Getting There, Getting By

Almost done with latest project. Teri is in LA so I'm without adult supervision for a week. It's not pretty; but I'm managing.

Lots of unusual clamping going on. 

Clamping is relatively easy until you have to push down for the glue joint and maintain flatness. Flatness is good. I decided that my work bench was flat enough for this project. That actually makes it easy; just screw through a beam into the bench. You need lots of various length screws.

Luckily, I have acquired a few.

Most lengths from 3/4" to 12".

Here's the clamps (?) for this job.

Had to make a test run using plywood. This verified that the jigs and process would actually work.

Made up a sled for the table saw to cut very small angles required. Couldn't get good quick release hold down clamps for the fence so I made some crude ones out of hinges. Really happy with this one. Works great!

Here's the placement on the floor using the prototype. 

And here's the final version under construction.

Meanwhile, can you guess what these are?

Extra credit for those that guessed Atkins cheese cake in individual servings.

Teri gets back Wednesday.

Stay warm.

Back to Normal

Snow finally stopped; sun came out and everybody was out shoveling.

Our neighbor shot these from his window above the garage. It is melting quickly.

The Subaru got out today; the Prius has a way out but I think it will sit in the garage for a while.

Stay warm.

Perfect ?

Woke up to perfect weather; for snow machining. It is still and clear.

Still snowing and clear up to your ass. Well, knees at least.

 Back yard.

Out the front door; not so fast.

Shoveled our way out to the street and cleared a path for the Subaru.

Waiting now for the snow plow to make a pass, then we can deal with the berm. Rain forecasted later in the week, so must deal with the rest of it before then. I'm not complaining, we need the moisture and the only place we plan to go this weekend is across the street.

I'm going out to the garage; stay warm.

Slide Outs All Done

But first we went to Portland for a kid fix.

Went to the park where Nina demonstrated the "climbing tree". She's not posing, rather contemplating her next move. Which, hopefully, does not involve falling out of the "climbing tree"and probably wishing that grandpa would take his camera somewhere else.

Came back Monday through a snowstorm. Got to try our the chains on the Prius. They have come a long way in the design of tire chains. The expensive set were definitely worth it. No lying on your back or driving onto the chains. They actually went on as easily as the on-line video said they would. They came off with some difficulty due to ice build up in the wheel well.

The tragic outcome was leaving my US Army blanket siting on the ground after removing the chains. It was the only thing that I had saved from my Army days that still fit. Oh well, I guess 44 years was long enough, nothing lasts forever. Hopefully, someone snatched it up and can use it for 40+ years. I'm headed to the thrift stores to see if another one shows up.

So, 21 drawers done.

Time to heal. One of my doctors, a long time ago in a world we'll never see again, told me I didn't have to get a tetanus shot as frequently if I "challenged" my immune system on a regular basis. When asked what he meant by challenged, he said, "To break the skin and draw blood in a less than sanitary environment." After I stopped laughing hysterically, I assured him this was a daily, sometimes hourly, certainty for me.

Here is the final project completed.

One side of kitchen with 17 drawers.

The other with just four.

Looking forward to my next project. Looks like I'm going to work on a piece of art for a while. If it turns out right, I might display it in an unusual way.

Hint:

This should keep me busy until the weather gets perfect enough to start on the outside stuff.
Right now we have about 6" of perfect snow and still falling.

Stay warm.