Woodworking 101--Tools and Tips

[rrich1]

Rich:

My chop is over 14" wide and there's advantages to wide chops, the only disadvantage is it takes a good screw to make one work right; Benchcrafted or a very large wood screw, like a Lake Erie....attached a photo.

I think I want it the bigger the better. I think right now I can get it a little above 11" but we'll see. I am having my father in law make me a 2 1/2" wood screw from hard maple.

Your leg vise is amazing. I love the design.

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[jimreed2160]

I think I want it the bigger the better. I think right now I can get it a little above 11" but we'll see. I am having my father in law make me a 2 1/2" wood screw from hard maple.

Your leg vise is amazing. I love the design.

Yes. Andy's bench looks nicer than my fine furniture projects.

 

[rrich1]

Clamps anyone?

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[Ainsley]

Clamps anyone?

Can never have too many! My wife makes fun of me because every time we go to a store with tools I need to go look at the clamps... Just incase there is a good sale.

That is a fairly old photo, I have quite a few more now.

 

[drivesitfar]

Andy: as Jim said your woodworking bench is AWESOME.

RR & Ainsley: i love the clamps in action photos

All: take a closer look at the system Ainsley has for dust collection for his grinders and tools along the walls of his shop. then go to his garage thread and see how he made it and he also shows how much you can put in a one car garage/shop.

JIM: are your cats adjusting to their new digs? did you notice your/our thread just went over 200,000 views and new members checking in all the time. keep up the good/great work and showing most of us that we need more tools.

 

[ScottsGT]

I'm currently building a drawer to hold my measly 6 clamps. I would have about twice as many, but no storage. Yet. I'm going to go nuts with clamps.
Now I'm not including my two holdfasts and 3 pipe clamps. But I'm going to add more of them too.

 

[jimreed2160]

Clamps
I started ww in my dad's basement shop. He had C clamps, handscrews and a few pairs of 48" I beam clamps. That meant that I could find clamping for most of my early projects. BUT when I struck out on my own, I was clamp-less. It was a very frustrating time for ww. As times went on and my fortunes changed, I was able to put clamps on the purchasing dept list. Well, now that we are waaay down the pike, I suppose that purchasing might have overshot the mark a bit. There are Jorgies, Bessies, and a whole flock of HFs. I have them stashed all over the shop. All I can say is that having too many seriously beats the heck out of not having enough.

So try this strategy. Let your family know that you appreciate their love but socks and ties for presents are nice. BUT if they really want to show the love, they can shower you with PAIRS of clamps. Everybody knows that buying one clamp is like buying one shoe. Spread the word and you might get lucky.

CATS--Yes, Drives, the ww cats are settling in fine. We are coming up on three weeks. They have explored the house and each has put on a pound or two--pretty good for small 7 lb cats. I now have nap buddies for my afternoon siesta time. When I go into the shop, they stake out the door to the garage. It's only a matter of time before they sneak in and explore the place.

 

[rrich1]

Got the leg chop basically all milled up. I still need to cut it to length. Trying to lay out a coffin pattern as well. Not sure if you can tell the lines or not. Having the cut in start at 17". Leg is 37". Total when it will be done (assuming it don't lower the bench by then.) If you can see it does it look right?

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[jimreed2160]

rrich--Looks good to me from what I can see. How did you mark it out? I ask because most of my lumber is not parallel--it is slightly wider on one end. For layout tasks like this I use a trammel and it is pretty easy to check for parallel. But then again, you probably already checked. I am anxious to see it in action.

 

[ADNICK]

Thanks to all for the kind comments about the bench....

Rich:

Cameras can do strange things to 3D objects, esp when there's a lot of depth in the background....makes your chop look out of square in the picture.

As Jim already stated, used a homemade trammel for doing mine also, then rigged up some bent sticks and drew it on some butcher paper first. You could also use a section of 1/4 plywood the same shape as your uncut chop to do a test pattern/cut on....

Can't wait to see the results,
Andy

 

[rrich1]

rrich--Looks good to me from what I can see. How did you mark it out? I ask because most of my lumber is not parallel--it is slightly wider on one end. For layout tasks like this I use a trammel and it is pretty easy to check for parallel. But then again, you probably already checked. I am anxious to see it in action.

