Moments in the shop — fortin original

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My wife caught on camera :-)

Construction of the shop, look rather serious, probably because construction work is really not my favorite.

Shop assistant (my nephew André) great help.

My good friend John repairing the sailboat sculpture he gave me as a present, that I dropped on the floor.

John again, during a photo session.

Photographing large objects in my workshop can be a challenge.

Always a thrill to capture good photos.

This is art! a genuine clamp sculpture :-)

My good buddy Paul planing down his Spalted birch coffee tabletop.

Ebonizing a set of legs. Amazing what you can do with vinegar and steel wool.

Gilles proud of his thinner than paper maple shaving.

This piece could be entered in a Star ship enterprise collection.

Two gorgeous 8/4 Sapele (mahogany) planks from our wood merchant to finish a project.

Late night in the shop.

Buddy Ron thumbs up, the clamps are holding!

Four beautiful slabs of black walnut that a friend sourced out for me.

Some of that slab walnut in use.

Mon ami Donald, working on an assignment for his McEwen school of architecture program. Not bad for a “mature” retired dean of literature.

Love using that vacuum press system.

Another example of what you can do with it.

Using the same system to veneer multiple panels for a large wall system.

I did say many panels :-)

Last touches to a glass panel for a ceiling light.

The ceiling light is assembled ready to be installed.

Devised a standing jig to hold up 4 doors enabling me to spray them on all sides.

A line up of wooden pancakes (cheese serving boards) ready for xmas sales.

The line up of this year’s models in shaker side tables:-)

Once designed, the fabrication of multiples becomes very cost effective.

My normal design process is many quick sketches, then I shortlist one or two

Sketch Up to develop working drawings, if the piece is very sinuous, full size drawings instead.

Then the final piece, I still get a chill/thrill when I’m done.

Another sketch up drawing for a coffee table.

Final table, Shedua, anigre and wenge with drooping coasters. :-)

Sketch-Up is great for giving very accurate dimensions.

The final with a few variations. During the fabrication tweaks always happen.

This is only one view, the final plan in this case had 11 views for showing all the details.

The final in curly walnut and maple.

With the dimensions of the jars first, the software made it easy to position the shelves.

The final made with poplar, milk paint and some surface carving.

I love making these huge boxes, but the corner miters require serious clamping.

White oak veneer onto core light panels.

I love making these huge boxes, but the corner miters require serious clamping.

Turn of the century Morris smoothing plane.

A Stanley 5 1/4 with 2 inch blade - never seen another one like it. Kept this one and I use it regularly.

Refurbished Bailey smoothing plane.

This hand tool was burgundy in color – totally rusted! Turned into a graceful tool.

That rusty hand plane did the smoothing on these curly cherry drawer fronts.

The famous Stanley compass plane incredibly great at convex and concave curves.

A Compass going downhill!

The #5 Stanley bailey hand plane refurbished from top to bottom

Bird’s eye maple, cherry and Spalted birch, beautiful colors in harmony.

The #6 Stanley Bailey fore plane refurbished from top to bottom.

A 2-step library stool on the turn table having final coats of shellac applied.

A room layout for a bedroom. The dresser and headboard were retained and built.

Curly cherry and maple.

Wenge leg cuff ready for final trimming.

Approximately 150 square feet of cherry veneer resawn and sanded.

Final dimension 1/16 x 7 x 80

Coffee break, Gilles sharing some wisdom about something :-)

Jacob (grandson) giving me the evil eye.

Another great day, back tomorrow.

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