Raise your hand if you have a stash of wood that consists of pieces that are, in fact, too small to be of much use. They’re also usually too pretty to go in the burn box.
Guilty here, as well. Design Editor Dillon Baker offers you some justification for that collection: make a small torpedo level. In this example, a delightful piece of walnut (along with some walnut burl veneer) takes center stage.
His version is modeled after Scottish tools of the 19th century. These were made from rich-colored wood (mahogany, ebony, bubinga, etc.) and adorned with decorative brasswork. The combination of materials transforms quotidian tools into something special and treasured.
The tricky part of making a level is making it ... well, level to begin with. The solution is an adjustable carriage inside the body. The upper brass plate can
