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Southampton Carpenter

southamptoncarpenter

Traditional standards. Traditional tradesman. Traditional service. Thank you for visiting my website. I have been in the trade for over 40 years; my 5 year apprenticeship as a boat builder was followed by a further 2 years as a wood machinist, then a spell repairing furniture and manufacturing reproduction antique clocks followed. I then spent a further 15 years working in a therapeutic environment passing on my skills, before setting myself up as a self-employed carpenter/joiner. As you will appreciate, I undertake a wide range of projects, so scrolling through the site map may well direct you to past work that may be similar to your requirements. The preferred way to contact me is by using the contact page on this site. However you can always ring me during normal working hours. Lead times vary depending on the time of year; small jobs I can often do promptly. I cover Southampton, Winchester, New Forest and Waterside.

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My latest carpentry projects around Southampton

Bookcase using Southern Yellow Pine

January 3, 2018 · by southamptoncarpenter

This bookcase made for a job in Southampton, manufactured from Southern Yellow Pine, was made in three sections and assembled on site. The bookcase strips you can see enable you to maximise the storage capacity of the case. The shelves sit on feet that are inserted into the grooves on the strips, which are fitted into a machined rebate. This way they are unobtrusive and you get the maximum amount of storage from each shelf. There are two options available: chrome or brass.

Before the shelves are installed After the shelves are installed

The case has birch-faced backs, which complement the pine nicely.

Southern yellow pine is a superb species of timber from Oregon in the USA. I am able to obtain this in widths of 287mm (11 ½ “) and in thicknesses of 21, 27 and 33mm (7/8”, 1 1/8”, 1 ¼” ). Lengths up to 5 meters (16ft + ) are available.

Southern yellow ‘Pinus Strobus’ is a straight grained timber that has a low shrinkage and very little movement, so it is not prone to cupping, that is turning up at the edges on wide boards. It’s used in pattern making, carving, drawing boards, high-class joinery and general interior carpentry. It is not suitable for exterior work in exposed areas or for boat building. This is a beautiful wood, the grain often displaying pronounced reddish-brown streaks on a pale straw background.

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A free standing wardrobe

November 28, 2017 · by southamptoncarpenter

A free standing wardrobe is a practical and cost effective way of having hanging space for clothes and shoes in a limited space. The room itself was only three meters by one meter, roughly 10ft by 3ft, and the owner wasn’t quite sure why such a small room existed in their new home. The house was built in the 1970s.

The material used was standard conti-board which fitted in with the rest of the décor. I made a lid with end pieces and a short back; this prevents the top from sagging over time with the weight of the clothes. Two sides were then added. There was no back.

The whole piece was then simply screwed to the wall. Being 500mm deep, about 20”, there was room for the customer to access the ‘fitted’ wardrobe.

Balanced or Lifting Shutters

November 28, 2017 · by southamptoncarpenter

The cords had broken on these shutters, and I could not locate the pockets to access the weights in order to re-cord them. I had to refer to a publication by George Ellis titled ‘Modern Practical Joinery’, printed in 1902, for the answer. As you can see, the pockets had been cleverly hidden behind the panel which I found surprising as I could just at a push get my arm into the cavity. Perhaps in those days arms were not so big, or this kind of work was undertaken by an apprentice with slender arms.

What I didn’t want to do was to take off the front panel to access these pockets; it’s been fixed in place since the 1850s. The windows are the original, fitted in 1796, but the balance shutters are a later addition. This was established by the presence of the original skirting board inside the shutter case. Also, the building was once owned by the Church and had a reliable record of works carried out over the last two centuries.

Sometimes the pocket sits near the top of the frame, about 18” down from the pully wheels, which I now understand became the practice during the early part of the 20^th Century.

Whilst doing this work it occurred to me what a fantastic way to eliminate drafts, light and noise. Those late Georgian / early Victorian designers really did think of everything, and the skill employed by the carpenters and joiners, with limited rudimentary machinery, I can only admire and take my hat off to.

I am hoping that one day I will get an enquiry asking how can I eliminate drafts, light and noise with box sash windows fitted, as I would relish the opportunity to manufacture and fit a 21^stcentury copy of such a practical solution to an age old problem.

There are modern day solutions that can be employed to reduce considerably the draft and noise problem associated with box sash windows, and these are covered in previous work and articles on this web site. I am happy to undertake such work but the elegance of balance or lifting shutters cannot be matched.

