Projects
Recent Projects
- St. Joseph’s House – Cypress Benches March 26, 2023Lee Owens
Five club members built 2 cypress outside benches for St. Joseph’s House, a halfway house for men released from prison after serving long sentences. What to Do Next? Assembling Bench The client painted the benches and put them in place. Here is an example. - One Touch Ministries – Foot Lockers December 9, 2022Lee OwensTwenty foot lockers were made for the One Touch Ministries, a halfway house for men recently released from prison. Eight club members made the lockers with security type hinges and the client painted them. Ready for Delivery Assembled Locker
- Homemade Mortise Master From Show-‘n’-Tell December Meeting December 5, 2022Richard RoblesHarold Choate made this jig for making mortises from watching a YouTube video (link below). This is self-centering and can be adjusted to various widths. It is designed to be portable and not clamped to a table. More Pictures: Overhead View of Panel in Jig Side View Original Video for the Mortise Master: https://youtu.be/JlWjeXBIbnc
- HAART – Children’s Desks & Chairs October 9, 2022Lee OwensWe built 10 sets of children’s desks and chairs for HAART, a non-profit organization that assist families affected by AIDS. The desk and chairs were stained and given several coats of polyurethane by 10 club members. Cutting Parts Assembling Chair Staining & Poly
- Iris Cabinet Install July 30, 2022Lee OwensInstalling 24 cabinets to metal studs; George, Ken, and Rick Pantry CABINETS 1-12 CABINETS 13-24
- Picnic Table July 30, 2022Dale RagelFred, Bill and Dale having fun.
- Church Podium July 30, 2022Bob BewickThe church needed a new podium in the Activity Center. A parishioner was removing an old cabin from their property and numerous boards were recovered. We found the lumber was hand-hewn Cypress from the 1850’s. After removing nails, staples and tacks, the lumber was passed through a planer many times until the thickness was ...
- Computer Desk July 30, 2022George CampagnaComputer desk made of poplar with sliding keyboard tray and stain finish.
- Iris Cabinets & Pantry – Build & Install July 9, 2022Lee OwensNine of our club members built a pantry and 24 cabinets for Iris, a shelter for women and children escaping abusive relationships. Everything was painted and the cabinets were installed on metal studs. All the cabinets had locks installed on them for personal security. Installing Wall Cabinets Installed Cabinets
- Volunteers of America – Sign & Dining Table May 12, 2022Lee OwensBuilt a 10 foot long dining table per the ADA (American with Disabilities Act) standards for the Volunteers of America’s new home for older women with mental health issues. Five club members participated in the building, staining and painting of this table. Below are pictures of the various steps in completing this project. Planing Wood for ...
Past Projects
Log End to End Tables – click on this link (Log End to End Tables) to view an article from BRWC Member Terry Landry on tables he made from several log ends.
2×4 Toy Challenge – click on this link ( 2×4-challenge-rules-2016 ) for the rules on the 2×4 Challenge to build a toy with a single 2×4 for the November Monthly Meeting. The toys will be donated to needy kids as Christmas presents.
IRIS Headboards – Here is a link to download the plans for the headboards: Headboard Plans
Kids Woodworking Tables – Keith Bryan, Curtis Dawson, Art Miller and Harold Choate built these 3 workbenches at Keith’s shop for assembling birdhouses at the Swamp Life Expo in October. The wood is Cypress donated by Warren Dufrene. They are 48 inches long, 16 inches wide and 21 inches high. The lower stretcher comes out so the legs can fold for easy transport or storage
Quad Vets Computer Table – The Quad Vets is a organization in Hammond, LA that provides programs and services to the homeless veterans living anywhere in Louisiana. They asked if we could make them a computer table so BRWC Club Members Lee Soileaux, Ken Brown, Paul Hornsby, Lee Owens and Wayne Matherne volunteered and built them one.
Bluebird House Kits 2016 – We are asking each club member to cut out the parts for birdhouses that will be given to kids at the Oct 1st Swamp Life Expo so they can build them and bring them home. To sign-up to build these kits, go to the Members Only page, click on Sign Up Sheets and then click on the Make Bluebird House Kits for Swamp Life Expo. Below are the revised plans for this year that include a cutting sequence to fit 1″x8″x8′ dimensional lumber and to help standardize the cutting process.
Side Car Bed – See an article from BRWC Member Jim Landry on designing and building a Side Car Bed for an infant.
