skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Posted by
chun
|
|
5:15 PM
Labels:
cable,
pc270,
porter,
saw,
table,
Woodworking
Heres a less-than-scientific review of my new saw. As far as Im concerned, you cant co wrong with Porter Cable tools.
Read More..
Posted by
chun
|
|
11:05 PM
Labels:
made,
pallet,
rustic,
side,
table,
with,
wood,
Woodworking
Spring is here! Time for outdoor DIY projects. This week Ive designed a shabby-chic side table for your deck or patio. Anyone can build this project with just a few basic tools and no large workshop space is necessary. I made this entire project using free wood obtained from old pallets.
- You can make this entirely using hand tools, but it will be much easier if you have a jigsaw and a power sander. Both are inexpensive, easy to use, and will save you a lot of time and muscle aches.
- If you would like to try your hand at busting apart a pallet (its quite easy to do) you will need a crowbar and a hammer with a claw for prying out nails.
- I used 1/2" dowels for the exposed pins. These are decorative and not necessary for the strength of the table. If you would like to include them, you will need a drill and a 1/2" bit for boring holes.
- I used wood glue, 1", and 3/4" nails to assemble the project. The glue gives the table its strength: the nails are just needed to hold the pieces in place while the glue dries.
- A couple of clamps would be handy.
- I finished my table using Spar Urethane. Its a great outdoor finish that will protect the wood from the elements.
- I used 80 grit (rough) sandpaper, mostly to clean off dirt, and stopped there.
*****
If you would like to give this project a try here are some plans:
- WWMM Rustic side table plans (PDF)
- SketchUp file
Building it is very easy. If you are new to woodworking, maybe a new home owner who wants to get ready for outdoor entertaining this summer, this is a great project to start with. There is no need to get too fussy about any of it: its supposed to look rustic!*****
Read More..
Posted by
chun
|
|
6:05 PM
Labels:
dust,
extraction,
router,
table,
Woodworking
My regular Mere Mortals video will be Sunday this week. So it gave me some time to shoot an update to the router table and lift, now that Ive had over a week to work on it.
Missing an opportunityIve spoken to Shop Notes (August Home Publishing) and they have no desire or interest in offering project plans online. Its kind of odd, but their reasoning is that putting plans online would cheapen them because people would be distributing them willy-nilly all over the place. (I guess people wanting to sell pirated versions havent thought of just scanning the magazine?)
Even stranger is that they have no plans for any online presence for Shop Notes. (Other than the "brochure" that now exists.) You cant even buy the last issue (with the router lift) anywhere. Shop Notes is not even on Facebook! Is it possible for any business to survive without some sort of online component? Especially a business whose sole means of income is printed material through snail mail. Weird.
A good router lift drawingAt any rate, Bruce Beatty took the time to design and offer this SketchUp drawing of a router lift that is quite similar to the one I made for my table. If you are interested in making that lift, check it out. If you have these plans and follow along with my video, it should be pretty simple. Thanks a bunch Bruce!
Dust extraction testsI ran a few very unsophisticated tests on the dust extraction on my router table. (And yes, every time I look at this picture I think of cookies!)
Mainly what I discovered is that most of the sawdust produced by my router lands on top of the table rather than falling below. My conclusion is that having dust extraction on the fence is very useful, but does little in the cabinet.
Of course, the cabinet could be redesigned in a way that would direct sawdust to the port. An extractor with more power than my ShopVac might also be better. As it is now, Ill just hand vacuum the inside of the cabinet.
*****
Posted by
chun
|
|
3:28 AM
Labels:
craftsman,
miter,
problem,
saw,
slot,
solving,
table,
the,
Woodworking
Make a table saw sled for your Craftsman table sawEvery so often I get an email from someone asking me how to make a table saw sled for his Craftsman saw. The problem is that they have grooves that are different than regular miter slots. They look more like t-track systems. Naturally, this makes it hard to construct runners for various sleds you might want to build.
Felix Pitre has solved the problem with this solution. He made snug-fitting runners by cutting them out with his router table. Thanks Felix. Ill refer people to your pics from now on!
*****
Update: Just heard from Dan Johns over on Facebook who solved the problem this way, allowing him to drop the sled in rather than threading it in from the ends:I used my Dremel to grind off the tabs that turned those miter slots into a t-shape. There were only 2 tabbed constrictions per slot; one at the front of the table, and the other at the rear, so a little grinding on the left and right of each of those two areas smoothed the slot out for a regular rectangular hardwood runner.
Read More..
Posted by
chun
|
|
6:28 PM
Labels:
router,
table,
vise,
Woodworking
Really ingenious (and simple!) router table built by Domink in Germany. It even converts to a horizontal router table. The second video shows his home-made lift.
Thanks Domnik! Great idea.
Read More..
