Project Ideas for unbusy days

[rikalife]

I want to have something to build on days I have no jobs on my Shopbot, something to sell afterward like a line of products, any ideas?

[steve4460]

Hi Ricardo
Make funny signs out of your scrap wood .

[paco]

I've just made myself a toilet paper roll holder. Really! It's made of hardwood (Oak), it's solid (I can hang on it) and it look very fine. Want the CAD?!

[paco]

2602

[gene_marshall]

NICE PACO!
It needs a monogram or logo, you know... something to make it special.

Ricardo, Might I suggest that making some wooden toys might be a good way to go.
A few years back, we made some rocking horses. We donated one to the "toys for tots" drive sponsored locally by a radio station and a childrens hospital. The radio guy plugged us all day long.
I know that giving the stuff away is not what your origional post was about... But, in essence the horse was traded for advertising, although it was not our intention.
Cheers

[jseiler]

As many ideas as you can imagine.

One thing you can do is google search for plans, wood crafts, etc. When you find something, see how fast you can replicate the design from picture to finished product. Its very good practice.

John

[rookie432]

wooden boxes,boxes,...boxes.
I don't know what the draw is but people tend to gravitate to little storage boxes, diplay boxes, heck even pencil boxes. These can be as fancy or plain as you want and can be made from quality scrap lumber or some of the worst junk you have lying around the shop and people will still buy them! Stain them or just clearcoat them and they become useful to someone. Personally I love em for my highend small tools or old fashined drawing equipment, paints, or just small stuff to keep in one place together. They also look great on a computer desk, stacked up in the shop, or at the office.

Just my 2 cents.

[jsfrost]

Scrap wood business card holder. Empty area is for personalizing.

2603

[earld]

I recently became interested in sundials, especially the vertical and annelamatic types.
I am building several for around town as well as for the kids in the parks.
In my research I stumbled accross this site:
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/blateyron/sundials/shadowspro/gb/index.html
This site has software you download that does all the calculations for your latitude and longitude, in the type of sundial you want, and creates a chart of lengths and angles.
If you want to upgrade the software, it will export dxf drawings and you know where that's at for the ShopBot. The great part is that the upgrade to Pro is only $50.
The website is in France, so there are a few minor differences in translation. The calculations are all in metric (mm), but no big deal to convert to the Imperial Standard...
Enjoy!
Earl

[paco]

Back on the theme of bathroom accessories...


2604

... the towel hanger. 8-)

[stevem]

Paco, what kinda wood is that? Is it strong enough to survive a bump or pull?

[paco]

So far so good... it's hardwood... I think I would call it "pallet" wood!? I'm hard at recycling. I believe it's be strong enough to hang my towel... even wet... I'm more concerned about the drywall behind it as for pulling it out of there.

Do you think it's good looking?... or should I remove it?!

[stevem]

Looks good. I'm surprised that you can get such a good finish on "pallet" wood.

[paco]

It start from a 1.25-1.5" thick lumber. The Bot was used for "planning" it to 1" and a straight piece. It cut out the shapes and the profile on the backing plaque. The hanger piece itself was rounded with a round over bit on the router table. The two are assembled with 2.5" #8 screw from behind.

From it's smell when routing it, I'd say it's Oak but it not looking as usual Oak...

It's know around here that such good lumber is wasted into pallets. Furniture shops are actually complaining about this. I remember this case was in the news recently. I was working at a metal working shop before and I used to recycle much of the pallet I can for fire starter but I soon noticed the good lumbers.

[lto]

Just from the picture it would appear to be soft maple or hickory. Hickory is harder, cheaper, and more likely to end up in pallets.

[terry]

Paco,
How do you attach the TP holder to the wall?

[kerrazy]

it is heartwood maple. I have 1000 brdft in my shop currently

[paco]

Spreading drywall anchors that I countersink then plugged.

[gus]

I have put many thousands of Mbf of good grade hardwood into pallet stock over the years. Most mills cutting pallet stock do not pull grade lumber off the greenchain. They can sell everything they cut at a very good profit as pallet lumber so it all goes. Oh and if you don't know when you are running a mill cutting pallet lumber you do not buy saw logs you buy firewood and if someone sends you some saw logs along with the firewood that is ok to. You can find some mighty fine lumber in a pallet.