HOW MANY TOOLS DOES IT TAKE ??

Thank you for joining us today at Fresh's Workshop. If this is your first visit, welcome! If you're returning, we appreciate your continued support.

This is the spot where we build and repair all kinds of cool stuff, along with making a ton of saw dust. (Man Glitter.)

During our last session in the Workshop, we showed you how I upgraded my Ham Radio License.  

To see that episode, just clicky here.

 

Before we begin today's project, let's take a moment and talk about shop safety:

Be sure to read, understand and follow all of the safety rules that come with your power tools. Knowing how to use your power tools properly will greatly reduce the risk of personal injury. And remember this, there is no greater safety rule than to wear safety glasses.

Today, we are revisiting a classic project.

Approximately thirty years ago, I constructed some kitchen cabinets. They were quite satisfactory; however, Penny desired new fronts a few years later. Therefore, as a devoted husband, I fulfilled her request.

I documented the process on one of my other blogs and thought would share it with you.

I retired in 2017, and we sold that old house The owners retained the cabinets; however, upon selling the house, the subsequent owner removed them. Nothing lasts forever, but that did not discourage me from building cabinets in our new home.

Enjoy the blast from the past.

HOW MANY TOOLS DOES IT TAKE TO BUILD

KITCHEN CABINETS?

I love doing home improvement projects.

Shortly after Penny and I were married in 1990, we 

bought a 100-year-old house in the Downtown Ocala 

Historic District and together we did a complete 

renovation.

But my favorite thing in the whole wide world is wood

working. Especially furniture making.

Over the years, I have made a few nice

things.

  

  

My favorite project was the kitchen cabinets I made some twenty years ago. At the time

we couldn't afford fancy wood, so I used 2 x4's that I cut to size. They looked great and aged beautifully. The only problem was they were a 'pain in the butt' for Penny to keep clean. So, she wanted me to 're-face' the cabinets

Penny has always wanted something plainer and

simpler. Since she has been playing around with 

some painted furniture projects, we (IE: Penny) 

decided the time was right for a re-design of the 

kitchen cabinets. Twenty years of Penny's great 

cooking had taken its toll.

 

We had just

finished a large 

bookcase in the 

dining room and 

Penny painted the 

shelves and they 

turned out great.

She also repainted an old Amour that she found at

Goodwill, and once I added some drawers and a 

new back, it was 'beautiful'. (Her words, not mine).

So, I put aside my dislike for anything painted (and my pride) and told her to 'knock herself out' with the painting.

As I started to gather my

tools, I got to thinking, 

How many tools does it 

take to build kitchen

cabinets?"

So, I made a list. (Not necessarily in order of

appearance)

THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL

COFFEE (I'm an early riser – I am usually up and 'at

em' by 4 AM)

Rock & Roll from my home recording studio. (50's

and 60's only, please) OK, maybe some 70's too)

Cold beer (for later)

Band Aids (I am a Klutz- I tend to 'sand' my hands

as well as the wood, not to mention 'nailing' a finger or two.

'Tim the Tool Man' has

nothing on me!!

Patience (If you know

where I can get some,

please let me know)

Framed picture of Norm Abram 

on the workshop wall (just 

kidding)

TV in the Workshop, so we can 

continue to watch the Gator football season self-

destruct. Again.

Now for the TOOLS

Safety glasses (remember what Norm always says)

'Be sure to read, understand and follow all of the

safety rules that come with your power tools. 

Knowing how to use your power tools properly will 

greatly reduce the risk of personal injury. And 

remember this. There is no more important safety 

rule than to wear these. (This is where I point to my 

face) Safety glasses. Now here's how I built today’s 

project.'

Today’s project? Seriously?? Damn it Norm, this

 'project' took me two months to complete!!

I've made many of Norm's projects over the years.

How in the hell does he do it in thirty minutes? I 

guess that's a subject for a later date.

Now for the tools!!

Table saw

Jointer

Band Saw

12-inch surface planer

Jig Saw

Drill Press

Dremel Tool

Two Routers (saves on set up time)

Shaper, (Like a router, but on steroids)

Air Compressor and accessories.

Enough air hose to

reach from the 

shop to the Kitchen 

(My compressor is 

bolted to the floor 

and looks like it 

came out of the 

local gas station. (I 

think I just 'dated' 

myself) Penny says 

I have enough air

hose to reach 

Toledo. But I don't

know anyone in 

Toledo.

Three different nail guns (you can never have too

many 'pee numatic' tools but watch those fingers!!!

Bench top sander

Two Random Orbital Sanders

Belt sander and lots of sandpaper

Shop vac

Reading glasses for close up inspections

Cordless screwdriver

Jack Hammer (Just seeing if you were paying

attention)

Cordless drill

Powered drill

Bench top grinder

Bench top buffer/wire wheel (to clean and polish

hinges)

Biscuit joiner

14 bar clamps

KRAIG Pocket Hole Gig and special screws (man's

greatest invention)

Assorted Hand Tools

Spring clamps

Putty Knife

Box knife

screwdrivers

chisels

crowbar

crescent wrenches

hammers

Level

Square

12-foot steel rule

6-foot steel rule

and finally

25 Sharpened Pencils (I keep losing the damn

things).

So, I set about to make new fronts for Penny's

kitchen cabinets. I won't go into detail about the 

actual construction but I did take a few pictures 

along the way

I also learned it was also an exercise to see how

DIRTY you can make the shop.

  The project was ton of work, but Penny is happy 

with the final results and that is good enough for me.

 

So, your assignment this week is to go build

something. Even if you go buy a bird house kit. Do 

something creative with your hands.

Oh, I almost forgot the most important tool of all. It's 

nice to have an air-conditioned workshop. After all 

this is Florida!!

Have a great week