Woodworking 101--Tools and Tips

[losvre]

I'd suggest that there are other possibly more useful planes you might want to consider first, such as: low angle block plane, rabbet/shoulder plane, etc.

I agree, I am not sure if I need a joiner plane, just wondering.

A low angle 60, is on the list and for a few special jobs I have got the one below, haven't used it yet


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[ez-duzit]

You likely won't get much use from the multi plane. Perhaps you might trade it foe a plane which you will use regularly.

The planes I use most frequently are the low angle block, shoulder and jack.

 

[jimreed2160]

Losvre--Good luck as you grow with your planecraft. I agree that a low angle block would be a good choice. I like my #7 jointer, though. The multiplane is outstanding. There is a learning curve to it but that is one handy plane to have. Nothing better for cutting a 1/8" groove. Keep the pictures coming. We love pictures.

 

[Notgrownup]

Just finished an adirondack as a present for my wife for our anniversary tomorrow!

Nice, what wood did you use, Cedar?

 

[drivesitfar]

CK: i agree you did a great job and you might even get something better than a kiss for this present to your bride. how many years?

any chance you have some during pictures? i also would like to know what wood cause it does look like cedar. also what tools did you use and what screws?

thanks

 

[jimreed2160]

Notgrownup--That is a great present. It look waaaay too nice to keep outside. Is it going inside or on a porch?

 

[jimreed2160]

Quick project--plate boards

Let's get into our WayBack machine and travel back to Chapel Hill, NC. The time is 1968 and some rednecks from the piedmont have just arrived in town. They find themselves at the Zoom-Zoom Room restaurant, where waiters are scurrying about with sizzling platters. It is one of the house specialities--The Gambler--a strip steak served on a bed of onions in a sizzling cast iron skillet.

Well I was a big fan and picked up some of the skillets when I found them. They add a lot of flair to any meal and were great for dinner parties. The only problem was finding something to set the hot thing on. I settled for potted plant cork bases but they were round and just did not look right. So now many years later, I have a better solution.

Since I have a stash of hickory and a shop begging for projects, all systems are go. My fifteen minute shop session today was a pair of hickory skillet mats for tonight's cookout. The Queen and I will be dining in style.

Normal place setting allows about 15" per diner, so that shall be the size. It was easy enough to use the table saw to cut and square two suitable blanks.

Both edges were a little rough.

So I went to town with my LN #7.

When you make three or four passes and get nice ribbon shavings like this, you are done.

A little touch up with sandpaper and both of them are good to go.

The hickory is pretty. Here is a close up of the grain.

Now that the shop is organized and straightened up, it is a pleasure to work in. I can knock out projects quickly. WooHoo!

My hat is tipped to every veteran and active service member as we remember and honor those who fell in battle.

 

[ScottsGT]

Aren't you going to route in a place for the pan to sit in so it doesn't slide around?

What times dinner? I'll bring the beverages!

I like this! Think I'll do one for when me and the wife split one of those 1" thick rib eyes we have all the time.

 

[jimreed2160]

Aren't you going to route in a place for the pan to sit in so it doesn't slide around?

What times dinner? I'll bring the beverages!

I like this! Think I'll do one for when me and the wife split one of those 1" thick rib eyes we have all the time.

Dinner was around 5. Sorry you missed it. The boards worked great. I guess I could get fancy and dish out a spot but the cast iron pretty much stays in place.

I sliced the onions and broke them into thin rings, oiled the bottoms of the skillets, and distributed the onion all around. They stayed in the oven at 320 degrees F for about 45 minutes. Onions got nice and soft. I let the steak rest for 5-7 minutes while the sourdough bread was toasting. Then I divided the huge Costco strip in the middle and placed a large hunk on each bed of onions. Grilled corn on the cob finished out the meal. At the end of service, I was able to clear the table and remove the still very warm skillets by hand.

YUM!

 

[shortykorte]

Jim, I think I need to stop by tomorrow to ensure this is the proper procedure. lol


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[56vette461]

Jimreed, your dinner menu is absolutely delightful. I have 12 of the flat grill pans and 12 -5" skillets. Strip steaks, onions, mushroom are always a big favorite. The skillets are perfect for chocolate chip cookie desserts. Now the wooden planks are perfect. I'll be looking at to make a few of those for our BBQ weekends. Thanks.