Louisiana War Veterans Home Rocking Chairs – 25 western red cedar outdoor rocking chairs that were built by BRWC members as a Community Service Project were delivered to the Louisiana War Veterans Home in Jackson, LA. Here are a few pictures of the chairs at the home.
Poplar Bookcase – BRWC Club Member Ken Brown built this poplar bookcase for his son. Shelves dado’ed in with 8D nails to add strength. Son loves dark stain so he used walnut. Cherry boards used for the top.
Louisiana War Veterans Home Rocking Chair Build – Check out photos of the teams working on building 24 outdoor rocking chairs for the Louisiana War Veterans Home in Jackson, LA.
Terry’s Shop Team – Rocking Chair Build
Quad Vets Mailbox – The Quad Vets is a organization in Hammond, LA that provides programs and services to the homeless veterans living anywhere in Louisiana. They asked if we could make them a wooden mailbox to replace an old broken cardboard one they had in their office so BRWC Club Members Lee Owens and Wayne Matherne volunteered and built them one.
Roubou Style Workbench – In this article, BRWC Member Harold Choate describes the building of a nice looking Roubou style workbench he made with lumber he collected in his shop over the years. Roubou WorkBench
Louisiana War Veterans Home Community Service Project – Some of the club members got together at Keith’s shop to build a rocking chair that will be given to the Louisiana War Veterans Home in Jackson, LA for them to look at before deciding if they would like us to build more for them.
Watch Box – BRWC Member Jeff Springer built this watch box for someone who contacted the club via the website asking if someone could build a watch box for a Christmas present. Here’s an article by Jeff discussing the build: Watch Box Article
Tablesaw Dado Jig – BRWC Member Harold Choate put together this detailed article with lots of pictures and comments on a dado jig he built for his table-saw. Tablesaw Dado Jig
Bluebird House – We are asking each club member to cut out the parts for birdhouses that will be given to kids at the Oct 3 Swamp Life Expo so they can build them and bring them home. To sign-up to build these kits, go to the Members Only page and then go to the Swamp Life Expo Bluebird House Kit Sign-Up Sheet.
Krenov Cabinet – BRWC member Ray McCon is building a Krenov style cabinet out of magnolia wood. Click on this link for an article to see the steps Ray took during the first stage of building this beautiful cabinet Kernov Cabinet
SketchUp Plans (Zipped File): Magnolia two door cabinet
2 x 4 Challenge – BRWC members are invited to participate in making a project using only a 8 foot 2 x 4. Click on this link for a list of the rules: 2×4 Challenge Rules
Snake Enclosure Stand – The Louisiana Children’s Discovery Museum in Hammond, LA. contacted BRWC to see if we could build them a stand for a snake enclosure that was donated to them. Club member Wayne Matherne worked on this project and built the stand out of maple with a locking front cabinet door and side handle to easily move it.
Camp Istrouma Bunk Beds Project – BRWC built 10 bunk beds on-site at Camp Istrouma which is a retreat center and summer camp located 10 miles northeast of Baton Rouge run by the United Methodist Church. The build happened on Saturday, May 16th and Tuesday, May 19th. BRWC participants were Art Miller, Harold Choate, Bill Delmar, William Delmar, Roy Smith, Terry Landry, Lee Owens and Mike Delahoussaye. There were two other non-club members, Garth Frenzel and Andrew Hane that also helped.
PDF Plans: Bunk Bed Plans
Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital – Welcome Wagon Community Service Project – The BRWC is building a “Welcome Wagon” that volunteers could push around the OLOL Children’s Hospital to visit with all the newly admitted children and families. This wagon would contain comfort amenities to ease the anxiety associated with being in a hospital and having a very sick child. Here are some pictures showing the progress of the build:
Purple Martin House – by Terry Landry
PDF Plans: purple-martin-house
Little Angels Foundation – The Little Angels Foundation is a local organization in Sorrento, LA that was founded to assist parents who are facing the most difficult of all experiences-the loss of a child. They provide, free of charge, handmade caskets for children, premature to high school age, to families in their time of need. The BRWC is helping by purchasing lumber and building these caskets. There are 7 sizes of caskets. The 3 smaller sizes are Premmie, Newborn, and Infant. The 4 larger sizes are Toddler, Child, Youth and Teen.
