Woodworking 101--Tools and Tips

[jimreed2160]

Drives--Raw wood that comes from the mill fares better with an end treatment--especially if it is to be stored outside. Find a suitable color of exterior house paint and go to town. The purpose is to close up the end grain and retard wicking. An added bonus is that it slows down moisture from migrating OUT of the wood and enables the lumber to cure more slowly. Slow cure means that the ends are less likely to split since they lose moisture faster than the interior. A proper lumber pile also needs stickers at about 18" intervals to promote ventilation and prevent warping.

 

[CRSINMICH]

WOODWORKING CHISEL PRIMER​

This is far from a comprehensive list. There are dozens more types. I found chisels somewhat confusing at first. This is my attempt to add to that.

EDIT: The list is hard to read. If there is any interest, I can make two larger pictures from it.

 

[drivesitfar]

CRS: your chisel page comes up to a good read with 2 clicks. thanks for posting it. also thanks for the tips on the fence and i think i have that covered. as you can see in my Pergola pictures when i put the metal support at ground level that i needed to cut a couple inches off a few years later to stop the ants from making a home in it and also didn't want to eventually get any water damage.

JIM: since i'm usually staining the wood I think there is a natural color to treat the ends of the new wood that is drying outside or i guess if i paint them there is always trim to cut off so that probably would work too. funny i never see the boards painted at the mills or lumberyards or are they putting on a clear treatment? thanks for the tips and yes i put slats or maybe they are called stickers. i put 1x2's that are about 4 foot long every 18 inches under each row of boards and usually leave a couple inch gap in between the boards too and i'll see if i can find a few pictures. that also works for just storing wood even in the rain so the boards don't get soaked laying on each other and trapping the water. speaking of which i need to move the old lumber pile and either do the slats or get them under a tarp for winter. thanks

Shift:

WW: since you mentioned the grounding of a dust collection system which BTW i had never heard of before did you end up making a good one for yourself or just for work? welcome to the group and thanks for the tip. post up a few pictures of your dust collection system if you did make one or any of your wood projects no matter how simple if you have a few to show us. thanks

 

[turbowoodworker]

I am a big fan of small, attainable projects, like picture frames, mirrors and smaller furniture pieces. I get distracted if the projects are too big.

I would encourage the novice WW to stay small. Don't try to tackle the kitchen cabinets as a first project. We often get drawn into big projects out of necessity and bravado. "I can do that; look how much money we'll save...". It can sour a person on WW if the hobby becomes a job.

Here are some smaller projects. In fact, the lingerie chest is the only project that I have ever done from purchased plans. It went together quickly with layed out dimensions etc.

Damn, sorry for the sideways pictures.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Turbo: You're right about keeping projects small. If they get too big they can easily become a chore. It looks like you're into Mission/Craftsman/Arts & Crafts style. I am too, in fact I live in an Arts & Crafts kit house (not a Sears kit though). Are those Pewabic tiles in that frame? The Pewabic Studio is only a 15 minute drive from here. Good job on those small pieces.

To All: This flyer just appeared under my door. I had a look at the site and it is a HOOT. Give it a try. Here's the link:http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=317387&highlight=vise+history

OK, it's really a GJ thread that I've been trying to get people to visit and contribute to. It really is fun.

 

[drivesitfar]

Turbo: great looking and the quality is over the top. what kind of wood is that for the drawer fronts on the dresser? also is that a window frame looking into another room or do tell?

ALL: I tend to agree that you should stay small with the projects, but then I also agree in the saying GO BIG OR GO HOME. of course the GO BIG needs a lot more preparation and thinking before starting or Turbo is right you will fizzle out as you get started without a good plan.

Speaking of going big i need to build a fence that i was going to build 2015 and decided to get my gallbladder removed and then just didn't get it started this year, but with a little inspiration from this thread and GJ members 2017 it WILL BE DONE and then on to the deck rebuild. and then maybe kitchen cabinets. yes i have my own personal money pit here in paradise.

cheers

 

[turbowoodworker]

Drives, I do gallbladders on the side. Should'a called me I'd cut you a break. Maybe we could start a thread "Surgeries I Do In My Garage"

The "window" is actually an old beveled mirror I framed. I think the shape, and the fact it was unframed, suggests it was art deco. But a little maple scrap changed that.

