Video Doctor's Web Site-Woodworking Projects

75G Aquarium Stand This stand was built in 1992 using only a circular saw, hand drill, and a few hand tools. It has traveled to two states and has functioned flawlessly during that time. The 75G planted aquarium weighs approximately 600 pounds when filled. Canister filtration and quarantine aquariums are located beneath the stand, behind the doors. The framing is solid wood which is glued and screwed, and the panels and doors are 1/2" plywood. A matching hood houses 6 T-8 5000K bulbs and electronic ballasts which are controlled by timers.
Wall Mounted CD Rack This wall mounted CD-R rack holds over 600 disks in mini jewel cases. It was constructed in 2001 with only a circular saw, drill and hand tools. It stores backups of webs sites, video and animations, and the source code of various programs I have authored. It is secured to the wall studs with 4 metal angle brackets, and weighs over 300 lbs. when filled.
Barred Owl Nesting Box This huge nesting box was built to attract barred owls. It was constructed in 2002 with a table saw, router, drill and hand tools. It is now mounted 30 feet up in a pine tree in our back yard. Don't ask me how I got it up there, considering this thing weighs over 55 lbs. It is finished and polyurethaned on the outside, but not the interior.
Barred Owl Nesting Box Interior This is a view of the interior, demonstrating the removable panel used for cleaning between seasons and the ladder that fledgling chicks use to escape for their first flight. After mounting the box, the interior was lined with wood chips to present a more natural, inviting environment for the owls. Future plans include adding a small CCD camera and microphone for remote photography purposes. Visit this link for an example.
Eastern Bluebird Nesting Boxes These are birdhouses for the Eastern Bluebird. They are relatively easy to build, and provide much needed nesting spots for these native birds. The entry hole size and shape is carefully chosen to prevent aggressive species from invading the nests. They should be placed in an open area, facing a field or meadow, but protected from the direct sun. The interior should never be finished with anything toxic, and bare wood is the preferred choice.
Hanging Deck Rail Planter Boxes These are planter boxes for our deck. They were constructed in 2002 of 3/4" pressure treated lumber and secured with finger (box) joints which are glued and pinned with stainless pins. The front edge of the bottom has a gap for drainage, so that any run-off doesn't drip onto the deck or railing and cause rot. The interior of the slots are covered with fiberglass screening to contain the soil.
Greenhouse Window This is a greenhouse window built for growing Orchids and other plants. It was constructed in 2003 of 2"x2" lumber cut down from 2"x10" SYP. Construction consists of mortises and tenons which are glued and screwed using galvanized hardware. It is modular and may be disassembled for storage or repair. The panels are a combination of lexan and corrugated sign material. It is sealed to the existing window opening with foam strips.
Workbench Construction Details This workbench was constructed in 2003 from SYP. It has been fitted with an end-vise. It has supported projects ranging from woodworking to automatic transmission overhauls.
Workbench Completed This is a completed view of the workbench situated in the shop. Pictured also are the legs for my next project, an Orchid Table.
Orchid Table CAD Design This is the CAD conceptual design drawing for an Orchid Table. This was the first step in designing this custom project.
Orchid Table Assembled and Unfinished This is the final product based on the above CAD drawing. It was built from poplar, and in this photo, has no finish.
Orchid Table Finished This is the Orchid Table with a stain and satin finish applied - consisting of several coats of wipe-on polyurethane. Note the bent-wood valence supporting the top which is mortised into the legs.
Orchid Table Close-Up of Top Finish This is a close-up of the final finish of the table top. The top was made up of several edge joined boards, which were later cut round.
Orchid Table In Use And finally(!), here it is supporting the Orchid for which it was built.
Lepidoptera Storage Drawer This is a lepidoptera storage drawer constructed to house various natural specimens. It was built with finger-joined poplar and lexan. A lacquer finish was later applied.
10 Drawer Shop Cabinet Tired of searching for drill bits, forsners, and other numerous hardware pieces, I build this cabinet to house the mess. It stores all the small stuff that doesn't fit anywhere else.
10 Drawer Shop Cabinet Drawers Open There are ten drawers of varying height, which all ride on roller drawer slides. This finish was my first attempt with alcohol-based dyes, and the color was not at all what I was after.
Tsunami Bandsaw Box This is the obligatory bandsaw jewelry box everyone builds after purchasing an inexpensive bandsaw. It was constructed from an old rafter left over from home repairs.
29G Aquarium Stand This is a 29 gallon aquarium stand built for my office. It has two drawers and two doors to house miscellaneous equipment below the stand.
Shop Clamp Cart This is my idea of a shop-cart to hold clamps, rulers, and assembly glue.
