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Neckless Cointreau bottle
Using a rotary tool to cut glass had not been attempted in my workshop before that project. I had always used a glass cutter and dipped the workpiece alternately in icy and boiling water. That method worked okay, but it was quite unpredictable, with a failure rate of roughly 50 per cent, which meant that one out of every two attempts was a reject. That was still acceptable for me since all the material was free, but it was sometimes frustrating to see a rare bottle cracked in a way I didn’t want. Additionally, the old-school method had other limitations,…
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Jigsaw table with blade guide
This jig is mounted to a workbench with two fence clamps, its top is made from MDF, the arm is wooden, and the blade is guided by three bearings. The range of blades that can be used with this jig starts with short ones – used without the arm – and ends with massive ones – perfect for resawing. For most of my woodworking needs only two longer blades have been designated to use with it – the 178mm and 250mm ones (7 and 10 inches long, T744D and T1044DP). They have different depths, the shorter one is also slicker…
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Formula 1 driver name plaque
I have been a devoted Formula 1 fan since the moment Robert Kubica, a Polish driver, stood on the podium. As a fellow Pole with a last name starting with the same “KUB” letters, I couldn’t believe the coincidence. I felt compelled to create a sign to honour his successes on the track and to express my own passion for fast and controlled driving. The project itself was not too difficult since I was able to purchase pre-cut and primed letters. While I could have made them myself, I chose the easier and likely less expensive option at the time.…
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Drywall shelf
I had never tried those drywall anchors prior to that project. I’d always wanted to, but I was a little petrified of them. However, I knew I needed to step out of my comfort zone if I wanted to take on more challenging DIY projects. So, I did some research and decided to give those anchors a try. It turned out that there was no need to use a setting tool to install them, which reduced the project’s cost. Additionally, the shelf brackets were reused from another project, and the board was free, so it looked like a perfect upcycling…
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Valentine’s Day tools, edition 2023
Let me present and quickly review 3 tools, that clearly have nothing to do with Valentine’s Day, but coincidentally are being reviewed that day, which explains the title. They may be recommended for tool lovers, that’s the only connection between them and that feeling. These are tools from Bosch, Axminster and Stanley – one each, that can make jobs a little easier, quicker and more accurate. They have been tested for some time and they are going to stay in my tool collection. Bosch Professional GSR 12V-35 HX Cordless Screwdriver belongs to the 12-volt platform, so it’s smaller and lighter…
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Set of trivet trays
A segmented, end-grain bamboo chopping board, that cracked along a few lines, couldn’t be used in the kitchen anymore, but it could be cut into smaller pieces and reused. This set of 2 trays is the last part of a bigger project, there were 3 other attempts, successful ones, at upcycling this chopping board. I’ve already made 2 coasters and a soap tray. These trivets are made for use with glass jar candles, they are supposed to block the heat and protect the surface underneath. They will become particularly useful when candles are getting burned out and the flame is…
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Utility stool
I built this stool especially for storing my linisher and a few buckets of paint underneath. Getting the most from the storage space I had was my goal as I was running out of ideas on where to keep all the paint. These buckets are usually the same height and all I needed was a clearance of 20 cm (~8 inches) from the floor to the stretcher. The stool had to be strong enough to handle the weight of a heavy tool and with these 2 requirements in my head, I started the build. I had everything I needed –…
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Swing arm wall lamp
This lamp is custom-sized and both wooden parts have specific lengths. The base is long enough to bypass the steel bar embedded in the lintel that sits below. The other part – the arm – moves the light source away from the mounting point and provides enough support for a lampshade. The light is placed above the kitchen sink and food prep area at eye level so it’s not blinding. Kitchens in older Irish houses usually have just one pendant light hanging from the centre of the ceiling. This is ridiculous and doesn’t work for a person who wants to…
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Catchall tray
The tray is made from off-cuts and scrap wood, sized for storing keys, a wallet and other items that I keep in my pockets throughout the day. The way it’s all cut and glued up together will allow the tray fibres to move freely with moisture changes, there are no self-destructive, tearing-apart forces predicted to appear in this construction. 5 pieces of timber are held together with glue and butt joints only, making an illusion that the tray is carved from a single piece of wood. The bigger off-cut was cupped and prior to thickness planing, I had to remove…
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Skull candle
It used to be a Halloween skull-shaped candle, filled with scented wax and designed to burn for a certain period of time. I knew from day 1, that this candle would be given a second life, if not as a flower pot then something else. The choice was eventually made and from a candle, it became … another candle or a candle holder to be more specific. Not a big difference but it required some work and time. What has surely changed was its ability to be used again and again. First, I had to empty out what was left…
