tj675
Well-known member
Great progress on the bench!
Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT The Mary Kay Garage
- Thread starter pickles
- Start date
Workspaces sized between 265 and 485 squarefeet.
Another update. I’m working on the front laminate today. This is the last large piece of the top. It is also dovetailed into the end cap. I tried my hand at cutting the dovetails and to be honest I’m not sure how well they turned out. I think the angel is to step and the base of the two tails is a little uneven. Thoughts?
I may cut them off completely and try again. This piece of wood is long enough to allow me to do that, just barely.
regardless the next step in the process is for me to do the pins on the end cap and glue this strip to the front of the front half of the top. After final figment of the tail vice I’ll be done with the top until I do final assembly of the workbench.
I may cut them off completely and try again. This piece of wood is long enough to allow me to do that, just barely.
regardless the next step in the process is for me to do the pins on the end cap and glue this strip to the front of the front half of the top. After final figment of the tail vice I’ll be done with the top until I do final assembly of the workbench.
.....sawduststeve
Well-known member
Pickles, I’m sure the dovetails will be ok , but if you do decide to do them again, maybe cut just one. Looks like it’s going to be a great solid bench. Looking forward to seeing it finished.Another update. I’m working on the front laminate today. This is the last large piece of the top. It is also dovetailed into the end cap. I tried my hand at cutting the dovetails and to be honest I’m not sure how well they turned out. I think the angel is to step and the base of the two tails is a little uneven. Thoughts?
I may cut them off completely and try again. This piece of wood is long enough to allow me to do that, just barely.
regardless the next step in the process is for me to do the pins on the end cap and glue this strip to the front of the front half of the top. After final figment of the tail vice I’ll be done with the top until I do final assembly of the workbench.
Steve
Well, I think this is a little better but perhaps not as Improved as I would like. 
The tails are more symmetrical but still not as thick as I would like. I think I know what is happening. I’m cutting the tails on my band saw using a home made jig which is basically a piece of plywood that I cut into a wedge. To get that wedge I cut the angle on the band saw then run it over the jointer to make it straight. I think the angle changes as I run it over the jointer And this affects the angle of the tails. I cut a new jig tonight got this retry but the same thing happened. I may just go with this. To cut the tails on same board a third time would mean it’s too short for the rest of the top. If I want to try again I’m going to have to drive out to the suburbs again, buy new board, mill it down and try again.
I’m more than a little frustrated at this moment.
The tails are more symmetrical but still not as thick as I would like. I think I know what is happening. I’m cutting the tails on my band saw using a home made jig which is basically a piece of plywood that I cut into a wedge. To get that wedge I cut the angle on the band saw then run it over the jointer to make it straight. I think the angle changes as I run it over the jointer And this affects the angle of the tails. I cut a new jig tonight got this retry but the same thing happened. I may just go with this. To cut the tails on same board a third time would mean it’s too short for the rest of the top. If I want to try again I’m going to have to drive out to the suburbs again, buy new board, mill it down and try again.
I’m more than a little frustrated at this moment.
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Leave the dovetail as pictured. Don't remove the center, make it one big dovetail. Glue a contrasting shim into the saw slots after assembly. It will look like you planned it that way- and tighten up the joint.
The center is already cut. I didn’t hog it out because of frustration but I already did make the cuts.
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Looks like it is still attached (base cut marked but not cut?)
It is. But you’d always see the cut lines. I’m traveling for work tomorrow but when I get back I’ll hog out the center section and think if I am going to try it a third time or not. I might go back to working on the base for some time. If I try again I think I’m going to make my jig on the table saw.
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
The two cut lines are where the thin walnut shims would go.
Just suggesting a recovery that doesn't require a road trip for another slab.
Just suggesting a recovery that doesn't require a road trip for another slab.
tj675
Well-known member
That’s looking better. Remove the waste and I think it will be close.
smschriefer
Well-known member
I believe this is for the end of the bench. It will be fine if that is the case and you are just over thinking it. The tension is running with the grain of the wood and that is very strong. Plus, once you glue that joint the surface area of the glue will make it extremely strong.