Posted by
chun
|
|
1:55 AM
Labels:
a,
build,
coffee,
table,
Woodworking
Retro styleFor years Ive been wanting to make a new coffee table. After making the credenza/TV stand a few weeks ago, I was motivated to make another "mid-century modern" piece. This time I wasnt adhering exactly to any particular 50s style coffee table, but rather I wanted something to echo the credenzas design. After years of building up a mish-mash of furniture, it is nice to finally have a couple pieces that go together!
A lot of the construction of this is similar to the credenza, so in this video I tried to focus on a few techniques that I glossed over in the other video. I know, I know: retro furniture isnt to everyones taste, but you should be able to pick up a few tips in this that might help you do design your own coffee table.
But if you
do like this style as much as I, and want to build one just like it, here are plans for the coffee table:
- WWMM Coffee Table PDF Plans
- WWMM Coffee Table Sketchup file
*****
Read More..
Posted by
chun
|
|
11:57 AM
Labels:
coffee,
imaginary,
table,
Woodworking
Matthew Pausley, an obvious genius at Sketchup and 3D design, send over a couple variations on my retro coffee table. In his imagined versions, he uses classic 50s materials: plastic & metal. One includes a Lucite top. I absolutely love these designs. If you built them, they would draw a handsome fee.
*****
Tool storage. If you will recall, I wasnt thrilled with the method I used to hang my handsaws on the french cleat. Heres a solution Ofer Elimelech sketched up. I like it.
*****
Joshua Blevins came across another solution from Woodsmith. Check out the article here.
*****
Got a real nice note from Jon Hillstrom describing how his son Preston got him motivated him to get back into woodworking. Now Jon makes projects with his father-in-law in the garage and is planning on building a shed just for woodworking. Common interests can go a long way.
Cute alert. Heres Preston with the toolbox Dad made for him:
And heres a clever project. Jon made this toy organizer for his mother. The grandkids each have their own storage box with their names on the fronts.
*****
A while back I experimented with some wood bending and made a quilt rack. Jeff Galak made one! Oak with walnut dowels. Beautiful! Read more about it here.
*****
And speaking of bent lamination. Check out this instrument stand Dan Johns made. I love how graceful it looks. Thats an oud on it, by the way. A beautiful-sounding instrument.
*****
Finally, if you are interested in short updates in my shop, Ive started experimenting with posting videos on Keek. Its sort of the Twitter version of YouTube: videos are only 30 seconds long. Its kind of fun to shoot quick updates on my phone and instantly upload them. Watch videos online or download the Keek app for your mobile device. You can also subscribe to my feed if you want update notifications on your phone. Heres my page.
Posted by
chun
|
|
8:14 AM
Labels:
a,
make,
miter,
saw,
sled,
table,
Woodworking
Many of you may remember a miter sled video I made a while back. Although the sled worked, I always thought that it was an unnecessarily complicated way to build it.
Since I seem to be getting backlogged on pictures that need framing, I built a new miter sled this week. It is much easier to make than the old one. And youll get perfect mitered corners every time!
Plans:
Posted by
chun
|
|
9:09 PM
Labels:
fence,
router,
table,
Woodworking
Ive been working on the top for my router table and once again, am going back and forth on the fence. I was originally going to add some t-slots in the top to adjust and lock down the fence. But then I saw one that employs a clamping system on the edges of the table.
I like that idea because I wont have to make those slots in the top of the table. They get filled with dust and sometimes its hard to slide the fence if it binds in one direction. So Im still playing around with a design.
I got the hole cut in the top to hold the insert plate. Thats going to be really nice. Last week I mentioned that Kreg does not include the levelers with the plate. A little frustrating, considering they make no mention of that when you buy it. If they had a note on the package that said "levelers sold separately", that would be fine. Just let me know so I dont have to place a separate order!
I got the levelers and guess what? Kreg didnt supply 1 1/2" coarse thread wood screws that the instructions clearly state are included with the levelers. No big deal, I needed shorter screws anyway. I really love Kreg tools, but they need to tighten up some of their procedures.
*****
Mere Minutes
Posted by
chun
|
|
1:30 PM
Labels:
drill,
press,
table,
vise,
with,
Woodworking
Check out this idea. Heres a drill press table Robert Naylor sent over. Nice table with a fence. But he added a thick removable center piece that can be swapped out at needed. But not just swapped out with another sacrificial piece, he attached a vice to one insert. Really creative way to hold stock into place:
Posted by
chun
|
|
6:22 AM
Labels:
and,
fence,
router,
table,
top,
Woodworking
Really happy with the way this fence turned out. Its got a lot of weight to it, is square, and moves pretty smoothly. I found the clamping system in a great book called Woodworking With The Router
Posted by
chun
|
|
7:58 PM
Labels:
ideas,
more,
router,
table,
Woodworking
Benjamen JohnsonIf you want to learn how to make a serious router table, check out Bens Workshop. On his site, he has a great tutorial on how he made this. Jason OthoudtHeres another simple router table, yet Jason incorporated dust collection and various sized plates for the bit opening. I like the cost: $25.