 

[rrich1]

Finally able to get some work done this weekend. My wife had surgery this week and I took the week off. Took the plunge and got the legs measured out where I think I want them. Cut them out with a forstner bit, router, and lots of chiseling. They are not perfect by any means but I did get the hickory lines matched up darn near perfect.

I also got the stretchers cut, planed, and glued up. Still need to cut them to final length and cut the half laps on them and the legs.

I have been looking at bench crafted or wooden vises for the leg vise. I was talking with my father in law and apparently he can make me the screw and nut! I went and bought a piece of tiger maple and am going to glue up pieces of hickory for the hub.


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[jimreed2160]

56--Get moving on the planks. They worked out well and should be a crowd pleaser.

Shorty--Well, there were four big thick strips in the pack and we grilled one. That leaves three for a quality check.

rrich--I can almost see that bench in action. Hope your wife is recovering ok. Shoptime is a good stress reliever. I am anxiously anticipating your vise work.

 

[jimreed2160]

Maybe it is the summer malaise already setting in but I didn't make it out into the shop until after 11 this morning. It's kinda a lull time between projects and I just cranked up the tunes and did a little straightening up. Back in the shop annex I noticed a line of Stanley Bedrock planes--all #605 jack planes. The round sides (early version) needed tote work but the flat sides (later version) all had good totes. One in particular stood out. It was the dirtiest and had the most rust. That plane looked like a good project to do while I figure out what the next big thing is.

I began taking it apart and was pleased to see that someone really used this plane. It was full of sawdust and wood shavings.

There are two types of Bedrock frogs. The early versions are very similar to Bailey planes and attach with two screws. The difference between Baileys and Bedrocks is that the Bedrocks have a flat machined mating surface. There is much less machining on the Bailey frogs as they are bedded on casting surfaces that project. Early Bedrocks have round sides like Bailey planes but the later Bedrocks have flat sides. In addition, the flat sided Bedrocks have a unique attachment method which uses pins and pointed end screws. Here is the frog and the plane sole. Notice all of the machining marks on the mating surfaces.

Here are the attachment pieces. The pin goes in the slot and projects through the hole. It is engaged by the pointed screw. When the screw is loose, the frog can be adjusted forward and backward. Forward tightens up the mouth and backward opens it up. Cool because you do not have to remove the blade.

Speaking of the blade, there is good and bad news. The business end is mostly rust free. But the exposed end is pretty gnarly.

Other side shows a similar sight.

The sole is dirty and has a bunch of white paint residue or something on it.

But some brushing and stick time works wonders.

Small parts are in Evaporust bath. I need to pick up a piece of 3" pipe to make a container for the sole. While the Evaporust works, I will watch the Band of Brothers marathon and nap. More later. Stay tuned.

 

[jimreed2160]

Fever Dreams

Ever have those fever dreams where all problems are solved? Well I had one a few nights ago and scurried out to HD this morning. Here is what I bought.

Guess what? A flat sided Bedrock #605 just fits inside a 3" PVC drain pipe.

I watch idiots all the time on reno shows. Pipe doping cannot be too difficult. And the end is on. It was seriously over-doped but I wiped off the overspray.

Here is the top.

The mallet came in handy because the end cap got stuck.

No need to build a stand--I have a patternmaker's vise.

I took a break and made lunch for the Queen. She is in good spirits these days because I have agreed to adopt a rescue kitty. We have a line on a pair. Stay tuned for pictures if all goes well. Maybe I can post pictures of the shop cat adventures.

After lunch I inserted the plane. It is waaaay down in there.

Then I filled the thing with Evaporust.

And capped it off.

So while it cooks away, I think I will go take a nap. I guess the upside of having a kitty around is that I can replenish my stock of plastic litter pails.

 

[ScottsGT]

Brilliant! But does Evaporust create any off gassing that might pressurize that tube if it is tight? I'm sure the tube can handle the pressure, but you might get a little surprise when you unscrew it.

