MikeSweet

Michael Sweet, University Place, Washington
member

Retired Designer/Drafter. I have been woodworking now for about 25 years. My favorite and most challenging projects have been an 8' Western Red-Cedar totem pole, Southwestern chair (carved panels & mortise/tenon joinery) & a scaled dollhouse. I am currently working on a 19 x 19 grid GO game with woodburned & painted Japanese scenes, a driftwood wizard, cypress knee santa and a large planter box. Of course I also have numerous other projects laying around in a half-carved state. I carved mostly by hand. The totem pole was carved entirely by hand with authentic crooked knives from Kestrel Tools. I also have a Foredom carving machine. I own a Powermatic 66 5HP tablesaw, when they used to be USA. Delta 12" bandsaw, large Craftsman drill press, Delta 6" joiner, Delta Mortiser, Shopsmith and Shopsmith scrollsaw. Delta 10" chop saw, Craftsman 8" sliding bevel saw. Assorted compressors, nailers and the usual power equipment.

Gender: Male

Birthday: 12/13/1952

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Contributions

Carving Knives

Oct 20, 2010
1 comment

I am a woodworker/woodcarver. I own several carving knives but the best ones I own I make. I used hacksaw blades and hollow-ground the shapes. I used a steel epoxy and aluminum rivets, if necessary...

Santa Rat Carving

Dec 17, 2009

I carved this for my future daughter-in-law for Christmas. It is pine with leather ears and tail. Pounding the tail and ears took almost as long as the carving. It is based on a carving from the book...

Dollhouse

Dec 15, 2009
3 comments

I developed this from some plans in a book. Of couse I had to deviate to suit my tastes. It was a labor of love. Now adults want to have one.


Recent comments


Re: A Woodworker's Musical Masterpiece

That is one of the most creative things I've ever seen. Very, very cool. You have a Beginner's mind.

posted: 12:04 pm on March 22nd  

Re: UPDATE: Back to Basics: Fundamentals of Sharpening from Fox Chapel Publishing

There is something "zen like" when you sharpen. I think it is the fact that you are only concentrating on the subject at hand. You are creating - an edge. I find myself getting out my sharpening stones, buffing wheel,strop and spending a couple of hours making a sharp edge. Not just on the tool I am working with but all the knives. Being a woodcarver I always strive for the razor-sharp edge. Plus I make my own blades so it almost becomes my goal instead of a means to make a tool for my carving.

posted: 12:49 pm on March 29th  

Re: BOOK GIVEAWAY: 500 Tables (Updated with winner)

What would Norm do in this situation......

posted: 2:24 pm on May 12th  

Re: Dollhouse

Thanks Stephen.
I made dado joints and pin-nailed a few things. The paint was actually real latex house paint sampler cans that I bought last year for my house. Almost 90% of the materials were from wood stored in my basement.
I used the book "Making Dolls' Houses in 1/12 Scale" by Brian Nickolls. A beautiful book with awesome photos. The plans have some parts that are difficult to figure out so I had to "engineer" it. I am a retired draftsman but there were still a few things that were difficult to follow. I used the engineering scale at my previous job but I prefer to work in 1/16" of an inch.
The only equipment I wish I had was a Proxxon miniature saw. I have a large 5HP Powermatic 66 and it was difficult for me to make the cherry trim.
I have looked on the web for various supplies but given the fact that I am cheap - I made everything myself. The shingles were poster board that I had to measure and cut - a real pain.
I was going to make a scaled replica of my granddaughter's house but I thought for the first one I should try plans. She is only 9 years old so I thought it probably would not matter.
My future daughter-in-law, who is Japanese, wants one too!

posted: 6:44 pm on December 16th