branagan custom

This post is going to be quick and dirty, just like my projects lately which you’ll see very soon. 

For anyone who might stumble across this blog now and then, it is not dead. It is very much alive. Alright, maybe sleeping. But to prove it’s still alive here’s the last six months’ projects. The nature of these projects is quick and dirty – I simply haven’t got time lately to dig into a big build, dimensioning rough sawn lumber and planning intricate joinery. So the more involved steps in projects (and more involved projects in general) have fallen by the wayside.

However I am still getting shop time as much as possible and the blog is still alive and kicking and I plan to keep it that way.

My last post was published on March 17 – while I was in Japan actually – right after I had just moved home. Since then I have set up a new shop, spent a week in Barbados and my daughter turned one year old.

Shop move: Over the course of a couple of months I packed up my old corner of a basement and unpacked in a new, bigger corner of a bigger basement. Moving shops is a huge undertaking between packing everything in a secure manner, deconstructing whatever possible, deciding on what to keep vs throw and of course hauling a workbench from one place to another. It got done and the new shop is functional but this was a months long process.

Once I was in the new shop space I started working on little things before it was actually set up, to get a feel for the space and the flow and where I want my tools and how to arrange everything. Some points to note:

The biggest change is my tool wall (below). I wanted everything I grab regularly easily to hand so hung the essentials right behind the bench.

Sharpening station: The basement has an existing old bench which is the perfect place to keep my sharpening station so I can move seamlessly between work and sharpening with no setup required.

Space: more space, cabinets, shelves means more organisation or at least potential for organisation once I clean up the clutter. Work in progress.

On to the projects I’ve tackled since moving. Obviously the first priority was essentials for the new living space vs discretionary projects. Needs vs wants.

• A silly little scrap wood knife holder. I didn’t want to hang a magnetic strip and couldn’t bear the thought of my knives being tossed around loose in a drawer. A little plywood and some scraps made a handy knife holder. If I can pat myself on the back here – look at those tolerances!

• “Labricos” – these are the diy furniture / shelving I knock together for our rentals. A whole series could be written on these because with the brackets and some 2x4s they are so versatile. They are the single best thing for renters trying to personalise a space, especially if they don’t want to damage or put holes in walls. I built a few of these for the new space. They beat 3Ms hands down!

• Tool wall: Next project to tackle was getting my workshop properly set up. This could also be a whole series of mini projects.

• Cutting board: This was a WIP from the old shop. This turned out nicely as a gift for a friend.

• Helmet hanging hooks: Simple, basic and practical. I love biking. Especially with my family.

• Drawer handles: This was a fun little project. A second hand dresser had ugly, dated handles we didn’t like so I made these really simple pulls from white pine. I think they gave it a modern, cleaner look and they work great.

• Wall box shelf: Repurposing an ikea panel, this was a little test of a concept. It turned out just ok mainly because of the cheap, lowest possible grade pine. At least that’s my excuse.

If I can add to a classic saying, remember this: A poor workman blames his tools. A good workman blames his material. I hope all woodworkers can relate.

• Sawbenches: The next chapter in my first workbench’s life. I sawed it down the middle and screwed some legs on to each side to make some low makeshift sawhorses.

• They were just what I needed for these kitchen shelves that came from a large ikea panel that I had to rip down but was too big for my bench.

• A simple nursery shelf for books and toys (pending some hanging hooks below the shelf)

• Shoe rack: Again using some repurposed Ikea panels this was all reclaimed / repurposed wood. More shoe storage was needed so I knocked this together in a few days

• This bring us to present day: a hammer handle for a friend, made from osage orange and wedged with purpleheart. The first handle I’ve made and first time working with osage orange. 

Hopefully this proves I am still plugging away in the shop and maybe even provided some inspiration or tips to anyone who reads. A quick and dirty post for quick and dirty projects. If you have any comments, questions, reach out in a comment below, by email or on instagram @branagancustom.