The lingerie chest drawer fronts are "quilted maple" or big leaf maple. Very different from standard hard maple. A little easier on the tools too.It gives a striking pattern when finished well. The chest was built from plans. But I hate plans, so I changed it to look more arts and crafts style. And I made the drawers of aromatic cedar with dovetails (machine cut with router, did I mention I'm lazy?).

 

[drivesitfar]

CRS: I love your enthusiasm on that thread i started so long ago that was close to dead before you found it. yes there are many of us that really like the old pictures that is for certain. another thing you can do with my permission is to put the old pictures thread link in your sig line and maybe a few more members will find it to post pictures and see the ones you and the others have posted.

Turbo: Lazy like my Gramps was in pictures and story below. WELL DONE on the projects and so what's next?

ALL: speaking of old pictures and since this is WOODWORKING i mentioned my Gramps was a logger so here's a few pictures of his logging trucks i used to ride in back in the 50's and early 60's. i took cell phone pictures of old pictures in my 83 year old mom's photo album and i don't think they turned out too bad. ever ridden on the lap in a D9 when you were a 6 year old at about a 45 degree tilt cutting a logging road? i still remember that and you know it was better than any roller coaster ride invented. my gramps is in a couple of the pictures and at 5'10 and 165 pounds there wasn't another guy around that would mess with him. he started working in the woods at 16 and quit working in the woods at 80+ and lived until he was 93.

cheers

 

[turbowoodworker]

BTW, I think the big leaf maple is a species more common in the PNW. I was always able to find it in PHX but harder to find here in NC. You might check out the specialty lumber yards in your neck of the woods.

 

[turbowoodworker]

Now that is woodworking!!!!

 

[ez-duzit]

tw--nice chest of drawers.

 

[StillTooManyHobbies]

Thanks to all the posters. Awesome work and family stories.

 

[jimreed2160]

Turbo--Nice projects.

Drives--Love the shots from your family album. I can just hear your gramps when that truck pulled into the wood yard. "We need to debark that log. Someone fetch the 12 ft drawknife!"

 

[drivesitfar]

JIM: I bet he might have had a few of those tools that hopefully my dad and brother in law salvaged cause i was out of town when they went through most of the shop. Gramps actually cut them down, made the roads, ran the DONKEY which was a helluva loud machine that loaded the trucks and then he'd drive those logs to the mill. did i mention the old guy was pretty handy? the first picture isn't him, but that is a D9 Cat dozer in case you didn't know what D9 was. here's a picture of Gramps in his D6 dozer just pushing some dirt around their house. and had an old logging picture and can't recall where it was from. my uncle owned 4 of the local cedar mills and talk about the size of saw blades and logs that would go through his mills.

any idea how much one log that fills up a logging truck weighs? maybe some good wood inside that LITTLE LOG?

you had me laughing out loud with the 12 foot draw knife.

cheers

 

[TerryH]

I am a big fan of small, attainable projects, like picture frames, mirrors and smaller furniture pieces. I get distracted if the projects are too big.

I would encourage the novice WW to stay small. Don't try to tackle the kitchen cabinets as a first project. We often get drawn into big projects out of necessity and bravado. "I can do that; look how much money we'll save...". It can sour a person on WW if the hobby becomes a job.

Agree completely with this. As my skills got better I decided to take on more complicated projects. I built a farm house style dining table as one of my first projects. I bought the chairs unfinished. Wife wants a yet bigger table so I decided that I would build chairs instead of buying...10 of them. Got the wood. Made all the templates. What a freaking project chairs are. Still stuck with half a prototype years later. I actually dread the chairs and that makes it really hard to get back to them. I'm going to try and build the table over the winter but I may scrap...literally...the chair building project and just buy some again.