Smaller Size:
PDF Plans for Smaller Sizes (Premmie, Newborn & Infant): LAF Casket Plans – Smaller Sizes (Print in Landscape orientation)
Larger Sizes:
PDF Plans for Larger Toddler Size: LAF Toddler Casket Plans (Print in Landscape orientation)
PDF Plans for Larger Child Size: LAF Child Casket Plans (Print in Landscape orientation)
PDF Plans for Larger Youth Size: LAF Youth Casket Plans (Print in Landscape orientation)
PDF Plans for Larger Teen Size: LAF Teen Casket Plans (Print in Landscape orientation)
Dog Ramp – here are some pictures and drawings of a dog ramp built by BRWC Member Jim Landry that can be folded to go under the couch
Link to download Dog Ramp Drawings: Dog Ramp Drawings
Shop Drawers – Shawn Walker, one of our BRWC members, has put together a detailed article on building drawers for his shop that he showed at the March Monthly Meeting. This article steps you thru every step of the process with detailed pictures. Shawn points out the problems he experienced during the build and how he dealt with them: Shawn’s Shop Drawers Article
Wife’s Buffet – See pictures and descriptions of the building process for a walnut buffet that Alvin Fort is building for his wife: Alvin Wife’s Buffet and pictures of the completed project: Buffet Complete
Coffee Table – Jim Landry: Here’s some pics of the building process for a coffee table made with western red cedar that has two ways to open the top
BRWC 2015 Community Service Project – Chest of Drawers
Project was a great success and we handed over the Chest of Drawers to the HAART organization at our Monthly Meeting on Saturday, April 4th. Here are a few pictures:
SketchUp PDF Plans: Chest of Drawers
SketchUp Plans (Zipped File): Chest of Drawers
Team Update: Paul Hornsby, Art Miller, Harold Choate
Team Update: Curtis Dawson, Jim Landry and Keith Bryan
Team Update: Danny Kerr, Wayne Matherne, Roy Smith, Jeff Springer and Terry Landry
Chessboard – Paul Hornsby
PDF Plans: Chessboard Plans
BRWC 2014 Community Service Project – Bookshelves
Terry’s PDF Plans: Terry’s Bookshelf Drawing
SketchUp PDF Plans: Bookshelf PDF Plans
SketchUp Plans (Zipped File): Bookshelf SketchUp
Team Update: Paul Hornsby, Warren Dufrene, Wayne Matherne, Shawn Walker
Team Update: Keith Bryan, Curtis Dawson, Jim Landry, Mark Monistere, Rob Whitelaw
Team Update: James Burris, Jack Carmena, Terry Landry, Roy Smith
Art Deco Style Bathroom Vanity – Libba Johnston
Building and Installing My Art Deco Style Bathroom Vanity
Sawhorses – Libba Johnston
BRWC 2014 Community Service Project – Night Stand
Photos from club members D.J. Ramirez, Wayne Matherne, C.J. Bergeron and Tyson Duplantis:
Photos from club members Alvin Fort, Adam Foster, Jack Carmena and Terry Landry:
Photo from club members Arthur Miller, Lee Owens and Harold Choate:
Photo from club members Keith Bryan, Kerry Hawkins, Mark Monistere and Jim Landry:
PDF Plans: Night Stand Plans
SketchUp Plans (Zipped File): Night Stand V3
Blanket or Toy Chest – Jim Landry
Plans: Blanket Chest Plans – Version 1 Blanket Chest Plans – Version 2
Candle Holder – Wayne Matherne
Plans: Candle Holder Plans
Dining Room Table Series: check out the series of reports of Libba and Shana as they worked with Terry Landry to build a dining room table from old cypress.
Wine Bottle Puzzle – Lee Owens
Plans: Wine Bottle Puzzle
New Bench for Old Saw: Check out this report by Terry Landry and Alvin Fort on the building of a new bench for a old radial arm saw in Alvin’s shop. Click here: Alvin’s Saw
Business Card Holders: We now have business cards that promote the BRWC and we would like to display these cards at different locations in town that are frequented by woodworkers (i.e. lumber yards, tool suppliers, etc.) We need some eye catching wooden business card holders made that we can use to display these cards and here are a few pictures of some to get you thinking. We will discuss this project at the September Monthly Meeting so start thinking about a unique holder that you could design. The business cards are 3 1/2″ x 2″.
Nail & Screw Tote Box – Terry Landry
Plans: Nail & Screw Tote Box Plans