Make an Heirloom Photo Album from Bookmatched Wood

 

Editor’s observe: With the vacations upon us, I’m wanting via the magazines and books we personal for enjoyable handmade presents – issues which you can construct in not an excessive amount of store time, however that may assist to create a lifetime of reminiscences for the recipients. I’ll publish (a minimum of) two each week between now and the brand new yr. That is Vacation Undertaking Submit quantity three – for the “Pint-sized Pickup,” click on right here; for a Craftsman-fashion Wall Shelf, click on right here.

— Megan Fitzpatrick

by Steve Shanesy

Why accept an strange photograph album when you can also make your personal? Right here is an straightforward and enjoyable venture. It might even be easier than what you see right here in case you skip the resawing and bookmatching of the 1⁄four″-thick back and front covers.

In reality, should you have been making 5 or 6 at a time, you possibly can in all probability spend not more than a half hour on every one. Or, you may go within the different path and make it extra difficult with inlay or chip carving on the entrance.

There might, the truth is, be many variations on this undertaking. You would simply alter the dimensions of the covers for smaller photograph album sheets, you may set it up with clean pages to be used as a private journal, or paperwork from your loved ones tree analysis.

It doesn"t matter what path your model of this challenge takes, two easy parts will make all of it attainable: the publish binding screws that repair the covers and pages collectively, and the small-scale steady hinge that permits the covers to open, making them really useful. The hinges and publish binding screws may be ordered by means of the Lee Valley woodworking catalog.

Getting Began

A visit to an artwork or workplace-provide retailer is step one. Choose the photograph web page measurement you need to work with. Some pages merely are plain sheets which are inserted in clear plastic sheet protectors. The protectors, in flip, are often punched to be used in a 3-ring binder. The sheets I used have been gap punched for submit binding and “hinged,” which means every sheet was made to fold at a given place alongside the sting the place it might be sure into the album.

I chosen a sheet measurement that was 12″ x 12″. Subsequent I ordered my submit binding screws and hinge from Lee Valley. The screws, referred to as “Chicago Bolts” within the catalog, are available numerous lengths, with every size permitting for a 1⁄four″ adjustment. The brass hinge is available in a three′ size and is definitely cut.

The web page measurement and hinge gave me dimensions I might begin to work with. The wood covers’ completed measurement is 1⁄four″ x 12-1⁄2″ sq.. This enables 1⁄four″ for the duvet to overlap prime and backside. The sure aspect has 1⁄eight″overlap, leaving three⁄eight″ for the open aspect. Once I cut the items I made the width 12-5⁄eight″. This allowed a desk noticed cut to separate the binding strip from the duvet piece. The duvet thickness was 1⁄four″, which is ideal for the hinge leaf.

A Phrase About Wood Selection

My album covers are made utilizing feather-figured walnut that was resawn and bookmatched. It got here from a tree in my neighborhood that was taken down and sawn into lumber about three years in the past. Though it’s been air drying all this time I used to be nervous as a cat about my items warping after resawing and glue up. Extremely figured wood typically has a thoughts of its personal. I do know that walnut is a comparatively secure wood, like mahogany, however I stored my items on a flat floor with a weight on prime till I used to be capable of put a end on them. Even on the skinny 1⁄four″ dimension, I used to be fortunate and each items have remained completely flat.

The purpose of all that is to remind you to be cautious about your wood choice and dealing with. Attempt to use a secure species. A narrower album can be much less dangerous.

Hardware Set up & Ending

I adopted the opening patterns for the submit binding screws that have been already within the album sheets. Permitting for the highest and backside overhang, my gap middle for the screws was 2-9⁄sixteen″ from the highest and backside. From the binding edge, I marked a gap middle of 1⁄2″.

The posts required a 1⁄four″ gap with a 1⁄2″-diameter counterbore to recess the flat heads of the screws. I used a Forstner bit for drilling in my drill press. It"s essential to drill the back and front banding strip precisely alike.

At this level I progressively sanded to #220 grit, rounded the surface corners to a three⁄sixteen″ radius, and closely eased the sides, apart from the sides the place the hinge can be put in.

The end could also be a bit extra difficult than you"re accustomed to, however the unbelievable determine within the walnut demanded nearly as good a end as I understand how. And it was value every step. As a result of walnut is an open-pore wood, I crammed the grain utilizing paste wood filler. I added oil-based mostly walnut stain to the filler to paint the filler and the wood. After making use of the filler, I allowed it to dry for twenty-four hours.

For a transparent prime coat I used a lacquer that is available in an aerosol spray can. The product is the perfect lacquer in a can I’ve ever used. It’s referred to as Grasp’s Magic and is obtainable from The Woodturners Catalog. A can of sanding sealer and satin end lacquer are required, and the product must be used solely in a well-ventilated space freed from open flames (together with pilot lights on water heaters or furnaces) or potential sparks.

After making use of the sanding sealer, rigorously sand with #360-grit paper, being particularly cautious close to the sides. The thought is to calmly sand down any mud particles or bubbles which will have shaped however to not sand into the stain colour under the sealer. After sanding the sealer, spray two prime coats with the satin end. Permit the end to remedy in a single day, regardless that will probably be dry to the contact in quarter-hour.

I used a pair of snips to cut the hinges to 12-1⁄eight″ lengthy. Minimize the hinge at one of many leaf joints. The hinges are hooked up utilizing flat-head brads that you need to order together with the hinges. Predrill the holes for the brads into the sting of the wood leaving about 1⁄four″ of the brad size not drilled. Predrilling ought to guarantee nothing pokes although the face of the duvet.

Brass miniature
steady hinges are a cinch to cut with a pair of metallic shears. Make your cut on the joint the place two hinge leaves meet nearest your perfect size.

Insert the publish a part of the publish binding screws and fill your photograph web page inserts. I discovered that it was essential to barely enlarge the holes within the sheets with an odd paper punch. When completed, lay the opposite cowl over the submit after which insert the screw.
In case you are contemplating leaving the album on a espresso tabletop, or for those who simply need to shield the again cowl from scratches, put a felt bumper pad in every nook of the again cowl.

An bizarre paper gap punch enlarged the holes that have been pre-punched by the producer of the photograph album sheets.

As a photograph album or scrapbook, this challenge makes an additional particular present for an additional special day.

Provides

Lee Valley Tools
leevalley.com or 800-871-8158
Brass piano hinge,
12mm x 800mm,
#00D50.12, $7.forty

Brass escutcheon pins,
flat head, #00D41.02 $2.60

Chicago bolts, brass,
30 – 36mm, four pack,
#00K40.05, $four.70

Craft Provides USA
woodturnerscatalog.com
800-551-8876
Masters Magic Lacquer Sanding Sealer, aerosol can, #299-0100, $10.ninety five
Masters Magic Satin Spray Lacquer, aerosol can,
#299-0001, $10.ninety five
Costs right at time of publication. PWM

Excerpted from “Easy & Trendy Woodworking: 20 Projects in your Home,” by the editors of Well-liked Woodworking