OK, I've got to ask. Are you guys retired or just self employed? I can't get nearly the garage time you guys seem to get.
Lately the only garage time I get is walking through it either going to work or coming home from work.

 

[turbowoodworker]

Scott has a great question. I watched gas bubble off the last vise I had in vinegar and wondered if it was hydrogen or worse. There is probably no reason to have a capped end anyway, so I would consider leaving it open and not get that surprise.

 

[jimreed2160]

Scotts--I worked full time or went to school beginning at age 12 and was finally able to tell the workplace to KMA after 53+ years. Now they call me Jimmy 2 Naps.

Turbo--If it outgasses, it is not much. I have had it working in the kitty litter container with lid on and also in a sealed deli meat container. Never noticed any outgassing but there might be some. I really got the cap so I could store the EV in the tube during uses and not have it evaporate. I guess we will all know if I hear a loud *POP* tonight.

 

[ADNICK]

Nice cleaning system....

Andy

 

[rrich1]

More progress today before I had to stop and pressure wash the deck.

I got all but one of the half laps joints spot on. First time doing them and it wasn't even the first one that I screwed up. [emoji17]

Scott: I work second shift. Two kids under 5. Shop time is late at night or when the kids want to play outside.

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[ztorres]

I work 5-2 then do woodwork after that


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[ADNICK]

Rich:

Bench joinery is looking good, whole thing is starting to take shape... great workbench.

Andy

 

[jimreed2160]

rrich--Great progress. That thing looks sturdy!

 

[Craptain]

Scotts,Turbo and all. Evaporust does not out gas. The chemistry is not like acids or electrolysis and does not produce gasses. So Jim is safe putting a cap on it.

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[cheechi]

Evaporust doesn't offgas as far as I know.

Rusty iron is typically FeO and FeOH mixed. Vinegar is acetic acid, HC2H3O2. When they react they will product Fe(II)C2H3O2 (red), Fe(III)C2H3O2 (black), H2 gas, H2O and depending on impurities or other factors some of the acetate ion (C2H3O2) may stay in solution or even precipitate with other cations, and possibly break down to H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide), H2CO3 (carbonic acid, or seltzer water) that breaks down to CO2 + H2O and room temperature.

Short answer, any off gassing is both insignificant chemically and insufficient to build up enough pressure to make a difference.

edit: craptain types faster

 

[jimreed2160]

CP & chi--Thanks for the chemistry lesson. I let the body soak for about six hours and then fished it out with a coathanger. Sorry, no pictures. The washdown was uneventful and now the EV is capped off. The vise worked so well that it is the temporary home for the EV.

 

[ScottsGT]

Damn! Woodworkers and chemists all in one thread. Figures a guy with a users name close to "Cheech" as in Cheech and Chong would know about mixing chemicals. LOL!!
Dave's not here!

On another note, went out to dinner with the wife, drank a half of a bottle of wine and came home and took a nap in the Lazyboy and woke up and went down to the garage and got some garage time in. WooHoo! Got to sweep the floor and almost finished up a project. Once I get it hung on the wall in the kitchen I'll post up here.

 

[rrich1]

Got the bench on it's feet today. It's tall at over 37". Before glueing and doweling in the legs I'll decide if I want it lower.

The mortis have tear out on each but the hickory lines match up damn near perfect! Not bad for a first timer and hand plane use! Tenon's are still long at the moment.

I also got the hickory hub glued, jointed, and planed and ready to be cut for the leg vise hub. Glued up the hickory for the nut today as well.

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[ztorres]

Rich,
Looks great. I'd kill for a bench that was that tall


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[rrich1]

Rich,
Looks great. I'd kill for a bench that was that tall


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Thanks. I'm 6' 1" so it isn't bad at all. It's the same height as my L shaped workbench right now which I enjoy. I was just trying to figure out how to get multipurpose use out of it. I'll most likely keep it this height.

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[drivesitfar]

RR: thanks for bringing us along in your journey while you've been building a cool wood bench.

Cheech: Craptain might have given us a good answer, but you confirmed it very nicely with all your Chemistry. thanks

Scott: DAVE'S NOT HERE

Jim: do we need to start a fund to get you come AC in your shop so we can see cool projects during the summer? thanks again for posting up all your cool woodworking tools and skills.

