iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 29/12/2024

Visiting family in California. I’ve seen some weird things in my life, but a fake, full sized wolf hanging from a drone is right at the top of the list. #drone

020 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 25/12/2024

I think resurface and re-carve is the only option. Hopefully you e got the depth to do it!

010 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 25/12/2024

Thanks - that’s my go-to hinge style right now because they’re very hidden. For my next project I’m going to try completely hidden wooden dowel hinges.

000 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 25/12/2024

I also made a watch box for my son-in-law that matches the jewelry box I made for my daughter. Ambrosia maple with walnut trim, plus a USB port in the back to charge an Apple watch. #woodworking #gift

A watch box made from ambrosia maple with walnut trim. The box is open to expose leather watch pillows for holding up to six watches.

A watch box made from ambrosia maple with walnut trim.

1220 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 24/12/2024

Got the ambrosia maple from my local wood supplier. They had a decent selection.

010 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 24/12/2024

The most important part is making sure everything is perfectly square, both the outer box and then the inner trays. I made the trays 1/16" smaller than the surrounding box dimensions. Also put a liberal hard wax coating on the inside of the main box and outside of the trays to ensure it slides.

010 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 24/12/2024

I made a piston fit jewelry box for my daughter out of ambrosia maple with walnut trim and a leather lined interior. #woodworking #gift

5392 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 22/12/2024

At first glance I thought these were IEDs. Very nice gifts!

120 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 20/12/2024

Thanks! Yep - I had some bloodwood from an earlier project, left over from re-sawing. It was too thin for anything else so this seemed like a good opportunity to make a couple footballs with the laser cutter and stick them on either side. That top piece is duplicated on the back.

010 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 20/12/2024

I come from a big family with a football pick-em pool. This year we’re starting a new tradition: a winners’ trophy passed around and proudly displayed. Walnut/Mahogany base, Baltic Birch plates, plus a Maple and Bloodwood football. #woodworking

The front view of a fantasy football trophy made from black walnut and mahogany. It has baltic birch name plates memorializing the winner for that year. On top is a plaque that extends up from the base and contains a bloodwood football and the name "The League" - Football Pick Em Champions.

An angled view of a fantasy football trophy made from black walnut and mahogany. It has baltic birch name plates memorializing the winner for that year. On top is a plaque that extends up from the base and contains a bloodwood football and the name "The League" - Football Pick Em Champions.

150 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 20/12/2024

It’s better to make stuff you like! If you’re trying to make a living at it, chasing what people want is always elusive. In my experience, it’s better to make something that resonates with you and make it public. If it’s meant to be, people will find it. You may be poorer, but you’ll be happier.

110 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 20/12/2024

Very nice. I thought it was scroll saw work. Really like how that turned out.

100 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 20/12/2024

I refer to those as “over the top” lids. For that size it’s great because they are small enough that even a person with small hands can pick it up easily. Much larger, and you have to have a handle or make the lid hinged. I do both styles frequently.

110 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 20/12/2024

I do a lot of smaller keepsake boxes that are 9”x5” and 2.5” tall. It’s a great size for small keepsakes, glasses and tv remotes. Love that box - got any pics of it with the lid open?

110 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 18/12/2024

Uh.. thanks! Honestly it’s a bit of a PITA, but it’s mostly hooked up to my random orbital sander, so the volume is relatively low. I have a large 2-stage system for the bigger tools that’s much easier to empty / clean.

000 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 18/12/2024

Beautiful grain! Nicely done.

010 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 17/12/2024

I made a keepsake box for a client from Bloodwood. It has his son’s name engraved on it, as well as a Mandala heart. Had to rush it to get it in time for Christmas! #woodworking

A keepsake box made from Bloodwood, engraved with a Mandala style heart and the name Austin.

A keepsake box with a felt green base on the interior. Made from Bloodwood.

3250 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 17/12/2024

I really like the look of that single tile. Adds a lot of character. What did you use for grout around it?

100 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 12/12/2024

Absolutely necessary if you want buy something other than S4S lumber all the time.

010 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 12/12/2024

Very nice! And made from leopard wood? Looks like something you’d get from the likes of Lie-Nielsen.

