This was a joy to build, for many different reasons, from beginning to end. First there was the way it came into existence: Mika’s desire to bring the altar and the attendant care out into our lives. It’s right and good. The design process was nothing special (“make her about yay high, and yay wide and yay deep…“), but retrofitting the stretchers was a satisfying challenge and when the unit snapped into place, I had a moment of deep relief. And finally, most importantly from my perspective, was the confidence I felt in doing most of the work with hand tools. I was able to cut things quickly and by eye mostly, or maybe by feel is the better word. I made a few mistakes, but they were brain-os that were small and easily repairable. At any rate, it’s done and it looks very nice, I think.
This represents a new way of working for me. I’ve had the freedom to build this to rough dimensions so I haven’t measured very much, have relied on eyeballing things, cutting dovetails quick and roughly true. Part of the reason I’ve gotten away with this relaxed approach is that the wood I am using is a breeze to work. It’s color makes scribe lines a bit hard to see, but it planes up so beautifully.
I’ve done more handwork on this project than any I have done in a long time. Except for drilling the mortises on the drillpress fitted with a router bit (that was weird and dicey), the only power tool involved has been my contractor’s saw. Mostly, this has come together with my Japanese planes and saws and scraper blades. Nice.
And finally finally… okay, this is a bit weird to admit… there was an element of revenge involved in this project. Grandpa was not all that into his granddaughter marrying a stinking butter-eating barbarian. He was, in truth, downright rude to me and all my barbarian ancestors. Now, all these years later, I have his ihai sitting on a stand I made out of wood he left behind. Oh yeah, old man? I got your barbarian right here! Enjoy the Shaker furniture!
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- Back out of strange wood. Catch the mistake?
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- No-lathe knobs
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- Ready, set, pray!
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