February 25, 20224 yr Popular Post Every now and then, I need to thin the herd....Lots of cut-offs, thin strips...leftovers...decided to sort through the messy mass.. Too thin, toss....too short (ex-cauls) toss....BIG knots and splits...tossed...which left... These...plus a few "panels" 4 decent ones and a slim one...plus a chunky (can't say FAT) block.. That I could resaw into 3 or 4 strips? Set up the rip-fence on the Zero Clearance Overlay....space between the blade and the fence was ~1/2"...and ran the entire pile through....slices that were way too thin ,were tossed. I did have a shop made thin strip push stick...couldn't find it...made a new one.. And this was the results...some turned out to be 1/4" thick...Might make dividers out of them? I thought I would make a couple small boxes out of this mess...maybe Today's Follies? Glue ups....As sawn, these weren't "tall" enough to make much more than a tray...so.. Match up two longer strips...add glue and 2 clamps..will be either a front or a back..next.. Get 2 more strips ready for glue & clamps....that MIGHT be a lid under there.. Along with 2 for the ends.... So much for using the tablesaw any more, today...let these sit a day....then try for box #2's parts.. Might take a few cuts, first. Then figure out how to join the corners.... Stay tuned..
February 26, 20224 yr Author Popular Post Bottle was 85% full when I started. First batch is out of the clamps, cleaned up, squared up.. And all the same height.. Grain details...then did some sorting around, until 8 pieces can become the second batch Lot of cutting and fitting later.. Next time in the shop...I can start some joinery? Stay tuned..
February 28, 20224 yr Author Popular Post Ok...clamps came off of Batch #2, today.. Needing cleaned up a bit. None were the same width ( corrected) all need their ends squared up(done) Tablesaw blade was checked first, to make sure it was at 90 degrees ( it wasn't, fixed that) which left getting these 4 flat.. These were also cut to rough length..mainly that the 2 long sides match each other, and the 2 short ends matched each other... 2 longs, 2 shorts...as for getting this flat...we have ways.. Yep, it be flat, now... So, now I have enough parts for 2 boxes, counting panels for the bottoms of the boxes. As for stuff that didn't quite "make the Grade"? Hard part will be hauling this upstairs to the Fire Pit....later this week... 1/4" through dovetails for the corner joints? We'll see... Stay tuned
March 1, 20224 yr Popular Post On 2/27/2022 at 9:25 PM, steven newman said: Hard part will be hauling this upstairs to the Fire Pit....later this week... No Franklin stove in the cellar? Warm basement, warm house ...
March 3, 20224 yr Author Popular Post Natural Gas Furnace in the cellar, right next to the Natural Gas Water Heater.....not sure I want something burning down there, as well.. Hobby Lobby run has been made. Hauled the 2 x 4s to the shop, so they can get used to being there... Sorted out a selection of tools... Then a few more.... Weird looking blue "egg" is a pencil sharpener. Did a bit of layout work.. using some of those tools... Then ran a saw for a bit.. Then chop for a bit.. Then change chisels, flip the board over, and.. Then back into the bench vise..for a clean up... using the coping saw like a rasp. Use these pins to lay out the tails....saw and chop the waste...and see about a dry fit... One corner done..only 7 more to do. Was getting in too big of a hurry, and not double checking layouts...as the next set of pins was to be on the other end of that End...down by that burn mark. When I got the next set of tails chopped out...something looked a bit..odd.. The pins were facing the wrong way Took the end over to the Mitre Box, and removed the offending pins.. Area between the shoulder blades was starting to hurt..had been a long day, anyway...decided THAT was quite enough for today.. Will try again tomorrow, maybe at a much slower, more careful pace? Stay tuned...back to Dovetails 101...
March 3, 20224 yr 14 hours ago, steven newman said: When I got the next set of tails chopped out...something looked a bit..odd.. The pins were facing the wrong way Sorry, sounds like you've been a victim of Dave's dummies. Those little critters are getting really bored being couped up and no donuts in the cupboards.
March 4, 20224 yr Author Popular Post Spent one hour IN the shop, this evening...and did a couple corners.. Even after a few double checks, I still was checking to make sure Corner #2 was coming out right... hopefully the pins aren't too bad, this time...used this to lay out the tails... Needed chopped.. And there is the reason I use that coping saw....I can "rasp" those spots away..enough for a dry fit.. Happens when I leave the lines... was not happy with the dovetail saw...it was going off track on the back sides of the cuts, tried out a "different" saw. Geo. Bishop No. 10 saw....the bar is set to 1/2" above the teeth...nice for a depth stop other wise, Corner #3 went almost the same as #2 did...except, I needed a mallet to do a dry fit... Which leaves just #4 to do. Laid out all the little bags of hardware..that I picked up at Hobby Lobby... Might be able to use some of these? 2x4s are starting to dry out a bit.. These started out as 2 eight foot long boards..until the ceiling repair guy made a crutch...then he just left them out on the back porch...free wood! And this is where the stand for the drill press will be going....But, that's a Project for another day... Stay tuned
March 6, 20224 yr Author Popular Post Corner #4 is done.. Pins are a tad "proud" , decided to glue this mess up.. And deal with the pins after the glue is done.. Well, this morning, the clamps came off. and I spent about 40 minutes cleaned up the joints...squaring the box up on the outside. Top and bottom edges were leveled with a hand plane...a panel for the bottom was trim to rough size... A bead of glue, spread with a brush all around the edges...and a forest of C clamps showed up Will let this sit a day....as for the handplane? Yep, it got used today.... Will start a separate thread about that drill press stand....having spent over 2 hours on that this afternoon...also had to haul the Boss to Wall E World....about one lap around the inside of the store....I'm Pooped!
