Projects of Dale Hayes

These are the projects of Dale Hayes dalehayes@comcast.net of Eugene, Oregon, USA.

"Here's a Roll Top Bread Box I just finished for a couple of Newly Weds. I built one for the groom's mom 25 years ago and all he talked about was having one of his own. 

The back is still off of the bread box to allow it to air before they use it. I built my first one when I was a new electrician. I did not have a lot of money and my new bride really fell in love with one we saw at a Penny's store. I borrowed the saleslady's measuring tape and took the information I needed to build my lovely bride one. Little did I know how hot they were. It wasn't long and I had orders for 6 of them. The first one took me nearly 15 hours to complete but by the time I got done, a friend of mine and I had a production line going and we were putting out nearly 40 of them in 44 man hours. Did not make much money, but it got me through my apprenticeship and the lean times. I have not built one in years, but I say this one maybe the best one I have done. 

My lovely bride of 29 years still has the ugly first one, and will not let me trade it out for a newer better version. I think she still loves me."

Breadbox Plan

Dale wrote to advise that he's been getting a number of requests for the plan for this great breadbox. So he sent me a sketch he made to put on the page. That way, interested people can simply downlaod this printable image from this page.`

NOTE:
When you click onn this image to the left, you'll be taken to a larger printable image of this plan, and there, you can print it if you like.

Dale's first submission was his terrific method of storage for those small workshop materials which we're always looking for, to say nothing of maximizing workshop space,,, something we're always trying to maximize. Dale describes his method below.

"When I built my shop, I decided on 2x6 framing. I figured there would be additional storage area between the studs with a 5-½ inch depth and 24 inch width. I had my neighbors and family, start collecting 5-LB coffee cans for me. It was not long before I had a small collection of cans. I started to build shelves between the wall studs to hold the cans. Problem was, I could not see what was in them without standing over the can. And it was hard to sort things into the cans when I started to organize the shop. I spent more time running from can to can peering into them. Then I thought that if the cans were on a slight angle I could see into more cans at once for sorting and accessing them.

I started with building shelves on an angle. I soon found that to be time consuming and costly. Then I spotted a bunch of short pieces of ¾ inch conduit I had left over from the wiring job. I built plywood brackets that looked like a small version of a gun rack, nailed them to one side of the studs, and dropped short pieces of conduit between them (about 8 inches apart). As you can see, all cans are visible and if the dust bothers you, you can always put a lid on them.

They are readily available, handy to take out and use and quite easy to disassemble and change. This idea was also used to store my pipe clamps, c-clamps and bar clamps on. I made a pattern up for my router table and now I can cut out three racks at a time in a matter of minutes. I hot glue all the pieces with the pattern on top, together and run my ½ inch router bit with a tracing bearing around the wood for exact reproductions every time I need additional shelves.

My wife insisted that I send this in as an idea worth passing on. After 27 years, I have found that my wife knows her stuff..."

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