Knife Display Case - WIP

[Brokenolmarine]

The last steps before mounting the cleats involve a sharp hand plane.  The various videos suggest knocking off the knife edge from the 45 degree angle.  I have just the plane and I took each of the cleats in turn and made a half dozen or so passes, taking a thin shaving off the edge each time.

A closer look lets you see exactly what I was talking about.  Notice that there is a clear difference in the knife edge in the two pieces.

What this does is allow for a small pocket of space when the cleats join in use.  If there should be dust and debris floating in the room, the razor sharp edges left unchecked could be forced up and out of contact, however this space leaves room for the dust / dirt to collect without disturbing the tight fit of the joint if the case is taken on and off the wall to clean the glass or rearrange the content.  Better safe than sorry.

[Brokenolmarine]

An interesting anecdote about that little plane...

If I were told I could only save ONE tool from my shop if it were suddenly engulfed in flame, I would grab that plane.  There are tens of thousands of dollars worth of tools in the shop.  Yes, it's a great little plane.  You can tell what a great job it's doing by how fine those shavings are. But it's still just a $20 plane at best, a fifty year old Craftsman, if not older.  It might actually be worth more like $5.  To me?  Priceless.

The plane belonged to my Stepfather.  He owned a small contracting company, and never had to advertise.  He had customers waiting, usually two or three deep.  He was known as a perfectionist, and for his honor and integrity.   He taught me to appreciate woodworking and Carpentry, and the love of quality.  That plane  rode in his personal toolbox, or his apron pocket.  WE were not allowed to use it.  When he passed, I got his personal toolbox, and the plane, his hammer, square, and a few other hand tools.  If they said I could have TWO tools, I'd pull his hammer off the wall to accompany that plane.

When I use that little plane, I can sometimes feel his hand on my shoulder.

Yup, only one tool? 

That Plane.

[Brokenolmarine]

Time to mount the cleats.  I gave it a lot of thought and decided that I'd use longer screws around the edge of the top, where most of the strain would be anyway.  Those would go into the vertically mounted wood that wouldn't engage the leather.  The screws that MIGHT engage the leather would be inserted with extra care.  I laid out the pattern with care and marked the holes and marked the two different size screw locations.  They would need different pilot hole bits and depths.

Following the layout carefully, I drilled the holes taking care to follow the depths I needed.  The red markings were 2" depths.  The other holes were 1-1/4 depths.

They also used different bits.  I glued the back of the boards and the back panel in areas I laid out.  Slow and careful, and it worked out perfectly.

I left the glue to cure overnight and tomorrow we'll set the wiring, cut and stain the molding in preparation for attaching it after the case it hung. 

The case and the molding pieces will all get a final coat of wax.

The wall cleats will go up and we will set the case and then we will be .... well, done.

[AlZilla]

The screws around the perimeter, in the frame, are plenty enough to hold it up. the rest are icing on the cake.

You're in the home stretch.

[Brokenolmarine]

Out in the shop after breakfast and hit it hard. Got the wiring organized and secured to prep for mounting.  Got the molding cut and prepped, then stained a dark walnut.  Performed a lighting test o the system. Bright and dim.  I think it looks awesome.  Oh wait, that's just me.

 

I'll have to rest for a while, too much time standing.  Back and legs are complaining.  I should get her up on the wall this afternoon.

[dikman]

19 hours ago, Brokenolmarine said:

Those aren't odds and ends.  The two trays are used to carry tools to and from wood projects.

The dump truck bed is a stackable screw tray for use on the bench.  The various blocks in the tub are spacers for clamping.  The wooden tray holds the bench dogs and hold downs.  The wax paper is for glue ups.  It all works.

You're better organized than me, my friend.

[Brokenolmarine]

3 hours ago, dikman said:

You're better organized than me, my friend.

Sadly, I have to be.  I have had thirty surgeries.  If I don't keep things organized, in their place, and MOSTLY labeled, I would spend (waste) LOTS of time looking for them.  If you look in the background of the pictures, you'll see that the drawers, boxes, shelves... all labeled.  A couple years ago I spent a month going thru everything in the shop de-cluttering and re-organizing.  As you can see in the pics below, I used blue tape where needed, or just wrote on the tubs or containers where possible.

The tool drawers are all kept neat, extra tools were thinned out.  Cheap crap tools were thrown away.  Quality extras were put in bags and went into the trucks, or the barn for use down there.

[Brokenolmarine]

When I say I went thru it all, I mean everything.  I found things I had forgotten I had.  My last five surgeries were supposed to be just an hour or an hour and a half, but turned into five hour marathons.  Under that long, they all had an affect on short term memory.  Sucks to forget things you knew, all the shortcuts and tips and tricks.

I have binders full of notes and watch youtube videos before starting projects to refresh my memory these days.  I also make checklists.  Just like my old flying days. 

[dikman]

Yes, I couldn't help but notice how organized and labelled things were (very jealous). I have stuff scattered through a garage and three smaller sheds, I sort of know where things are - until I move something! I daren't try and re-arrange things! As for memory loss, you don't need surgery for that to happen, in my case it's old age, bit of a bugger but unavoidable. One good thing about it is I can rewatch a movie, or reread a book, and it's almost like enjoying it again for the first time.

All things considered I'd say you're doing well.

[Brokenolmarine]

I too, re-read and rewatch.  The house is filled with bookcases and the bluerays and dvds are now in sleeves made for music cds in binders. We toss the box as soon as we buy them.  The boxes take up way too much space.  Binders will hold 150 discs.

I have an index for the collection in excel.

Edited October 20, 2024 by Brokenolmarine