I decided to start a new thread since I had an update and something very exciting to share.

First the results of the stand that I was to paint black. I painted the stand and tried to take picture of it with a crappy pine. The royal blue felt washed out the black. The resultant photo has been rendered in photoshop to make out the stand.

Attached Images

black.jpg (23.2 KB, 226 views)

Didn't turn out too bad. All that for about 3.00 bucks.

The three tiered stand also recieved its final coat of paint and was set up for a photo shoot also. Again this photo has been doctored and I should have shot this against black.

Attached Images

triple.jpg (17.4 KB, 199 views)

OK.. on to the exciting stuff. I thought about exposing the idea right away but have decided to keep it a secret as I go and let you all figure out what it is I am making. The finished product was very exciting and I can't wait to take it to Hanford. I will tell you it is for sale, but can not be shipped due to size. If anyone in Cal. wants to make a bid as we go ...then go for it.


Here goes.. I started with a full 4' x 8' sheet of 1/2" MDF. A full sheet sells for $17.99 at Home Depot. I cut a piece from the sheet for the bottom of the project. Since my table saw is portable and does not have a large enough table, I have to rip the larger pieces from the sheet with a straight edge and skill saw.

Attached Images

dscf0286.jpg (30.9 KB, 145 views)

I cut two ends for the project out of another rip. The project is 36" long, 20" deep and 24" tall.

Attached Images

dscf0287.jpg (41.8 KB, 132 views)

I made some 1 1/2" rips out of some scrap stock and assembled this into a base deck. The deck is 36" x 20" by 1 1/2" tall. All the edges have been glued and fastened together with an air nailer.

Attached Images

dscf0288.jpg (46.5 KB, 144 views)

On one end of the project I decided that it should have a window. I sketched out a design and then sharpened it up with some old tin cans to make it symetrical. I cut it out with a saber saw and then snaded the inside edge with a osscilating spindle sander.

Attached Images

dscf0289.jpg (42.7 KB, 143 views)

More glue and the two end pieces are ready to be attached. Once again they are fastened with the air nailer.

Attached Images

dscf0290.jpg (34.8 KB, 124 views)

The back panel of the project is a piece if 1/4" MDF. It is glued and nailed on.

Attached Images

dscf0291.jpg (33.7 KB, 123 views)

More rips from the table saw and I can now affix a top valance. At this point this thing is looking an awful lot like a minature Tokonoma. I decided to leave the top open for light when photographing trees and Suiseki.

Attached Images

dscf0292.jpg (27.8 KB, 116 views)

The whoile unit is given about three coats of flat house paint inside and out. The paint is an off white color left over from remodeling my home.

Attached Images

dscf0294.jpg (39.6 KB, 122 views)