Have you checked your fence on your table saw? How do you align yours? I use a combination square in the miter slot that extends to the fence. The end of the fence is ever so slightly tapered away to keep from things binding.

As for the layout. I put a line down where I think it would look good and a line at the bottom. I measure in 1" on the bottom line and used a straight edge for the line.

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[ADNICK]

Rich:

Have had several leg vises, and my big concerns are with screw location/height, chop width and now build all mine where the bottom slide on floor.

Don't know what you're using to keep the vise parallel, but I highly recommend the Crisscross device from BC, or a similar design.....they are stout and work fantastic.

 

[wrenchguy]

Running the defiance 24" planer today.

Video.

 

[mike_paxton]

Running the defiance 24" planner today. Am i spelling it right?

Video.

Wrenchguy:

Good looking chips coming off the vintage Defiance Planer.

Thks for doing the video.

Mike

 

[ScottsGT]

Wrenchguy,
Did that van in the background have "Free Candy" spray painted on it??

Love seeing that old machine still working! I bet it spits out higher quality than todays machines??

 

[ScottsGT]

Oops! Came here to ask a serous question and got all wrapped up in watching the old Planer do it's thing.

I'm looking to add a few chisels to the wood working arsenal. I'm looking at the Stanley Sweethearts and the Stanley Bailey's. Both appear to be made in England. Reading some Amazon reviews, one reviewer stated that the Sweethearts were better steel, but it appears they both come from the same place??
I personally feel that the Bailey's larger handle would fit my hands better.
Thoughts?

 

[Autonomous]

Check YouTube, WranglerStar. He did a series on the Irwin Marples Chisels, and compared them to the newer and original Stanley Sweetheart Chisels.

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[jimreed2160]

Wrench--What a great video! My experience with the little lunchbox planers was not good. My dad had a screaming, sawdust spewing little banshee. Yours, however, is pretty quiet. It is a nice tool. I enjoyed seeing your grizzled helper--wait, that was you! I think there are lots of us out there who aspire to be Santa or at least one of his helpers.

Thanks for the video tour and please keep us up to date on the wagon rehab. That is quite an ambitious project.

 

[jimreed2160]

Scotts--Chisels are about as personal as underwear. You just need to find something that is just right for you. I like the short dudes for general work--think Stanley 60 **** chisels. It is what I started with and I grew very familiar with the style when I carved a chess set using only a 3/8 chisel and a coping saw. Hooped Japanese chisels are short like that and I like them.

But it really depends on what you intend to do with said chisels. I made my mortise chisel set out of 1/2" O-1 bar stock because I could not find anything stout enough. I also made some very small Japanese style paring chisels because I did not want to pay Japanese chisel prices.

I really like the Japanese chisels because they are hard and hold an edge. They also enjoy being pounded with a hammer.

If you are really unsure, you can buy a single chisel--3/8 is a nice and frequently used size. Use it awhile and see how you like it.

I started with single chisels--some new and some used--because it was all I could afford at the time. When I was able to afford better ones, I acquired sets. I think sets are the way to go and I use various sizes all the time. It is nice to have just the right size for the job at hand. It is extra nice to have alternate chisels to use on a project when the perfect size gets a nick or is just not sharp enough.

On slow shop days, I declare chisel dust & fluff time and touch up the whole set. Doing them all at once seems to save time and it sure beats having to stop a project for sharpening.

Good luck in your quest. Based on what you are looking at, it will be hard for you to make a bad decision.

 

[ez-duzit]

I too like the Japanese chisels. Get a set, even if it is not comprehensive. My most used are 1/2" and larger.

 

[Notgrownup]

Wrenchguy:

Good looking chips coming off the vintage Defiance Planer.

Thks for doing the video.

Mike

Very neat.. my grandpa had one similar to this way back in Canada, he thought me and my cousins a lot of tips and woodwork tricks as very young boys...I will be woodworking soon hopefully, my shop is almost ready after 3 years...just need it de cluttered now,.. thanks for posting wrench guy.

