Woodworking Easy to Build: 2

I started assembly on the Hall Tree last night. I ran into some unexpected problems so I didnt get as much done as I had hoped to.

I started with the rear backsplash for the shelf at the top. This one went pretty well. I used my

Rockler Clampit and it did a good job.

This is the bottom with the apron in the front. Since the pocket holes are on the inside I put the Clampit on the outside. In hindsight I should have put the clamps all the choice to the inside of the Clampit. I had put them further out to allow me to get the drill to the pocket hole but I think putting the clamps all the choice inside would have worked better. The wood ended up drifting and one of the screws split the edge of the front corner.

I forced some glue into the split and clamped it and you can barely tell now. I just need to do some sanding and after I paint it you will never know.

I got the top shelf mounted, glued and screwed in and I was very happy with the result.

Only the top shelf, backsplash, and bottom front apron are actually attached. I dry fit the rest to see how it looks. I hope to get the rest of it assembled tonight.

Cutlery Tray

At the request of my girlfriend, I have been busy making a wooden cutlery tray out of Pine - my first commissioned piece!

As with the small toolbox I used box joints for the sides and chopped mortises with a chisel for the dividers to fit into. This time I made sure I used an aesthetically pleasing number of fingers for each side of the corner joint.

Unfortunately, my clamps were not big enough for glue-up, so another online trip to Axminster tools was in order to buy three Sash Clamps. Also unfortunately, the three clamps and some glue I was buying didnt come to the £50 required for free postage.

Soooo ... I was forced to purchase one of these.

I have a feeling that I will be using this little shoulder plane a lot, it will definitely be handy for my next intended project - a Coffee Table using Mortise & Tenon joints.

The major lesson learnt from this project is not to use too much glue. The squeeze out stuck the wooden blocks I was using to the project and I had to separate them with a chisel. The small scar on the facing side in the photo will be my reminder. Luckily, the cutlery tray has been made to fit tightly into a sideboard draw and the mark wont really be seen.

Im learning so much and gaining confidence with each small project, another few projects with increasing complexity and size and I will be ready to buy some decent wood such as Oak. It can be quite frustrating using Pine, especially Pine that has been rescued from the dump!

The hall tree is done!

As you might have guessed by the title, I finished the Hall Tree today. It took 3 weeks instead of the projected 2 but the extra time was worth it. I learned a lot from this project and look forward to finishing the kid sized table.

My buddy Jason came over and helped me to rub out the finish with some 000 steel wool and some paste wax.

I had a 10% off coupon for Lowes so we picked up some double hangers for the front and single hangers for the sides. I wanted to put in hat/coat hangers but they didnt have them in the finish that I wanted and I didnt feel like waiting so I bought the doubles. We measured and taped a ruler to the back so we could get them all the same height. The opening is 22.5" so the center hook is at 11.25" and the sides are 5" in from the outside.

I put one hook on the right side for backpacks. We tested it in place and there was not enough room for the door to open with a backpack hanging on the left. We can alchoices add another hook later.

I dont want my youngest son to be able to easily knock the tree over so I made some cleats. I took a 1x2 and cut it down to 2 - 18" pieces.

I used a 1/2" straight cut bit in the router and made several passes by moving the fence back about 1/8" each time until I got the depth I wanted.

I made some test cuts first on scrap wood first to determine the height of the bit.

This is where the tree is going. We also put in some doors stops in the hinges.

I marked where the cleat was going and managed to find 1 stud. I used drywall hangers on the outsides. I pre drilled and screwed the cleat into the stud first and tested the fit. The tree was about 1/8" off the ground so I moved the cleat down 1/4" and then tested again. It had the fit I wanted so I drilled the 2 drywall hangers in.

I made sure everything was level before I drilled any holes.

I pre-drilled and screwed the top cleat into the rear of the shelf and used 1.25" drywall screws.

This was exactly the fit I was looking for, just a little bit loose.

I left the back open to acommodate the light switch. I also moved the picture frame higher.

