A Small Town, a Cup of Coffee, and the Challenge of Challenge Coin Display Cases
You know, there’s something downright charming about the smell of fresh-cut wood wafting through the garage on a warm Saturday morning. It kind of feels like life has slowed down a bit, allowing time for, well… crafting. And let me tell you, my latest project—the challenge coin display case—was a delightful mix of excitement and sheer frustration.
So, there I was, sipping my coffee, staring at a stack of cherry wood that had been kicking around in my shop since last summer. Of course, like any good project, I had visions. You know, visions of grandeur? I imagined it all: a polished finish, perfectly sized compartments for each coin, maybe even a little hinged door. The thing would be so impressive, folks in town would stop by just to see it. But, as you might guess, reality’s a bit different than my grand designs.
The First Snag
Right off the bat, I ran into a little hiccup. I decided to use cherry because, well, it’s beautiful and I thought it would complement the colors of those coins nicely. The problem? Cherry wood doesn’t mess around. I had my trusty Ryobi circular saw—I love that thing, by the way—but, man, did it give me a run for my money. The first cut? A total disaster. I think I miscalculated the measurements by a solid inch. One measly inch, but it felt like a punch to the gut. I could just hear the wood whispering, “You really thought you could get this right on the first try?”
I almost walked away—coffee cup in hand, ready to sulk in my recliner for the rest of the day. But there’s some old adage about how the best things come from failure, or something like that. So I stuck it out; I decided to make a second cut, and wouldn’t you know it? This time, it worked. I couldn’t help but chuckle, feeling like I had won a tiny battle against wood and tools.
Getting Creative
Now, the real fun started when I tried to figure out the layout for the coins. I wanted each of those little pieces of metal to have their own space, but man, where do you even start? I went through my scrap pieces trying to figure out spacing. I ended up with a hodgepodge of random measurements. I still remember the way the sawdust clung to my arms, that gritty texture like a reminder of every mistake I made.
The smell of pine and cherry mixed together started to feel comforting. It was as if the wood was teasing me, saying, “You may be in over your head, but we got this.” I made a few too many trips to the lumber yard, though. My wife teased me, saying I should just invite my entire paycheck there—each board was a step back into the creative process, but each trip left me feeling a little more certain of what I wanted to accomplish.
The Surprise Ending
Fast-forward through sanding and a couple more cuts, and I finally had the structure in place. It was coming together piece by piece, almost like a puzzle. I used a combination of my DeWalt drill and some wood glue for the joints. You could hear that satisfying “pop” as the last joint clicked into place. The finish? A smooth coat of matte polyurethane. I swear, there’s something about that final touch—the way it brings out the wood grain and shines just enough to catch your eye without being flashy.
But here’s the kicker: I almost gave up when I went to hang it on the wall. I thought I was being clever, using wall anchors that my brother swore by. The first tap into the wall went fine, but the second… would you believe the whole thing just fell off? That beautiful case, with its little coins sitting proudly inside—clunk, right to the floor. I just gasped, and then I laughed. I was half worried I’d chipped a coin, and half just thankful I wasn’t out any money.
I got lucky, though—the coins were all fine, and I managed to tweak the anchors. I think if you looked closely, you’d see a bit of a dent from where it hit the floor, but hey, it adds character, right? Plus, I kind of like the idea that someday I can tell folks, “Oh, you see that dent? That’s just proof this project was built with a bit of love and a few mishaps.”
The Warm Takeaway
So here I am, years later, staring at that challenge coin display case hanging proudly on my wall. Each coin tells a story, and every scratch and dent has its own memory attached. So if you’re sitting there, thinking about taking on a project like this, just go for it. Don’t let the fear of failure hold you back. You’re going to make mistakes—I sure did—but that’s where the magic is. Even if you feel like giving up, I promise you, there’s something beautiful waiting on the other side of perseverance. Grab a cup of coffee, breathe in that woodsy smell, and dive right in. You might just surprise yourself.