March 6, 20224 yr Popular Post Very nice. My first one will be the size of my truck battery. To sit in the extra spot. Carry a few parts under the hood. Do you lay out the pins and tails the same way every time?
March 6, 20224 yr Author Popular Post 14 hours ago, Dovetail said: Very nice. My first one will be the size of my truck battery. To sit in the extra spot. Carry a few parts under the hood. Do you lay out the pins and tails the same way every time? Usually.....have better luck doing Pins first. Angles are set by eye....
March 7, 20224 yr Author Popular Post Clamps came off, today...spent about 1 hour in the shop....and part of that was to hang up all those clamps.. Then the bottom panel needed to be planed to match the sides of the box... Then the ends' edges needed a bit of work.. Might have to fill a couple spots in...then the bottom needed plane flat.. Couple of nicks at the corners....maybe a round-over to remove them... Used the box to rough size the panel for the lid, just traced around the box. Then got a start on a "collar" for the lid.. Panel for the lid is under the box...2 corners done...maybe 2 more, tomorrow? set the lid on top.. And, called it a day....still tired from last night.. Stay tuned...
March 7, 20224 yr Popular Post 1 hour ago, steven newman said: And, called it a day....still tired from last night.. Ummmm, last night is not 3 AM...that's today! I'm liking what I'm seeing in this episode of "No Scraps Left Behind."
March 7, 20224 yr Popular Post I'm a big fan lately of making big boards out of small scraps. That after 45 years or so of making small scraps out of big boards. A certain joy arrives when I save myself from buying some new wood by finding what I need from my scrap stacks and a little glue time. Thanks for posting your progress. 4D
March 9, 20224 yr Author Popular Post Ok, time to up-date this.... Ran a saw for a bit,,then a chisel.. Then some glue and clamps.. Let sit a day....before the clamps came back off. In the meantime, I needed a new belt on that H-F sander/disc sander thing....took a while... That chore (PITA) done....lid needed squared up, length was a tad too long, too...then there was the issue of gaposis.. Nor, was it all the box's fault... Lid was a-rocking, too....we have ways Leveled the playing field a bit...no more gaps....might as well install the hinges? Had to get the proper drill out of the Tool Cabinet... Both screwdrivers were used, them's some TINY screws...then, rotate this over, without moving things..and install a latch out front.. And..hope it works... Well, how about that? Set this up on the bench...get the can of Amber Shellac out...was all set to open the can...no brush. But, there are THREE upstairs? Ok, opened the lid, and shellacked the insides... Then close the lid, for now...while I brush the shellac around on the outside...starting with the bottom, and working my way around.. Front.. Both ends... Back..then the top was last.....will let this sit a spell..then rub down with some 0000 steel wool, and then another coat? Almost time to start on Box #2? Stay tuned...
March 9, 20224 yr Popular Post Cool. Some really sweet looking grain especially on the lid. Enjoying the build(s).
March 11, 20224 yr Author Popular Post Ok...second coat has dried, and been steel wooled smooth... Not sure what the issue is with focus on the left side.. Rotate...and.. Kind of plain-jane back here? Rotate to show off the lid.. While moving that drill press to it's new stand....found this... Spalted Hard Maple Mallet....sanded most of the nasty stuff off....we are about to put it to work.. Spent a little time, getting 4 pieces ready to work on.. Ends needed squared up, lengths needed to match....then marked which will be the insides of the box, and marked for top and bottom...clamped the longer sides in the vise.. Needed a little fussing...was finally able to try a bit of lay out.. Chisel is a 6mm wide mortise chisel...Used that to "step out" the spaces, working from the edges towards the center...and marked which will be the "waste" Square to carry the lines around.. Next, do some saw work...saw? As in..hand tool? Geo. Bishop No. 10...says so right on the side of the saw...have enough trouble keeping track of ONE part...let alone 2...so I will just work on one at a time.. Full depth, according to that bar Then the mallet and chisels... Half chop on the outside face...prevents blow-outs from the other side..flip this over.. Careful, as them little squares tend to fly straight back at you....use these fingers to lay out the matching fingers on an end blank...marked as to Inside, Top, Bottom like the long side is....want this corner to match up. Then saw, chop, flip, and chop again....almost time for a dry fit? Was a tad too tight....pare a bit, here & there...Finally! 1st corner is done Now, IF the other 3 will turn out like this...We might get a box made.. Stay tuned
March 11, 20224 yr Author Popular Post Laundry Detail..consisted of putting the clothes into the Dryer...and waiting the 45 minutes for it to get done...should be enough time to do ONE corner of this box....as it was already laid out from marking out the first corner...just needed sawn.. Then the waste chopped out...then use the fingers of the board (NOT mine).. Trace around all these fingers..to lay out the matching fingers...saw, chop, flip, chop... Then a test fit.. Hmmm..just a wee bit snug? Chisel to pare away the sticky spots...dry fit? Couple places still needed to be trimmed.... Final (for now) dry fit...(dryer was done, anyway).. Getting better....I just MIGHT get the hang of doing these, someday? haul the dried clothes upstairs, and see about some Lunch.... Stay tuned, still have 2 more corners to do....sometime..
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