 

[CRSINMICH]

To All: In my response to Turbo I mentioned Sear's Kit houses. If you're not familiar with kit houses let me tell you a little about them. Sears, in it's heyday, had Walmart beat seven ways from Sunday. Their catalogs had everything in them including houses. You could look through the catalog, pick out a model you liked, and have it delivered to your lot. The kit would arrive complete down to the last finishing nail and with complete instructions, "Step 142) Nail stud A7 to header G21". One of the ways that real Sear's kit houses are identified is by climbing into the rafters and looking for the numbers. I've attached an actual Sears catalog page. There's a house like it next door to me. In order to be able to supply all the wood parts needed, Sears had a giant mill in Cairo, Illinois (pronounced Kay-row). There are stories that, when one particularly large planer was turned on, the lights in town would dim.

Drives: Would building an entire house be considered "Going Big"?

 

[mkbug]

I'm liking all the project and stories.

I got into woodworking after watching Norm a few too many times, plus getting involved with Habitat for Humanity. There is a great sense of accomplishment when you've finished something. I started really getting into WW in about 1998. Then dove into Woodturning in 2007. That's a whole other world and excuse to buy more tools.

Check out some of my projects here.

Now I'm getting into making videos.

 

[TerryH]

I'm liking all the project and stories.

I got into woodworking after watching Norm a few too many times.

Watching Norm is what got me into it as well. I have many seasons of New Yankee Workshop on VHS, and yes I still have a VHS player.

 

[drivesitfar]

CRS: tell me you built one of those Sears homes or did you help your dad build one with that handy brother of yours? great pictures as always.

MK: welcome to the thread and post up a few pictures for color. i'm sure some of us will end up watching your YouTube videos, but if you can share stuff on the thread and in writing that is why we started it. i honestly could spend all day looking at youtube videos and maybe learn even more, but i actually like learning more about the GJ members and learning from them and getting to know them even more.

post up some of the details of your skills and projects and i'm sure we'll refer to those videos as we have time.

TH: i agree Norm had a way of making everything look so damn simple until you actually tried to do it and you'd have to watch the video or taped shows many many times. wouldn't any of us like to own the YANKEE WORKSHOP and be able to just open the door and go in and work?

ALL: i'm having way too much fun on GJ today to get much work done, but i needed to stop early to look at wedding venues with my wife and daughter this afternoon so it's been fun. post up those old pictures and skills as you all have time and even learning how to measure is a skill a lot of kids and adults don't have so don't think what you are saying is not appreciated by someone.

cheers and hope you all have a great weekend.

 

[jimreed2160]

Terry--I am glad you brought up the subject of prototype. It is a good lead in to today's post. I like to prototype pieces and entire projects. As you have learned, prototyping helps with engineering both the project and the cutting operations. It really saves time for me and helps me keep my good wood out of the scrap pile.

Today's project is the frontpiece for my Sipco machinists chest. I acquired it inexpensively because it was in rough shape. One drawer was missing as well as the front cover. I made the drawer a few weeks ago and started on the front today. Here it is on the workbench along with a pile of lumber from Lowes.

I set one trammel for the length and one for the width. Everybody needs multiple trammel sets.

And here is the frame prototype. I used some 3" furring strips.

OK. So it may be awhile before the real front gets built. The prototype showed me a few traps and helped me refine my measurements. The big issue now is how to attach the inset panel. This stock is only 3/8" thick and that does not leave me a lot of room. I need at least a 1/8" reveal in front and the panel is 1/4". According to math, the panel needs to be flush on the rear. Glue ups bring about all sorts of cross grain issues. I need time to ponder.

The prototype frame fits pretty well. At least I am headed in the right direction. So I encourage everyone to be like Terry (and me) and prototype your complex projects. It can save you time AND frustration. As we all know, woodworking is supposed to be fun. Good luck with your projects.

 

[Craptain]

I concur on prototypes. Often times my GF will query the time spent on a prototype believing that the whole job could have been finished in the same time. It has though saved me time and money by finding and then avoiding dead ends and missteps. I consider patterning a similar process.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[turbowoodworker]

Terry
I HATE chairs! I never even thought of making one, much less several identical. The dining room table I think I posted way back around page 2,3,4 seats ten. No way was I making ten chairs. I would have found a way to use my 12 inch miter saw to crosscut my neck!

Now someday I would like to do a leather covered Morris chair, but there are lots of plans out there if I ever do. And only one.

 

[schor]

Sometimes I mix wood and metal. 6lbs >10" plumb bob. Just becuase I could.

 

[turbowoodworker]

That's purdy. Great use of the brass. What is the wood?

