Grand Champion
Richard Lansky
Madera Canyon, Arizona

Also First Place winner in this category for the West Region

Richard Lansky goes by the nickname "RJ," and he goes by "Grandpa," too. He was saving a cypress log for a special occasion, and that occasion came with the first birthday of his granddaughter.

RJ had to be granted a special permit to mill the cypress log, which was struck by lightning. After getting the log, he milled it into 6x6 and 6x10s on his Wood-Mizer LT30 sawmill. RJ also cut 2x3 Douglas fir slats.

RJ used mostly mortise and tenon joints, with a few half lap and tapered joints thrown in. The dovetail joint on the upper knee braces are RJ's own design. Instead of traditional pegs, he made birch bolts and mesquite nuts.

After test fitting everything in his front yard, RJ moved the sandbox to his son's house for assembly. His son sandblasted it for a more weathered appearance, then finished it with grain oil.

RJ said the cedar sandbox will stand up well to the dry Arizona weather.

"This is really beautiful wood and hard to come by, so I had to make something special. I hope you like it as much as I love the little lady it was designed and built for."