The Woodshop Shed

Wood moisture question

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I just bought 2 live edge slabs of walnut to make a table top. I've gotten the moisture down from the low 30's to the high 20's with a fan. Pretty slow work. We live in Georgia where our humidity is pretty high. How low does this need to be before I start working with it?
Thanks!

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Used every clamp

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I'm making a threelayer Sapele lamination, about 46" ID and 52" OD. There are 12 segments in each ring, which I cut on my RAS, using my new miter table set at 15 deg. I made a sled to sit on the table so I could cut them like you would for a segmented ring bowl.


I glued up half rings using TB II.


and the two halves together:



I glued up the laminationswith West Systems epoxy. It's the first time I've used it and I have to say it's much easier to work with than the System III T-88 I've used in the past. The pumps on the containers were worthless, however, though to be fair they are at least a year old (given to me by a friend). So I weighed out the correct amounts of resin and catalyst. The spread rate on the can was optimistic, too, I found I needed about twice as much, 1 oz per sq. ft if anyone is interested. Once mixed the epoxy spread beautifully with a plastic autobody spreader into which I cut 1/8" deep slits with a pull handsaw. I use the same spreader for yellow glue. Works great.

I used every F-style clamp I own, except one. Normally, I put laminations in my vacuum bag, but this one is too large to fit, hence the forest of clamps.


John

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cutting plywood

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I tried putting plywood with 2x4s under it and getting on my hands and knees. I have actually tried several different ways.Then I built a torsion box style of table and put folding legs under it. The table is 41 1/2 inches wide 84 inches long and 3 inches thick. I put a sheet of OSB on it and my wife and neighbors use it as a tablefor garage sales. I do not pay real close attention to the depth of the blade because I cut into the table. Been doing it for about 24 years . I only cut maybe 10 sheets a year so it will still be going strong when I am gone. If I were to build another table I would make it smaller and only about 2 inches thick. It has gotten a lot heavier as I have aged.

I do my cutting outside, summer or winter and saw dust is not a concern so I do not worry about dust collection. Usually I open the garage doors for a little more room around the end of the table but my wife's babyis in the garage so the door was shut. I get the truck just off the street and pull the plywood out of the truck onto the table.


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I showed this because I do not need a rocking table for x amount ofhundred dollarsso I can lift a sheet of plywood from vertical to horizontal or to roll it into my shop.I don't need a big sheet of 1 1 /2pink foamon the floor so I can cut on my hands and knees. Yes I have to store the table but one would have to store the foam board also.

I bought this set up and have been using it for over 24 years also and I am quite happy with it, except for the fact that I have to hunt down an extension power cord. It clamps to the plywood and guides the saw just like a track saw. I add 1 1/4 inches to the dimension mark the two point on the wood line it up and cut.


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I found that the blade was quite dull and I decided to get a new on. But then I though I do have a battery powers circular saw from Menards I don't use it much but it does havea new blade on it so I decided to retire the old saw and mount the battery saw to the plate. It will be lighter and no cord to chase down. The most important part of the job is getting the blade straight with the plate so it cuts straight, ifnot straight it will pull to one side.

Will I get a track saw? No.In my opinion a track saw will never replace a table saw. I have a very good table saw. I also have (Ifeel a very good ) setup for braking down plywood and getting it to manageable sizes so I can handle it at the table saw.. There are other items like being able to square upa piece of plywood but if it clamps on there is room for arrow.So there is a lot of expense after just the purchase I won't beduplicating what I already have.

Believe me I have though about one. I am on the Makita battery platform so I would like a Makita but the cost is out of sight for me. If I didn't have what I have I wouldbuy the Wen battery track saw and comparable track in a heart beat.. Don't need all the bells and whistles.

Believe it or not I am looking forward to reading your responses

Tom

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Why I do it

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My daughter's family has been using a third-hand maple drop leaf table that was given to us by my in-laws 50 years ago. It was not a great table to begin with; age and hard use didn't improve it. It was small and the drop leaves sagged. She asked me to build her a better dining table last fall. I happily accepted the order and built the table to her specifications. The top is 200 year old heart pine that I've been saving for years for just the right project. This was its chance to shine. The base has a center drawer for placemats, napkins, etc., and is made of ash. I painted the base with brick red milk paint, over coated it with black milk paint, rubbed out with fine sand paper so a little of the red showed through, and finished it with hemp oil. The hemp oil gives it a dull sheen and the red peeking out from under the black gives it a great aged look. It should wear forever. I shipped it off to her in D.C. a couple of weeks ago and her whole family loves it. This photo is all the payment I ever wanted. It's why I do it.

IMG_2936 by Hank Knight, on Flickr

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Software program for designing furniture etc

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I am working on building a nice table for my wife in our living room and I have other projects on the horizon - dresser, night stands, etc. What is everyone using on their computer to draw up these kinds of projects that also gives you a cut list or at least shows you the measurements and how it will look and what each piece of wood dimension would be?

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Wood ID Help Please (Pics)

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Hello All,

Can you identify the wood in the photos? The pictures with the darker photos have stain, prior to sanding. I thought the stain would make the grain pattern easier to see. I took these boards from a bed frame. The wood could be maple or cherry or maybe even some weird exotic from Central or South America. Its pretty well dried out as I imagine the wood is old.

My guess is Maple.

Thanks, Bill

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where are you all buying your Robertson / Sq Drive screws?

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I've shopped McFeelys for two decades but I think my sense of allegiance is wavering. Moreso since their buyout a few years ago.

I'm an infrequent buyer, several boxes of 'hundred' #6, #8 over the course of two years.
I've got $60 of resupply in my McFeelys cart and thought I'd ask if anyone has a favorite supplier?

thanks!

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Drawer Lock Bit - Drawer Stock Sizing Question

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I just bought the Freud Drawer Lock bit. It isFreud 99-240: 2" (Dia.) Drawer Lock Bit with 1/2" Shank - Perma-SHIELD Coating Red -


OK, can't find this anywhere....how do I size the drawer if I am using this bit? For example, if my finished drawer length needs to be 21",

do I use a 21" side or do I have to adjust the measurement because of the bit I am using? If my finished size is to be 21" deep (the sides) and 15" wide,

I would usually (assuming 1/2 thick stock) make my sides 21" and my front and back 14". Then, with a simple butt joint, my finished drawer would be 21" X 15".

If I use this bit, would that be the same? Or would my prepared stock dimensions have to change to accommodate the bit in order to get the desired final dimensions?



Thanks in advance.

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Tree of Life

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After working on the dining room table for so long (yes, pictures soon after I let the finish cure and put it together) it was fun to do a simple little project. I made this to put on a wall out on the deck.






No hidden meaning to the tree of life. I just like it and thought it would look good in that spot. It's attached to the brick with some metal standoffs at the mortar joints, for an easy repair if/when it gets taken down.

I'm interested to see if the black acrylic will stand up to the summer sun. I might have used Extira (exterior MDF)instead if I could have found a supplier.

John

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FWW archive won't unzip

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Downloaded 2023 fWW archive. It won't unzip. Macbook Pro, Sonoma 14.4.1.

I emailed Taunton. We'll see what they say. Has anyone run into this? Resolved it?

Thanks.

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