 

[wrenchguy]

Wrench--What a great video! My experience with the little lunchbox planers was not good. My dad had a screaming, sawdust spewing little banshee. Yours, however, is pretty quiet. It is a nice tool. I enjoyed seeing your grizzled helper--wait, that was you! I think there are lots of us out there who aspire to be Santa or at least one of his helpers.

Thanks for the video tour and please keep us up to date on the wagon rehab. That is quite an ambitious project.

jim, its just a minor repair replacing the rear frame. the frame needs 2b there to store its original john deere shoveling board shown in the vid. thanks 4 all the comments.

 

[jimreed2160]

EZ--That's a nice group of chisels. Thanks for the picture.

Not--Glad to see you are close to making some shavings. We all know you have lots of NC walnut around you. What's your first project?

 

[wrenchguy]

New bottom frame supporting shovel board.

 

[jimreed2160]

Chisels

I know I have posted these before but maybe they are lost in the clutter. Here is a group of my favorite user chisels.

The Japanese chisels are on my main fixit benchtop because I use them the most. The Stanley set is on my sharpening bench and are used for backup. Lower left are the mortise chisels that I made from barstock--1/4, 3/8, and 1/2.

Lower right are the Japanese style paring chisels. I purchased the 3/8 but the price was north of $50. My purse could not be opened for more so I made the 1/4, 3/16, and 1/8 myself.

Here they are alongside a bench chisel for comparison.

And here is a Japanese bench chisel with a Stanley #60 **** chisel. I think they are very similar in size and use. I like the stubby nature of both.

Hope this helps others make decisions.

 

[DenisG]

New bottom frame supporting shovel board.

Please forgive me if this is a dumb question, but what is the purpose of a "shovel board" on a wagon?

 

[wrenchguy]

Please forgive me if this is a dumb question, but what is the purpose of a "shovel board" on a wagon?

Its just a platform that folds down to shovel grain off when one opens the lower grain door just forward of the upright shovel board. With the wagon full grain would spill out on the ground when opening the grain door. Most times these wagons carried cob corn then the guy would stand on the shovel board to shovel cob up into the corn bin. Of course this was back in the day at small family farms.

 

[DenisG]

Its just a platform that folds down to shovel grain off when one opens the lower grain door just forward of the upright shovel board. With the wagon full grain would spill out on the ground when opening the grain door. Most times these wagons carried cob corn then the guy would stand on the shovel board to shovel cob up into the corn bin. Of course this was back in the day at small family farms.

Thanks for the explanation!

 

[jimreed2160]

New arrival

Here is what the mailman brought today.

It is a slightly modified Stanley #77 dowel machine that I bought for parts.

The first order of business is to remove the pulley.

The previous owner did a good job. He used these threaded studs with brass ends.

Looking better already--and none the worse for wear. Kudos for the reversible mods.

It is greasy with oil (?) and covered with brown rust. Need to clean that up. These machines were shipped with a 3/8 cutter and that is all you find 90% of the time. Different sized cutters are rare. Bonus is that this one has a 3/4 cutter that is in great shape except for a little rust.

The head stock adjuster rod is bent. That is common because the clamp is REVERSE threaded so it will not unscrew during operation. Of course, that feature leads to frustrated hammering to release the clamp.

I don't mind using my Reed vise as a makeshift press to help this rod get back on the straight and narrow.

It ends up better but not perfect.

I will post more rehab shots later. I want to clean up the cutter and make some big hickory sticks.

 

[shortykorte]

I was going to ask how it works so I found this

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[ADNICK]

Jim:

Was wishing I had a pulley like that on mine when it turned out over 90' of half inch dowels to make the drawer pulls for my workbench. ;-0

Looks like a nice find.....

Andy

 

[jimreed2160]

Jim:

Was wishing I had a pulley like that on mine when it turned out over 90' of half inch dowels to make the drawer pulls for my workbench. ;-0

Looks like a nice find.....

Andy

90 ft of dowels will give you arms like Popeye!

