Onion Slices

Gar! Long break!

I've been working on getting back into the swing of my handicrafts, and on the list of things to do is to build back up the stock of tools that I once enjoyed having access to with my father's workshop. Right now, I'm trolling around looking for things that I'll need to get. My family has been wonderful in getting me the tools that I've asked for, for birthdays and Christmases past, but I'm now getting serious about things.

The current tool on my list to make serious progress in the direction I want to go is a router. I've done some research and I think that I would like to get the combination router (plunge and fixed bases) instead of buying one now and then a second tool later on. I'm thinking about getting the Dewalt DW618PK. It's gotten quite a few nice reviews (and some bad ones) but I think that my own brand-loyalty will help me be comfortable with that decision.

On my way to getting the tools that I need, I have several intermediate steps on my journey. Here is the plan that I've outlined!

Tonight I'm planning on making a set of sawhorses similar to the ones found on this site. It's dead-simple and I've used ones like them before, so it will be a good chance to test out how much I remember about marking, measuring and cutting.

Next on the list will be to use those sawhorses to help be build an actual workbench. I've found some great videos on FineWoodworking.com in their free video section for beginning woodworkers, here (the videos for constructing the bench are in the list, I just can't link to the video directly). I really like the look of the workbench and I think that it will be really helpful when I start to make the rest of the things on my "list".

Once the bench is completed, I think I'll be ready to start on a couple of my "real" projects. The one that it at the top of my list it going to be building a bed for whatever child Julie and I adopt. I'm planning on making something similar to the plans linked here, but nothing is officially decided yet.

One of the things that really makes me want to do this project is that I remember my dad working hard to make a crib for one of my nephews. He really poured his heart out into the project, and he had made beds for a couple family members. There aren't many places that people feel safer than in their beds, and that is one thing that I want to make sure of, is that any child we bring into our home feels safe and comfortable!