We at the office have stopped the yelling (or much of it) and have resorting to tapping keys to communicate with others down the hall and even across the desk if need be. Using an IM client such as GTalk or AIM cuts down the e-mail for simple messaging or to ask a simple 1-2 line question. It’s a great way to communicate without leaving your seat or picking up the phone. For those of us on a mac, we already have a built in client, iChat, which can easily be harnessed to use GTalk. GTalk is a jabber based application which allows it to be used within other apps such as iChat and mobile devices. To learn how to do this, keep reading. (more…)

I set out to make our new portfolio box this past weekend. Here are some photos:

I had to design it first. Adam thought I had already finished it after seeing this photoshop mock-up. Go go hax0r photoshop skillz!

First cut, safety first!

I settled on using aspen as the material for the light color and availability.

A bunch of pictures are missing between here. The finger joints were one of the most in-depth parts of the process! But they are oh-so-classy

Cutting the hinge!
This was the test piece so I could photograph it. Cutting the actual piece felt like swimming in stars.

Installing the hinge.
A channel was routed in the back of the box so that the hinge would hide inside.

Burninating the screen (There was extra room so I snuck a poster in).
We wanted to put our logo on it and battled between the idea of laser etching or screen printing it. We settled on screen printing for the clean white on white look instead of burnt wood from the laser etching.

Putting the latches on and the outer panels. Almost a box. Exciting!

Screening printing the logo on.
Luckily it went on without a problem on the second try. Wood has a natural tendency to bow which made it hard to keep the screen flat on top of it. Crown up did the trick.

All together and clamped tight. Ready to be used the next morning.

It was fun pretending to be a woodworker. Now back to being a super nerd at the computer..