ALL: another member Denwood (Woody) posted up a question that he wants to finish his cabinets with a hardwood instead of the veneer tape you glue or heat on so he found this routering method. anybody use this method yet or have a better one they like better?

 

[ADNICK]

That's great work....my bench is almost 35" and I'm 6'

Would not want it any lower....

Just finished a cabinet of drawers for mine, I'll post a picture shortly,
Andy

 

[jimreed2160]

rrich--It walks! It talks! Great progress on the bench.

Andy--We love pictures.

Drives--I agree with your buddy--solid wood looks best. I will post some pictures of edge treatments as soon as Photobucket comes back up. As for the air, I have that handled. Like everything else, there is an elaborate story. Let's just say I hope to have AC in the shop before the scorching 4th of July.

 

[ez-duzit]

Typically I install solid edging with biscuits and WEST epoxy.

 

[ADNICK]

My Roubo build took around 8 months, and that was after the material was gathered, and I needed a break after it was together enough to use.

So I turned my attention to shop appliances, shooting boards, including a long grain version, saw benches...that kind of stuff. Kept thinking that there sure was a lot of unused spaced under my bench...the long grain shooting board turned out to be one of my most used jigs, and I never thought I needed one...


Put a shelf under the bench but that just made me wish for something better.

So started looking/searching examples of workbenches with cabinets, and of course the Shaker benches are the pinnacle of that type of bench...

I did not want the compilation of building a Shaker cabinet into my Roubo, so I designed a simple little component type box out of plywood. Decided to use plywood mainly for the rigidity of the box. It will end up with an overlay of long leaf pine heartwood.

Cabinet dimensions are 66" long, 19" high and 17" deep, keeping it small enough to slide between the bench legs and still have space on top and bottom for storage and cleaning.

3 banks of drawers, 6 drawers per bank, 2 banks with half blind, and one (center) with through dovetails. Different spacing and ratios on each, all done as dovetail practice.
The dowel pulls were cut with a Stanley dowel machine from Jim!

Here is the sorta finished project, still have to put in drawer stops and one or two need a little tweaking.

Andy

 

[Lucien421]

Thanks for your nice sharing, JIM, my dad used to be a carpenter, and I know the feeling of sitting among piling of freshly cut shavings, is just so nice and warm, get you so close to the nature, and I think one of the goals that carpentry is pursuing the perfectism, as my dad shaved and polished many times just want to have a mirror like surface of his works.

 

[ez-duzit]

AD--I like.

 

[ckadams00]

CK: i agree you did a great job and you might even get something better than a kiss for this present to your bride. how many years?

any chance you have some during pictures? i also would like to know what wood cause it does look like cedar. also what tools did you use and what screws?

thanks

Thanks drivesitfar - 23 years! I was going to build two but I needed to get one finished in time. I'm very happy how it turned out!

I picked some very good clear cedar from a lumber yard and then cut it down on my table saw. I used a mitre saw for smaller cuts and a jig saw for the rounded parts. Everything was rounded over with a router, then sanded on a belt sander and finally finish sanded with a palm sander at 220 and 600 for the chair slats and arm rests.

I used the red chair which was falling apart as the pattern, but wanted to improve the design, so I enclosed the seat slats which I think give it a much cleaner look. I also dislike the traditional gap where your **** sits so I filled that in with a wider seat rest, and because it will catch water fro the back slats I drilled drainage holes under each one (you can't see the on the finished chair but water won't stand). Everything was put together with stainless screws that were countersunk, then plugged with walnut just for appeal. Two clear coats.



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[Craptain]

At last CK. The finished chair is good looking but here we want to see construction pictures.
Well done and kudos for the thoughtful variations on your pattern.

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[drivesitfar]

CK: i could tell you just didn't SLAP IT TOGETHER. nice work and really nice design improvements. what kind of stain did you use? with the stainless screws and the walnut plugs just wiping on a little stain every year or two and this should last another 23 years.

thank you!!

and another WELL DONE

AD: amazing workbench. WELL DONE!!

can you take a few more full view pictures and post them? also what is that piece that looks like a capital letter I for? does it slide back and forth?

nice work