Modern Jess
Well-known member
BTW, I had to smile when I saw your notebook. Here's mine, trimmed out in Festool green. 
Between 485 & 705 SQ/FT Mid-Century Moto Mecca Makeover
- Thread starter sakurama
- Start date
Workspaces between 485 and 705 squarefeet.
Vertigo Cycles
Well-known member
So tempting. I don't know if I can hang with you hooligans.
I've been riding pedal bikes on trails every Sunday morning and will start riding on Wednesdays next week. If you find any time in between your many projects and want to ride some dirt, let me know.
TimRaleigh
Active member
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2013
- Messages
- 27
Gregor:
I have one, (TK matic - green) but I don't use it.
I like it, it's very well made.
If you are interested let me know and I can send you some pics.
I've had it for over 30 years so it has some wear.
I had it in the shop, but I much prefer a good old wooden "H" pencil like Gary Katz sells on his This is Carpentry site.
Tim
BTW, I had to smile when I saw your notebook. Here's mine, trimmed out in Festool green.
Okay where'd you get that pen sleeve. I usually clip mine in the spine which predictably destroys them over time. I need that.
I would love to but sold my Ibis to keep the progress moving on the house front. Small sacrifice since I don't have the time to ride anyway. As I get closer to under control and in the black again we'll be talking about a bike. Until then I may sell my commuter for a 24" park bike to ride with the kids in the skate parks.
Thanks Tim! PM sent.
Gregor
Vertigo Cycles
Well-known member
If you find the time (trust me, I know how hard it is) I'll set you up with a loaner so you can ride.
Whenever you want to build that bike, let me know...I'll be here. Looks like I might be building one for James Renazco in the not too distant future as well.
Looking forward to seeing your handiwork in person. The workmanship you've shown in each of these projects is nothing short of stellar.
So I managed to get a bit of time when J came home to do a bit more work. I had only three more drawers to go and really wanted to knock them out before dark and I just made it.
The new glue is a bit thinner than what I was using but I'm still able to manage squeeze out pretty well. This is about as much as I'm getting at least on the inside. I bias my glue towards the outer edges since it's easier to clean up there. Inside corners are a pain. I also have experimented with scraping it dry, letting it skin and wiping it up wet. Dry glue ***** to remove - don't let it dry. Letting it skin is the best/easiest but requires timing and remembering which I am not good at. Wiping it off wet is the easiest to do for me and it's out of the way.
I've checked every box but they're all square with no need for adjusting. I think the tight fit up of the bottoms, the careful attention to squaring along the way and the joinery all combine to bring the whole thing together squarely. On the larger drawers I didn't glue the bottoms in but for these drawers I did a lot more research and found that it's fine to glue in the bottoms if you're using plywood - only solid wood needs room to move. I also used 18mm for all the sides and 12mm for all the bottoms so the lower, larger drawers are built solidly and the smaller drawers are very over built.
Ta da! (said in my best Wally impersonation)
I need to sand the tenons flush, round over the edges and sand the top edges and then give them their coats of poly. Luckily we've had a very extended run of flawless weather so I've just been leaving the drawers out at night as I have no room for them in the garage. The kids just don't nap anymore and polyurethane isn't something I can get them to help with so I don't know when I'm going to get them coated. Maybe Friday as J is taking the day off I think.
Anyway, it feels good to see a big old stack of drawers. Progress!
Gregor
The new glue is a bit thinner than what I was using but I'm still able to manage squeeze out pretty well. This is about as much as I'm getting at least on the inside. I bias my glue towards the outer edges since it's easier to clean up there. Inside corners are a pain. I also have experimented with scraping it dry, letting it skin and wiping it up wet. Dry glue ***** to remove - don't let it dry. Letting it skin is the best/easiest but requires timing and remembering which I am not good at. Wiping it off wet is the easiest to do for me and it's out of the way.
I've checked every box but they're all square with no need for adjusting. I think the tight fit up of the bottoms, the careful attention to squaring along the way and the joinery all combine to bring the whole thing together squarely. On the larger drawers I didn't glue the bottoms in but for these drawers I did a lot more research and found that it's fine to glue in the bottoms if you're using plywood - only solid wood needs room to move. I also used 18mm for all the sides and 12mm for all the bottoms so the lower, larger drawers are built solidly and the smaller drawers are very over built.