Prospecter
Well-known member
Eh. Good enough. It looks good and will work. The whole point of projects is the learning with each one. Don't let perfect be the enemy of good.Well, I think this is a little better but perhaps not as Improved as I would like.
The tails are more symmetrical but still not as thick as I would like. I think I know what is happening. I’m cutting the tails on my band saw using a home made jig which is basically a piece of plywood that I cut into a wedge. To get that wedge I cut the angle on the band saw then run it over the jointer to make it straight. I think the angle changes as I run it over the jointer And this affects the angle of the tails. I cut a new jig tonight got this retry but the same thing happened. I may just go with this. To cut the tails on same board a third time would mean it’s too short for the rest of the top. If I want to try again I’m going to have to drive out to the suburbs again, buy new board, mill it down and try again.
I’m more than a little frustrated at this moment.
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I have always believed that a good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow.
So enough of this workbench stuff. How about some car news?
First thing is that the Porsche was finally released from the port in Baltimore where it has been on hold because of some illegal part for the last month. Its supposed to be delivered to the Porsche dealer tomorrow. Very excited. I'm not sure how long they will take to prep it but maybe I can pick it up this weekend? If not I would guess certainly next week.
Second I'm making plans to pick up Mary Kay. She has actually been done for about 3 months or so but I've been just letting it sit in Virginia for that whole time. Tentative plan is to do a road trip back to Chicago the last weekend in March. It will probably be a more expedited road trip that I had hoped to do last summer/ fall but the plan is to do a road trip nonetheless. Could it be cold as hell that week? Yes of course. Could a 56 year old car breakdown and leave me stranded? Yes that too. Could this be a total disaster? Absolutely. But the plan is to do it anyway. Also very excited about this.
The garage is going to be very full next month.
I'll definitely make sure I post up some pictures of both once they happen.
First thing is that the Porsche was finally released from the port in Baltimore where it has been on hold because of some illegal part for the last month. Its supposed to be delivered to the Porsche dealer tomorrow. Very excited. I'm not sure how long they will take to prep it but maybe I can pick it up this weekend? If not I would guess certainly next week.
Second I'm making plans to pick up Mary Kay. She has actually been done for about 3 months or so but I've been just letting it sit in Virginia for that whole time. Tentative plan is to do a road trip back to Chicago the last weekend in March. It will probably be a more expedited road trip that I had hoped to do last summer/ fall but the plan is to do a road trip nonetheless. Could it be cold as hell that week? Yes of course. Could a 56 year old car breakdown and leave me stranded? Yes that too. Could this be a total disaster? Absolutely. But the plan is to do it anyway. Also very excited about this.
The garage is going to be very full next month.
I'll definitely make sure I post up some pictures of both once they happen.
nicholam77
Well-known member
I've never tried dovetails so I'm not one to talk, but your 2nd attempt does look better to me. They look more similarly proportioned, anyways.
I'm sure once you glue it up and fill the gaps with some sawdust it will look great. It's a handmade bench after all, no shame in some human imperfection imo, likely you will forget about it over time, but if not it will remind you that YOU made it.
Can't wait to see the 911!
I'm sure once you glue it up and fill the gaps with some sawdust it will look great. It's a handmade bench after all, no shame in some human imperfection imo, likely you will forget about it over time, but if not it will remind you that YOU made it.
Can't wait to see the 911!
So, Here she is.
She is not quite mine yet however. The replacement part for the illegal control module that caused the month long delay at the port of Baltimore is in the front trunk. They are waiting for the two new single use bolts that are required to install the new part in the car. They are expected to arrive tomorrow via fedex. If they do I’ll pick her up tomorrow. I couldt wait that long so I stopped by the Porsche dealer on my way home from work and got the chance to see the car. Very exciting.
She is not quite mine yet however. The replacement part for the illegal control module that caused the month long delay at the port of Baltimore is in the front trunk. They are waiting for the two new single use bolts that are required to install the new part in the car. They are expected to arrive tomorrow via fedex. If they do I’ll pick her up tomorrow. I couldt wait that long so I stopped by the Porsche dealer on my way home from work and got the chance to see the car. Very exciting.
