Wood Butcher's New Cedar Hive.

[jdmidwest]

We picked up a truck load of rough Cedar the other day to build some fence. Boards 2' thick and up to 16' long with rough edges straight from the local mill. A few were nice enough that I could pick out a few boards for hives. We have some Catalpa, Red Cedar, and Oak to be milled from the last windstorm that I plan on using in the future. But it needs to be sawed and dried. The same mill is going to contact me if any Cypress comes in.

Last weekend, between deer hunting, we planed and sawed a few up. Today I finished out the project with my first cedar brood box and hive stand. I ended up cracking the boxes a little by not drilling the screw holes out big enough, but I don't think the girls will mind. It will just give them something more to do.

I built a couple of 5 frame nuc box a few weeks ago out of pine to catch a swarm or start a new hive with a split also. And a hive stand out of western cedar to go with my existing hive.

I am still getting the hang of my new table saws. The craftsman needs adjusted, the blade is not square with the fence, so I have to dress everything up on my portable table saw. And the red cedar is more brittle than the other wood I have been working with. I am going to look at some old cherry and walnut that my Grandad cut back in the 70's and stored in a barn. Hopefully the termites have not gotten it.

Dad and I have been having a good time making stuff in our down time during the winter the past few years. We have our equipment scattered all over the farm in various buildings. One houses the planer, table saws and dry lumber. The heated one has the nailer.s and other stuff for finish work, we have a nice wood stove to keep warm with. I never took any shop classes in school, so this has been a great learning experience for me.

[Mitch f]

Nice JD, the bees will be happy

[eric1978]

Woodworking...I think we've finally found something we have in common, JD. Between a two-year-old and a two-month-old, it's tough to get away for even a full day to go fishing, so it's a great hobby right here at home to keep me busy. Over the summer I built a modified Roubo traditional workbench...

And I've been busy getting the shop "complete," so most of my projects have been shop projects. But I have squeezed in a couple other pieces over the last few months. A Shaker end table in curly maple...

A magazine rack...

And most recently, a step-stool to help my little girl get up on the potty and make the poops...

It's an incredibly gratifying, and an incredibly expensive, way to pass the time.

[Quillback]

Nice stuff you made there Eric.

[Mitch f]

Beautiful Eric!

[jdmidwest]

Eric, I thought you went fishing from time to time also?

Nice work. Where are you finding the wood?

[eric1978]

Eric, I thought you went fishing from time to time also?

True. So that makes two things.

I have a small hardwood dealer right around the corner. He stocks all the domestic usuals and a decent variety of exotics. I do some work for him and we barter quite a bit. Good lumber is expensive.

[fishinwrench]

Excellent work both of you Beavers.

Hey Eric, ya know what that step stool needs?

[eric1978]

Excellent work both of you Beavers.

Hey Eric, ya know what that step stool needs?

A coat of Rhino Liner?

[Mitch f]

Eric,

I always thought you looked like Norm Abram