Thompson’s Pass

Spent some time on the wife’s honey-do list this week. Her side hustle has really taken off over the past 2 years, outpacing her ability to stay organized. She gave me a picture of what she wanted, and I built it to fit the space. The seam in the headboard is an eyesore and I would have preferred to stick with 48” wide so I didn’t have to scab in another strip. But she wanted to maximize the space. And when it’s all filled up you can barely notice. And while the last pic didn’t involve making anything, her vinyl and heat press has a new home now too. #homebusiness #sidehustle #getorganized #gettingorganized #cleaningup #honeydolist #crofton #croftonmd #croftonmaryland (at Crofton, Maryland) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsRZKrrA-jj/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=7cpmgh6ats7u

Got a few tools to add to the shop for Christmas this year. The pocket hole jig will come in handy doing shop cabinets very soon. The miter bars will help whip up a few table saw jigs I need, and the toggle clamps...well, the one that seems to be in the package “backwards” really bothers my OCD! #christmaspresents #toolsmakemehappy #woodworking #merrychristmas (at Crofton, Maryland) https://www.instagram.com/p/Br3_Ef9gotX/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=zb7ic8641lau

A few personal Christmas projects under my belt. Added a decorative border to the square box but forgot to grab a picture of it. I really need to do better about photographing my work when it is done. Who else has that problem? With the holidays behind us, more projects should follow as I devote time to getting back in the shop. (at Crofton, Maryland) https://www.instagram.com/p/Br3kixhgqN6/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=wgkqtezh1jm5

Prop builders homeless encampment at AHS tonight. https://www.instagram.com/p/BoPxu07gDfY/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=13i37bu6vj9gc

More of my non-shop projects. This bunch of volunteers is the best group of people I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with! Got wheels on our platform, and finished building and tuning the third and final tubulum. Also got paint on the first one, which is hugely rewarding! The first competition is coming up fast! (at Maryland) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bnm87tmgbcd/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1o3pnb99fe8ia

More magical musical instrument construction. Slow going but almost done with the first 2 of 3. They say good help is hard to find, that’s because I have all the good ones here. #myteamisthebest #marchingband #crazyinstruments #tubulum #rimbatubes #highschoolmarchingband https://www.instagram.com/p/BnClgBYgpB5/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=fvvnii5endni

This time of year doesn’t afford me much opportunity for shop time. It is marching band season, and as a volunteer parent, August through November is usually a blackout period in my schedule. But that doesn’t mean I don’t get to make stuff. Part 1 of this year’s prop build is a tubulum, a pvc pipe instrument a la Blue Man Group. Actually, there will be 3 of them. First unit is done and dry fit. #marchingband #highschoolmarchingband #propbuilder #propcrew #teamworkmakesthedreamwork

I finally got some shop time this weekend. It wasn’t totally my own, as I was still knocking out honey-do items, but I did get to make some things. Per my wife’s design, floating towel bar made with walnut and iron pipe, done and mounted. Floating hand towel/washcloth rack done, but not mounted yet. I’ll finish that up tomorrow evening. 4 coats of Helmsman Spar Urethane on the walnut, 2 coats of Minwax Polycrylic on the pipes to prevent any rusting. #woodworking #woodwork #ironpipe #industrialdesign #homedecor #walnut #helmsman #sparurethane #minwax #polycrilic #minwaxpolycrylic (at Crofton, Maryland)

Putting in some work of a different kind tonight. #laserengraving #laser #engraving #maker #makesomething #domore (at Crofton, Maryland)

I need suggestions for better screws. The heads on these strip out so easily they are all but unusable. Would love to hear what others use! (at Crofton, Maryland)

Hoping to get some shop time in this Father’s Day weekend. I’m close to wrapping up the beadboard project now. I ran into a dilemma when trimming the beadboard at the cased window opening and the tile. Still needs caulk and paint obviously, but here’s how I tackled it. How would YOU have terminated the trim at these points? #crofton #croftonmaryland #homeimprovement #honeydolist #beadboard #remodel #remodeling #chairrail #wainscoting #trimcarpentry #finishcarpentry (at Crofton, Maryland)

A little disappointed this weekend, as shop time was pushed aside in favor of the honey-do list. New beadboard and trim going in the master bath. A few more evenings to finish up before I can return to shop time. #honeydolist #homeimprovement #happywifehappylife #beadboard #chairrail #baseboard #crofton (at Crofton, Maryland)

River gum cut for that project. Doesn’t look like much right now. Waiting on a piece I ordered to arrive so I can move forward on that. Glue-ups for the other two, which will now be three projects. More to come! #woodworking #woodwork #beech #pinkbeech #europeanbeech #rivergum #wenge #spaltedtamarind #handmade #madeincrofton #crofton #gambrills #whatisit #staytuned (at Crofton, Maryland)

Three upcoming projects. River gum; pink beech+Burmese blackwood; wenge +spalted tamarind. Stay tuned!