2019 Christmas Pipes, Cars, and a panel box?
A panel box? Yes, this year included a toy for me after I finished the Christmas projects… First the back story:.
Several years ago I started a tradition of making Christmas pipes for my sons. They all three smoke, one a little less than the others, but all three enjoy the tradition, or at least humor me with it! The top secret 2019 Christmas projects are finally placed and I can share them on-line without fear of ruining the surprise!
The 2018 Christmas Projects were 1/8 bent Freehand Dublins with smooth tops for my sons, and a working sailboat and rubber band powered motor boats for the bath. The 2017 Christmas pipes are Cherry Woods again, but smooth this time. And my Grandson, Calvin, who was 2 1/2 years old gots Dump Truck from various scrap, reclaimed, and repurposed woods I had in the shop. The 2016 Christmas Pipes were blasted Cherry Woods with natural plateaux tops, 2015 Christmas pipes were bent bulldogs, mostly blasted, but with smooth tops, 2014 Christmas pipes were contrast blasted bent eggs w/celluloid, 2013 Christmas pipes were Blasted Lovats, 2012 Christmas pipes were blasted straight bulldogs, 2011 Christmas Pipes were smooth Lovats, and Christmas 2010 was the first year of making the boys pipes for Christmas. They were different shapes for each. The very first 2006 Christmas pipe for for my middle son, John, who loves Bulldogs and loves Christmas, and was the only son smoking pipes at the time.
Drumrole please! This year’s pipes are contrast tan blasted Volcanos with ebonite stems. This is a lighter contrast blast than I’d tried previously, and I’m mostly happy with the result. I made wooden cars for my grandson, Cal, this year, and was able to use locally sourced hard maple and walnut from Butler Adams hardwood in Cottage Grove, TN. And I found a nice piece 1/4 sawn white oak for the panel and box frame there (the cedar for the box was left over from last years sailboat for Cal!). This distribution box is for my 1976 Venture 25 (Macgreggor) sailboat I’m refitting. All of these were lots of fun to make!