Router Table and Cabinet This is a custom router cabinet designed for maximum dust removal. It has a micro-adjusting fence that makes most set-ups pretty painless. 5 drawers hold router bits with 1/4" and 1/2" shanks, and 2 drawers hold wrenches and miscellaneous junk. The two large drawers at the bottom hold additional router plunge bases and other accessories. The custom power switch is carefully concealed in the fake drawer on the top-right.
Router Table Micro-Fence This is a close-up of the micro-fence and dust collection setup.
Router Table Drawers and Dust Collection This is a view of the open drawers, router box and dust collection.
Router Table Top and Fence This is a view of the micro-fence, outlets, cord and lighting setup. You can see in this photo that the fence has sliding faces.
Router Table Drawers and Details This is a view of the drawer details, retractable casters and levelers, and the dust collection.
Router Table CAD Rendering This is the basic CAD drawing used to visualize the router cabinet.
Router Table CAD Wireframe This is the CAD wireframe view used to plan the router cabinet.
Bandsaw Circle Cutting Fixture This is a custom designed jig for cutting circles on the bandsaw.
Tablesaw Crosscut Box This is a newer version of my crosscut box for the table saw. It has an attachment for precisely cutting small parts for assembling segmented vessels.
Garden Arbor Construction These are some of the cut parts for a huge garden arbor. Note the 4' diameter arch, assembled from numerous short cuts of 2"x6" lumber.
Garden Arbor Complete This is the Arbor installed. There are fragrant, night flowering vines beginning to cover it.
Garden Arbor Lattice Detail This is the detail of the lattice. I was originally going to use store-bought lattice, but it was SO crappy, I came up with this instead.
Garden Arbor Plan This is the CAD drawing used to plan the segments for the arbor arch.
Spindle Sander Stand with ShopVac Storage I got a deal on the drum sander, and needed a place to put it. Space is at a premium, and this is what I came up with for a stand.
Table and Chairs This is the Dining Table and Chairs.
Lathe Stand Front I needed a sturdy, yet cheap stand for my Jet Mini-Lathe. This is what I came up with. It unbolts and knocks down flat. The top is solid and 3 1/4" thick.
Lathe Stand Side These are various alternate and detail views of the Lathe Stand.
Lathe Stand CAD Plan This is the CAD plan I used to calculate loads and such for the Lathe Stand.
Segmented Jig Add-On for Tablesaw Sled This jig, which is used with the table saw sled shown above, is used to cut precise wedges of wood for segmented turnings.
Segmented Jig (15 degrees) Assembled These are the various parts assembled on the sled and ready for use in cutting 12 sided rings.
Segmented Jig (15 degrees) Test Ring Example This is the initial 12 segment test ring which was cut from scrap.
Segmented Jig (15 degrees) Detail View This is an alternate detail view of clamp and stop on the 12 segment jig.
Segmented Jig (10 degrees) Assembled These are the various parts assembled on the sled and ready for use in cutting 18 sided rings.
Segmented Jig (10 degrees) Test Ring Example This is the initial 18 segment test ring which was cut from scrap.
Segmented Jig (15 degrees) Walnut Ring Example This is a 12 segment test ring which was cut from Walnut for use on a cookie platter.
Workshop Planning Animation Click Here to View Animation This rendering was created to help plan the layout of the shop. With little area and limited wall space, it was difficult to fit everything into 1/2 of a garage.
Segmented Clamping Jig This is a clamping jig for segmented rings. Uses poly strapping tape. Bed is melamine to prevent glue adhesion. Wooden lever, hinged on one end, is used to apply strap pressure and secured under tension with a block of wood. (Not very high tech, but it's quick, cheap and functional.)
Segmented Clamping Jig This is the clamping jig in simulated use. The band is routed under cable staples and uses a metal rod for a jam/friction clamp for the strapping. This allows for quick readjustment and strap changes. Both ends are secured in a similar fashion, but only the lever end is adjusted during normal use.
Shop Cabinets - Cheapy version Needed a place to store the ever increasing selection of junk used to turn segmented items. This cabinet allows storage of sandpaper, sanding disks, turning tools, jigs, face mask, various oils, finishes and glue. These cost a total of $22 in materials to build - plus my labor... And I still haven't stained/painted them.
Shop Cabinets - Junk Installed I didn't want typical cabinet doors, due to the potential for slamming my head into open swinging doors at the bench. This was my solution - sliding bypass doors which required manufacturing custom mouldings for the door tracks/face frames. I haven't put knobs on the cabinet doors yet, as I needed the storage more than knobs.
Shop Cabinets - Custom Mouldings These are the mouldings fabricated for the door tracks/face frames. These were made from a hand selected SPF stud from the blue BORG. Not a knot left in there...