David Graves
Devon, PA
CNC critter cutting. When he wanted to make a half-dozen Oven Squirrels (Issue 102, Aug/Sept. 21), Graves turned to tech. After converting the pattern from our pages into a CNC file, he loaded maple into his homemade CNC router and quickly set to cutting squirrels. Graves emblazoned each kitchen critter with the name of its recipient. We’re sure he’ll squirrel away the file for the next time he needs to batch some oven helpers.
Chip Eppinger
Wadsworth, OH
Quite an undertaking. Military veteran and hobbyist woodworker Eppinger says he conceived this terrifying toolbox as a casket-shaped trunk, but it evolved to include drawers and lift-out trays. He built it of pine and plywood, and says that while the build was straightforward, the coffin angles were not. Eppinger cut all the box joints by hand, angling them to fit the casket angles. He finished the build by casting his own skull feet and adding matching drawer pulls. Eppinger’s finest hand tools now have a final resting place.
Roy Gillette
Kalamazoo, MI
Wand-erful gifts. When his nieces and nephews chose Harry Potter-themed Halloween costumes, this long-time subscriber was happy to turn each a unique wand. Ranging from 101⁄4 to 111⁄2 inches long, they are made of (top to bottom) Brazilian ebony, olive wood, blue mahoe, and ironwood. Gillette turned the wands between centers, leaving the ends blunted to protect little eyes from being made to disappear. He finished them with linseed oil topped with wax for added protection.
John Patalon
Erie, PA
A place to fall. Woodworker Patalon designed and built a trio of similar entry benches for his three daughters, crafting one each from cherry, maple, and oak (shown). After milling lumber from trees on his property, he air-dried it for several years before beginning the builds. Each bench features mortise-and-tenon joinery and frame-and-panel doors. Trying his hand at marquetry, Patalon adorned the end panels of the benches with a motif corresponding to the primary species used – in this case an oak leaf and acorn.
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