Keepsake Shelf

A small keepsake shelf built for kids. It's about 20" l x 6" d x 7" h and made from solid Poplar. I use Poplar because I eventually stain and poly it and the wood is fairly economical to use. Doesn't easily get beat up like a soft wood normally does. I usually inscribe the recipient's name in the middle of the shelf with a 1/4 inch router bit and name template. I've removed the name from this one for privacy. These have turned out to be pretty popular items.

Foot Rest - Prototype

This is a prototype of a foot rest I made last night – took about an hour.

Something I had been thinking about for a while and it finally hit me yesterday to give it rockers instead of flat feet since I’m constantly shifting my feet around under my desk. I built something similar for my wife years ago when our second child was born to use as a nursing stool ( something she could prop her feet up on when feeding the baby ) but I can’t say for sure whatever happened to it – yard sale perhaps.

By the way the second child mentioned above is ten now and he helped me with this. I let him use the router table for the first time to round over the edges of the top. Of course I had my hands on it the whole time guiding it and we always wear the proper safety gear. He hangs out a lot with me in the shop and I always use the opportunity to explain what I’m doing and lecture on safety. I’ll make a woodworker out of him yet.

I used an old rocking horse rocker as the template on the rockers. Leftover birch plywood from my toy box project and pocket screws (God Bless you Kreg Jig!!) to assemble. The grooves on top were made with a round-nose router bit. I may eventually put a finish on it but for now it’s under my feet being put to good use.