Weekend Blog

[john]

I thought I would take an idea from another forum that I visit and start a thread on what was done over the weekend or just what projects we are working on.

Personally, I was putting what I thought would be the finishing touches on an oak doll cradle that I have been working on for the past couple of weeks. Then I found that I didn't have enough 3/8" oak buttons to cover all the screw holes. Off to Home Depot to pick some up today.

Also ran into the fact that my wipe-on poly is thickening to the point that I have to thin it with mineral spirits. I guess that means a run down to Plattsburgh, N.Y. to get a resupply as the price difference between here and there is substantial, ($7-9us vs $16 - 17cdn).

Of course by the time we take in a nice lunch at Applebee's and a mid-afternoon sundae at Friendly's any savings on the finishes and groceries we purchase is more than offset by the food. I could make my own wipe-on, but then what excuse would we have for a day's outing.;)

Happy woodworking!

John

[Bruce]

I have been working on the router table from Shopnotes issue 85. I finished the basic table this weekend. I will install an aluminum router plate as soon as the backordered template arrives from Rockler. The P-C 890 router that I purchased at the Woodworking Show in February fits, just barely. It's a pretty tall router. I didn't even think to make sure the router would fit in the table.

I used some CA Gel glue for the first time on the braces for the router fence. That stuff is COOL! Since I really had no way to clamp the braces, I put the gel on and applied pressure for 30 seconds or so and I couldn't have move it without a hammer. And that was without any accelerator. This glue was Loctie brand, but I imagine any gel CA glue would have worked similarly.

[curly57]

Sounds good John, I didn't get much time in the shop this past weekend, but I did manage to get a bowl finished for my Grandson, (he's 4) I told him he could eat his cereal in it when he comes over to spend the night, you should have seen the look on his face, and what he said, "you made this for me Pa(thats what he calls me) Wow!! Thanks!!!" That made my weekend right there!! well I'll keep posting and looking for what all you other guys get done.

Happy Woodworking and God Bless!!:D

Curly...

[john]

This is the first weekend in a long time that absolutely nothing was done in the shop. Though the doll cradle mentioned last week was finished during the week, family events took over on the weekend and excluded any time for playing with the toys.

I did get down there to survey the mess and realize how badly it needs to be cleaned and while there started planning a possible enlargement. By taking out a large 4' x 6' storage cupboard, I could open up a narrow passage and add six feet of badly needed wall space. Now all I have to do is figure out what to do with all the stuff in that cupboard. Maybe a garage sale is the answer.

I hope most of you had more fun in the shop that I did.

John

[8iowa]

This past week-end I insulated my 7'x16' garage door, cutting and glueing 1" thick foamboard insulation into each panel. Today I put vinyl strip weather seal on the outside of the garage door to seal off the gaps.

I started this fall with a 2 car car-port that had not been completed into an enclosed garage. I framed and insulated the walls and installed a 12,000 BTU thru-the-wall air conditioner. I still want to clean and acid etch the concrete floor and then apply an epoxy coating. This will probably have to wait until later this Fall. At least my Shopsmith and accessories are now protected from a humid & hot Gainesville summer.

This has been a learning experience, especially as to electrical and lighting improvements. It will be nice to have this project completed so I can begin some serious woodworking. I'd be glad to share my experience and offer advice to anyone who wants to "convert" their basic garage into a useful woodworking shop.

[paulmcohen]

Instead of etching and Painting the concrete on my garage floor my kids and I have been installing a "racedeck (http://www.racedeck.com/)". It is a plastic tile that snaps together and cuts with a carbide blade on the Shopsmith. It is fast and easy and goes right over cracked, flaking concrete. Under my cars I have tiles with holes (http://www.racedeck.com/freeflow.html) so water drips through. Under my Shopsmith I have a light colored solid surface that is soft on the feet and between my back door and garage refrigerator I have carpeted tiles. The whole thing for a three car garage was just of $2,000 and takes a few hours to install (after you clean out the garage).

[curly57]

Well lets see...spent most of my weekend finishing a bowl I've been working on, spent most of it sanding. As most of you know I had a little trouble with some end grain, and with some very good sugestions from some of you guys I got'em all out. the bowl looks Great!!! It's made out of Canary wood(Beautiful grain). I just got thru putting some plugs on the bottom to hide the screw holes, first time I've got to use my SS as a drill press, thats pretty :cool:. I'll take some pics in the morning and post them, and of a few othings I've been turning lately. Well thats it for now getting late, time to hit the sack....later...

[paulmcohen]

Have you tried a JAM Chuck or Cole Jaws to finish the bottom? Also if you use a 4-jaw Chuck you will not end up with screw holes to begin with. If you don't want to spring for the chuck try gluing a piece of paper to the bottom of the bowl and then glue a scrap block of cheap wood. Screw into the cheap wood. When you finish turning split the scrap from your project with a sharp chisel. Then you only need to sand off the paper.


If you are turning wet wood you might try drying the end-grain with a blow dryer before sanding.