Ta da! (said in my best Wally impersonation)
I need to sand the tenons flush, round over the edges and sand the top edges and then give them their coats of poly. Luckily we've had a very extended run of flawless weather so I've just been leaving the drawers out at night as I have no room for them in the garage. The kids just don't nap anymore and polyurethane isn't something I can get them to help with so I don't know when I'm going to get them coated. Maybe Friday as J is taking the day off I think.
Anyway, it feels good to see a big old stack of drawers. Progress!
Gregor
Nolift911
Well-known member
That is a stack of drawers! Nice work!
Modern Jess
Well-known member
KevinPowers
New member
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2014
- Messages
- 1
I made an account on GJ to specifically comment on your project. Your craftsmanship is absolutely amazing! I'm a machinist by trade so i have an interest in metal, but haven't had the same knack for woodworking. Ive been an mcm fan ever since i saw my first frank lloyd wright house so reading through all of your progress, although a condensed version, has given me a plethora of ideas for my house now!
You have a beautiful home and i look forward to seeing more of your progress!!
You have a beautiful home and i look forward to seeing more of your progress!!
Thanks. I like the one that goes on the spine to reduce the thickness.
I'm amazed at the number of people who find this thread outside of normal channels. That's very cool. I think it was probably Jacks garage that lured me here and then lilscorpions that wow'd me and the great many garages I'd found as inspiration and the like minded folks that have kept me. I'm glad that this gives back.
Every once in a while I'll stop and notice something in the house, a detail or something finished, and realize that I've rebuilt all of this. If I look back in the thread I'm sort of amazed at what I've accomplished. Still a long way to go but there's progress and that makes me feel good.
Just south in PDX? Cool. I'll certainly count on you when I have my garage party. Sometime this summer finished or not. I'm not one to let "finishing" get in the way of a BBQ. Besides, maybe I'll hand everyone a brush and some paint.
Today I got a text from my architect/weather man who warned me of some impending rain ahead of my DarkSky app. Before I could moving anything inside I had to clean up. My work is always a race against the clock to get something done before I have to be a dad or photographer so I don't always "clean as I go" which would be my preferred way to work.
I did get some help though as Lucas and Nadia sat in the garage while I cleaned and then gave a hand with sanding some of the tenons. Attention spans don't let me get much done but I like them to feel included in the work.
Gregor
E12-535iTurbo
Well-known member
Don't they grow up fast?
Keep sharing your journey Gregor. We love reading it.
Keep sharing your journey Gregor. We love reading it.
Despite practicing on the garage cabinets, the two vanities and a few other things I'm still learning as I go and sometimes it's frustrating to learn something later into the project.
For instance; I discovered about halfway through sanding the tenons down that it's much easier and better to shave them with a low angle block plane first. I rarely use hand tools so it was a fluke that I tried it but some of the tenons were more proud than others and sanding the end grain of them was slow work and difficult to get them flawlessly flush. This did the job.
Next up was the drawer dividers. All sanded and the top rounded over.
Then I wanted to make a knife block that would fit in the drawer where we tend to do all the chopping and cutting. I saw some designs online and wanted it to be simple and to use up my baltic birch scraps.
I made two at the same time - a smaller one from the off cuts of the larger block. I'd scrape the glue as much as possible.
Then cut it square.
Then hit it with the Rotex RO150 with 40 grit in rotary, then in orbital, then 80 and finally 150. That sander is the boss. It makes very quick work of leveling out the block.
Then I tested it with my chef's knife to get an idea of where to cut and how much to space the cuts.
Then cut it and tested a few different sized knives and reversed the smaller block. Not sure how I want to do it yet.
Finally I test fit the dividers. I have some extra and was considering making some cross dividers but I think I'm going to pass on that. I'd prefer to keep it simpler. I want just enough division to keep things mildly divided but flexible. I also made the dividers shallow and the drawers deeper so that I could put a cutting board on top of the divider and still have room to close the drawer. That will most likely only be for the knife drawer where it would make the most sense but the option exists in the others or I can do stacked insert if I feel like getting fancy. I don't feel fancy but you never know.
I'm really looking forward to getting these finished and installed. The kitchen will be so much nicer to work in once these are all in and I'm very happy that I didn't go the ikea route. These are bombproof drawers and good looking as well.
