Some of my recent projects

Grey Heron · May 2, 2011

After few of you guys encouradged me to post some of my work so here it comes:
Coffee table
Made of oak and burr oak, plus wenge in plugs. Generally I got inspired by Arts&Crafts and bit of Greene&Greene. I didn't have any ebony around so I used wenge as substitute. Oak planks were also aged by ammonia fumes. This coffee table will be a part of bigger project but there is no rush so I am not under pressure. Whole big set includes full height cupboards/bookcases with display cabinet section and full extension drawers row in the bottom section plus sitting place around the window.

Log Cabin
Based on traditional technique and made from Douglas Fir. I tried to use classic methods of erecting this type of buildings - so I used tongues&grooves, mortises&tenons, half lapped dovetails etc.What you see is stage one, stage two starting soon!!

more to come...

Wooden Lungs · May 2, 2011

Hi Arek,
Love the Douglas Fir frame, I have only done frames in Oak so far but I have some Douglas fir out back that I have to turn into Decorative pierced barge boards. Its all fresh sawn stuff and I hope it doesnt warp too much when I put it up! Its great to see other peoples projects on here and the work seems to be really diverse.
Did you do all the slate work too?
Is this your little cabin or is it for a client?
And last but not least have you ever been to "Frame UK" or heard of the "carpenters fellowship"?

Grey Heron · May 2, 2011

never heard about Frame UK or the other one. have you got any links?
DFir I found very steady, only shrinking. Ti somehow behaves like Larch - no twisting or warping motions just shrinkage. I Didn't do slates as I am woodworker not Slater [big grin] and this wee house is for customer
Here is full project (I removed lead lean-on roof for better view)

Wooden Lungs · May 2, 2011

http://www.carpentersfellowship.co.uk/

http://www.timberstructures.net/timber-framing.html
Check out this site. If you scroll down it has some info on daisy wheel Geometry for setting out traditional fames. Laurie Smith from the UK has written more on this subject, he is very well known amongst UK framers. Is that google sketchup pro you are using?

Grey Heron · May 2, 2011

yup correct SU 8 to be exact
btw those links are great. thank you very much [big grin]

woodguy7 · May 2, 2011

Arek, nice work. I noticed the "Green & Green" influence before i read about it & that is some nice oak boards there.

That is a cool wee cabin. What is the purpose of it ? Bet that will cost her a few bob once its done

Grey Heron · May 2, 2011

woodguy7 said:
Arek, nice work. I noticed the "Green & Green" influence before i read about it & that is some nice oak boards there.

That is a cool wee cabin. What is the purpose of it ? Bet that will cost her a few bob once its done

I quite like Art Nouveau either European version or American. Like the way they played with gentle curves and put wee twist here and there. Personally G&G went too far with ebony plugs loaded everywhere. I kinda reduced it and I like tone of it as well. I love european species and love working with oak, elm, sycamore, maple and dun see why I would have to go more exotic than just adding tiny bit of somethin'
About that cabin. Yeah it's gonna be a bit expensive as my customer wants it really top spec including fancy gear in the kitchen or smart lighting in side cabin (recess mounted in cross beam for instance)
Original plan was to build kinda music studio/hideout place, but as you can see on SU pictures it went beyond that point long time ago. When my customer saw the way it's built and beauty of wood he said he wants more with an option of sleeping inside (loft bed) and being self sufficient i.e. showeroom and kitchen area. And I am just happy as it means I got big job to do and will keep ma kids fed [big grin] [big grin]

honeydoman · May 3, 2011

grey, nice looking table and yes we all love to see everybodys work. that building you built is that your scottish castle? [laughing] just kidding... nice joinery and I love the little detail on the windows and doors.

