Mahogany and Birds eye Maple box

I finally got around to putting the finish on the lidded box I started in a Woodcraft class and wrote about back in October [link]. I just didn't like the combination of mahogany with a walnut veneer top, so I built a new lid with a bird's eye maple top. The finished project is a combination of mahogany sides, veneered maple top, veneered mahogany/walnut bottom, and walnut dividers.
The mahogany/maple combination has turned out to be more attractive to me so I am glad I remade the top. I used a wipe on poly for the finish and installed two small hinges. I will probably add a small brass knob to the lid.

Sharpening Station starts to take shape

I saw a sharpening station in Issue 81 of Shop Notes that I thought came close to fitting my needs. I was looking for a place to house my grinder and Wolverine Sharpening system for my lathe tools. The station in the Shop Notes had everything I wanted but it had an expandable top with a built-in water basin for water stones. I was more interested in having a permanent site for my 8 inch slow speed grinder and also a place for sharpening with sandpaper and stones. I didn't think I wanted to have to move the grinder in order to access the water basin.

I did remember seeing a grinder mounted on T-track that slid to the back of the station when not in use. I think that approach gives me the multiple sharpening situations that I think I will encounter.

So this drawing indicates the physical structure and layout of the cabinet I am building. There are several changes from the Shop Notes station. I am putting it on casters so I can move it to the lathe or workbench depending on what type of sharpening I want to do. I made the top solid double layer of 3/4" MDF with melamine and hardwood edging. Two T-tracks are embedded in the top to allow the grinder platform to slide from the back to the front. The grinder itself is on a platform to accommodate the height necessary for the Wolverine sharpening jigs. I am adding a movable work light to help with fine honing.

I'll start adding pictures of my actual work station as it takes shape over the next weeks. Right now I have the cabinet shell and face frame assembled and I have the top completed and ready to attach.

2008 Projects become 2009 Ideas

Last year at this time I created a notebook that had all of the wood working projects that I wanted to do in 2008. And I even made a resolution, "I will complete all of my wood working projects.
Well, life intervened and I was redirected to different activities for a large part of the year. And I also discovered that I was picking up new project ideas and working on them instead of the projects on my list.
So, this year my resolution is much more general - to enjoy working on projects in my shop. And it gets more to the heart of why I spend time in the shop without setting number goals.
Aside from the old resolution, I had a good time learning this year. I spent a lot more time wood turning and completed a number of projects on the lathe. So maybe by concentrating on enjoying the projects instead of just how many I completed, I will make room for more learning and for new discoveries.