Thread: major project ideas

You might ask your teacher, but around here I've noticed that smaller things tend to get better marks. I know much of the mark is the journal, and documentation, etc, which is the same regardless of the size of the piece. But something a bit smaller has the advantage of being less expensive, more easily repaired (or to replace a part that's stuffed), able to make a full scale mock up from mdf or ply, able to spend more time on the finish, etc etc.

So my (uneducated) advice would be to stay away from beds and things with large rails, and look for something like a blanket chest, or card table, or jewelry box, or bedside table, or a small desk, or etc etc etc.

In the end, it needs to be something you are excited about doing, so make it something you think would be fun and interesting.

Go through the Woodwork Pic forum (which sounds like you're already doing) and have a look at some things others have made, that's a good source of inspiration. You might also check the box maker's forum, which has lots of good pics of smaller boxes as well.

If you google woodwork plans, there are quite a few sites out there with numerous plans of just about anything you can imagine. Some of the plans are free, but almost all will have a photo of the piece which you can use to fire your imagination.

Good to see you're not putting this off

Tex

slicvs,

Mate welcome to the forum and as tex said there will be plenty of pics on here for you to get a few ideas. When I did my major project for school many years ago, there were a swag af coffee tables and stools. I reckon a blanket box made out of redgum would look great. I'm not suggesting it but a student did make a coffin as his major project a couple of years ago. I saw it on TV and his teacher raved over the work he put into it. I think it was his elderly grandmother who suggested it to him that he could make it for her. I guess it proves that imagination is the key to anything in the woody game.

Good advice above. The other thing to remember is that it will probably be something that you would like to keep (unless it's a coffin ) forever.

Joking aside, a coffin could potentially give good marks - lots of research on health departmment regs etc., and opportunity to show your skill with bending, compound mitres, dovetails and finishing. But you probably won't get brownie points for your teacher if you tell him it's your 'thank you' gift to him.

Originally Posted by Tex B

So my (uneducated) advice would be to stay away from beds and things with large rails, and look for something like a blanket chest, or card table, or jewelry box, or bedside table, or a small desk, or etc etc etc.

Well my educated advice (as a pre-service Manual Arts Teacher) would be something exactly the same.

A huge part of the marks is the design components and the finish, both in regards to the surface finish but also the aesthetics (ie are the hinges the right size etc)

Remember too that you have to pay for the timber so the bigger the job the greater cost, also transport - you have to get it home and lastly storing it safely at school. I have seen a couple of large senior projects get damaged because it could not be securely stored.

Good luck and keep us informed. I'm sure that we would love to hear how you are going!

Originally Posted by AlexS

Joking aside, a coffin could potentially give good marks - lots of research on health departmment regs etc., and opportunity to show your skill with bending, compound mitres, dovetails and finishing. But you probably won't get brownie points for your teacher if you tell him it's your 'thank you' gift to him.

when i was in year 12 someone in my class wanted to do a coffin but the teacher wouldnt allow it..

But a scaled down coffin as a coffee table could be thought provoking

hey thanks for the comments and ideas everyone u have definetley given me some top advice and ideas and have pointed me in the right direction( dunno about a coffin sounds interesting though). I'll make sure i keep u all posted as the project progresses.

What do u guys think of a chess table?

Maybe something the same size and shape as the one below but with a wooden top and wooden chessboard along with a set of drawers?

Seem you got a slic VS why not some wood projects for it!
Audio install in the boot and door/parcel shelf pods... some nice wood trimmings for the interior.

Originally Posted by Harry72

Seem you got a slic VS why not some wood projects for it!
Audio install in the boot and door/parcel shelf pods... some nice wood trimmings for the interior.

if only i owned a vs commodore.........

Why the name then?
If your dreaming of owning a commy... should be a VE, Vs is old hat!

Hmmmm...

One possibility for a compact project would be a 'lap desk'. There are several examples on the Internet if you do a bit of searching, including free plans.

Also see if you can get a look at (photocopy relevant bits) the book 'British Campaign Furniture: Elegance under Canvas 1740-1914' by Nicholas Brawer - it deals with 19th Century military travelling furniture, and has some interesting lap desks with hidden compartments, which should be worth extra points in both research, mechanism design & workmanship (to get it to work reliably). It may be available thru' 'Interlibrary Loan' (more research points)

Originally Posted by bsrlee

Hmmmm...

One possibility for a compact project would be a 'lap desk'.

What about a laptop desk that one can pull up to use a laptop at a chair or sofa. It would be a challenging design project because the desk would have to cope with wanting to use the laptop sitting up or reclining.

The only one I have seen is made by Stressless (only in a shop not on the web) and they charge $600 for what is a couple of bits of tube and wood.

A chess table sounds like a good idea to me. It would combine the skills of the joinery, parquetry for the top, and woodtunring for the pieces.

Maybe even have the top rotate (in some clever way) to double as a backgammon table (which would require more challenging parquetry).

Originally Posted by Harry72

If your dreaming of owning a commy

Why, the commies own us, right Comrade Bracks