Progress on Puzzle Holder

2 weeks ago

Post 10 - 2025 : Progress, Student Work

I have made some good progress with my puzzle holder as of now- but definitely still trying to just get the basics done before I can start decorating it and trying to better apply my aesthetic.

As of today, I have successfully:

- Obtained all of the necessary materials (except for paint)… I am using scrap wood from the woodshop and already ordered & received the felt for the top.
  Some of the wood I used for the project (post cut) – top (light board) & bottom (dark panel) boards, bottom rails, and top trim (long and short)

- Cut all of my wood pieces – top & bottom boards, drawer bases & trims, bottom rails, and top trim/frame

Drawer bases (post cut). There’s a total of 6.

Pieces for drawer assembly. Drawer bases, long trim, and short trim. Trims (post cut) with 45 degree angles on each end.

Assembled all 6 drawers (glued & clamped them… took a few days to allow drying time)

All of the drawer trims being prepped for gluing

Drawer assembly after being glued and clamped. Put some tension on the clamps with the tube to try and get better corner connections/contact.

Assembled the top piece (glued & clamped the top trim onto the top board)

The top piece assembly after being glued and clamped with some of the completed drawer assemblies on top.

Trimmed my drawers to give them a neater appearance
Trimmed my top piece to give it a neater appearance

I am still working on/need to work on:

Trimming the bottom board
Gluing & clamping the 4 bottom rails onto the top piece
Gluing & clamping the bottom board onto the top piece (after rails are adhered)
Cut slots for drawer handles
Sanding/cleaning up the wooden pieces in my product
Adding the felt on the top piece
Painting the top trim & external drawer faces

If I have time remaining, I was thinking of painting additional designs on the holder to try to emphasize the organic element a little more… since I am not JUST aiming for minimalism- but organic minimalism! I am slightly concerned since I wanted to try something out for the drawers handles/slots (which has not been executed quite yet), yet did not originally put that idea into the plans, so I hope that can get done in time and will not set back my anticipated progress.

If plans go accordingly, I should hopefully have the puzzle holder itself due by the end of this week or early next week! So that I can give myself at least a week for painting and adding the felt. It has been difficult feeling as though I am focusing on the aesthetic of the product when I have not been able to apply those ideas yet… so hopefully I can get to that sooner rather than later. More pictures to come with time (I keep forgetting to take some in the shop), but will definitely take more once I get to applying the aesthetic (with some painting)!

1 Comment. Leave new

Joe Yoder
April 13, 2025 7:36 pm

This is cool, I saw this in the idea forge while I was gluing up some panels for my cutting board, but I had no idea it was also for this class! I like that you want to add painting in order to achieve your organic minimalism aesthetic. If you don’t have time yourself, it might be a fun thing to invite friends over to help with. Good luck!

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