Gregor
For instance; I discovered about halfway through sanding the tenons down that it's much easier and better to shave them with a low angle block plane first. I rarely use hand tools so it was a fluke that I tried it but some of the tenons were more proud than others and sanding the end grain of them was slow work and difficult to get them flawlessly flush. This did the job.
Next up was the drawer dividers. All sanded and the top rounded over.
Then I wanted to make a knife block that would fit in the drawer where we tend to do all the chopping and cutting. I saw some designs online and wanted it to be simple and to use up my baltic birch scraps.
I made two at the same time - a smaller one from the off cuts of the larger block. I'd scrape the glue as much as possible.
Then cut it square.
Then hit it with the Rotex RO150 with 40 grit in rotary, then in orbital, then 80 and finally 150. That sander is the boss. It makes very quick work of leveling out the block.
Then I tested it with my chef's knife to get an idea of where to cut and how much to space the cuts.
Then cut it and tested a few different sized knives and reversed the smaller block. Not sure how I want to do it yet.
Finally I test fit the dividers. I have some extra and was considering making some cross dividers but I think I'm going to pass on that. I'd prefer to keep it simpler. I want just enough division to keep things mildly divided but flexible. I also made the dividers shallow and the drawers deeper so that I could put a cutting board on top of the divider and still have room to close the drawer. That will most likely only be for the knife drawer where it would make the most sense but the option exists in the others or I can do stacked insert if I feel like getting fancy. I don't feel fancy but you never know.
I'm really looking forward to getting these finished and installed. The kitchen will be so much nicer to work in once these are all in and I'm very happy that I didn't go the ikea route. These are bombproof drawers and good looking as well.
Gregor
chickenbisket
Member
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2013
- Messages
- 6
First I'd like to say I've been following this thread since I registered and you do a whole lot of beautiful work. Your attention to the details is wonderful. I'm not much of a woodworker though and I was really curious how you made the slots in the knife block after you had it assembled. My best guess was set a depth lock on the Kapex but I figured that would leave to large of a radius in the slot so I'm kind of stumped.
Thanks.
No, you got it right but the knife also comes to a point at the taper so it just sits a bit more "level" and the others are shorter so it makes no difference. You'll notice there are two pencil stop lines - the first was just a bit too short. It was fun to make as I just winged it as I went with no drawing.
Gregor
Hostyle
Well-known member
That's a good way to use up the off cuts. A clean and simple idea for storing knives in a safe way.
Thanks - which one?
So rain today foiled my plan to get a coat of poly onto the drawers. J is out traveling for work this week so my goal is to finish all the drawers and a pot rack before she comes back. She's always trying to discourage me from taking on more projects like the pot rack but to me they're fun and I've waited my whole life to own a house and lavish attention on it and... well, make stuff.
But today I just finished the counter.
This you'll recall was going to be my way of mitigating the outlets - gluing on the end formica in lieu of switch plate covers. Well, those outlets were a pain and always very difficult to get a plug into which to me forebode issues down the line when something went wrong. We also use those outlets a lot.
I flushed the formica on the other side and marked this side to cut cleanly with the track saw.
Glued it up and then just routed the edges clean and routed out the outlet boxes. I gave in to practicality.
The double outlets are going to be useful and while I wish the end was clean and without anything code requires an outlet within 6" of the edge and this meets it. I considered hiding it under the edge but I wasn't sure that would pass inspection.
Something I need to get on scheduling as I'm about out of time on my permit...
Gregor
Hostyle
Well-known member
I don't want to be a spoilsport or p*ss on your parade, but wouldn't the outlets look better placed horizontally? Or isn't this possible (or against code)?
MajorLeeGassole
Well-known member
Maybe, but he already routered the Formica. Kinda irreversible.
On another note, I always notice how great your pictures look (obviously) and how anyone could see imperfections in your work... you have none. That's why I'm glad my iPhone doesn't take such clear pictures.
Nolift911
Well-known member
The double outlets are going to be useful and while I wish the end was clean and without anything code requires an outlet within 6" of the edge and this meets it. I considered hiding it under the edge but I wasn't sure that would pass inspection.
Gregor
Looks fabulous...
Maybe add some of these for those outlets...they would look hi-tec and uber useful...?? Just a suggestion.
RaspPumpkinSeedPancakes
Member
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2014
- Messages
- 7
The drawers look great! Congrats on the productivity the last few weeks!
