for professional tradespeople who do this stuff for a living and making it look easy. And yes, the picture in my avatar is the plane I fly. It's a Dassault Falcon 2000 LX. It's a rough job, but someone needs to do it. It's a great plane, and it keeps me busy about 8 days/month. Leaves me plenty of time to spend in the shop making mistakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted December 20, 2018 Report Share Posted December 20, 2018 Damn! I just Googled it. Beautiful plane and great hours! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted December 20, 2018 Report Share Posted December 20, 2018 Love the T&G cieling, and the shop yo've put together sounds pretty awesome as well. When skies are blue i'm sure it's awesome. I don't envy you when you have to deal with bad weather though. That little guy looks fun. I have a few friends in the aviation industry and know that it's a bear to get into but that after you get your hours pilots are pretty sought after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted December 21, 2018 Report Share Posted December 21, 2018 People joke about pilots being bus drivers until something goes wrong then they expect all the skill and experience that is what justifies the salary. You know what to do almost instinctively in a certain situation , if you don't your butt is on the line too. Great motivation in my book. I was talking to my orthopedic surgeon and he was going to drill a hole in my femur up into my hip. Logically a woodworker would want to see the drill and the bit. He finally relented when he realized we were both craftsmen and thusly proud of our skills and tools. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corbett C. Smith Posted December 31, 2018 Report Share Posted December 31, 2018 I love how it turned out! Nice work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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