[OP]
Member
Hi everyone!
A question is bothering me here: How big is big? How would you describe a huge build?
I'm working on a dining table right now and I consider it big, considering that I'm new to woodworking.
How about you? What's the biggest project you ever had?
Member
I built out a 15' x 17' study. Cherry and walnut everything, from baseboards to ceiling beams. Took 6 months.
Member
My house. Two story Cape design. 2,000 sq ft....took 2 yrs & still not done...About 90 percent done. When work gets slow I do a little more...
Member
I too am working on a big dining table. It is a 6ft diameter round table. It is not so much the size of the thing it is the challenge/difficulty level that has me going. I am attempting many techniques that I have never done before. I think if it were rectangular I wouldn't even be worried about it. If I manage to get the top done, which is the main thing I have been working on, I then have to figure out how to make a circular apron for it, then I have to make these massive leg assemblies. On top of all that, this is one that I designed myself (with lots of help for Dave Richards). So I don't have detailed instructions on construction techniques. Plus, the materials are really expensive and it will be pretty costly if I screw it up and have to buy more.
Last edited by Larry Browning; 10-05-2012 at 4:42 PM.
Larry J Browning
There are 10 kinds of people in this world; Those who understand binary and those who don't.
Contributor
My wife says that I'm the biggest project she ever had. It's still too early to know if she's going to say the project was a success.
Mike
Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good.
Member
I'm currently working on a sculpture with Jason Hackenwerth that is ~10' x 10' x 28' comprised of 38) 4x8 sheets of 3/4 ply cnc cut into 363 individual parts, all dry fit joinery, no fasteners. Aside from construction projects I've had a hand in, this will be the largest single piece I've fabricated.
MegaMouth.JPG
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A butterfly coming out of it's cocoon???Originally Posted by Kevin Groenke
Member
I built this barn. Its 20' x 30'. My dad helped me put the metal on the roof. I did the rest of the work myself.
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"The key to patience is doing something else."
Member
My largest so far was a bar for a local restaurant. It was a curved bar that took up most of the available space in my shop to build. I think the overall length was over 20' and the width around 13' or so! That was a lotta fun
JeffD
Contributor
I guess my shop. Pounded every nail myself. Contracted the excavation but built my own concrete forms. Finished the slab myself with one hired grunt. Not to mention the design, paperwork, building permits, etc.
And on the other end a batch of chairs. They arent as large physically, but seem to be taking every bit as long......
( I do have these three children that are a work in progress, but thats another hobby - and might help explain why some of these projects take so long!)
My computer hutch with a pull out desk top, which was the first sizeable project after I got my Grizz TS. Did it on a bit of a dare from my wife. It was fun, but I don't care to take on something quite that big again. From American Furniture Design plans.
Member
Biggest would be my parents kitchen in terms of the amount of work. Mine is about the same size, but I had all the drawers and doors made so it cut a considerable amount of time from the project. With theirs, I was also the consultant for a lot of the decisions on remodeling the space as well--they gutted a a 1960's addition, moved/added doors and windows and completely rearranged the layout. Mine we pretty much kept the same layout with tweaks and just made very minor electrical changes, drywall repair, new paint, and new floors.
Most challenging, probably either a big entertainment center I did early on in my woodworking "career" just because it was big for me at the time, or the dining table I built for my parents because of the sheer size (almost 10' long fully open) coming up with a base design, and doing the bent-lamination aprons which I'd never done before.
My shop I finished out the interior myself with some help along the way from family and friends for various projects but there's nothing "fine" about the woodwork there!
Contributor
Not BIG by any means, but it took the longest to build, and turned out to be bigger than I thought it would be. Which wasn't a bad thing at all.
My tool chest.
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Never, under any circumstances, consume a laxative and sleeping pill, on the same night
Member
When I decided to pursue woodworking I wanted to learn as much as possible. So, deciding on a computer desk, I waited until a jointer and thickness planer fit the budget then found the best price on rough oak. I learned a lot about raised panels, joinery, template routing, not to mention anger management. After almost a year, this was the result.
Good thing I did this first. The economy, reduced income, downsizing, and early retirement now has me making boxes and other small articles in my limited space. But, I learned. That is what I set out to do in the first place.
Do like you always do,,,,,get what you always get!!
Contributor
The biggest project that I ever built was a built-in bookcase/entertainment center at my parents house about 20 years ago. It ended up being about 15' wide, and 13' tall.
Doc
As Cort would say: Fools are the only folk on the earth who can absolutely count on getting what they deserve.
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