March 7, 201511 yr Well, it took two trips to the Dungeon Shop this evening, but things did go a bit better. I even took my time! Had the three aprons sized and awaiting tenons. Four legs were needing mortises chopped. Got after the tenons first. Marked out a line about 1/2" in from the ends. Set up the Wards #78 again. About a 1/4" bare in depth, and maybe 1/2" wide. Clamped the blank to the bench and drew the plane backwards a couple times. This allows the spur to do it's job in scoring the crossgrain. Found out I also needed to saw a bit on the far end, due to tear outs. Dovetail saw gave it a start on the tenon's ends, too. After both faces were done It looks like this. Then rotate and do the next end. Got all thrre aprons cut, then trimmed the tenons a bit. Maybe a 1/2" was trimmed off from the top and bottom of each tenon. I also ran a block plane along the edge of the apron, to round them over. Nice to do now, instead of after the glue-ups. Yes, Morris, that is one of your old planes, the Buck Brothers one. Ok, next, mortises needed to be chopped, and a break taken. Pushing that old 78 around is work... Needed to build a jig ON the bench. Two pieces to hold the square end of the leg still, with a screw to keep the end from sliding out. The foot end rested on a block, with more blocks to keep the leg from sliding out the other way. There was even an old shim to tighten the jig up. The old bench don't mind a few screws. The marking gauge laying there is to "cut" the sides of the mortise, and help with the layout I added some pencil to the lines so they would show up for the camera. This is the arena. The chisel is a 3/16" Mortise Chisel, and a 1" wide beater chisel. The wide one will clean the walls of the mortise. Three HARD whacks, and a pry, working my way back towards the top of the legs. Mallet was just bouncing off the chisel.....had a 16oz claw hammer laying nearby....no more bounce. Used the combo square to check the depth of the mortise. Then used an apron to test the fit Not too bad? Got a couple done, too Got to this point, and went upstairs for a BREAKTIME! Ok, break over. Got the rest of the legs done. Had to keep checking to make sure I was placing each mortise in the correct spot. Got everything test fitted up Time to cut the parts for the drawer opening. Still had some of that 1 x 6 left over. Marked out for a 3/4" x 1-1/2" by about 25" or so. Clamped the board to the benchtop so that the saw blade would mix my bench. Cross cut and ripped. Needed both pieces. The wider one will go above the drawer, the narrow one below. Rip cut wasn't perfect, but, we have ways.. Now both edges are smooth and straight. Just laid them on top of where they will go.. Decided I had enough fun for the night. Had a couple blogs to do, and a couple Mountain Dews to empty. Stay tuned, Might see a couple hand cut dovetails? Drawer ones will be with a router, though. Not quite that crazy to cut half-blind DTs, yet.
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