Shavedwood Blog

Today was another HOT day in Texas with temps reaching near 100 degrees and me with some spare time to spend in the shop. I was looking for a project that wouldn’t take much time, so while reading in the library throne I reread the March issue of Wood Magazine and saw the plans for a pop-up toothpick dispenser. I liked this project because it used a drill chuck in the tailstock and it was practical.

I don’t usually use my Jacobs chuck in my tailstock very much and wanted to see how it worked with Forstner bits. Under my page links you will see a page called Project’s and there is a full gallery of the project.

The first step in the magazine is to create the top and drill out the center using a 1/4″ Forstner bit. The next step is to drill out the center with a 1 1/4″ bit, fit the lid and then shape the body.

The next step is to make the top and the cup for the toothpicks to rest inside the base. I used some exotic Redheart I had laying around the shop. At some point I have bought bits and pieces of lots of exotic woods.

So you then combine the top with the lid, add a small piece of 1/4″ dowel rod and insert the bottom. This is a good project to get you used to turning again, use some new tools and its a great addition to your dinner table. Amaze your friends and family….. LOL had to say that cheesy line….