This has been stained with about 3 coats of gel stain (Java). I will be applying the polyurethane today sometime (once it's A LITTLE warmer)... Haven't decided on gloss or satin yet, I think it's screaming for satin right now, but it's up to the boss... :-)
You can see a couple blemishes, i need to touch stain a couple spots where the stain didn't get into nooks and crannies and the miters on the top separated a little once i brought it into the house. I didn't glue these up like you normally would as I was putting them onto the table to set the sizes/placement and just brad-nailed them to the table. But miter joints are a learning point for me at this point anyway...
Fun project though. Cutting/Ripping took about a day (for me), finishing has taken all week to let each coat dry, then I brought it inside to a warmer climate to "cure" which believe it or not really made a difference here.
But, I did everything myself, tapering the legs, angle cutting the bottom of the top edges as well as rounding over the inside part of the top, basically making my own molding.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Workbench Project
After a few weeks of downtime due to the broken pulley on my table saw, Ebay came through! I ordered a new one right away from a local shop, but it's been on back order. I found a used one on ebay that will serve as a backup when the new one comes in.
On to the project...
This was a very satisfying project. Making sure to take my time and make sure everything was and stayed square was very fun.
This is simply a couple of 4x4s, some 2x4s and a sheet of OSB. Simple as that. Square, flat and level. This should work out nicely as an outfeed table as well when i need it.
The next steps MIGHT be to top the OSB with hardboard or something along those lines, or add a sheet of OSB as a shelf on the cross supports to store tools and/or stock.
This was a fun one day project. In total it really only took a few hours. Final dimensions are 36"x36"x72" (hxwxl). I really like the size of 3x6. I toyed with leaving the OSB at 4x6, but four feet was just way too much. The 36" height comes right to the guide rail for the miter gauge, so there is no obstruction as an outfeed on crosscuts.
Now I have something to finish some more projects that are on my list.
On to the project...
This was a very satisfying project. Making sure to take my time and make sure everything was and stayed square was very fun.
This is simply a couple of 4x4s, some 2x4s and a sheet of OSB. Simple as that. Square, flat and level. This should work out nicely as an outfeed table as well when i need it.
The next steps MIGHT be to top the OSB with hardboard or something along those lines, or add a sheet of OSB as a shelf on the cross supports to store tools and/or stock.
This was a fun one day project. In total it really only took a few hours. Final dimensions are 36"x36"x72" (hxwxl). I really like the size of 3x6. I toyed with leaving the OSB at 4x6, but four feet was just way too much. The 36" height comes right to the guide rail for the miter gauge, so there is no obstruction as an outfeed on crosscuts.
Now I have something to finish some more projects that are on my list.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Long Grain Chopping Block
Well, this project is complete! One down, countless projects to go ;-)
So here's the skinny on this chopping block.
I had a left over piece of laminated pine from a shelf I added to our pantry. The board was 32"x18"x1". So I cut that in half to have two 16"x18"x1" boards and glued those together to make a 2" beast.
After a day or so I used a hand plane and sand paper to make sure the ends where an even piece, then using a 1/2" round over bit on my router I rounded all the edges and the corners as well.
Using mineral oil I picked up at the pharmacy, I put a fairly heavy coat of oil on the entire board friday night and let that sit for about 12 hours.
Starting saturday morning I did light coats of oil on the cutting side and bottom about every 2 hours until I had 3 coats on each side.
Using it for the first time was such a pleasure. This BIG heavy block does not move around at all when you are cutting something up and the knife really seems to perform better when coming down on wood rather than plastic.
Overall I'm pleased. I know that a long grain chopping block is not ideal over an end grain, but that'll be my next attempt, maybe...
So here's the skinny on this chopping block.
I had a left over piece of laminated pine from a shelf I added to our pantry. The board was 32"x18"x1". So I cut that in half to have two 16"x18"x1" boards and glued those together to make a 2" beast.
After a day or so I used a hand plane and sand paper to make sure the ends where an even piece, then using a 1/2" round over bit on my router I rounded all the edges and the corners as well.
Using mineral oil I picked up at the pharmacy, I put a fairly heavy coat of oil on the entire board friday night and let that sit for about 12 hours.
Starting saturday morning I did light coats of oil on the cutting side and bottom about every 2 hours until I had 3 coats on each side.
Using it for the first time was such a pleasure. This BIG heavy block does not move around at all when you are cutting something up and the knife really seems to perform better when coming down on wood rather than plastic.
Overall I'm pleased. I know that a long grain chopping block is not ideal over an end grain, but that'll be my next attempt, maybe...
Friday, August 1, 2008
First coat of oil
The difference between raw and oiled is simply stunning. The grain really looks nice.
Even though this is not an end grain board, I'm very happy.
Even though this is not an end grain board, I'm very happy.
Last Look, Pre-Oil
Just a quick shot before the first coat of Mineral Oil.
I was thinking of working some kind of handle into the board where the gouge from my routing job was, but it was off center and just an odd spot, so I used my circular saw to rip that side down and re-route.
It came out very well. I'm quite pleased with this, as rough as it is. I learned a lot from this little project about things to keep in mind for my next projects.
I will do a full write up when it's done. Probably by the end of the weekend.
I was thinking of working some kind of handle into the board where the gouge from my routing job was, but it was off center and just an odd spot, so I used my circular saw to rip that side down and re-route.
It came out very well. I'm quite pleased with this, as rough as it is. I learned a lot from this little project about things to keep in mind for my next projects.
I will do a full write up when it's done. Probably by the end of the weekend.
Worst Routing Job Ever - Maybe...
Here's a close up of the routing on the corners of the chopping block.
It's going to look much better after some sanding, but you can see that I was tweaking the depth adjustment. Here at the corder is the list "lip" created, but just a few inches down the lip isn't there...
It's going to look much better after some sanding, but you can see that I was tweaking the depth adjustment. Here at the corder is the list "lip" created, but just a few inches down the lip isn't there...
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Gap Project almost done...
This should technically be my first project, as it's the first thing I ever really did with the table saw when i brought it home. I had some extra pine boards left over from making a shelf in our kitchen, so Cut 'em to size and glued them together.
At that point, it basically sat for a while until today.
About a week ago, a part broke on the saw that I had to order from Ideal Saw Works here in Fresno. I'm waiting for the part, so my headboard project is on hold.
Well, today I bought my next toy, a router (details to come). And started to finishing work on the chopping block that I started.
The routing was super fun to do and as you can see on the ground, made some great saw dust! The routing was a little rough as this is the first time in my life I ever used this tool, but I'm pleased for now.
Next step, cut off an edge that got fairly damaged during my first pass, and reroute that edge. So I'm waiting on the part again. then oil the thing up and put it to bed... on the kitchen counter that is...
At that point, it basically sat for a while until today.
About a week ago, a part broke on the saw that I had to order from Ideal Saw Works here in Fresno. I'm waiting for the part, so my headboard project is on hold.
Well, today I bought my next toy, a router (details to come). And started to finishing work on the chopping block that I started.
The routing was super fun to do and as you can see on the ground, made some great saw dust! The routing was a little rough as this is the first time in my life I ever used this tool, but I'm pleased for now.
Next step, cut off an edge that got fairly damaged during my first pass, and reroute that edge. So I'm waiting on the part again. then oil the thing up and put it to bed... on the kitchen counter that is...
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