John_Schaalje
John Schaalje, Kernersvillemember
Gender: Male
Birthday: 08/31/1982
Contributions
Lamp
This is my first attempt at a lamp. I tried to push some complex joinery in wherever I could. This was probably my most challenging project to date. My hat goes off to all the...
Mallets for the Scouts
A friend of mine from church, who is also the scoutmaster, asked if the scouts could come over and work on the woodworking merit badge in my shop. I thought it would be fun to put together some...
Getting started on Christmas stuff
I have been making several bowls for Christmas. I have also been making lots of mistakes while making these bowls, which I am determined to learn from and never duplicate. These...
Saw Horses
I stopped by a local saw mill and saw a bunch of these short thick blocks of pine. I knew right when I saw them what they were for: saw horses. I tried a tusked tenon on the first and then...
Birthday Present
This is a desk I made for my wife. She helped me take down the barn, so I was more than happy to use it on this piece for her. The white and red oaks and pine drawer bottoms are all...
Weekend Corbels
My mother-in-law recently asked me to make her some corbels. She told me the sizes and I didn’t think anything of it. However, when I started designing I realized the...
Honing jig
I wanted a honing guide for the blade in my new kanna (Japanese plane) but couldn't find one that would accommodate the 60mm blade, so this is what I came up with. The bottom wheel was...
Mother's day
My neighbor was cutting a limb off of his pecan tree about a year ago when I asked if I could have it. As Mother's day came around I thought I could use it to spin something for my wife...
Two bowls finished in time for christmas
A few years ago I asked a friend if I could have two cherry logs from his wood pile that had some burls. I cut them up and let them sit for a while until this year when I got a lathe. These are...
Jewelry box
A few years ago my wife needed a jewelry box, and at the same time I was starting to mess around with finger joints. I thought it might be interesting to bring the fingers of the drawers all...
Radial arm saw
For a long time my radial arm saw sat on a make shift bench that I was not satisfied with. I had been planning to build something better, so I worked up a design and just finished today. I...
Crib
This is the first crib that I attempted. It is made out of mahogany with a wipe on poly finish. The front separates into two removable fences so that the crib can also...
Coco's rocking chair
This is a rocking chair that I made for our first child. The wood is reclaimed oak and chestnut. I got the wood from a very kind lady who just gave me her barn made from old growth...














Recent comments
Re: Project Recap: From Log to Table
Nice movie, but I am guessing that your girlfriend probably won't consider getting back together if she stumbles upon this post...
posted: 7:34 pm on April 4thRe: Radial arm saw
You can send me a line at schaaljej@gmail.com for the plans. Also, you can see some of my in-process pictures here: https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/107811782926296586819/albums (look in the two albums marked 23 Feb 2011)
posted: 1:53 pm on February 4thRe: Colonial style kitchen
It looks like the counter top over the ovens is end grain up, is that correct? It looks amazing, is it finished so that it can be used as butchers block? Regardless, it is all very very beautiful.
posted: 10:14 am on January 9thRe: 2nd coffee table
I like the cat in the background. Where did you get the walnut from cut into such nice slabs?
posted: 1:51 pm on December 23rdRe: UPDATE: Fine Woodstrip Canoe Building from Bear Mountain Boats
I'll try it.
posted: 10:10 pm on December 5thRe: Greene & Greene inspired Buffet
That is amazing. I love the Shoji screens. Very very nice work.
posted: 7:01 am on November 25thJohn
Re: George Nakashima inspired coffee table
Great looking piece. How stable is it? It looks like there might be some hidden joinery on the bottom that gives it some nice stability. The top looks really good also.
posted: 8:05 am on November 17thRe: "Box of Chocolates"
Those are some impressive hinges; I am guessing you made them yourself. The whole design is quite brilliant.
posted: 2:14 pm on October 25thJohn
Re: Honing jig
Unfortunately, I didn't make any plans. I just knew what I wanted and went for it. I have a few more pictures online that you can look at here: https://picasaweb.google.com/107811782926296586819/MoreOfGigiSDesk. You'll have to dig through some other photo's, but they're in there. You can also reach me at schaaljej@gmail.com.
posted: 11:23 am on October 1stRe: UPDATE: Building Doors & Drawers by Andy Rae
I would also love to have the book.
posted: 2:25 pm on September 27thRe: Oval Tambour Desk�
That's a truly unique piece of work, and I really like it. Nice work.
posted: 7:31 am on September 26thRe: Cherry/Bubinga Wine Cabinets
I really like the wood you used in the top along with the stained glass. Nice work.