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PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Das ist scheist.
garfieldzzz
Well-known member
Let me mend that for you: Das ist Scheisse.
68400BIRD
Well-known member
It will all be worth it in the end.
Success! Left work early today and had my son skip track practice so he could come with me. I would have loved to go with my old man to pick up a car like that when I was a kid (instead we got Buicks). My son isn’t as much of a car guy as I am but I know he had a great time nonetheless. 
And at Home
So far I’ve only driven her 7 miles. I need to Uber back to the dealer so I can drive my wife’s car home. I’ll be bringing the car back to the dealer on Monday to get a ppf done.
And at Home
So far I’ve only driven her 7 miles. I need to Uber back to the dealer so I can drive my wife’s car home. I’ll be bringing the car back to the dealer on Monday to get a ppf done.
Trapps
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Congrats on the ‘T’ and in a fabulous color too!
Edit: Also, bravo for passing on the side script graphic.
Edit: Also, bravo for passing on the side script graphic.
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captain14
Well-known member
Have they had a Chance to take it for a distance drive to shake out any “bugs” that haven’t shown up yet?
Captain. That’s what they are doing in the photo above. That and getting some frozen custard. The restoration shop had driven it about fifty miles as a shake down and some of the family I have down in Virginia is having fun with it now. From what I hear it drives nice with no problems.
Trapps, it’s a pretty basic build, as I wanted it to be. It’s a stick shift which was really important to me. I kept it as a two seater as well. The backseat is a no cost option on this model. It has the base seats which means that they are partially cloth and the back and forth adjustment is an old school lever (although tilt and up/down are electric.). It has no sunroof and the base interior. And as you noted no side stickers. It only has six options. These include a Bose stereo upgrade because the base system is awful, the metallic paint, a larger 27 gallon fuel tank, front axle lift (because I live in the city), blind spot lights in the mirrors(should be standard equipment) and a couple other small items. Because it’s a Carrera T it came with a number of handling items as standard- the lowered suspension, sport chrono, a mechanical limited slip differential, sport exhaust and some lightweight items. I’ll do a couple more posts with my thoughts about the car once I put a few more miles on it.
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I was frustrated after the debacle with my tails on the faceplate of the top. But I still wanted to make some progress on the workbench so I decided to start working on the base. I think this is going to be my final dry fit before I glue and draw bored each pair of side legs. I still have some work to do on the front left leg as it is part of the leg vice But otherwise it’s pretty close to done. I‘m relatively happy with how it is coming together. 
I needed a flat and open space (which my workshop does not have) so I assembled it in the most unused room of the house- our home gym.
I‘m hoping I can get the two side glued up in the next week or so. I have some travel plans so that might be wishful thinking. I do think I am going to recut the tails on the front face of the top but I need a new board for that and I haven’t had time to get to the wood store. This is another reason why it made sense to shift to working on the workbench base.
I needed a flat and open space (which my workshop does not have) so I assembled it in the most unused room of the house- our home gym.I‘m hoping I can get the two side glued up in the next week or so. I have some travel plans so that might be wishful thinking. I do think I am going to recut the tails on the front face of the top but I need a new board for that and I haven’t had time to get to the wood store. This is another reason why it made sense to shift to working on the workbench base.
Its 30 degrees in Chicago this morning. Not exactly perfect weather for a road trip in a 56 year old convertible with a marginal heating system and untested reliability. I'm going to do it anyway. Its time to bring Mary Kay back home after a year and a half in Virginia. My family calls it her time at the spa. This might be a disaster and the weather for such a trip looks like it could be marginal but its time to bring her home. We are starting to have nice days in Chicago here and there and I've already missed a couple of great days to drive her around. Its also my sons spring break this week and he really wants to join my in this trip. I'd rather not have him miss school just to drive the Cadillac home.
This will be an abbreviated version of the trip we had planned last fall. My son and I plan to fly out to Washington Dulles on friday morning. My dad will be driving up from Virginia that morning and will pick us up in Mary Kay at the airport.
