Fall is just around the "bend"

What will this become?

The summer is definitely the slowest time for most woodworkers, myself included. Between vacations and outdoor activities, it can be hard to justify solitary confinement in a dusty indoor shop. But with Labor day around the corner, I’m already feeling the itch to get back at it. Usually, I’ve had some vacation time to really nail down my first Fall project, but this year things are not so cut and dry.

You see, I’m at a little bit of a crossroads right now, since there are a few factors that will dictate which project out of four or five that I currently have in the hopper will make it to my bench first. I have a screen door and a sideboard project that I have already committed to, but I have also been noodling on a design for a small side table that has had me completely stumped. I’ve always said you should never let your tools or your techniques dictate your designs, but this one has had me scratching my head on both of those fronts. But I think I have figured out the solution to my “bending dilemma” if I can just figure out the remaining tool problem. But more on that later.

As if I didn’t already have enough going on at once, last weekend I ended up connecting with a new one-man lumber mill. This guy started out in the firewood business, but realized he had some great walnut, cherry, ash, and maple that was criminal to be chopping into logs. So he started milling wide 8/4 boards to sell, and I was more than happy to go through his entire selection! I did get some fantastic 16” wide wet ash that was what originally drew me to this supplier (which is a big hint to solution to the “bending problem” I referenced) but I also stumbled upon a fantastic piece of walnut that I just couldn’t pass up. The ash turned out to be very reasonably priced, so I had an extra $100 or so burning a hole in my pocket. And now I’m the proud owner of this fantastic crotch slab that I have no idea what to do with.

I still don’t know which project I’m going to start off with, but I do know my mind has been going 100 miles per hour on ideas for that board. Usually, I start with a design, and then go after the materials that will work best with it. This is the first time I’ve really been confronted with a piece of stock that clearly needs to dictate the project. Aside from the obvious coffee table, I’d love to hear other folks ideas about what this slab can turn into. It’s about 5’ long, and 20” at its widest point. And it’s VERY heavy.

Anyway, look for lots of brand new episodes this Fall. I have plenty of projects lined up, and I’ll be exploring some new and even experimental techniques. And maybe, I’ll even figure out what to do with that slab along the way!