posted: 9:12 am on July 5thRe: Rebecca's Wedding Chest
The breadboard ends are sweet. Nice design.
posted: 8:33 pm on June 22ndRe: CPSC Drafting New Tablesaw Regulations
What would be the problem with leaving the system as it is? If I want a saw with this safety feature than I can buy it; if not I can buy another saw.
posted: 4:07 pm on June 16thRe: "Columna"- a pair of bedside cabinets
I really like the inlay in the top. Also, was the outside put together in stages or in one fell swoop? They look brilliant.
posted: 11:07 am on June 8thRe: Router Injury Sparks Reflection on Safety
Why didn't you add any pictures of the injury? I thought that was the the real kicker in an injury story: the wreckage that came from it.
posted: 4:08 pm on May 20thRe: 1930's Style Desk Phone
I have always wanted to mess around with Russian Olive. I worked for a tree service a while ago and hated taking out these trees, but have thought the flesh must be intriguing stuff. I also really like the ear piece holders.
posted: 1:24 pm on February 21stZBOP: Yes, you are wrong. You should start your own special site where you tell everyone what is and is not inspiring.
Re: Tablesaw Safety Goes Under the Microscope--Again
I have thought about upgrading my saw for several years; I work on an old old saw and haven't had an accident yet. Initially I thought a little about getting a Sawstop until I read about the lawsuit; after that I was decided to get the new Delta and stay far away from a Sawstop all together. If all saws are required to have his technology, I will make sure that I purchase my new one before the new regulation kicks into effect.
posted: 11:04 am on February 7thRe: Radial arm saw
If you are interested in the plans send me an e-mail at schaaljej@gmail.com. I also have a lot of construction pictures that might help.
posted: 6:30 am on January 24thRe: Barn Oak Mallet
Nice looking mallet. Reclaimed barn wood is brilliant; I have a bunch myself and have a few mallets in the works. Looks great.
posted: 10:13 am on January 12thRe: Wine glass cabinet
That's some cool looking wood. Was it hard to work? Beautiful.
posted: 8:23 am on December 30thRe: Epoxy inlay end table
The inlay is beautiful. I have been thinking about using epoxy in a new design of mine; can you tell me more about what you used to color it? Looks great.
posted: 8:21 am on December 9thRe: Build Your Own Shoulder Plane: Does this Kit Pass the Test?
Matt,
posted: 9:20 am on November 22ndCan you tell me how the Hock bevel down plane compares to a bevel up version? I've been looking at shoulder planes for a while, and most of the others I've seen are bevel up. Let me know if there is a significant difference.
John
Re: Double Helix Plant Stand
This is really beautiful and unique. I like the double helix and the inlay. I have been wondering where to find more information on steam bending helixes, do you have any suggestions?
posted: 3:44 pm on November 12thRe: UPDATE: Book Giveaway: Esherick, Maloof, Nakashima: Homes of the Master Wood Artisans by Tina Skinner
Looks like a good read and good inspiration.
posted: 9:30 am on November 8thRe: Workbench
Amazing. How long did it take you to build? This really is a stunning work bench. I'm also interested in how heavy it is. I bet it will never rack.
posted: 2:36 pm on November 1stRe: Bastogne Walnut Desk
The coopered ends are great. I also really like the book-matched top. Looks brilliant.
posted: 6:38 am on October 28thRe: UPDATE: Book Giveaway: Back to Basics: Setting Up Your Workshop from Fox Chapel Publishing
I am always looking for ways to improve my shop.
posted: 10:06 am on October 25thRe: Radial arm saw
It's working out really well. I use it as both a radial arm saw bench and a hand work bench. Currently I don't have a dust catch system in my shop, but when I get one i'll modify the middle plywood insert to have a port behind the saw. The bench is about 900mm tall, 1980mm long, and 700mm deep. I can send you my plans if you are interested.
posted: 8:24 am on October 1stRe: Crib
The two parts of the front slide up and down two rails that are glued into the sides. You can see one of the rails in the last picture best on the right side.
posted: 1:21 pm on March 6thThanks for the critique. I have since built another crib and the corner posts are flush with the sides. It is good advice.
Re: Poll: What hand tools are on your holiday wish list?
Any woodworking tools make for a great Christmas. My wife says I am easy to please.
posted: 7:54 pm on December 21stRe: Plain Pine Plane Cabinet
I thing that this cabinet is perfect. I keep looking at it for inspiration.
posted: 8:15 pm on November 24th