Side Note: A few words about my family tree. On the off chance that someone remembers a comment I made back in post 489 of this thread they might be saying WTF as I mentioned that my father died in 93. How can this be? This can be true because I am referring to two different men. My parents were divorced when I was very young (like 3 years old) and both got remarried soon thereafter. My father got married, moved back to Virginia where he was from and had five kids. My mom also got remarried. For reasons that don't matter here my stepfather, after a few years, actually adopted me. So I have a legal father, who died in 93 and a biological father who is alive and more or less well (he does have a lot of age related mobility issues). Both men were my father and I referred to each as such. Anyway it’s my biological father who will be joining my son and me on this trip.
Back to our regular programing. The plan is that my dad will pick us up on Friday morning at the Dulles airport in Mary Kay. We will then drive into DC to see my daughter who is a sophomore at George Washington and have lunch with here. After that we will head west, trying to stay mostly off the highway, try to find some interesting things to eat and see and try to make it to Goshen Indiana by Saturday night or maybe Sunday morning. We will drop off my dad in Goshen as he has a brother there and wants to spend a few days with him. My son and I will then drive home in Chicago on Sunday. In total its about 700 miles. I'll definitely post some pictures of the trip. Lets hope this isn't a total disaster.
This will be an abbreviated version of the trip we had planned last fall. My son and I plan to fly out to Washington Dulles on friday morning. My dad will be driving up from Virginia that morning and will pick us up in Mary Kay at the airport.
Side Note: A few words about my family tree. On the off chance that someone remembers a comment I made back in post 489 of this thread they might be saying WTF as I mentioned that my father died in 93. How can this be? This can be true because I am referring to two different men. My parents were divorced when I was very young (like 3 years old) and both got remarried soon thereafter. My father got married, moved back to Virginia where he was from and had five kids. My mom also got remarried. For reasons that don't matter here my stepfather, after a few years, actually adopted me. So I have a legal father, who died in 93 and a biological father who is alive and more or less well (he does have a lot of age related mobility issues). Both men were my father and I referred to each as such. Anyway it’s my biological father who will be joining my son and me on this trip.
Back to our regular programing. The plan is that my dad will pick us up on Friday morning at the Dulles airport in Mary Kay. We will then drive into DC to see my daughter who is a sophomore at George Washington and have lunch with here. After that we will head west, trying to stay mostly off the highway, try to find some interesting things to eat and see and try to make it to Goshen Indiana by Saturday night or maybe Sunday morning. We will drop off my dad in Goshen as he has a brother there and wants to spend a few days with him. My son and I will then drive home in Chicago on Sunday. In total its about 700 miles. I'll definitely post some pictures of the trip. Lets hope this isn't a total disaster.
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draco_1967
Well-known member
That sounds like it will be a great trip! I hope the weather is good for you guys.
I understand having to explain family like that. My wife says I don't have a family tree, I have a family web. I was adopted. My adoptive parents divorced when I was 3, and both remarried. I connected with my biological parents a few years back. When I say "my dad," I could mean one of 3 people, all who I consider to be my dad.
Safe travels!
I understand having to explain family like that. My wife says I don't have a family tree, I have a family web. I was adopted. My adoptive parents divorced when I was 3, and both remarried. I connected with my biological parents a few years back. When I say "my dad," I could mean one of 3 people, all who I consider to be my dad.
Safe travels!
billconner
Well-known member
Definitely best wishes for safe travels and mild weather!
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Safe travels, sounds like a great multi-generational road trip.
Ford52PU
Well-known member
Good luck sounds like a great father/son/father/son trip. I’m jealous my Dad died when I was 15, you were lucky to have 2! Enjoy your trip
Uofime
Well-known member
Gonna give the cooling system a good test putting around DC, but that’s the right place to do it, near the shop that will fix it.
I think I’d want an extra day or two to enjoy the places along the way, but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do aaaand if you ran a day late, probably wouldn’t be the end of the world anyway.
Happy motoring!
I think I’d want an extra day or two to enjoy the places along the way, but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do aaaand if you ran a day late, probably wouldn’t be the end of the world anyway.
Happy motoring!