Thread: Blackbutt and Tasmanian Blackwood table

That is a dood combination of Australian timbers - a eucalypt and an acacia. I look forward to seeing it progress. It's looking good so far.

David

Now the timbers have been cut to the right length, some squaring up is necessary. To square timbers for construction, I use a Plunge saw and Rail system. I align the rail along one side of the timber, then I guestimate the points where the saw will enter and leave the cut. Now I have a fairly even line to cut along

Next I saw along the edge of the rail, which gives you a clean straight edge. This is my reference face. By using the table saw with this edge against the fence, assuming the fence is square, then so is the face the table saw cuts.And they should be parallel

Fig #1 shows the saw sitting on the rail which is sitting on the timber.
Fig #2 shows the 4 sides of the frame, mitred and squared.

To join the top panels together, I use a Domino jointer, which is essentially a hole digger. So dowels could be used instead. I use 4mm dominoes so the panels look like those in Fig. #3
Fig #3 also shows how the panels are joined together, using the dominoes primarily for making and keeping the panels straight, while the glue is used to cement the join.Final<br>
Finally, the panels and the frame are joined together, again using dominoes to hold the panels and frame flat and the four corners are glued with Araldite. I used epoxy because the Blackbutt didn't seem to like the Titebond II. FIg. #4