Products From The Mind of Chris Wong
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Ever since I started Insanity 2, I've been thinking about cabinets. It seemed to me that cabinets meant for displaying things more often than not accumulated so many things that they ended up looking messy. I realized that the problem was that too much horizontal surface was available. My solution was to provide only enough … Continue reading Wireframe Cabinet
Unlike other Overflow items, I am not giving away this one for free. I am asking $700. December 16 update: the Jointer/Planer is now sold. Several years ago, I bought a 10" jointer/planer combination machine, which was made in Switzerland by Inca. Since I already had an 8" long-bed jointer and 13" thickness planer, I never … Continue reading Overflow: Inca 10″ Jointer/Planer Combination Machine for Sale
This Thursday, I am teaching a seminar called Understanding Wood Grain. In this seminar, I discuss various methods of reading the grain and demonstrate how to use this knowledge to work wood efficiently. For the hands-on component, I guide students through a variety of situations and explore a multitude of practical techniques using a bench … Continue reading Fundamentals: Understanding Wood Grain and Using a Chisel
I have put Insanity 2 on hold to work on some small boxes of a design I came up with many years ago. The double-ended box relies on a pair of sliding dovetails perpendicular to each other to open. While functional, it is also a lot of fun to handle - similar to twiddling your … Continue reading Fun with Sliding Dovetails
I attribute my success to my relentless push to try to fail. Insanity 2 is about trying to design something which I cannot create. Since my last blog update on Insanity 2, I laminated two curved sides and a curved bottom. Then I was faced with the task of joining them together. Although the four … Continue reading Insanity 2: The Carcase
Last night on #Woodchat, we had a look at Insanity 2 and discussed options for the back of the cabinet and shelves. The discussion started at 13:21 and ran until 46:20. I learned that my cohost, Matt Gradwohl, was equally insane. Together, we decided that our viewers may have also been insane for following along (unless they happened … Continue reading #Woodchat is Going Insane
I have been looking for a material which can be used to develop scaled-down furniture designs. I wanted something tangible that I could handle and manipulate. I wanted something that could be used to easily create a scale model of furniture that I could hold in my hand and easily make modifications. Many options for … Continue reading Armature Wire as a Modelling Tool
Last week, I put three sheets of 1/8" Baltic birch plywood between two forms I made to create the top of the cabinet for the doors. Although the glue-up seemed to go smoothly, I couldn't be sure of the success until I removed it from the form. I let the bent lamination set for two … Continue reading Insanity 2: The Top
When I set out to design something, I sometimes find it helpful to make a list of requirements. If designing a chair, my list might look like this: the seat must be at an appropriate height and shaped or upholstered for comfort; the chair must bear the weight of the user; it should have a … Continue reading Designing from Scratch
When working on a project as involving as Insanity 2, I find it difficult to detach myself from the project at the end of the day. As a result, I just stare into space, unable to really focus on or enjoy anything. I make for terrible company. If I want to continue doing this type … Continue reading Insanity 2: The Price of Pushing the Limits