Now that it is in place I wish I had mounted the hooks a little higher. There are 2 - 5" boards under the shelf and I mounted the hooks to the middle of the bottom board.

Now all the kids shoes are in the tree and not on the stairs for me to trip over in the dark.

2 new WWMM videos today!

There are a few Youtube channels that I watch religiously and WWMM is one of them. I look forward to his new videos every Friday.

Project video posted! Build 2 small crates out of a single 2x4

Frank has a number of other great videos too. You can see more about what he builds at frankmakes.com.

The Return Of woodchat

Once upon a time, woodworkers gathered on Twitter to chat about woodworking. It was usually driven by a topic, with lots of great participation and sharing of ideas. It was really good. But then it stopped, and we miss it. For some, their path to becoming a better woodworker took a detour. Its time to get things back on track.

Woodchats Future

After a lot of conversations in the last three weeks with Dale Osowski (Timberworks Studio), Dyami Plotke (Penultimate Workshop), Matt Gradwohl (UpperCut Woodworks), Vic Hubbard (Tumblewood Creations), and Tom Iovino (Toms Workbench), we will berestarting #woodchat this Wednesday November 2nd at 6pm pacific time, thats 8 central and 9 eastern. Weve got permission from the former woodchat crew and have been working behind the scenes to ensure to define how wed like this to work best for everyone.

Lets make #woodchat like a dinner conversation among woodworking friends.

Our First Four Woodchat Principles

1. Easy for People to Get Involved

There are lots of woodworkers already on twitter, and its easy to sign up, so continuing to use the #woodchat hashtag makes things very easy. No special download, no separate account. So well start on twitter but may incorporate other technology as things progress. Right now, Tweetchat is the easiest choice to participate.

2. Approachable for All Skill Levels

If youre a beginner woodworker, you will be welcomed in and find people ready to help and encourage you. If youre a skilled woodworker, youll also find encouragement and help, and be asked to share your experience and knowledge by welcoming and being helpful to new woodworkers.

3. Focused on Actual Woodworking

In the past #woodchat drifted off topic at times. Well focus on woodworking: inspiration, design, stock prep, joinery, finishing, tool selection, shop safety, or shop layout, for the beginner, part time hobbiest or full time woodworking business. No preference towards power tools or hand tools.

4. A Team to Make it Successful

To make sure that chats happen on Wednesdays without one person carrying the workload, were going to work together to ensure success. We all have busy schedules with our day jobs and families, but with five (or more) people committed to making this successful Im sure well establish a regular rhythm.

Woodchat is Yours

Ultimately though, woodchat is ultimately driven by those who participate, so we need to know what topics youd like to discuss, what technology you might suggest that we incorporate, what days and times work best. Let us know on Twitter or leave a comment below. See you all Wednesday night.

New WoodWorking for Mere Mortals video Make a 3 shelf corner stand

Dovetail backsaw version 2

Stewie has just finished this dt backsaw, the same of previous post but made whit a different wood. Enjoy it!

Well this one is of the same design but I have used Makore as the handle wood. I have included some end grain photos of the handle so you get a better idea of the amount of work that goes into achieving a quality finish. That also goes with the shaping of the bevels on the brass hardback. It takes a lot of time to do this by hand and I sometimes curse the extra effort required, but it does add that extra flair to the final look of the saw.
Stewie;

Small Pine Chest 2

Ok ... I said the Small Pine Chest was done ... Impatience!!!

In between working on a new project, I have gone back and fitted the hinges, improved the finish and made an addition to it, hopefully making it more of a finished piece and a lot more useful.

As this project was my warm up to dovetails and making my own tool chest, I decided to add a drawer or till to it. Nothing fancy just a simple butt jointed box that sits on two Oak side rails. As it stands this would make a nice little travelling tool chest. My no#6 plane fits in the bottom like a hand in a glove! In fact its probably a good thing that my large tennon saw doesnt fit as I have now out grown my small toolbox I made (what seems like) ages ago.

Instead its going to make someone a lovely Christmas present...

Anychoice, a few pics to really wrap this project up!