The Problem: episode 1, part 13 (The Big Glue Up)

Really busy week this week.  I got a lot done, just not a lot done with this leg and rail assembly.  What I did do was a major step in getting the thing done.  I have got it ready for the finish.

Had to cut a pile of shims for the tenons and lay out where they go.

And then I did some cutting.

Hey look it fits!  wow.

These are the blind (go into a hole that has a bottom) tenons that I am putting the shims in.  As the shims bottom out in the mortise they are forced back up into the tenon making everything nice and tight.

First is the glue.

Lining it up.

And applying the force.

More force.

And a little more force.  I would like to take a second to thank Mr Greg Burns for taking these action shots of me.  Good Job, thank you.

The upper tenons are through tenons so I could put the shims in after I fit the two pieces together.

And here they are almost ready to be finished.

The Problem: episode 1, part 12 (The Last Mortise And Securing The Tenons)

I opted for doing the mortises the old fashioned way this time.
By drilling some round holes.

Then making the round holes square with a hammer and chisel.

I enjoy doing things by hand sometimes.  Working with good old hand tools keeps my hands honest.

To strengthen the rail tenon I drilled a 1/4" hole just past the mortise I just made.

Then I cut some 1/4" round aluminium just a little larger than the height of the tenon.

And pounded it through the tenon with a hammer.

All I have to do now is file the aluminium flush and do some finish sanding to get things ready for the finish.

First Animated .gif!

Harvesting some lumber the old fashioned way.

The Problem: episode 1, part 11 (The Shaping of things)

Setting up an auxiliary fence in order to do a 160 degree cut with the miter saw.  I just added a longer edge to the box I made for making the tenons earlier.  Worked great.

This is the piece I am about to cut.

Lined up the laser with my line and I am ready to do some cutting.  Lasers are great for lining up angles like this.  Cuts the set up time in half.


Here is me making the cut.  Exciting I know.  When I'm rich I plan on hiring a professional photographer to shoot me while I'm working.  Until then I'm saving for a tripod to set up some more interesting camera angles.

The cut pieces with green and red.

I did the last curved cut with the band saw.

Finishing the curve with the osculating spindle sander.

Everything is ready to prep for finishing.

Chamfered the edges with the router and then I sanded.

My First Video!

This is a video of me cutting the tenons for my desk.  Doing what I do best.  Making sawdust.  Shot with my Nikon point and shoot camera.  Good times.