Sort of like an extended version of the 'Bored Yet' thread. Since I have more shop-time than usual, I decided to take on a larger project that I had been putting off for a while, which was to make a small card catalog for my son's Pokeman collection. Over the last few weeks, I made some progress on the easier (relative) parts of my project, and figured I'd post up some of it here. I also have no objections to anyone sharing their long term Corona virus projects as well, or answering any questions I can about what I have done, both well and foolishly.

So first, the chaos I plan to address:



I figured for this I'd go with solid cherry. Ply would be easier, faster, and more stable, but I figure I've got some time and wanted to build something that might last a while. Maple and walnut are my usual domestic hardwoods of choice, and aside from some cherry veneer ply, I cannot think of the last time I worked with the stuff. But that didn't stop me from buying a big old plank of the stuff.



Rough lumber is bought in board-feet, which is a measure of volume. I picked a plank that was about 10 feet long, mostly 7-8 inches wide, and about 2" thick, also known as 8/4 when buying rough lumber. Then I started with the first of many rounds of stock prep to come.

First, I chopped it up to rough length, plus a couple inches:


Then on to the jointer-planer set in jointer mode, to make one face flat:


First pass didn't quite flatten it, so it went through again:


Once the face was flat, I flipped the board on edge and ran it through a couple times. This gave me a board with one flat face and one flat edge at 90 degrees to one another:


Then I ran them across the tablesaw to clean up the opposite edge:


Ran them through the planer and then stacked them up to get some air:


I let them rest in the shop for a day at this point. When you take down solid stock like this, it changes the equilibrium of the water distribution in the wood, as well as any hidden tensions. It is very easy for wood to warp, cup, or bow, particularly as you make it thinner. I don't know that it makes too much difference at this point when the pieces are still fairly thick, but I do it anyways.

Next to come: Making the first box joints.