 

[drivesitfar]

Jim: looks like i need another woodworker's tool. tramell sets look like a good thing to own. thanks for the information. also i've never had a practice piece, but i have BUTCHERED a few nice pieces of wood so i guess that might be a practice i'll have to learn and do in the future.

Schor: OMG that plumb bob is PURDY. i bet i can make a few pieces of wood for my cool old screwdrivers and maybe make some of them shine like that. i like patina, but i'd rather own nice looking 100 year old tools that i can use.

ALL: anybody lurking that wants to post a LIKE or just pop in and post a few pictures of their projects please do. for those of you wanting to learn just ask a question or two if you want to learn and i bet you'll get an answer and maybe it will help others.

cheers and have a great weekend planning or doing some of those new projects.

 

[jimreed2160]

Schor--At six pounds, I bet that thing has very little BOBbing to it. Great work.

I will add some photos later of trammel sets. Every woodworker should have a trammel set, or beam compass because they are so dang handy. Everyone in school had a little nickel plated compass with a pencil on it. Those were good for drawing on a sheet of paper. A compass is handy in the workshop, but can quickly run out of its range. It is all simple geometry--the compass traces an arc based on the intersection of two lines. The size of the arc depends on the length of the legs beyond the intersection. Large arcs require large legs. At some point for the woodworker, these legs are too long to handle easily. That is where the beam compass comes into play.

So a trammel set is two scribe points on a beam. When one is stationary, the other will describe an arc. Put a pencil along with the scribe and you have an excellent marking device. I needed an arc for the top moulding of a 24" wide bookshelf one time and ended up using trammel points on a piece of 8 foot construction lumber. My first trammel set was a single trammel I found on the auction site. I made a suitable beam (stick) for the trammel and paired it with a nail for the stationary point. Still in use, along with several other sets.

I use trammels lots for measuring. When I need to make a drawer for case goods, I just measure the opening with a trammel and carry it around like a story stick. I use trammels to measure for drawer pulls and knobs. You can even set up the trammel with a piece of string and draw an ellipse. It is all solid geometry. I am sure my grandfather, who taught trig, would be amused and pleased at my use and references to woodworking geometry.

So all of you woodworkers out there--get yourself a set of trammels. You will be very pleased.

 

[TerryH]

Terry
I HATE chairs! I never even thought of making one, much less several identical. The dining room table I think I posted way back around page 2,3,4 seats ten. No way was I making ten chairs. I would have found a way to use my 12 inch miter saw to crosscut my neck!

Now someday I would like to do a leather covered Morris chair, but there are lots of plans out there if I ever do. And only one.

I hear ya. Now that I've been away from the chair project for a while I realize that what I really need is a some of purpose built sleds hopefully incorporating my very meticulously made patterns that I already have a ton of time in. I'm bandsawing the parts to rough shape and using my router table with big pattern bits to get the finished parts. If I ever get that process figured out and a prototype built to verify that the parts actually form a chair that's pleasing to the eye and the posterior, the actual construction of the chairs should be a pretty simple process. At least that is what I'm trying to convince myself of. I really do want to build the chairs.....just so I can say that I did. lol...

 

[schor]

The wood is rosewood. The main body is Bronze the tip is stainless and front part is brass as is the end. Here's a vid of most of the brass end shaping on my lathe.

 

[TerryH]

schor, wow, that is gorgeous!!

 

[TerryH]

The wood is rosewood. The main body is Bronze the tip is stainless and front part is brass as is the end. Here's a vid of most of the brass end shaping on my lathe.

Watched the plum bob vid on your channel. Dude, you got skills.

 

[schor]

Watched the plum bob vid on your channel. Dude, you got skills.

Terry you have skills too. And if we can both learn something from each other then we are both stronger.

 

[bj383ss]

Good posts today. I don't own a plumb bob or a trammel. Those need to be added to my never ending tool list. That plumb is too nice to use, it might get scratched. Jim thanks for sharing the different uses for trammels. I do use story sticks a lot. It helps keep me from making mistakes. But I still make a lot of them.

My dad told me something that still sticks in my head. A craftsman is someone who learns from his mistakes, can hide his mistakes, and most important not tell anyone he made a mistake. That last one I always fail at. Most people who don't do WW would never notice what we see faulty. But then again sometimes I am my own worst critic.

