Good Monday Morning!

Good Monday morning Patriot Woodworkers! What did you get done over the weekend, and what have you planned for the week ahead! Inquiring minds want to know. Please tell us what's happening in your shops, your life, and any events going on with you. Thank you for being here folks!

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No woodworking/turning but did get some manure spread on the garden and onion sets planted. A brief shower passing by now.

Getting prepared to glueup the two butcherblock counters. That should be stess free (haha...me and glueups...no matter how I plan or do dry runs there are "situations"). Planning to use screws to help with snugging up the pieces in the center - is there any guide on spacing? I just made them consistent in my plywood glueup, but really don't know if the spacing was "ideal."

Also, looking ahead to dog hole placement - this video gave some helpful pointers. Of course, much depends on what vise I get. Still need to dive in to research different types of vises (being simple is one factor!!).

Was able to spend some quality time with my older brother Saturday, haven't done that in a long time. Patti's oven been slow to heat up the last few weeks and Sunday it decided to just give up. Samsung ignitor issue, new part will arrive tomorrow. Going to replace the flooring coming in the side door, a landing & 3 steps. We have vinyl remnants from kitchen that will work just fine. Windy & a drizzle as well.

Bread board ends, anyone?

Dry fitted, for the moment..

When bad weather is forecasted, i.e. possible hail, I like to park my truck in the garage/shop. This requires moving some of my tools/work surfaces around to make room for the truck. With the new, heavier, table saw it was getting harder to move it up on the raised concrete step at the front of my garage to get it out of the way so I built a ramp.

This was the only productive thing I did in the shop this weekend.

Cool solution, Bubba!

Busy weekend with lots of windshield time; baseball game Friday evening (lost); Soccer matches Saturday and Sunday afternoon (1-1); Church Sunday AM, two birthday celebrations youngest grandson/ oldest granddaughter, Sunday PM.

Week ahead, pick up sticks 4.0 after 50+ mph wind gusts; maybe get some mowing done in between rain/ thunderstorm events; one home baseball game weather permitting. Any other unallocated time, TBD.

2 hours ago, HandyDan said:

I guess that about sums it up!

The neighbor came over about 4 pm and said that a farming machine had gone by a bit earlier and knocked down their and our mailboxes. Her husband was out fixing theirs. I went out and looked and the post was OK, but the mailbox was knocked off. I came back in for vice grips to pull out a fractured screw and he came over and wondered if I needed any help and I said I only needed to screw the box back on. He asked if I needed any screws. I looked at him and he immediately knew that was a dumb question. I think I probably have 2000-3000 screws in my shop.

Got it back together and had to add a screw with a washer on one of the door pins.

Got the space for lean to addition prepped and added gravel. Had company over Saturday for lunch . Did a bit of mowing after they left.

Today had AM PT appt. Started watering the grass this afternoon, just the new areas. Will be nice if I ever get the space around shop to turn green. Got to get the tiller out this week and get it cranked.

I knocked out 2 jobs I don't care to do yesterday, I got the tractor greased and changed the outlet to the septic. The tractor greasing isn't a bad job, I just can't seem to do it without getting grease all over, well, everything. The septic is changing from one sand pit to the other....in Ohio they allowed sand filters and you have 2. You have to change the flow from one to the other every 6 months; I chose April and October. This is a simple job, moving a stand pipe that covers one outlet to the other. But this 3 minute job is really smelly and disgusting. Beyond that I need to mow today and if we get the rain that was forecast I'll be in the shop going through my wood stash for some wood to make legs.

So, when big project progress gets rough, time for a smaller project. 🙂 Want to make some gifts for a group I'll be working with next month, so decided to make this cross to add to what I have already built (several trivets, couple frames).

Very simple design. The dark wood for the cross is heat treated poplar that has a half lap joint in the middle; back board is some pretty maple from my "save this for later" storage bin. Still need to add a keyhole slot or some way to display on a wall. Finish is Odie's Oil.

I’ll spend the evenings this week sharpening, so I can spend the weekend dulling.

22 hours ago, kmealy said:

I think I probably have 2000-3000 screws in my shop

Well, if that was me, i would still find a way to not have the size or type I needed!!

Somewhat related - I started to get panels cut for the mitersaw dust box. Decided to use 1/2 inch plywood and keep things simple with pocket screws (keep things simple 🙄...nope). Well, 1/2 inch material calls for 3/4 inch screws...but Kreg only has 3/4 inch fine thread. No coarse thread option as would be best with plywood. Pulled out some scrap 1/2 plywood to do some test runs. Tried some 3/4 inch fine thread screws and they didn't hold well. Even gave 1 inch coarse a try and definitely too long. Brainstorming the best way to attach. Not sure if I can adjust the cutting of the pocket so the 1" coarse screws wouldn't come through the side. Or maybe double the plywood at the joint so I could use a larger coarse screw. Just had to laugh as what should have been quick and simple has given a detour.

12 hours ago, BB1 said:

Well, if that was me, i would still find a way to not have the size or type I needed!!

Somewhat related - I started to get panels cut for the mitersaw dust box. Decided to use 1/2 inch plywood and keep things simple with pocket screws (keep things simple 🙄...nope). Well, 1/2 inch material calls for 3/4 inch screws...but Kreg only has 3/4 inch fine thread. No coarse thread option as would be best with plywood. Pulled out some scrap 1/2 plywood to do some test runs. Tried some 3/4 inch fine thread screws and they didn't hold well. Even gave 1 inch coarse a try and definitely too long. Brainstorming the best way to attach. Not sure if I can adjust the cutting of the pocket so the 1" coarse screws wouldn't come through the side. Or maybe double the plywood at the joint so I could use a larger coarse screw. Just had to laugh as what should have been quick and simple has given a detour.

I’ve never used a pocket hole jig, but wonder if you could just use a regular 3/4 wood screw. Do the Kreg setups require using their screws?

43 minutes ago, Zack said:

Do the Kreg setups require using their screws

I always have. Guessing the head design is part of what helps seat the screw in the pocket - but that's a guess.

Mcfeely's has their own version of pocket head screws, but they don't have a 3/4" coarse thread. Honestly, I'm not sure how well pocket screws would hold in 1/2" ply, I've never tried it, but maybe it would work.

3 hours ago, Zack said:

I’ve never used a pocket hole jig, but wonder if you could just use a regular 3/4 wood screw. Do the Kreg setups require using their screws?

The pocket hole screws have bugle head top (the underside is flat), pan head screws (a common type) have a v-shaped underneath. Since the pocket hole drill bits leave a flat secondary surface, the prior type works well and the latter type tends to split the wood.