Woodworking Easy to Build: is

I put the new Craftsman router table together yesterday and it was much, much easier than the Ryobi. Each leg is held on by 4 bolts. The vertical ones just screw in and have washers and lock washers. The horizontal ones have lock washers, washers, and nuts. I found a diagram in the manual for installing the model of my router and it screwed right in with 3 bolts and the height adjustment hole lined right up. I installed the fence and featherboards in a couple of minutes and the table is now ready for testing.

I couldnt get the Ryobi router to fit in the new table so I returned it and bought this Craftsman router

on sale for $50.99. I checked the router table manual before I went shopping for compatible
routers and this one was on the list.

Here is the fully assembled table. It went together much faster then the Ryobi table.

I cant remember what this is called but it is used for routing end grain and smaller pieces. This one is made out of metal whereas the Ryobi one was made out of plastic.

It came with 5 insert plates. The Ryobi also came with 5 but they all had holes. Im not sure what the solid one would be good for.

The included wrench has a wider handle built into the bottom which makes it a little more comfortable to use.

The router has a small push button to hold the shaft while you tighten or loosen the router bit. There is a small plastic shield behind it that you have to remove to reach the button.

The table has a hole in the top for adjusting the height of the router. I am using an allen wrench for now but would like to buy a t-handle wrench for it. Sears had a t-handle kit for $39.95 but I dont want to spend that much money. I just want to get the one to fit the router.

This is the allen wrench coming through the table top and into the router.

The plastic handles on the sides are a nice touch. They make the table comfortable to pick up.

I Missed Tom Fidgen

Its been a crazy week. Ive spent two days at work past midnight and another two at Christmas parties. As the year draws to a close, the to do pile on my desk isnt shrinking quite fast enough.
Im sorry that means this has to pass as my post for 12/21. Im also sorry I had to miss this weeks +Modern Woodworkers Association podcast recording. +Christopher Adkins was able to talk with +Tom Fidgen about his woodworking, his books and much more. Chris is still working on editing, but it will be out soon.
Until next post, I hope youre having a productive holiday and are a bit more on top of your work than I am.
By the choice, here is the state of the project Id hoped to have done for my wife by Christmas. Alas, it will not be.
Dont forget about the +Modern Woodworkers Association Podcast. We talk woodworking with Guests from around the world of woodworking every other week. Subscribe to the RSS feed or iTunes today.Read More..

The first thumb chair is done!

I finally finished the first thumb chair! Why do these projects alchoices seem to take so long?

I forgot to put the pocket holes for the seat in when I cut the pieces to length

so I added them here.

The plan called for 4 pocket holes for the seat back but I put 5 to play it safe.

I drilled a 1 inch hole in the seat back for a thumb.

Here is the hole sanded smooth.

Time for some finish sanding

And more sanding....

I couldnt think of a good choice to clamp the 2 pieces together and like alchoices

my piece drifted a little bit when I screwed it together. I thought of a possible choice
to clamp it for next time so we will see if that works better on the next one.

The 2 pieces are ready for assembly!

I centered and clamped them and then screwed them together. No glue.

Here is the chair ready for stain.

Here it is stained. If you have seen any of my other kid projects then you know

that I used the same stain to try and make them all match.

Somehow, I alchoices manage to blow out the thumb on the glove on my right hand

when I stain projects.

1st coat of poly applied.

I let it sit over night and then gave it a light sanding and applied the second coat.

3rd coat of poly applied and it is ready to go in the house!

I put some self adhesive felt pads on the bottom of the feet. I dont know if they will last

but it is worth a try. I forgot to mention it above but I also put 2 coats of poly on the bottom
of the chair as well.

All ready for my 2 boys to start fighting over. I better get the second one done

quick!

?This is post 3 of a 3 part series.

You can read part 1 here:
2013/01/lets-make-thumb-chair.html

and part 2 here:

2013/02/thumb-chair-update.html

Thats Not A Petite Workbench This Is A Petite Workbench

With the coming of his newborn son, I for one suspect that Marcs Split Top Roubo bench build will fall behind schedule. I cant think of a better reason to delay a project. Along with the entire Woodworking Community Id like to wish Marc & Nicole the very best with their little bundle of joy.With the delay of the Split Top Roubo in mind, I set about building a smaller bench that Marc could use with his son. I ended up making two.

Some day, this will be a picture frame.

My Petite 21st Century & Petite Split Top Roubo Benches

The first is a Split Top Roubo, much as Marc plans to build. Only I made my petiter than Chris Schwarzs Petite Roubo.

If these benches dont do it for you, then join in with the Guild for the actual workbench build. Given that Marc has a newborn at home, I might actually keep up with him this time.

2013 July Shop Tour

Its saddening how little Ive gotten done this past month. I promised to document the build though. So here is my July shop tour. Theres not too much to show, but wait until next month. Ive got a date with the shop coming up.

Woodchat is Yours

This is a very quick post via the Blog This extension for Chrome, but please check out Matts list of #woodchat topics and be sure to vote. Last Wednesdays re-introduction of #woodchat brought both new and old participants together for a lively discussion. This weeks #woodchat is looking to be even more.

Upper Cut Woodworks Woodchat is Yours: Vote on the Woodchat List of Topics for Woodchat Wednesday Upper Cut Woodworks:
via Blog this

Have I mentioned that this guy is my woodworking hero

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.

Ive Always Wanted To Make A Chair at least since summer

On Monday +Lee Valley Tools released their latest video from Woodworking in America. This one it titled, Whats The One Thing Youve Alchoices Wanted To Make? While I was initially disappointed I didnt make the video (Im in the two previous WIA videos), I realized it likely had to do with my project.
Making a chair seemed to be listed by about half those interviewed. Frankly, everyone else had a better description or explanation than I did.
It remains though - I do want to make a chair. Since reading Jeff Millers Chairmaking and Design over the summer Ive had building a chair stuck in my head.
In an attempt to nurture that chair Ive attended wonderful chair classes with Ejler Hjorth-Westh at WIA and even traveled to Atlanta to attend a class on chairmaking with Jeff himself.
Now all I need to do is decide on a design and get to work. While the chair supposed to be a 2013 project, I am closer and more ready than Ive ever been. By the end of 2014 I should be able to write these posts form the comfort of my own chair.

Dont forget about the +Modern Woodworkers Association Podcast. We talk woodworking with Guests from around the world of woodworking every other week. Subscribe to the RSS feed or iTunes today.

My new drill press

I finally assembled my new drill press that I bought a couple of months ago. All the cool woodworkers have one so I figured that I should pick one up too. I waited until they went on sale at Harbor Freight and then used my 20% off coupon and got it for under $60. Its not the best reviewed one out there but all I want to do is drill some straight holes in wood so I think that I will be fine. I spcifically bought the one with a chuck key. I read a lot of reviews saying the one with a keyless chuck alchoices seemed to fail over time. Ive never actually used a drill press before so this is all one big adventure.

New in the box