Silver Medal Shadowbox Wall Display

Well, I am just about ready to begin my upstairs full bath renovation to complete our major home remodeling project after phase one...last years kitchen remodel came off successfully and now, the bathroom will bring our home up to our liking and what we have been waiting to do for many years.  I had completed the furniture for the bathroom (vanity, mirror frame and a wall cabinet) and was not willing to take on anything else for anyone since my attention would be devoted to the bath remodel.


 Well, while I am just about ready to get on with the project....I have had a small amount of time to squeeze out a small little display frame that my Brother Dave asked me to make.  Apparently, a nephew of Dave's recently won a silver medal along with the rest of his ice hockey team and Dave asked me to build a nice display to hang it on a wall.  This is what I came up with.  I wanted the frame to be as light as possible, so I thinned down the walls of the shadowbox to like 5/8" to shave off some weight.  This frame would have normally needed two recesses milled into it.  One for the glazing on the front of it and one for the back of the box to fit into.  This would not have left much meat on the back of the box to mount needed hardware.  I solved this problem by tacking on some thin walnut strips to the top of the box and extending into the "field" of the viewable portion of the framework.  This not only served as a decorative effect being used with the naturally finished red oak, but it also served to hold in the glazing.....this way, I eliminated one of the recesses needed.  Custom milled up moulding was rabbited around the outside of the box, now with a walnut feature added to it, and features some beading around the perimeter.

   Dave wanted a white background in the box and I think that was an excellent choice since it really highlights the red, white and blue colors of the medal.  Some foamboard is behind the fabric and then some 1/4" luan ply serves as the back.

A bed fit for a "King"

I was contracted by a friend to build him a king sized bed.  I was a bit hesitant because of the size of the thing.  It was massive to say the least.  Oh, I knew that it could be done.  This project didn't really present any construction problems....it was pretty much straightforward in its design and fabrication.  The biggest worry was actually getting its girth to the bedroom to which it would be assigned.  I took measurements....even made a mock up of the size of the headboard, which would be the largest single piece.  It appeared that it would fit, but it would be close.  After mulling over my options, I went ahead and began building it. The problem with the home was a complete 180 degree turn from the top of the stairway around and into a hallway that led to the master bedroom.  In the end, it did fit.  I had worried for what turned out to be nothing, but it WAS close.

  It is constructed of red oak, by far my favorite species to build with.  I usually finish my red oak naturally and let the grain and the natural appearance of the wood to be the star.  However, the customer had a handful of pieces in the home that he had purchased from an amish source and he wanted the bed to match the rest of it.  I took one of his dresser drawers to obtain a good match and I got a pretty close resemblance with some stain I had on hand.  Finished it with Deft brushing lacquer which I cut by 20% with thinner so that I can spray it with my HVLP air gun.  Makes for a very satiny to the touch finish.