Terry I can understand the chair thing. I love building tables and cabinets but I would never want to build any chairs. I do want to build a set of folding Adirondack chairs someday.

So I spent all yesterday afternoon and this evening getting my shop cleaned up and stuff put away so I could take better pictures. I blame that on Terry. HA

So here they are.

Main woodworking area. This is the 3rd bay of the garage.

20161118_195453 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

20161118_195502 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

20161118_195520 by bjohnson388, on Flickr


Lathe bench. The lathe belonged to my grandpa. Its a 1939 Craftsman. Has a 1/2hp motor. He was a machinist and ran his own shop. He made parts for artificial brass hearts and he used this lathe to polish the small parts.

20161118_195509 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

20161118_195537 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

All my main woodworking tools. I have to roll the pickup over to use the planer. Not my final setup. I still need to tweak. I am planning to get rid of one of the tall blue cabinets in the background and move the DC in its place.

20161118_195549 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

Not really woodworking but it lives here. 1964 Chevy stepside 1/2 ton shortbed. This truck belonged to my FIL. He bought it 3 months before my wife was born in 1981. He left it to her when he passed away. I am in year four of doing a frame off restoration.

20161118_195558 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

Automotive bench and supplies. Have a big Wilton vise I am going to restore one day. It was my FIL. I love these cabinets. All cabinet grade plywood and the bottom cabinets are pine. I got all the wood to make these from work it was all going in the dumpster.

20161118_195624 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

Mitersaw bench, clamp storage, Wood rack. Were all my precious hardwoods live the few I keep on hand. Wood scraps storage underneath. Believe it or not this is pretty empty.

20161118_195605 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

20161118_195641 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

20161118_195657 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

HF reel and reg. Works for my purposes.

20161118_195822 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

Shopmade air cleaner.

20161118_195833 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

Wood storage. I need to make some more of these. Has long pieces that wont fit under my miter saw bench.

20161118_195837 by bjohnson388, on Flickr


My Rocketships. All scratch built.

20161118_195913 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

1982 Scania 1/10 scale truck I spent a year building.

20161118_195919 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

1949 Steam train I built from plans.

20161118_195923 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

ZCI inserts and you can make out part of my DC with shopmade blast gates.

20161118_195944 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

Well that's my shop tour.

Bret

 

[ez-duzit]

bj--very neat shop.

 

[schor]

We need a like button!!!!

 

[TerryH]

Hey Brett, You have done a masterful job of maximizing your space. That's about the most drawers I've ever seen in one place. The rockets, truck and train are super cool. I've followed your Chevy truck restoration for a long time. An other great project. Thanks for sharing the pics!! And your welcome for the motivation. lol...

 

[TerryH]

We need a like button!!!!

I agree!!!

 

[jimreed2160]

BJ--Thanks for the tour. Your shop is impressive as are your projects. Kudos to the guy who cleans your shop!

 

[bj383ss]

bj--very neat shop.

Thanks EZ

We need a like button!!!!

I second that.

Hey Brett, You have done a masterful job of maximizing your space. That's about the most drawers I've ever seen in one place. The rockets, truck and train are super cool. I've followed your Chevy truck restoration for a long time. An other great project. Thanks for sharing the pics!! And your welcome for the motivation. lol...

Thanks Terry. I love my shop although I wish it was bigger. But appreciative of what I have. Thanks for the comments means a lot coming from someone with your skills.

BJ--Thanks for the tour. Your shop is impressive as are your projects. Kudos to the guy who cleans your shop!

Thank you Jim. I actually enjoy cleaning the shop. It's kind of a therapy I guess. I got all my OCD and organizing from my grandpa. It skipped my dad. He knows where everything is but his shop is a mess.

Bret

 

[vartz04]

Got the platform made up this morning. One more run with the sander and it's time to finish this one.



Started sanding the parts for assembly on the 2nd one that is going to my niece.

 

[CRSINMICH]

vartz: Oh, that kind of kitchen helper. Very good idea. They do love to help. When he's too big to need it any longer you could make a quick top and use it for a mixer or microwave stand. Well done.