Grey Heron · May 4, 2011

I wish I could afford it hahaha [wink] This is for customer. Fingers crossed guys as on Friday guys are doing concrete slab for stage two!! I hope to get rid of that double door I am just finishing(ish) by the beginning of next week so I can come back to log cabin. In most cases I have free hand to decide what is the best for this log cabin and customer just accepts it (isn't that lovely? - I wish everyone had such clients!) And I thought adding some gentle curves here and there will make it better but not over decorate whole structure...

Electric Trim · May 4, 2011

Greg, super cool dude! What trade are you most associated with? You obviously have more than 1 mastered...

Grey Heron · May 5, 2011

Believe me or not but by trade I am wooden boat builder [big grin]. Put it this way - place where I live is so small that you've got to be kinda universal and flexible to be able to survive. I don't enjoy living as unemployed so I am doing my best [big grin]

tiralie · May 5, 2011

Grey Heron said:
After few of you guys encouradged me to post some of my work so here it comes:
Coffee table
Made of oak and burr oak, plus wenge in plugs. Generally I got inspired by Arts&Crafts and bit of Greene&Greene. I didn't have any ebony around so I used wenge as substitute. Oak planks were also aged by ammonia fumes. This coffee table will be a part of bigger project but there is no rush so I am not under pressure. Whole big set includes full height cupboards/bookcases with display cabinet section and full extension drawers row in the bottom section plus sitting place around the window.

Arek:
Nice table. It'll be interesting to see (hopefully) the rest of the pieces as you complete them.

Grey Heron said:
Log Cabin
Based on traditional technique and made from Douglas Fir. I tried to use classic methods of erecting this type of buildings - so I used tongues&grooves, mortises&tenons, half lapped dovetails etc.

I love the joinery.
Obviously you have a great client there.
Thanks for posting.
Tim

Michael Kellough · May 5, 2011

What a nice project! Congratulations.

About the grooves in the sides of the posts, are they good for something?
It doesn't look like the siding boards will fit into those grooves, unless extremely loosely.
Do you fit a cleat into the groove to which the siding is nailed?

When laying out your large joints do you work from the edge of the stock or from a centerline?

I'd like to see some of your boat work too.

BobKovacs · May 5, 2011

I may have missed it, but are the walls between the posts just a single layer of boards, or are there two layers with insulation between? I know Scotland doesn't get extremely cold, but I think it gets close enough to freezing that I'd want more than a single layer of wood between me and the outdoors, no?

Grey Heron · May 5, 2011

Thanks Tim for nice words. I am trying my best

About the grooves in the sides of the posts, are they good for something?
It doesn't look like the siding boards will fit into those grooves, unless extremely loosely.
Do you fit a cleat into the groove to which the siding is nailed?

Groove is for holding loose tenons in place. It's 1" deep in each piece and tenon strip is 2" wide. This covers all wood movement. Tenons are not nailed but hamerred in (tight fit) with some polysulphide stuff which stays flexible all the time and works with wood, and this way all joints are sealed. The way it's done makes construction really rigid as grooves are also in filler blocks so once everything is assembled all pieces interlock with each other.

When laying out your large joints do you work from the edge of the stock or from a centerline?

I'd like to see some of your boat work too.

I always check width of each beam and mark out its width where the beam is going to be fitted and mark centerline and then draw layout of join. then usually saw few kerfs and start chiseling out waste till I get close to what I want. Then I start pairing cutout - this way I get really tight join.
I will try to dig out some of my boatbuilding and restoration work...

I may have missed it, but are the walls between the posts just a single layer of boards, or are there two layers with insulation between? I know Scotland doesn't get extremely cold, but I think it gets close enough to freezing that I'd want more than a single layer of wood between me and the outdoors, no?

construction is 5x5" posts and filler blocks are 3x6" so it's already a good insulation. Believe me or not but wood has exceptional value of thermal inertia which makes it really warm. The other thing is that Log cabin is supposed to be music studio/summer house so no problem with insulation. If there will be a change of use I found special insulation mat which is about 1/4" thick and works like 8" of insulation wool!! [eek] so nei worries we can tackle all !! [big grin]