Not So Average Joe

Average Joe’s Joinery’s, Joe Whittaker, is a self-taught woodworking extraordinaire. Over the years Joe has watched countless woodworking videos, which have essentially taught him everything he knows. Joe decided to start his YouTube channel to become apart of the woodworking community.

Joe first started woodworking at the young age of 17, when he had needed a new desk for his bedroom with very limited space. He told me that he, “searched online for the desk I imagined but I couldn't find it anywhere for sale. I realized I had to make it myself”.

In 2015, Joe ventured into the realm of 3D carving when he received his X-Carve from Inventables. Joe suffers from ill health, which causes him to not be able to spend as much time in his workshop as he would like. However, now that Joe has an X-Carve of his own, he is able to continue his passion. Joe explains, “I can still design the ideas I have and then the X-Carve can do the hard work for me. It enables me to do what I love even when I’m having a bad day”.

Joe plans to start a website and business based on woodworking and 3D carving in the near future. Even though Joe is “unable to work a ‘normal’ job because of [my health], if I can make a living doing what I love that would be a dream come true”. X-Carve has allowed Joe to be able to create more intricate and specialized designs. Joe believes his X-Carve, “is going to play a massive part in making that dream a reality”.

In honor of Valentine's Day, Joe Whittaker decided to make this beautiful walnut engagement ring box using X-Carve. However, if you look closely, you will see this is no average ring box. Joe explains, “the box looks like a very plain necklace gift box from the outside, but then opens up to reveal the engagement ring inside. I’m sure whoever receives a box like this would be very pleasantly surprised”. If you want to surprise your loved one with a personal box, click here to watch the full video!

Check out Joe’s Inventables project page to see his other two projects including, a gorgeous steak paddle with inlay and unique and elegant silhouette lamp. The Inventables team can’t wait to see the next project Joe can dream up!

New Puzzle App On Easel

Within Inventables free Easel software platform, there is an app store for our makers. Once logged into Easel, you have the option to click on any of the shapes or tabs listed along the top. If you select the tab labeled “Apps” you will be brought to our App Library, which currently has 15 predesigned apps you are able to choose from! New apps are being designed and added all the time.

Have you ever tried to carve a 5, 10 or even 20 piece puzzle that fits perfectly together? Well let me tell you, it’s rather difficult. But now thanks to independent app developer, Vojtěch Kadlec, it doesn’t have to be! It's important to check the box "Spaces between pieces" if you want the pieces to fit together snuggly. You also need to select "outside path". This ensures that the pieces are carved out and there is not a gap the diameter of your bit between the pieces.

Kadlec is currently in development of a second app that generates a grid of customizable puzzle pieces. Inventables recently announced in our forum, that we have published his app to Easel, so all markers are able to try it out!

He is looking to add more complex shapes to his puzzle app in the near future, like this escher-lizard shape below. So keep a lookout for updates!

In preparation for Valentine's Day, Kadlec has decided to go above and beyond the standard flowers and chocolate. Kadlec carved this beautiful wooden heart that he hopes to soon add to Inventables project page (just in case you need a little inspiration for the big day).