I build it for about $25 out of CDX plywood and laminating 2 sheets of 1/4 ply (dont remember the type) over the CDX base for the top. I made other plates for smaller bits and the fence allows for attachment to my shop vac and has hardboard cover to close off the opening. I build it because I didnt like the height of commercial tables and I surly hated the price.
Ray ArnoldRays router table is a hybrid: mostly home made, but with a purchased fence and top. I love all the storage space.
This is a router table I made a few years ago, the top and the fence are from Woodpeckers, the rest I made, however I made a new face for the fence with a slot rail to mount feather boards an such, is from Woodpeckers, the rest I made. It is made of MDF and red oak and pine It’s held up well.
Read More..
Posted by
chun
|
|
10:20 AM
Labels:
coffee,
follow,
table,
up,
Woodworking
Following up yesterdays video with answers to some questions. And a little bit on rabbets vs. rabbits. And dados.
Mere Minutes
Read More..
Posted by
chun
|
|
11:43 PM
Labels:
a,
and,
bird,
box,
convertible,
pool,
projects,
saw,
table,
unique,
viewer,
Woodworking
David P. from Kansas City went through a lot of research and development to build this pool table. It flips over when not in use and becomes a dining table! I dont think Ive ever seen anything like this before. David got Best in Show at his high school for this woodworking project. Hes a Junior. Wow...thats ambitious.
Bruce in Rossmoor decided to try his hand making his first bandsaw box. One thing led to another, and he ended up making a nesting set. Perfect, because while making it, he realized it looked like a bird. Adding the eye, was inspired. First box? Wow...more ambitious woodworking! Thanks guys.
Read More..
Posted by
chun
|
|
6:02 PM
Labels:
coffee,
table,
Woodworking
My latest creation - a Pine Coffee Table.
I am quite happy with how this project has turned out as it does actually look like a piece of furniture.
The whole thing was designed around the Pine (although it looks a bit like Spruce) top which was salvaged from a crappy bolted together IKEA type piece of office furniture that was being thrown away at the local dump. This same piece of furniture also provided the base to my Cutlery Tray - recycling at its finest.
As the top had four dowels and holes already in it, I decided to reuse them and measured the remaining table frame based on their spacing. The frame is made from 50mm x 50mm Pine from the local wood yard.
I decided to try and make the table without any lower bracing and therefore used big chunky Mortise & Tenon joints for maximum rigidity. The tenons were so big, they had to be mitred inside the Mortise and I was quite impressed with myself for cutting quite a complex joint completely by hand using only a brace and chisel.
As mentioned previously, the top is attached using four dowels and the whole thing is glued, there are no screws or nails whatsoever.
I finished the top by sanding and using boiled Linseed oil mixed with turpentine and light rubbing with wire wool in between coats. There are a few marks on the top but it was not possible to plane them out as the wood is really knotty.
The anaemic light coloured pine legs and frame were stained darker to closer match the top but came out quite patchy. Even with some rubbing of the darker patches with wire wool the finish is not ideal, Im sure they will look fine once the table has aged a bit - its rustic.
All in all I learnt a great deal building it and enjoyed the process. The cost of the wood is probably less than £10 and actually seeing the finished table that I built with my own hands being used on a daily basis is very satisfying!
Read More..
Posted by
chun
|
|
8:33 PM
Labels:
outfeed,
saw,
support,
table,
Woodworking
For several years Ive been saving a bunch of rollers a neighbor gave to me. Since my new table saw is higher than my old one, I decided to make some outfeed supports that will sit on my workbench at the same height as the saw. Im happy with this simple solution. I can arrange the rollers around however I might need them, and the stands are easy to store.
Its a short video, but I really wanted to make these because I am going to start building my new router table this weekend. Its crazy how many different designs Ive sketched up, tossed out, then gone back to. Ill be letting you know more about it as the week goes on.
Read More..
Posted by
chun
|
|
5:04 AM
Labels:
follow,
router,
table,
up,
Woodworking
Overall, Im pretty happy with the way my router table turned out. I still cant use it until I make my router lift. I hope to get started on that soon so I can get this thing in use. Once in a while its fun to work on a really big project, and to me this one is huge, but I dont think I would have the patience to do it all the time. Looking forward to getting back to some smaller projects.
My wife showed me a picture she took at some store. It was a "jewelry tree". Basically, it looks like a tree without leaves: all sorts of branches. You store and display jewelry by hanging it from the branches. Rings, necklaces, bracelets...whatever. Sounds like a fun project. It was made out of metal but if I can, Id like to figure out a way to make it out of wood. Still pondering those branches.
I wanted to post this video with Fridays video, but YouTube has been foiling my effort for some reason. Finally got it uploaded today. Just to answer a few of the questions about this build.
*****
Read More..
This week Ive designed a shabby-chic side table for your deck or patio. Anyone can build this project with just a few basic tools and no large workshop space is necessary. I made this entire project using free wood obtained from old pallets.
*****