--
One thing I cannot understand, though. That 1500P should have red accents to make it even more stellar...
--
One thing I cannot understand, though. That 1500P should have red accents to make it even more stellar...
Maybe. Probably, but I'd cut the boxes vertically intending to use those round outlets then didn't. I'm not thrilled with it but for now I'm not going to dwell on it and just keep moving on. I think if I were to do it over I'd put the outlets under the counters lip, and maybe in v2 I'll do that. Sigh. The other idea I had was to have the outlets prong openings laser cut out but then I have the same service issue.
I'll keep thinking about it - maybe I'll come up with something.
I used to wonder that too. There is an ISO color standard for pencil lead size. You'll need to get a .9mm to get red. .5 is orange. Who knew right?
Gregor
Hostyle
Well-known member
Maybe. Probably, but I'd cut the boxes vertically intending to use those round outlets then didn't. I'm not thrilled with it but for now I'm not going to dwell on it and just keep moving on. I think if I were to do it over I'd put the outlets under the counters lip, and maybe in v2 I'll do that. Sigh. The other idea I had was to have the outlets prong openings laser cut out but then I have the same service issue.
I'll keep thinking about it - maybe I'll come up with something.
Under the counters lip would be a good spot, usable but still mostly out of sight. Would you mount them upside down (underneath the top) or against the 'wall'?
By the way, it wasn't meant as criticism. If I only had half or a quarter of your talent...
No offense taken! I've gotten a lot from the comments and advice offered here and trust me - I wasn't keen on it either but at the moment I want to keep going. It was one of the reasons why I'd held off on it. I didn't see a good way of solving it without having to remake a lot and I just can't go backwards right now. Not yet.
Right now I've got to buckle down and keep momentum or else i'll be living in a half built house by myself. I'm working hard today to try to get the drawers in by the end of the week before Judiaann comes back. Coming home to something completed makes her happy. If momma ain't happy ain't no one happy...
Or something like that.
Gregor
Looks fabulous...
Maybe add some of these for those outlets...they would look hi-tec and uber useful...?? Just a suggestion.
Those outlets are great, but if you used those there, it would guarantee that an iPhone would be plugged in there pretty much all the time. Would kind of make the kitchen look messy.
Yeah, I have a couple of them and I'm waiting for the next round of sheet rock repair to install them by the bed. I quit doing paper magazines and just subscribe via the ipad so I tend to read at night so they make the most sense there. Yes, it's going to be a challenge to keep the counters clean and empty but we both favor that so if the drawers and pantry work out it should go a long way.
Gregor
Gregor
So today was first coat of poly on the middle and upper drawers. They need a full 12-24 hours to dry hard enough to sand so I try to get it done early but I don't have enough saw horses/space to do it all at once so I do it in batches and wait for the first ones to be dry enough to stack.
So while the middles are drying I finish the dividers.
To keep them together I tape them with painters tape so I can do the three at once.
I measure half the distance and then test the depth stop on the Kapex until I'm there. I also took the time today to reset my lasers. I knew one was just a bit wide but it was bugging me. The cuts turned out to be just a hair over two blade widths wide.
I also forgot at first to use a backer board for the standing divider cuts to prevent the blowout of the unsupported blade. The top board is the backer the bottom is the clean cut.
I then test fit the divider in the first half cuts and mark for the second cuts.
And there's the only divider. It makes 8 spots for silverware which I hope is sufficient. What I like is that they're very generously sized. I could make more if needed as I'm not going to glue the dividers in so they can be removed to make cleaning easier.
Then I worked on the stretchers between the drawers but ran out of walnut edge banding. I made them exactly 82mm wide just so they'd sit centered on my Kreg jig for pocket screws. Tomorrow I'll make a jig to keep hold them to the right height for installing.
And fortunately we've got good weather again so they can stay out to dry. After the dividers were mostly dry I stood them in the top of their slots to be able to get the top edges which I couldn't when I coated them lying down.
Tomorrow they all have to be sanded, wiped down, tack clothed and then given the second coat. Since they tend to catch small specks of dust outside before they're tack-free I'll do the final coat inside and once dry enough I'll move them outside to finish drying.
Gregor
So while the middles are drying I finish the dividers.
To keep them together I tape them with painters tape so I can do the three at once.