 

[cheechi]

how do you like that little Kobalt kit? I bought some for gifts and kept one for myself but never actually pulled it out of the drawer yet.

 

[dwasifar]

Jim:

Was wishing I had a pulley like that on mine when it turned out over 90' of half inch dowels to make the drawer pulls for my workbench. ;-0

Ninety FEET? What were you doing with them?

 

[drivesitfar]

All: anybody love their deck and want to share what wood or decking material they used? i'm looking at cedar cause i can get it in 5/4 and 1.5 inch thick and almost knot free and i like wood, but i'd also like the idea of a trex or composite or different wood if there might be something better to use.

Jim: you are always posting cool tools i've never seen. pretty interesting that the prior owner of your Stanley #77 put that wheel on it probably to attach to a 1/3 or 1/2 HP motor and must have needed to make a lot of dowels.

do you have the handle or like you say you are just taking it apart and going to use it as a donor for parts? here's a few pictures if found GOOGLING that might help others to know what it originally looked like and maybe what your other one does cause i think a month or two back you actually had one set up to use and made a dowel for us.

 

[jimreed2160]

how do you like that little Kobalt kit? I bought some for gifts and kept one for myself but never actually pulled it out of the drawer yet.

I am a sucker for those little tool sets and have them stashed all over the house and garage. So now I never have to go far for a screwdriver or socket set. This little Kobalt kit is pretty handy because it is also a ratchet screwdriver with about 1 inch clearance. I have used it frequently lately while assembling toolboxes and stands for the garage makeover.

 

[jimreed2160]

All: anybody love their deck and want to share what wood or decking material they used? i'm looking at cedar cause i can get it in 5/4 and 1.5 inch thick and almost knot free and i like wood, but i'd also like the idea of a trex or composite or different wood if there might be something better to use.

Jim: you are always posting cool tools i've never seen. pretty interesting that the prior owner of your Stanley #77 put that wheel on it probably to attach to a 1/3 or 1/2 HP motor and must have needed to make a lot of dowels.

do you have the handle or like you say you are just taking it apart and going to use it as a donor for parts? here's a few pictures if found GOOGLING that might help others to know what it originally looked like and maybe what your other one does cause i think a month or two back you actually had one set up to use and made a dowel for us.

5/4 or 6/4 cedar sounds nice for a deck.

The 3/4 cutter spent the evening at Spa Evaporust and got cleaned up this morning. I am unsure if the PO actually got to use his #77 as intended. It does not show much wear and the cutter on this die looks new. I will touch it up a bit and put it to work making my hickory stick. I need something to scrape up moss from my porch pavers. All I need is a square stick that is 1/8 larger than the cutter. In this case, that is 7/8. I think my hickory stock is 13/16 and that is close. No problem if the stick has a little flat side.

 

[drivesitfar]

JIM: 5/4 is what the mills are now calling 1 inch or it's maybe 3/4 inch at the big box stores. the 1.5 is a 2 by material. yep you can't go wrong with cedar especially if you keep up with staining it as needed which is about every other year up here.

cheers and best of luck with your moss. i wonder if vinegar or salt will kill your moss cause it sure kills the weeds and stuff i don't want here especially in my gravel area where i don't have other plants and tree's roots under where i'm using it.

i've just started using a propane torch i picked up at HF for $30 that you can definitely burn off some weeds quickly.

 

[wrenchguy]

Planing walnut slab having large crotch knot. I been not cutting the big crotch intersections off my logs for a while now. It appears 2me that my general public customers are liking this material as its scrap to the finer lumber people. Hey God made it and it looks good 2me. This particular piece is outside the grade lumber of the log mostly sap wood. The stills show it wiped with turp showing it natural non stained grain. I hardly stain my slab work. The new machine worked very good thru the hardass grain reversing knot only with minor tearout. thanks 4 looking.
video

video

 

[wrenchguy]

All: anybody love their deck and want to share what wood or decking material they used? i'm looking at cedar cause i can get it in 5/4 and 1.5 inch thick and almost knot free and i like wood, but i'd also like the idea of a trex or composite or different wood if there might be something better to use.

wood is natural best.