I look forward to doing that.

It seems that many of us who have received the packages are under do-not-open-until- instructions.

It is not easy, but I will hold out and open the SS gift as instructed.

Pictures will follow soon after (if I can remember how to post them )

I am thinking about 16 across the top, column about 3" major diameter and about 16" long, legs holding the column perhaps 6" off the floor, spread about 14" (imaginary base circle).
Sound about right?

that is really cool!

Go to Photobucket and click on the picture you want to copy and click on the "IMG" and copy that and paste it in your message.

I like to see what other people are building but I haven't seen many new postings of stuff in progress. So I thought I would post something to start it off. I have been working on these for awhile getting close to being done with these three I built two more but they are done and gone. I was nervous about all the hand cut dovetails but once I got the hang of it it wasn't bad. They are in my opinion kind of complicated (well at least detailed so you need to pay attention to the little details for it all to come together) It was fun as I also cut all the logs on my mill to build these except the drawers which I found some curly maple at Home Depot that I had to have. I didn't figure out per board foot on the maple I probably would have been stunned!

For the past month I've been working non-stop (during the weekends) on my family room project. I ended up using some vacation time as well as the time off for Thanksgiving to complete the project. The walls and ceiling were painted so my main focus was the base board, crown molding, door, and stair trim. I had promised LOML to have this done for next weekend so that we could move all the tools out. My daughter's birthday party is this coming weekend.

So why am I talking about this in hand tools? Well, aside from (2) cuts I used my Stanley Miter Boxes for ALL of the cuts.

And I'm not sure if all that time spent beforehand using my hand tools helped but it seemed like the cuts came out MUCH more accurately than any project I've ever done. Even LOML noticed (which was a nice surprise)

Now (after the party) all I need to do is putty the holes and then paint. But that's EASY.

I hone mine at 30° - if that's what you are asking.

In terms of hinges, I had roughly the same problem as you do with an old cabinet I'm (still!) restoring. I was not happy with the existing loose/damaged ones so I removed them, cleaned up the hinge slots with chisels, and filled them in with some scrap maple (I made no attempt to match the color to the old wood). Then I installed piano hinges.

Built with just a few simple tools and inexpensive materials...and lots of desire....I think Mark did a fine job building this hand tool sharpener, especially true when all he had to go by was a few pictures and no measurements or prints..Good job, Mark!!!!

http://www.forums.woodnet.net/ubbthreads...mp;sb=5&o=7

I like it, and I am sure the young lady receiving it will like it even more. Very well executed!!