I decided it was time to replace the TV Stand, as it's a black chipboard monstrosity.
I started with a pile of ash. Some part machined, but mainly rough sawn.
Sadly, some of it was too wide to make it through the planer, so I ripped it down on the table saw.
Looking a lot better! I've planed and thicknessed the lot.
You start a single job, and it triggers a rash of others. Here's me finding I've filled the extractor bag with chips. :roll:
Next it's giving the edges a quick swipe with the jointer.
Nice curly shavings!
Some of it has a really nice grain - so I'm sorting through to get the optimum pieces on show....
Next up, I'm routing a profile on the end pieces...
Bit easier to see here:
Next job was biscuit jointing the panels. I've done another project since, and I've finally decided to skip this stage on panels like this. The glue is strong enough without the biscuits.
All the pieces ready to go.
Time to glue up next.
A glued end piece.
Clamping the top, bottom and shelf. You always need more clamps!
A rare outing for the smoother. Normally, I'd use the jointer.
Suffering a little from tearout, I switched to the scraper when neccasary.
Even the card scrapers got some use!
Better than the gym this - that many shavings is a real workout!
For the next stage, I found I needed to clamp the top and sides at 90 degrees. Not being able to think of a better solution, I trimmed 2 pieces of MDF, drilled holes, and used them as a reference edge. It worked really well.
I'd already decided I'd have a go with Miller dowels - so had ordered some Walnut ones, to add some nice contrast with the "whiteness" of the ash. I found the Miller drill bit was only really successfull when used with a handheld drill - using it with a bench drill just didn't seem to work.
I also found you need to vacuum the holes well, after drilling.
OK, the picture is a little staged, but in they go...
In use, I found you needed to clamp the pieces as you knocked the dowels in, as they had a tendency to seperate slightly.
When belting the dowels in with a mallet, remember not to leave you fingers in the way. This hurt for days after.
Two sides on, and wishing I'd made 4 of those MDF guides.
All square and dowelled.
Japanese saws seem ideal for trimming the excess...
Leaving not a bad finish straight from the saw...
Final finish with the block plane.
No idea why, but I added the profile to the top after it was glued up? Lack of a plan I imagine.
Not difficult though, using a bearing guided cutter. (I bought a "cheap" £20 set of 10 cutters about 6 years ago, and, other than my woodrat cutters, have yet to find fault with them, and they have all been well used.)
I've started adding a bit of Danish oil to the dowels, even though I'm not ready to finish the top yet, as it seals the end grain of the dowel
Checking the position of the shelf, so I can stand a video underneath and a DVD in the top.
I'm finishing the inside before I mount the shelf, as it'll be too difficult afterwards.
I've decided to mount it on wheels, as I'm always fiddling around with the scart connectors etc.
I've decided on a Walnut base, to cover the wheels. I'm using offcuts so I hope this piece has a nice figure/colour, as I don't have much else long enough! This piece is ready to flattening.
Walnut is a lovely wood to work, it's soft and easy to plane.
I'm using walnut offcuts, so I'm resawing this on my little bandsaw. It's about 2.5 inches deep, but taking it slowly the little saw just about coped!
I don't have enough piece long enough, so I've opted to join two together on the back. Selecting the best two from 3!
Time to sand! You can see the dowels have been pre-oiled much clearer in the picture.
Main unit, prior to finishing..
What a difference a coat of oil makes!
A close up on those dowels!
I'm biscuit jointing the base together.
Then routing a similar profile to the top and sides..
Next is to double check the placement of the wheels, so they have space to spin.
Finaly placement check!
Biscuiting the base....
Whilst cutting the matching joints on the main unit - DISASTER - I wasn't paying attention and cut right through the end. B******s. After umming and ahhing for a while about cutting out a bit and replacing it. I decided to carry on anyway - it's just be a feature to remind me to double check before plunging the cutter.
And another picture. It's upside down so it'll be on the base when I spin it over. I'm hoping it just won't be too obvious after a coat of oil.
All clamps on deck!
Almost finished - just need to oil the walnut around the base....
And again....
A quick coating of wax back in the house...
