Month: September 2012

Hand Tool Cabinet – Update 1

Published on by Mike  (Leave a comment)

I got some time today to work on the hand tool cabinet, specifically starting on the hand plane storage.  I am actually breaking from my sketch-up plan almost completely on this.  Since I made the cabinet an inch deeper, I decided I could do a little better for my block planes.  So I decided I would build a block plane garage.  I had a few cut-offs that were left from the case construction, so they were wide enough, w4ithout glue-ups.  I planed these down to 1/2″ thick, as I felt 3/4″ thick would be too much.  After I planed them down, I ripped the stock to width, then cut each piece to length.  At this phase, I wasn’t sure how many cubbies I would have (I was playing this by ear after all), so I made sure I cut what turned out to be one extra spacer.  At this point, I glued everything together. Once the glue was dry, I did a base sanding to get everything good and smooth.  On the router table, I routed round overs on the front.  At this point, I noticed that it was sitting as flat as I would have liked.  So I took my hand planes, and started planing down the bottom of the dividers, until I got sitting flat.  From there I took a rasp and completed the round overs.  Now this may seems like a minor detail, but it doesn’t take long, and it makes the piece look so much more refined.  From there, I did the final sanding.

The next phase of plane storage will be the till for the bench planes.  I haven’t 100% decided how the plane will turn out, I am thinking through some ideas.  As soon as I come up with something, I will post here.  I still have the doors to make for the cabinet.  I figured out that I need more wood to completethem, so I haven’t started yet.  My driveway the last few weekend has been inaccessible due to road work.  My plan next weekend is to go to my hardwood supplier and get more so that I can start on the doors when I am ready for them.

Technology in the Shop – Part 1 – Intro and Project Plans

Published on by Mike  (5 Comments)

So I recently wrote about setting up a dedicated computer in the shop, but I really glanced over why I set one up.  Why is there a need for a weekend warrior hobbyist to have a dedicated computer in his shop?  There isn’t any one answer.

I would imagine in many pro shops, especially larger ones, there is already a large presence of computers and technology in the shops.  From running CNC machines, to looking up project specs, to logging into the company’s ERP system, there are countless needs for computers in the pro shops.  However, in a hobbyist shop, most of the needs are simply not there.  So why a computer in the shop?

My day job is working in IT.  While on the surface, woodworking and IT may be an odd combination.  However, the number of IT workers who pick up some element of woodworking as a hobby is surprisingly big.  So, with having a computer in the shop, when there is already multiple computers running in the house doesn’t seem like a big deal, just another computer geek move.  🙂  That said, I do believe their are non-geek (arguably) legitimate reasons to have a computer  in the shop.

The first use for having a computer in the shop is for digital project plans.  I personally use SketchUp, because it is both free and very easy to use.  I know there are many who have access to other CAD software such as AutoCad or even Solidworks.  Sometimes it could be just as simple as viewing a scanned in project plan in a PDF file.  The benefits over having a paper plan are numerous.  All formats allow you to zoom in to look at a detail closer.  The  3D and CAD software also allow you to rotate the project from just about any angle you can think of.  It also gives you the ability to hide parts, or even a highlight a single complex part.  Also if a measurement is displayed, using the software getting that measurement is a snap.  I will admit, there are times that a paper copy of something is beneficial, especially when standing at the table saw.  This is why my shop computer is also tied to the house network printer. 🙂

In the next week or so, I will post the second part of this article, so keep your eye out for it!

 Part 2

Shop and Site updates

Published on by Mike  (2 Comments)

First, I wanted to mention my newest shop update.  I had been finding myself more and more carting my primary laptop out to the the shop.  Now, a shop isn’t the best place for a computer, especially when it is being placed in any available flat surface.  The first problem is that it would get covered with sawdust.  I don’t know how many times I would come back in, and have to work on getting a piece of saw dust  jammed under a key, they having to clean it out.  Next, their was risk to the computer itself.  First, my shop is in a garage that door is typically open in the warmer months while working.  While I live in a good area, there is always risk that the computer could walk away.  Next their was always a risk of the computer getting damaged or destroyed by either a projectile off of a saw or getting knocked on the concrete floor.  After thinking it through, I decided to resurrect an old laptop that needed a hard drive.  Fortunately I was able to get one very cheaply.  I got it on there, and got the OS reinstalled on it (plus 200 windows updates to go with it!) .  Software wise, I put on the chat client I use for The Woodwhisperer chat room, current browsers, SketchUp (I draw all my project plans on that now), and ustream producer, so I can stream while in the shop.  (Believe it or not, people DO watch!)

Between the mouse click of getting everything installed on that computer, I built a small shelf out in the garage for it.  The shelf is up high, probably 6’5″ off the ground.  The was to address, a protecting it from flying objects and to help keep it away from the dust.  It will still get dusty, but I will hit with the shop vac to help with that.  Next I had an old 17″ flat panel laying around, along with a wall mount arm for a TV which we ended up never using.  So I mounted the monitor up on the wall, up high as well, for the same reasons as the computer, but also so I can see it comfortably while standing (I am 6’2″).  Finally I setup some old speakers (bought them for college nearly 15 years ago) so I could have some music from Pandora.com playing while I am out working.  Finally I got a cheap wireless keyboard and mouse.  Frankly they are junk, but they are good enough out the shop.  I spent well under a $100 for the setup, and it is well worth it!  Plus, with everything being old or cheap, if anything disappears or gets destroyed, I am not out a whole lot.

One quick site update, it was pointed out to me today that comments were not working.  I did not realize this, because commenting on my site is like calling my own cell phone, I never do it.  Most of the comments I get here are spam, and I have spam filters in place, and I just assumed that it was working.  Anyway, I figured out which plug-ins were causing it, and they have since been deactivated, so feel free to leave a comment on any of my posts!  😀

Tool Cabinet Project – Finally!

Published on by Mike  (Leave a comment)

Ever since I completed the chisel rack at the beginning of 2011, I have been wanting to build a hand tool cabinet.  Over the past year or so I have off and on been working on a design for the cabinet using sketch-up.  So to take advantage of a long weekend, this past Saturday I finally started the actual build.  Right off the bat, I made a design change to the cabinet, simply because I had the wood to do with.  I had some wide boards of maple I have been holding back for this project, that were a bit wider then the 7″ depth I had planned on.  So I added on an extra inch, making it 8″ deep.  I was pretty much in the shop all day Saturday, and got most of the case work done on it.  The only items missing were the dividers for the drawers and the back.  During the process of cutting the dados, I made another design change.  I decided it may be good to have one of the drawers wider, so I took out the center divider.

Sunday, I did spend nearly as much time in the shop as the heat and humidity (it wanted to rain all day, but didn’t) were horrible.  I did however clean up all the glue joints and sanded it.

Today, Labor Day Monday, I glued in the dividers and back.  This was also the inaugural run of my new cross-cut sled I made.  I have been meaning to make one for years, even bought Incra’s slider bar a couple years ago, but never got around to it.  The back on this is 27″ wide, and would be impossible to cut with the miter gauge on the table saw.  I did break it down to manageable piece with my circular saw, but that does not leave a clean cut.  In fact it tears up the veneer on the baltic birch ply horribly.  I used my roller stand to support the sled, and was able to safely cross cut the back down to the exact size I needed.  All I can say is, I wish I hadn’t waited so long to make one! The rest of the time I spent in the shop today was sanding the back.

All-in-all, I am happy with the progress I made, in fact a little surprised I am already this far a long.  I was hoping for the first glue-up this weekend, but managed to get that done the first day.  Most likely I will work on the door boxes next, but I am considering work on the plane till portion next.