Show Off: Issue 9

Projects From Our Readers

“Whitewood Rocker”

Dan Swanson, Prior Lake, Minn.
Swanson designed this rocker for comfort and to show off the beauty of the whitewood. All the Swedish-style rocker’s curved pieces are laminated for strength and design, and the finish is Swanson’s own creation.

Spalted Display Cabinet

Desmond Nault, Seaside, Calif.
Constructed of spalted western maple panels with kwila framework, this display case features veneered case panels doweled to frame elements which in turn are joined by mortise and tenons. The finish is shellac and wax. Nault is a second-year College of the Redwoods student.

Note: Our Show Off department is pleased to showcase a selection of works from students of the College of the Redwoods, Fort Bragg, Calif.

Coffee Table

Evan Erickson, Fort Bragg, Calif.
Erickson, a two-year graduate of the College of the Redwoods, selected machiche and koa to craft this coffee table that features veneered surfaces, tenoned stand, and bridle joints in the table-top supports. The finish on this commissioned piece is varnish.

Pagoda in Wood

Brian N. McEvoy, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
This striking Oriental pagoda is actually a piece of Alaskan yellow cedar that McEvoy hand turned into 12 segments, with the rooms turned to 1/16". Next, he added handcarved Japanese style art designs and the phrase “Patience, Determination, Faith and Friendship” in Japanese script in the top room. After 170 hours of delicate turning, carving and sanding, McEvoy finished the pagoda with copper and gold leaf. It stands 43 inches tall, with a 22" x 22" base, and weighs 11 lbs.

“Firewood Cabinet”

Annette Koehnen, Amsterdam, Holland
Koehnen chose madrone as the primary wood for this whimsical box that has a pear wood interior and a walnut stand. The veneered case features dowel joinery, and the finish is oil and wax. Koehnen is a two-year graduate of the College of the Redwoods.

Melding of Designs

Jason Tuinstra, Hanford, Calif.
Tuinstra borrowed ideas for this chair design from the work of Brian Boggs and the designs of Thomas Moser. He used 8/4 cherry for the chair which features 1/8" square walnut pegs for the joints, floating tenons in the seat frame and black on black 1" Shaker tape.

Sheraton Writing Desk

Stewart Crick, Manassas, Va.
Crick crafted this desk during a North Bennet School furniture making workshop, choosing mahogany as the primary wood and poplar and beech as secondary woods. Special features include individually turned legs, hand-cut joinery and a varnish finish.

“The Barnette Variation”

Jonathan Gay, Seattle, Wash.
Gay crafted this bowfront cabinet from doussie using spruce for the interior. The 36" x 26" x 14" piece features a veneered carcase and an oil/varnish blend finish. Gay is a one-year graduate of the College of the Redwoods.

Tumbler

Glen O. Bohusch, Medina, Ohio
Bohusch crafted this striking, glued-up tumbler from bloodwood with maple and walnut and finished it with polyurethane. A 35-hour project, this tumbler stands 5 5/16" tall and has 3" lip diameter.

“Omaha Beach War Wagon”

Rick Froehlich, Sr., Omaha, Neb.
Froehlich designed and constructed this 1944 U.S. half-track armored vehicle from rock maple and cherry. The 300-piece model features rotating tracks and several movable parts – quad-mounted .50 caliber machine guns, doors and front wheels – and is finished with French oil.

“An Elevated Sense of Martini”

Temple Blackwood, Davidsonville, Md.
This full-size creation featuring a vodka bottle in beech with spalted maple glasses and an ash raised tray was finished with friction and French polish and wax. Part of a set, this piece was donated for auction to benefit the Queen Anne School in Upper Marlboro, Md.

“Safe”

Wheeler Munroe, Ashe County, N.C.
Munroe built this box of drawers from ash and white oak. The piece features a veneered and doweled case, tenoned solid wood cage, and solid wood dovetailed drawers with a shellac and wax finish. Munroe is a second-year student at the College of the Redwoods.

Intarsia Jungle Scene