110 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 11/12/2024

I didn’t spend quite as much as @woodwhisperer.com did…

110 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 10/12/2024

I’m way to cheap to go buy a hepa dust collection system so I made my own. Rigid shop vac with a 5 gal dust separator. Vac has the hepa filters and bag. Threw a fan with some filters on top to help reduce shop dust. Made with some spare 2x4s, plywood and clad in shiplap cut offs. #woodworking

A rolling hepa dust collector / air filter. The entire top assembly comes off to empty the dust separator and change the bag in the vac.

A rolling hepa dust collector / air filter. The entire top assembly comes off to empty the dust separator and change the bag in the vac. The small hole is the exhaust for the vacuum.

In construction view of the dust separator box.

View of the frame of the dust separator prior to construction to ensure it all fit.

1100 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 10/12/2024

I was using the Wood River green handled stuff before. They were fine, but couldn’t hold an edge. Now they are my glue scrapers prior to putting glued up panels into the planer.

100 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 10/12/2024

I love mine. A little pricey, but not crazy. Properly sharpened they are just great to work with.

020 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 10/12/2024

You really can’t go wrong with the Narex Richter chisels.

220 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 10/12/2024

Beautiful design and execution

010 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 10/12/2024

Technically only one! Granted, it was a dupe of one I already had, so that became a backup. Then I had to drive back to the store and buy the correct one.

010 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 10/12/2024

I get the cheap Harbor Freight router bits, watch them burn up the edges of my exotic wood, then spend 3x my normal time sanding the burn marks away. This is the way.

110 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 10/12/2024

I feel ya. My wife still grabs the crappy little plastic ones because “they’re lighter and I don’t want to mess up the nice one you made!”

000 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 10/12/2024

Being into #woodworking during the holidays means seeing something in a store for $150 and thinking “I can build that for a fraction of that price!” Then I’ll go through expensive exotic woods, a new router bit, sanding disks, glue, finish, etc and spend 10 hours on it. Still, worth it.

4131 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 08/12/2024

Oooooh. You should VRBO that thing to high class birds!

110 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 08/12/2024

Beautifully done, Clara! Is that mahogany, sapele or...?

110 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 08/12/2024

Personally, I like it. The dark grain patterns within the ash tie it together in my eyes. Not for everyone, which is often a good thing.

010 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 08/12/2024

I just had an anxiety attack thinking about mounting those drawer slides.

000 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 06/12/2024

One thing I do love about having a decent laser cutter: "Crap, I need a business card holder..." Looks around shop, sees some left over cedar planks... Quick 5 minute design session, 4 minutes in the laser... 20 minutes later I have an aromatic business card holder. #woodworking #laserengraving

A small business card holder made from cedar

1/4" cedar planks sitting on a work bench

0100 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 06/12/2024

Only four pics on a post, so here's the John Adams version.

The side of the John Adams book nook, displaying his quote "Without books, we might be as wild beasts.", along with his full signature.

010 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 06/12/2024

I made some "book nooks" out of black walnut, with a white maple accent and a small slide out drawer for reading glasses. The four are called the Founding Fathers series, each with a reading quote from a US founding father. #woodworking

A collection of four book nooks for holding the place on a book. One shows the tray for reading glasses pulled out with a pair of glasses in it, while another has a book on it to demonstrate how they work.

The side of the George Washington book nook, displaying his quote "Knowledge is, in every country, the surest basis of public happiness", along with his full signature.

The side of the Benjamin Franklin book nook, displaying his quote "The only way to do all the things you'd like is to read", along with his full signature.

The side of the Thomas Jefferson book nook, displaying his quote "I cannot live without books", along with his full signature.

160 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 05/12/2024

Remember that wood moves as it dries / changes temp - it will contract as the moisture dries out. If you're going for a more rustic look / feel, you should be fine.

110 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 05/12/2024

Love this. What a beautiful way to remember him. Nicely done!

020 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 05/12/2024

That's tough - a day or two usually isn't enough time. If it will fit in an oven you have access to you can try putting it in at 220F for a few hours and see if that helps. If the moisture is all on the surface, that MAY do it. Really depends on what you're trying to build as well.

120 0

David Alison @alisonworks.com · 05/12/2024

Thanks! These keepsake boxes are fun to make and just the right size to leverage my cutoffs from the larger pieces.

120 0