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Needed to take a break from doing framed, flat panel portrait work and make something different. I have had this Side and End wall bird battern for a very long time and have revisited it often. It did include the base pattern, but there were no patterns/details for the top or bottom. I had to design them on the fly. The box is nom 12” wide by 8” deep and 4” high. I really did not realize how large the box was until I began to assemble it. Since the box was quite large I decided it needed a divided drop-in tray. The box outer walls, base, top and bottom is solid red oak. The red painted wall backers, inside box bottom, inside base top and the inside box tray supports were made from 1/8” BB ply (cut from my cut-off scrap pile). The tray was made from 1/4" Red Oak solid core ply and has a depth of 1 1/4 inches. Because I did not realize the size of the box, I was forced to purchase a 6 foot length of Red Oak 1” by 12” (3/4” by 11 1/2“) to make the top and bottom. Big $$$$$. The available 2 foot long boards at Lowes were not quite long enough as I need 26 inches. So I now have a nice 3’-10” length left for another future project. I planed the bottom down to 1/2”. For the top I rabbeted the bottom perimeter 1/4"deep so the top has a lid keeper that projects into the box. I sanded a small round on each corner and I used a small ogee router bit to put a decorative edge all around the top and bottom. Everything was finished with many coats of clear gloss Lacquer after which I lined the tray and the lower box with red felt. A very sticky job as I was using contact cement. I'm contemplating installing some small hinges as the top is heavy and will be cumbersome to remove and replace during use. I’m attaching a few pics as it is hard to show all the detail in one. Feel free to critique my work. . Edit 7/3/21: It was requested I post pics with the hinges installed. I was able to mortice the hinges into the box and lid to get the lid to land flat on the box. The lid does not need a hold open device because of the lids overhang.

I cut this one for our upcoming Fourth of July. Picture depicts Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson drafting the Declaration of Independence. Our founding fathers had incredible courage.

I agree Ben sounds like you have some good equipment you just have to get it more accessible. I would get some help with moving it. I'm not that far behind you in age an understand completely about physical limitations. Glad to hear you are willing to keep on keeping on. Good Luck.

I have had this pattern for a long time and I believe I got it from the Scroll saw magazine, quite awhile back. I just ran across is as I was looking for a different one and I showed it to my wife and she said she would like one of them. So here it is. I do not remember who the pattern maker is. I am quite disappointed in how it came out, as I found myself having to take it apart but still could not seem to get it right. From the far side of the room, it looks ok though. I only posted it because I don't want anyone to think I am sitting on my duff, watching TV Dick heppnerguy

My solution to this problem is to use bigger blade the real fine blades tend to raise my frustration level

Now that is a Beautiful box, and an Awesome job. I agree with you about the small hinges, I would use them.

@don in brooklin on many thanks to you, I got this piece done and ready to present. Two layers of 1/4" MDF with paint in appropriate sections on the bottom layer. This is 16" diameter and is the biggest piece I have cut with flat blades. Briefly considered spirals, but thought better of it. Hardest parts were supporting it when a lot of the mass was hanging over the edge of the table.

You are in exactly the same situation as me. I'm 82, use a cane as well as a walker in certain situations. Several years ago I had a 8x14 foot shop partitioned out of our garage. I have a stool with casters and a secretarial chair. I just roll around the shop. I go to physical therapy once a week to improve my balance. My wife wants a stair lift for me. I won't be around long enough for it to pay off. My wife does not need it. She just runs up and down. All we old timers can do is just hang in there.

How do you decide on amount of work vs the wood choice? I feel that your quality of workmanship is better than red oak material. Is the amount of time and effort worth getting more exotic wood? I struggle with this decision based on project also. If it is a handle vs a fine jewelry box. Or will I need to tap threads. Who the article is intended to go to. I have lots of these stupid concepts in my head as I start choosing next project.

I've had it since the 70's. It is accurate because I added the accurizer which may be found on eBay. I modified the rip fence with the aluminum piece you can see. The original was cheesy. I turned a new arbor so I can use carbide blades used on an angle grinder. Not much is original except the table.

im with everyone else looks fantastic to me!!!

looks great!! and thanks for the history lesson!

kevin I have a Hawk and EX now. They are in the basement. It's getting harder and harder for me to navigate those darn stairs. I don't want to spend 3 to 5 thousand bucks for a stair lift either. I am looking for something lightweight that I can sit on a small table. I have a spot picked out in my family room for it. It's about 5' X 7'. I don't want a stand. I plan on just making small toy items with it. I will investigate the WEN a little further. However, I'm pretty sure there are few scrollers on here with a cheaper saw that does the job. We just haven't heard from them yet. Thanks for the heads up on the Hawk saw. If I was younger I would be interested. In fact, if I was younger I would replace my 28 year old RBI Hawk with a brand new Hawk. They are still made in America and that goes a long way with me. My 28 year old Hawk still hums away nicely for me. Never a problem since i bought it brand new in 1993. Ben

Just a word of caution on buying used saws especially Hawks. I have been communicating with a guy that bought a Hawk G4 26 for an incredibly low price. That saw was so out of whack it was impossible to use. We now have it sorted . If you are not a mechanically inclined tinkerer a used saw can be an issue. I would also never buy a Hawk that is older than 2005 when the G4 was released. This is just my opinion based on what I have experienced.

I have made and given them to a lot of people and they always seem to be very welcome and a good reminder that they aren't alone at this time in their lives Dick heppnerguy

Thanks Les. Will do just that. I get caught up in trying to have everything work as it was designed. Of course you are right. Bellows gone! Dust collection coming soon.

Here are two good sites for free fonts: https://www.1001fonts.com/ https://www.dafont.com/ Here's one for if you have this issue again, you input the picture with the font and it gives you 60 suggestions to match it: https://www.whatfontis.com/?s3

Don: You have a gift for identifying typefaces. Thanks! I am looking forward to making this project for a great kid.

HI all, After being on this board for a long time I decided to become a silver patron, 20 dollars is nothing for the weath of information, and fun I have had being on this village site. Thanks to all of you here for being here for help, support, ideas and fun Bill New Richmond, Wisconsin

Im cutting 1/4 in material. First pic is using 2/0 skip blade. with skip tooth I bounce between line edges. when I slowly turn the wood the blade twists 90 deg without cutting anything. I apply presure and still not any cutting action. So I have to fiddle with it. takes along time to make it turn. 2nd pic is 2/0 MGT - by looking at lines it seems much better to control. 1 . what technique am I missing for the 2/0 skip blade. 2. does the 2nd pic show I need to get better? 3. what line size setting in inkscape do you use? Me. Mark Eason

i have tried flying dutchman and these pic use pegas. 2/0 skip and 2/0 mgt. Hawk . I feel that non skip blades allows more teeth to cut both sides of blades. With skip I think they skipped one side of the blade. Rotating the wood counter clockwise is worse than rotating the wood clockwise.