LIFE's FINERIES
A bookstand, finger, and a thumb book page holder.
Lately, the carpentry works that I do get smaller and easier with each passing project. Take a look at the book reader and the thumb page holder below.
This book stand/book reader, by far, is the easiest thing to do of them all. They are made up of two timber pieces that were cut to length and are made to come through to each other on a snug fit. There isn't a single wood screw used here, no glue, dowel, or any of those fasteners. Hence a slight shimmy will get them loose and disassemble. Yet what looks like its Achilles is also its strength: this thing will take on your entire weight without coming apart.
The other innocuous-looking small piece of timber at the bottom is called a thumb book page holder. As the picture shows, it holds and keeps pages of a book wide open while reading. Unless you are a bookworm, this page holder won't appeal much or won't amount to anything of use. Yet, as the saying goes, "they are a star to someone else's night."
Of the two, this thumb thingamajigger is a challenge to make. Its flowy curves are hard to follow, more so without the proper tool. Without the right tools, one will have to do with a jigsaw, sandpaper, and TLC lot.
Speaking of TLC, I made this project upon the request of my manang (yes, that cruise ship elder sister). "Pila ni, dong?" She coyly asked. Although the project cost me my Sunday and some dent into my disgustingly mounting pile of offcut woods, deep inside, I said, "I'd do this ten times more if she asks for it – free."
How's that for TLC, huh? Take it easy, folks.
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DOUGLAS REY B. BERIDO
drberido@yahoo.com | Kagudoy Road, Basak, Lapu Lapu City, Cebu, The Philippines