Ajo working

Woodworking...8...mastering the mitre joint on the...

Scarf Joint

Miter Joint

Mitre Joint

Miter Joints and ways to make them stronger.

Stuart posted a comment in yesterdays comments cluing me into something I wasnt aware of regarding router bits. A problem with many bits and routers is that the shaft of the bit can be longer than your collet. In this case, if you drop the bit all the way down into your router, it may bottom out, causing the bit to slip. Clearly, a rubber o-ring trick will do nothing for you.

Tim sent me a diagram illustrating the opposite end of the router shaft: where it meets the cutting part:

You can see where that taper occurs. Thats the area that I think Woodsmith was addressing.

All in all, I think the best and easiest tip is to just drop your bit into the router and back it out a slight -ahem- bit.

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No project video to post this week guys. Sorry. Somehow summer activities tend to keep me out of my shop more than usual. Heres an update:

Mere Minutes

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

so I added them here.





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



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

when I stain projects.



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.

quick!

Last week fellow +Modern Woodworkers Association member +Rob Bois and I headed up to Newtown, Connecticut to meet up with the +Fine Woodworking crew and represent the MWA on their podcast, Shop Talk Live.

Publishers, and just all around nice guys who love woodworking.

We had a great time and really appreciate the invitation.
On the podcast we joined +Asa Christiana, +Matthew Kenney & +Ed Pirnik to talk woodworking. The specific topics discussed ranged from the pro & cons of sliding compound miter saws (Im on the Pro side) to the dangers of drinking shellac.

Matt Kenney sits down in their decked out podcasting studio

Yours truly, behind the mic.

Ed Pirnik made this decked out mic stand just to accommodate us.

You can check out the podcast on their site here, you can also download and subscribe to it on iTunes here. And if you do listen using iTunes, please leave a review. +Ed Pirnik will really appreciate it.

Rob & Matt talk shop.

Yes, Rob, jointers do come that big (By the way, he won a Bad Axe Tenon saw).

Weve scraped the decorative knot in the desk top, so Ive got some new maple to work with. Ive done my normal routine with the planer, joiner, and saws, and have cut the slots for the biscuits to join the top together. A note about biscuit joining: I prefer using biscuits over just plain glue for a few reasons: #1, they keep things lined up, and #2, in my opinion, since the biscuit expands when its hit with glue, it will make for a stronger joint.
One of the key things I want to make sure to do is to get the tops of the planks as level as possible so that it cuts down on sanding. To do that, I have made a device that woodworkers use to help level boards when joining - see the first picture. I had thought this device was called a caul, but I am not so sure, so if anyone knows, please feel free to leave a comment!
In the next few pictures you can see my biscuit layout. I glue in all the biscuits first, then do the edge glue-up. This gives me time to work with the piece as a whole, and manage the clamps.
A note about glue squeeze out. For the new woodworker, here is a trick for easily removing the glue beads without leaving residue (which will show up under your stain). Leave the glue beads in place, until a thin coating develops on the outside of the bead (almost becomes like a soft egg). Then, take a sharp chisel, and simply scrape it off! The glue bead will come off completely and easily, and leave very little behind to clean up!!! I tried several methods to get new glue off of wood, and I prefer this one the most.

The priming, resanding, and painting has been finished on the built in.  Its nice and smooth!  There is some other work to take place in the room, and then Ill be installing the crown molding and base trim to finish this project off.

I was gone most of last week on vacation so I didnt get to work on the case much but I got a lot done the last couple of days.  I stopped by Rockler and picked up 2 hinges, 2 clasps, and a handle for it.  I go them all in bronze because that was the only color that I could find all the pieces in.  I would have preferred the aged nickel but oh well.  The outside of the case has 3 coats of Danish oil and now 2 coats of Polyurethane.  The inside tray has 2 coats of Danish oil that needs 1 more day of drying time.  It will then get 2 coats of poly as well.  I trimmed the Lego plates down to fit the inside of the case and have some self adhesive sheets of felt for the insides of the case and the bottom of the tray.  Everything should be ready for my sons party on Saturday.  If all goes according to plan I should have a video out on Monday for the project.

Its early fall in Vermont again. Happens every year ... We had a frost scare last night (didnt happen) and we spent a little time picking the tender stuff like tomatoes and squash, zinnias, and dahlias. The tourists are here for the Fall Harvest Craft Fair in Manchester. I checked in there and the Southern Vermont Art Center yesterday to watch Will and his band play for a while and visit with friends who were exhibiting ... I spent the entire day listening to music and shooting the breeze with friends under a clear blue fall sky ... It doesnt get much better .... Click the photos to enlarge them ...
We had almost 6 inches of rain Thursday and Friday and our vernal pond filled up in less than 24 hours ... a record for the 14 years weve owned the property.