Is there any season as wonderful as fall? It’s the time of year that we return to flannel shirts and blue jeans — aka the standard Woodworker’s Uniform, thanks to Norm Abrams — but that’s not all we return to. For many of us, the busy demands of summer have finally started to melt away, and that means that we also get to return to our woodshops.
There’s nothing in the world like spending a day in the shop while there’s a chill in the air and the leaves are changing colors and tumbling to the ground outside. That’s why at Long Island Woodworking Supply, we’d like to outfit our fellow craftsmen with the essential woodworking tools they need as they make the journey back out into the woodshop.
But that leaves us with a question — what projects are you going to be working on this fall? If you’re short on inspiration, don’t worry. In today’s post, we’ll be sharing a few great projects that are absolutely perfect for this time of year, so if you’d like a few ideas on what you can build once you get back in the shop, keep reading to learn more.
As the temperatures start to drop, we all reach for the comforting warmth of a blanket as we cozy into the couch each evening for a night spent with family. What better place to store your blankets than in this Traditional Blanket Chest from Wood Magazine? Elegant and refined, blanket chests are the perfect fall project that will stand the test of time. Perhaps the best thing about blanket chests is that they can be easily tweaked to suit your specific style. Prefer something a bit out of the ordinary? Opt for walnut with maple inlays. Want to go classic? It’s hard to beat cherry, hickory, or oak. No matter what you choose, one thing is for sure — building a blanket chest now means there will be a family heirloom in the future.
For the next project, we turn to our friends up North for some inspiration. This is a project that is likely of particular interest to fans of Long Island Woodworking Supply because it’s perfect for housing hand tools. We’re talking, of course, about an Heirloom Tool Cabinet. Perfect for storing carving gouges, chisels, scrapers, handsaws, spokeshaves, carving knives, or any other tool that you find yourself reaching for on a regular basis, we believe that a nice hanging tool cabinet is a must-have item in the shop of any woodworker. The link above will walk you step by step through the process of building this wonderful cabinet and we think it’s something you’ll appreciate each time you open it to reach for your favorite hand tool.
Although it might not feel like it just yet, the truth is that Christmas is just around the corner. That means that many people across the country will be setting up trees and decorating them with ornaments. Why not take the opportunity now to create a meaningful ornament than will be in your family for generations? It might even be simpler than you think, thanks to the always-wonderful team over at Fine Woodworking. Seán Breen is to thank for this project which combines leftover wood shavings and glue to create truly beautiful ornaments that the whole family will love. Best of all, this is a kid-friendly project, ensuring that if you have kiddos in your life, you’ll have a new project to bond over as you craft a masterpiece. Follow the guide to come up with fun and interesting patterns made from different wood species!
Another great project to tackle this autumn is a luminary lamp. You’ve probably already noticed that the sun isn’t staying out as long as it used to, and that means that night time comes earlier and earlier. Needless to say, you’re going to need a good lamp. David Picciuto at Make Something has you covered with his wonderful Luminary Lamps. In his YouTube video, he demonstrates a variety of approaches, providing viewers with countless ways to customize the project to their tastes. The end result? Something wonderful, beautiful, unique, and long-lasting. Oh, and best of all, they’re even easier to make than you might be imagining. Watch the video to see for yourself, then get started on a lamp for your home.
When it comes right down to it, most woodworking projects are some form of box. With that in mind, why not just make a really great box as one of your fall projects? They’re endlessly useful, so whether you make one to store recipe cards in or corral all of your grooming products in the bathroom, we’re confident than you can find a use for another box in your home. If you’d like to try something a little different, why not give Tamar’s Patterned Box a try? Her unique approach leaves you with a box that is anything but ordinary, and the idea behind it means it’s endlessly customizable, allowing makers to craft their own unique box by tweaking the plans slightly.
Whether you found some inspiration in the post above or you have a few ideas of your own for fall projects, the team at Long Island Woodworking Supply wants you to know that we have all of the essential woodworking tools you need to make sure everything goes off without a hitch. As we said at the top of the post, there’s nothing in the world like spending time in your woodshop in the fall, so no matter what you’re planning to create, we’d like to encourage you to simply get out there and make something.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what you’re working on. It doesn’t matter if it’s perfect. It doesn’t matter if it will one day become a family heirloom. What matters is the way you feel making something with your own two hands. In this day and age, that’s a feeling that’s quite hard to come by.
No matter if you’re just getting started (welcome to the best hobby in the world, by the way!) or you’re a seasoned craftsman with all of the tools of the trade, you’ll find everything you need to create a project that’s rewarding and fulfilling at Long Island Woodworking Supply. From Timberwolf bandsaw blades to Colwood burners to sharpening supplies, we have all of it and more right here in our online store. Place your order today or feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. Happy woodworking!
