I guess I got my start at building as a child. We were always building coasters or forts. Wood was free, wherever the nearest new house was being built. Actually I began my "grown-up" building around 1972.
I was 18 and Kathie was living in her in-laws house while the in-laws toured Europe for a year. Her father-in-law, Alfred Runge, was an old German guy with a fantastic workshop in the sub basement. I was in awe of everything in his workshop. He had little-to-no space at all. I learned that in a little work shop, organization can double your space. He built his own table saw. It had a 3 foot wide by 4 1/2 foot long top. The blade slide back and forth because there was not enough room to pass the plywood over a fixed blade. It was amazing. This old craftsman had handmade jigs to do specific things and I was intrigued to figure out what each thing did. For example, I found two boards with rounded ends and a bolt with a wingnut going through it. I found that it was used to hand sharpen his large saw blades. The blade would be put on the bolt and in between the two pieces of wood. When it was put in the vise, only the tips of the blade were exposed. So sharpened blades. Each tooth had a different slant. So every other tooth one way, then turn it around and file every other tooth in the other direction. I was fascinated and I was hooked!!
In 1973, as we prepared to move from San Francisco to San Bruno, I build my first furniture. I bought a waterbed with a plain wooden 2 by 8 pine frame. I built a padded seat around the top on three sides and a headboard with a built-in light switch controlling the lights. I also built tow nightstand type tables and two wooden table lamps with opaque plexi-glass panels. I only had leftover redwood stain, so that was my decor. Early picnic! I have always liked secret hiding places, so I built a poster sized picture frame that opened like a medicine cabinet, secretly of course. Held my stash! I learned to love knotty pine at about a nickel a foot.
While living with my parents in San Bruno, 1973 to 1975, I began to build furniture for my future residence. From pictures, I recall that the China Cabinet was built on San Antonio.
My
Hobby
WOODWORKING
The China Cabinet's first home was on Francis Street in San Francisco This was a flat with a full garage Looking back from today, 2011, that as the largest workroom that I have ever had in my life. I had a minimal amount of tools but an enormous basement. My household started with the China Cabinet and a matching kitchen table with a pedestal base I built a sofa and matching chair, along with a great coffee table with end tables, both from designs in Sunset Magazine.
In 1977 I remodeled a 1900's house on Baden. I made new kitchen cabinets, did my first formica work and learned just how quickly contact cement adheres. I rebuilt a porch with a bathroom, replaced all of the double hung windows with state of the art 1977 single pane glass and textured or paneled over all of the orginal, cracked, plaster walls.
From 1978 to 1984, the Castleton years, I remodeled yet another kitchen, refacing all of the cabinets with oak flooring. During this 6 year period, I built a 4 foot by 8 foot dining room table, with 2 leaves, a roll top desk, Nicholas' changing table/dresser, and two cradles (Nicholas & Brandy). I also built a set of bunk beds for a friend, six 2 by 2 cabinets for a stacking entertainment center, two end tables, and a coffee table. We had a treehouse, no pic though.
Around 1974, a few Farrell boys and myself built plywood kitchen cabinets for their Mom's kitchen on Pope Street. The house sold in 2010 with the 35 year old cabinets still in place. I also recall making a sewing machine cabinet with drawers and it had the capability to fold the machine inside its top. Around this point in time I built a drop leaf coffee table for Glenn and Jodi Farrell as a wedding present. It was around for many years.
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My next residence (1976) was on Linden in San Bruno where I first built a workroom in the carport. There I bought my first major power tool, the radial arm saw which I still have and use. The only big item that I know I built on Linden was a wall unit of shelving comprised of several ladder shaped pieces that would wedge in between the floor and the ceiling. Once in place the screws could be tightened for stability. The unit had several sections and could be put together in a variety of configurations. We used it for several years and then it went to Jeanne and Mike until about 2006 when it was retired.
Current Update - June 5, 2011 - I picked up three 8 foot ladder pieces and about 8 plywood shelves from the original WW home. Now, after 35 years, it is officially retired as I will reuse the wood to build something, someday.
I also stumbled across a design for a coat hanging storage chair with a mirror. I recall that I built 4 or 5 of them. I still have the original, 36 years later, next to my hot tub and my cousin Amy still has hers in her bedroom. I rounded out the living room with a couple of wooden lamps and probably some cinder block shelving for the TV. The bedroom had the waterbed and nightstands.
The China cabinet made its way to the Weatherwax home where it lived in their dining room until about 2010. I also built the 4 display boxes that hung above the cabinet to house Jeanne's plate collection.
