New to ww project suggestions

[MikeS]

Newbie to wood working. Completed 1st 2 projects (a walnut cutting board with maple and red oak, and a river table vanity and bench. Looking for another project idea to help build skills. Any suggestions appreciated.

Mike

[gee-dub]

Small boxes provide a wide range of skill practice. They can be mitered-corner lift lid, dovetail-cornered hinged lid, inset trays, sliding tops, etc. I have often said that a small box is just a challenging as a large box because all of the same skill sets are required.

[pkinneb]

Welcome!

 

[Coop]

Welcome as well and I agree with @gee-dub. That’s what got me started and still go back to boxes for experience and pleasure. My box mentor is Doug Stowe with his book, “ Basic Box Making”. 

[wtnhighlander]

Welcome, @MikeS!

Picture frames are another small project that are deceptively challenging. If nothing else, creating tight wide miters forces one to develop the foundation skill of making precise and repetitive cuts.

After that, they are wide open for artistic interpretation!

[BillyJack]

It’s going to depend on the tools you have and how comfortable you are using them.

Can you tell us a bit more?

[Von]

Welcome!

Sounds like some great first projects. Seconding small boxes, you have choices for the joints, lids, finish, etc. and the investment in materials is small. And small projects in woodworking definitely are not automatically easier than large ones - each has their own challenges.

What I often found rewarding is something tailored to my needs in some way such that I couldn't go buy it. Say a coffee table sized just so.

 

[drzaius]

Learn about the characteristics of various woods that you might be working with. I bring this up because you have made a cutting board with red oak. It's a poor choice because of the large open pore structure that will collect food & gunk. Not bringing that up to be  mean, but to educate. And Welcome.

Fun fact: did you know that red oak can be used as a drinking straw? You can actually suck water through those pores.

[Ronn W]

I think a good learing project would be a side table with tapered legs and a drawer.  Skills, gluing up a table top,  mortise and tenon joinery, dovetails (drawers), cutting a taperd leg.  Keeping everything square.  Take your time, practice, make test piece out of poplar.  Lots to learn.

[roughsawn]

That's a really good suggestion, Ronn. I learned a few new things last year when I built mine.

[wtnhighlander]

Good call, @Ronn W! The reasons you gave probably influenced @thewoodwhisperer to choose such a table as one of the first Guild projects.