With my French oak Roubo bench sitting in pieces in the back of the shop, I’ve spent the last couple days trying to complete this teak campaign chest and catch up on a month of e-mails, bills and administrative crap.
Getting these casework projects ready for finishing requires lots of tweaking inside and out. I had to patch a few minor areas where the teak splintered (big thanks to Carl Bilderback for honing my Dutchmen skills). And I had to remove some pencil marks, errant machine marks and chalk that had embedded itself in the pores. Oh, and install the drawer stops (the hide glue is curing as I type).
If the weather holds, this project will be finished finished on Friday. And I will drink a huge beer. Perhaps a growler of IPA. Then a nap.
Then I have to decide on the next project to tackle:
Another Roorkhee (I still have a few outstanding orders)
A folding officers’ desk a la William IV
A “riveted” campaign floor chest
Coaching table
My French oak workbench
Nail cabinet
That list makes me want to take a nap – no growler necessary.
— Christopher Schwarz