Steven Engel: Engineering Portfolio
Woodworking/Design Table of Contents
Introduction
Keyboard Table
Storage Rack
Archery Target
Mandolin Picks
​
Interests Table of Contents
Main Table of Contents
Introduction
2015-present
Through working on my friends' Eagle Scout projects and my own Eagle Scout Project, I developed a hobby of building various items out of wood. I learned various design and manufacturing skills through this hobby. For these projects, I did not have any power tools except for an electric screwdriver and a grinding wheel, so I also learned to get creative and work hard.
​
This page briefly showcases some of my designs. Note: the production process is highly simplified for brevity; woodworking is much more tedious and detail-oriented than how it is described here.
​
Table of Contents
Keyboard Table (2015)
In 2015, I received a Raspberry Pi board, which I would use to do various projects (like Christmas lights) and learn the python programming language. However, I found that it was difficult to bend down in front of the TV I was using as a display to type on the keyboard I attached, so I decided to design and build a small keyboard table to solve this problem.
First, I created a mental design. I measured how tall the table should be, as well as how wide and long the tabletop should be. From this, I selected the boards I would use to build the table.
​
Next, I assembled the table itself with plywood. Using the electric screwdriver, I screwed everything together and ensured that the table would be stable.
​
Finally, I sanded the wood to remove any rough spots, and added some chamfers. I applied wood stain, and let it dry.
​
The finished product is shown to the left.
Storage Rack (2017)
Since I was running out of space to store things for easy access, I decided to make a storage rack out of wood boards and panelling (for shelves). Click on the slideshow below to view the development of this project.
 Storage Rack DesignFirst, a rough design was drawn out on paper to plan out what parts were needed and how they would fit together. Then, the necessary parts were purchased. |  Storage Rack: Finished ProductFinally, the storage rack was put together by screwing the boards together, nailing the panelling on (for the shelves), and wood staining it all. |  Inside of Storage RackThis is an inside image of the finished product. This is a shelf where items can be stored. |
|---|
Archery Target (2018)
Archery is another hobby I picked up from Boy Scouts. To practice this skill, I decided to build my own archery target at home.
​
First, I planned out the general design and purchased the necessary materials. It was important that this be done ahead of time because several boards were needed.
​
Then, I built the target on the ground. I lined the boards up to make sure that they would fit, then screwed all of the boards together.
​
Finally, I set the target upright, and added diagonal braces for stability. I nailed a foam block on the front, as well as a small circle of carpet for the "bullseye". This iteration is shown to the left.
​
Finding that the arrows were difficult to remove from the wood itself, I decided to add more foam blocks to the rest of the target. I also added another circle of a different color around the "bullseye". Iteration and responding to the "customer's" needs were key in this project, as in many projects.
Mandolin Picks (2018)
As a mandolinist, I found that plastic guitar picks were often too thin to get the full sound out of thick, double mandolin strings. I also found that the tips of these plastic picks would quickly become dull and lose much of their playing ability. In order to solve this problem, I decided to experiment by making my own, thicker mandolin picks out of scrap wood.
​
First, I traced the shape of the pick I wanted on a piece of scrap wood of about the right thickness. I then manually sawed off most of the unnecessary parts of the wood. Using the grinding wheel, I slowly cut the wood down to roughly the shape I had traced. Finally, using sandpaper, I carefully carved out a bevel along the edges of the pick (according to research, this has a huge effect on the sound produced). To finish, I soaked the pick in water and let it dry (this brings out the natural color in the wood).
​
I found that since the bevel was not perfect, the sound was slightly muted, but the pick itself proved to be quite durable. I experimented with other types of bevels and woods and produced more picks.
​
One of these picks is shown below, in comparison with a standard plastic pick.