Shed rebuild in Southampton

October 7, 2017 · by southamptoncarpenter

The customer was hoping I could do something with their much loved and well used shed. The alternative to repair would have been replacement. A 20ft x8ft shed costs around £4000. Then there is the cost of installation to add. So after careful inspection of the floor and floor bearers , I decided that it could be salvaged.

A replacement frame with window was made and installed. It was then clad in shiplap and re- glazed. All timber used is tannalised and all the end grain treated with wood preservative. A belt and braces approach that results in a new lease of life for the shed and a gentler assault on the wallet!

Creaking stair case

October 4, 2017 · by southamptoncarpenter

Stiffening a stair case in lords wood Southampton.

This stair case in a property in lordswood, Southampton had become springy and was creaking, the glue originally used had degraded and the wedges were loose, the joining of the treads to the risers could have been done better, only three screws used. Most customers assume that a new stair case is required, this is not the case. Comprehensive use of blocks glued and screwed from underneath solves the problem. The lordwood area of Southampton seems to have a lot of creaking stair cases, this is the fifth stair case I have silenced on that particular estate. Considering that the properties are circa 1970s I can only assume that the stair cases were factory made as cheaply as possible and the glues used of inferior grade.

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Storage solution in a small cupboard

October 4, 2017 · by southamptoncarpenter

The smallest of cupboards can be transformed into a efficient storage area. Drawing on my boat fitting days where every nook and cranny is utilised for storage the smallest of corners and cupboards, valuable space, can become a useful space.

Refurbishing a garden seat

October 4, 2017 · by southamptoncarpenter

This chair was of great sentimental value, the customers husband used to use it whilst convalescing, but sadly passed away.

So, ‘ whatever it takes’ was the message given to me. Initially I tried to salvage the old slats by pressure washing them and intended to soak them in wood preservative, unfortunately they fell apart so I ended up manufacturing replacements and fitting these with new fastenings.

The result is a simple garden seat given a new lease of life which will give years of service.

On an environmental note, doing this saved resources that would be used manufacturing a replacement, the shipping and transport, and potential landfill of the old one, the three Rs- Repair, Reuse, Recycle is a mantra that we should all adopt.

Storage cupboards

October 4, 2017 · by southamptoncarpenter

Two storage cupboards manufactured using Real wood Oak veneer MDF with the edges lipped in Oak, the shelves can be adjusted up or down using the brass inserts these are fitted into a groove so they are flush. The doors are made from solid Oak and 6mm Oak veneered MDF. The customer asked me to finish the cupboards in finishing oil.

Garage door repairs in Southampton

February 28, 2017 · by irs4

These garage doors were made to measure by a joiner several years ago.

There are several issues with the doors because of design and manufacturing mistakes, that have resulted in the joints opening and the panels bowing.

The panels were glued into rebates – mistake no1. They should have been left loose and undersized so that any natural movement could be taken up.

The panels were also too wide without an easing groove machined on the backs – mistake no.2, I was unable to dissemble the doors entirely so I machined grooves into the panels to allow some movement to occur otherwise they will all bow out, two of the panels had already bowed.

The mortice and tenon joints should have had Oak Dowels driven home through both the mortice and tenon -mistake no.3 Doweling mortice and tenon joints ensures that the joints remain closed.

The solution to the above was to reduce the panels closest to the stiles these were the only edges I could get to without smashing the door apart, and to glue the mortice and tenon joints. I could have used Dowels as well but the tenon’s did break and crack as I took them apart, so i decided to introduce dovetail keys, these were let in to a depth of 25mm.

By undertaking the above these doors should now remain stable and give many years of service.

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Wood hand crafted speakers

February 2, 2017 · by irs4

These speakers are made from Oak, Ash, Iroko and Cherry.

They are still in a prototype stage but are close to what the final product will look like.

Initially I was approached by a customer who wanted someone to manufacture these speakers with a view to selling them online. After lengthy discussions and trials, a softwood version was manufactured. This was then rejigged and scaled down, and further softwood versions were made with small alterations.

It is essential that these are ‘right’ and of the highest quality, as they are aimed at the high-end quality market.

It has become apparent that something that might seem to be little more than a box with speaker holes, is far more than that. It requires many hours of fine honing to achieve a perfect piece of furniture.

Back in 1981 I became involved in a similar manufacturing process making wooden toys. 1981 was the year of the disabled and a mixed group of disabled and able-bodied craftsman formed ‘Group 81.’ The project lasted for a couple of years and we sold a number of toys to the public before disbanding in 1983.

Manufacturing small pieces of wooden furniture, objects and such like is something I am able to do to the highest of standards and will be happy to discuss your requirements.

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