Thinking "Out Of The Box" Project

[Dennis Dorries]

My wife usually comes up with ideas of things for me to build. These "ideas" sometimes are "thinking out of the box" ideas. She recently decided that I should build her a new coffee table. Well . . . after I was finished she decided that I should build a matching end table and sofa table. So about two months later I finally completed all three pieces of furniture. I just can't say enough about the Kreg products. I just don't know how I existed before I purchased a set and began using the pocket hole jig set. This is truly an amazing product in ease of use and time saved making strong joints.

[KregRep]

Dennis,
This is some absolutely beautiful furniture. Your wife has some great 'thinking out of the box' ideas... and hopefully you had some fun building them! Thank you for posting your story, and also for your compliments regarding the Kreg Jig. It's fantastic to see all of these wonderful stories posted in one place!

-KregRep

P.S. What other Kreg products do you have?

[Dennis Dorries]

You aren't going to believe this - but - my wife (your wife's sister) was just talking to me the other day about making a new dining room table. The one we have now is perfectly fine - only about 5 years old. BUT - she would like to have a "smaller" one. It won't be my next project but I am sure that before the year is out I will have made one.

By-the-way . . . thanks for the compliment!

Denny

[k. Reilly]

Your coffee table is whatm my wife is after me to build. A top and bottom shelf for baskets for the grandkids stuff. I plan on making it out of bllodwoord. If I may ask, where did you get the plans?

[Dennis Dorries]

Actually I really don't like using plans. Most of the things that I make are kind of a build it as you go type of project. I recently bought a Cad Drawing progam called Delta Cad and I use it for most of my projects. It allows me to create a design with measurements and then print the copy to take with me to my shop. It is a very inexpensive program that cost something like $40 and can be downloaded by going to www.deltacad.com It is very easy to use and gives great results. I checked my files to see if I used it to make a drawing for the coffee table but couldn't find it in a file. If I had it I would be more than happy to e-mail it to you. I believe I made the coffee table before I purchased the drawing program.

There is another website that I use to get ideas and it is www.furnitureontheweb.com You can usually find almost anything that you would like to build and they give you some rough dimensions to give you some idea of the size proportions.

Good luck with your project. I bet the bloodwood will really look great.

k. Reilly said:

Your coffee table is whatm my wife is after me to build. A top and bottom shelf for baskets for the grandkids stuff. I plan on making it out of bllodwoord. If I may ask, where did you get the plans?

[Dennis Dorries]

Just to let you know - I started on the dining room table about two weekends ago and should have it finished by the end of January. I will take some photos and add them to this thread.

Dennis said:

You aren't going to believe this - but - my wife (your wife's sister) was just talking to me the other day about making a new dining room table. The one we have now is perfectly fine - only about 5 years old. BUT - she would like to have a "smaller" one. It won't be my next project but I am sure that before the year is out I will have made one.

By-the-way . . . thanks for the compliment!

Denny

[Blaine Garren]

Wow, did you have plans or come up with them yourself. They look fabulous!!!

[Dale Stagg]

Those look great. Nice job.

[Dennis Dorries]

I actually make my own plans by using a very inexpensive (about $40) Cad program called Delta Cad. My ideas usually come from a customer or my wife. I also use a website www.furnitureontheweb.com to get ideas and sizes. I don't really like to use plans. I like to design as I go. My pure enjoyment is to turn a pile of rough cut wood into a project that really looks nice. Occasionally I do get paid for a project which helps pay for materials, etc. I am not cheap by any means so they either pay my price or go somewhere else. This is my hobby and pastime - it is not my job. AND . . . THANKS FOR THE COMPLIMENT!

Blaine Garren said:

Wow, did you have plans or come up with them yourself. They look fabulous!!!

[Dennis Dorries]

THANKS!

Dale Stagg said:

Those look great. Nice job.

[k. Reilly]

thanks dennis

Dennis said:

I actually make my own plans by using a very inexpensive (about $40) Cad program called Delta Cad. My ideas usually come from a customer or my wife. I also use a website www.furnitureontheweb.com to get ideas and sizes. I don't really like to use plans. I like to design as I go. My pure enjoyment is to turn a pile of rough cut wood into a project that really looks nice. Occasionally I do get paid for a project which helps pay for materials, etc. I am not cheap by any means so they either pay my price or go somewhere else. This is my hobby and pastime - it is not my job. AND . . . THANKS FOR THE COMPLIMENT!

Blaine Garren said:

Wow, did you have plans or come up with them yourself. They look fabulous!!!

[Bill Peterson]

All three of your projects are very nice.
BP

[Dennis Dorries]

Thank you - it is fun and I would be a good sales rep for your product. Earler this week I was telling a guy about the Kreg Systems and he said he was wondering about how they worked and said he was going to get one. I have used mine so much that I am going to have to replace the drill bit pretty soon unless I can find someone that can sharpen it.

Bill Peterson said:

All three of your projects are very nice.
BP