5th Version, Same Theme

I shamelessly invoke a parallel from one of my favorite composers to semi-justify the compulsion to make another version of an earlier project. 

"Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini, Variation 18, Solo Piano". The composer actually had 24 variations of the same theme.

So, here I am making another one of the same micro-project with a variation. This project is the least I can do for all the favors we've had from the husband and wife next door neighbors.

Lumber prices had gone up lately by about 300%. Suddenly the scrap wood I had saved is worth a lot more than firewood 😇. Actually, I've thrown away more than I had saved but exotic hardwood scrap pieces are always worth holding on to and here is a fine example of "why".  Plus, the variation calls for an equilateral triangle to make this version of a pan/pot cover stand.

 

Wood is "pink flame" or ivory wood

Equilateral ⛛ triangles - so called the perfect triangle - was more challenging to fashion from wood than I had earlier envisioned, especially with small pieces. Working with power tools is inherently dangerous if not executed properly but more so by a factor of many when dealing with small pieces, such as 4 inch by 4 inch parts.

The perfect triangle requires for all three sides to be of the same length and, more critically, each three internal angle should be perfect 60 degrees. 

I must first come up with a jig.  By the way, this is the only way to cut small pieces; otherwise, it is "living dangerously".

Quick review of high school geometry says that each leg joint of the equilateral triangle must be cut with a 30 degree angle so that the joined pieces will produce a 60 degree internal angle.

Cut a scrap hardboard to a 30 degree miter.

Cut a 90 degree perpendicular on one adjacent side.

While at it, I decided to cut a 45 X 45 degree triangle for some future use for another jig.

The 30 X 60 degree hardboard acts as a fixed guide on the table saw sled and with the aid of three shop-made clamps, each work piece is cut safely and accurately.

Earlier I did cut a prototype triangle on some zebra wood.

Held down by the clamp on the right is a stop block mitered to 30 degrees to insure that each leg is of equal length with all the others.

As mentioned in an earlier version, these stands are not necessarily a must but simply nice-to-have items in the kitchen.  But it does help by keeping the cover above the counter top during cooking when it calls for the cover to rest somewhere while keeping the pot or pan open while stirring or when adding other ingredients as cooking continues.

By the way, these seemingly frail looking micro-structures will withstand a static vertical load more than a thousand times its own weight!

An Unlikely Re-purposed Project

From this:

To:

When the predecessor of the new pool cleaner, shown below, went kaput a while back, I threw away the cleaner itself but kept the two-wheel caddy.  I knew it will be useful someday but for months I did not know what its new purpose was going to be.

However, I knew there was going to be woodworking involved.  And indeed, for woodworkers anyhow, there are ideas to be had here.  Hopefully, for some, a construction tip here and there will be useful.

Parts no longer needed were removed. 

A round tube is always a challenge for attaching anything to it.  It calls for a semi-circular profile on the piece to be attached.  This is why a router table is one most useful tool in the workshop, next to the table saw and workbench, in my opinion.

Four anchor pieces are what they are: 

Pocket screws attached the cross piece support

I ripped 5-inch wide boards from 3/4 in. shelving material from several 12 in. planks that my next-door neighbor gave me from a renovation project. In effect, the shelves were re-purposed material too.

A pocket hole making jig, inexpensive but quite a useful tool

Pocket screws fastened all the joinery.  No glue this time.

My shop-made bow saw (discussed in an earlier posting) made easy work of cutting the rounded corners.  Rasp and sand paper did the rest.

One old (flea-market acquired) hand plane and a shop-made one (also in an earlier blog) did the flattening chore with ease.  As always when a hand tool can be employed, there is so much more pleasure derived from it. It is quieter and hardly is dust a problem.

I installed two swivel front wheels to make what was a two-wheel caddy into a more stable 4-wheel one.  And this in-house utility cart must be as light as possible; hence, the spartan use of material.

I had meant for this to wheel the laundry basket from our bedroom to the utility area and a caddy to wheel in large packages from the front door to mostly the kitchen area, especially for when frozen groceries are delivered.

My wife was a bit lukewarm to this project but I hope she will appreciate it someday when moving the clothes-laden laundry basket to and fro becomes more challenging as time moves along the golden years of senior living.