And into position it goes...
Phew, another project completed.
I started with a pile of ash. Some part machined, but mainly rough sawn.
Sadly, some of it was too wide to make it through the planer, so I ripped it down on the table saw.
Looking a lot better! I've planed and thicknessed the lot.
You start a single job, and it triggers a rash of others. Here's me finding I've filled the extractor bag with chips. :roll:
Next it's giving the edges a quick swipe with the jointer.
Nice curly shavings!
Some of it has a really nice grain - so I'm sorting through to get the optimum pieces on show....
Next up, I'm routing a profile on the end pieces...
Bit easier to see here:
Next job was biscuit jointing the panels. I've done another project since, and I've finally decided to skip this stage on panels like this. The glue is strong enough without the biscuits.
All the pieces ready to go.
Time to glue up next.
A glued end piece.
Clamping the top, bottom and shelf. You always need more clamps!
A rare outing for the smoother. Normally, I'd use the jointer.
Suffering a little from tearout, I switched to the scraper when neccasary.
Even the card scrapers got some use!
Better than the gym this - that many shavings is a real workout!
For the next stage, I found I needed to clamp the top and sides at 90 degrees. Not being able to think of a better solution, I trimmed 2 pieces of MDF, drilled holes, and used them as a reference edge. It worked really well.
I'd already decided I'd have a go with Miller dowels - so had ordered some Walnut ones, to add some nice contrast with the "whiteness" of the ash. I found the Miller drill bit was only really successfull when used with a handheld drill - using it with a bench drill just didn't seem to work.
I also found you need to vacuum the holes well, after drilling.
OK, the picture is a little staged, but in they go...
In use, I found you needed to clamp the pieces as you knocked the dowels in, as they had a tendency to seperate slightly.
When belting the dowels in with a mallet, remember not to leave you fingers in the way. This hurt for days after.
Two sides on, and wishing I'd made 4 of those MDF guides.
All square and dowelled.
Japanese saws seem ideal for trimming the excess...
Leaving not a bad finish straight from the saw...
Final finish with the block plane.
No idea why, but I added the profile to the top after it was glued up? Lack of a plan I imagine.
Not difficult though, using a bearing guided cutter. (I bought a "cheap" £20 set of 10 cutters about 6 years ago, and, other than my woodrat cutters, have yet to find fault with them, and they have all been well used.)
I've started adding a bit of Danish oil to the dowels, even though I'm not ready to finish the top yet, as it seals the end grain of the dowel
Checking the position of the shelf, so I can stand a video underneath and a DVD in the top.
I'm finishing the inside before I mount the shelf, as it'll be too difficult afterwards.
I've decided to mount it on wheels, as I'm always fiddling around with the scart connectors etc.
I've decided on a Walnut base, to cover the wheels. I'm using offcuts so I hope this piece has a nice figure/colour, as I don't have much else long enough! This piece is ready to flattening.
Walnut is a lovely wood to work, it's soft and easy to plane.
I'm using walnut offcuts, so I'm resawing this on my little bandsaw. It's about 2.5 inches deep, but taking it slowly the little saw just about coped!
I don't have enough piece long enough, so I've opted to join two together on the back. Selecting the best two from 3!
Time to sand! You can see the dowels have been pre-oiled much clearer in the picture.
Main unit, prior to finishing..
What a difference a coat of oil makes!
A close up on those dowels!
I'm biscuit jointing the base together.
Then routing a similar profile to the top and sides..
Next is to double check the placement of the wheels, so they have space to spin.
Finaly placement check!
Biscuiting the base....
Whilst cutting the matching joints on the main unit - DISASTER - I wasn't paying attention and cut right through the end. B******s. After umming and ahhing for a while about cutting out a bit and replacing it. I decided to carry on anyway - it's just be a feature to remind me to double check before plunging the cutter.
And another picture. It's upside down so it'll be on the base when I spin it over. I'm hoping it just won't be too obvious after a coat of oil.
All clamps on deck!
Almost finished - just need to oil the walnut around the base....
And again....
A quick coating of wax back in the house...
And into position it goes...
Phew, another project completed.