I measure half the distance and then test the depth stop on the Kapex until I'm there. I also took the time today to reset my lasers. I knew one was just a bit wide but it was bugging me. The cuts turned out to be just a hair over two blade widths wide.
I also forgot at first to use a backer board for the standing divider cuts to prevent the blowout of the unsupported blade. The top board is the backer the bottom is the clean cut.
I then test fit the divider in the first half cuts and mark for the second cuts.
And there's the only divider. It makes 8 spots for silverware which I hope is sufficient. What I like is that they're very generously sized. I could make more if needed as I'm not going to glue the dividers in so they can be removed to make cleaning easier.
Then I worked on the stretchers between the drawers but ran out of walnut edge banding. I made them exactly 82mm wide just so they'd sit centered on my Kreg jig for pocket screws. Tomorrow I'll make a jig to keep hold them to the right height for installing.
And fortunately we've got good weather again so they can stay out to dry. After the dividers were mostly dry I stood them in the top of their slots to be able to get the top edges which I couldn't when I coated them lying down.
Tomorrow they all have to be sanded, wiped down, tack clothed and then given the second coat. Since they tend to catch small specks of dust outside before they're tack-free I'll do the final coat inside and once dry enough I'll move them outside to finish drying.
Gregor
I just wanted to say that I absolutely adore your house and this thread. I read it a while ago but am yet to catch up with all of the new progress, can't wait to find a quiet moment to read all about it. Love your pictures, too!
E12-535iTurbo
Well-known member
You sure have the momentum going. Good work!
metalhead140
Well-known member
Amazing work and photographic documentation of it all. Been reading for a while, but not sure if I commented before. Keep it up!
GRS DESIGN
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2013
- Messages
- 46
Gregor you must be setting a trend.....I see more and more of us Australians enjoying your quest....it is the most enjoyable read on GJ you are a craftsman in wood and metal keep the updates coming your photo documentation is fantastic....Glenn
yep!
Inspires me to do some woodwork - I just can't find a project that I need at the moment.
Thanks Glenn. I think the States and Australia share a hands on can do approach to things but other than that I'm not sure why. Some day I'm going to ride over there though so maybe I'll have a place to stay!
In order to get all the drawers done today I really cranked out on the sanding. And the poly. So much so that I had no time to shoot anything when I was coating the drawers because I had to move so fast. I'd load the roller, coat the base and sides and then immediately load a brush to get the corners and brush out any drips or missed spots. If I wasn't quick the poly would start to set up in the hot sun. I might have done it inside but I wanted it to dry quick so nothing would get stuck in the final coat.
Which it didn't. It came out great and I love the golden tone of the oil poly'd birch. And a reason for satin, among others, is that it can be hit with a light rub of 0000 steel wool to knock down any dust nubs and it will blend right in. The two coats is just enough. I know I've mentioned it before but let me say it again: Baltic Birch plywood is the greatest. It sands out so perfectly smooth and buttery that you just can't believe it. There's no paper thin veneer to blow through and it doesn't need edge banding. What's not to love?
With my roller wrapped up and brush soaking I gathered the tools for the next project...
An open hook in a drill makes a great eyelet or hook driver...
and that helped get the hammock hung so I could take a break with a Double D Blonde...
Beer that is.
Gregor
Hostyle
Well-known member
The drawers look great. Double D's were well deserved, your wife will be pleased I assume.
Modern Jess
Well-known member
I wasn't jealous of the bikes. I've got more bikes (mostly scooters, but still) than I know what to do with.
I wasn't jealous of the mad photography skills. I've put in my time looking through the lens, and stopped when it was no longer holding my interest.
I wasn't jealous of the awesome woodworking skills. Though much more meticulous than my own, I've spent years doing it myself and am satisfied with my skills there.
I wasn't jealous of the Festool collection. I have a few pieces of my own, and undoubtedly more to come.
But dammit, I don't have a hammock, and now I know for sure I need one.
Thanks, Gregor.
I wasn't jealous of the mad photography skills. I've put in my time looking through the lens, and stopped when it was no longer holding my interest.
I wasn't jealous of the awesome woodworking skills. Though much more meticulous than my own, I've spent years doing it myself and am satisfied with my skills there.
I wasn't jealous of the Festool collection. I have a few pieces of my own, and undoubtedly more to come.
But dammit, I don't have a hammock, and now I know for sure I need one.
Thanks, Gregor.