Thread: Am I wasting my Time with woodwork?

Once again a heart felt congratulations to all involved, maybe here's the start of something. A sort of introductory barn-raising thingo.

How many others are out there who could do with a bit of basic equipment/tuition, and how many would be prepared to muck around for a day or two to build a bench?

Welcome to the forum, come over and we'll build your bench! I love it!!!

Cheers,

P

Good to hear, see its not a waste of time after all... gaining some new mates too!

G'day,

Yep, it was a good day, by the end of it the shed floor was covered in dust, this is about the only clean floor that I found, and for that much, about the only clean surface. The Dusty was working like a trooper.

We threw in an old sharp tooth saw of my Dad's, wasn't carbide - just straight steel, it must've been a bit dull to start with and after a bit it gave up. It hit a nail we didn't find early on (better it the blade finding it than my thicknesser, although it also found one but it must've been so old and soft that it didn't do aything to the blades ), anyway pulled that blade out and it had built up fair bit of resin. So we threw another one on, exact same type and it ripped through the timber like butter.

I'll take a shot tomorrow and put in up in here. (if I remember)

Thanks for the hand Skew, hope that brother turned up.

Today Waldo, Skew ChiDAMN!!, and I got together at Waldo's shed. To start the work on my bench top. We started by ripping the timber we got from Al's down to a set dimension. After some tips and a demonstration from Waldo and Skew, I took my first hesitant step in-front of the table saw. With a little hesitation I managed to safely rip the timber down to size and removing any damaged sides.

I asked allot of questions and Waldo and Skew were very helpful at explain my questions. I saw how to change the blade, and got tips on how to known if all is tracking true.

Next we started on the thicknesser, we needed to strip down more of the timber cleaning it up and removing all the grey and weathered sides, and some of the rotting edges. This took up the bulk of the day. Waldo and I working together sorting and feeding the timber.

We then arranged the boards so as to take full effect of the colour and size making it as pleasing to look at as possible. The top is mostly Vic Ash, with some real nice range of colours. We also have a nice piece of Red Ironbark, and the bread board ends are Jarrah. In the end we will have a 18288 +/- mm long, 630 mm deep and 80 mm thick.

We then started on the wagon wheel tail vice, which you can see partially assembled in the photo. This was the real interesting part of the day, building something. We took a pice of 80 x 80 mm Tallowood and cut rebates into the sides, we then epoxed a guide rail into the rebate. We have still a fair amount of work to do however it will be a very nice tail vice.

The breadboard ends are really nice they both are used to reinforce the tail vice and to frame the top. All held in place with bolts. Not a true bread board but very nice.

Unfortunately we ran out of time, and we were not able to glue it all up, however we hope to complete the wagon wheel tail vice and we will have to get together next week to finish the job.

In short today was truly great, thanks' for Chris, and Skew for all their helpful advice. The experience was invaluable. I got to use a range of tool's learned a great deal about their use and feel far more confided in the use of these tool, and I cannot wait to learn more.

I have attached some photos, you can see the wagon wheel vice and the screw we are using and yes that is me . I am going to clean up the screw, removing the green paint and covering with a clear seller. I think it will suit the recycled feel of the top. The top has a few pieces of gum vein in it and a few nail, and bolt holes, those will be filled with epoxy; an effect a really like.

I am very happy with this project.

Originally Posted by bitingmidge

A sort of introductory barn-raising thingo,

I think it is a great idea midge, it is very hard to get started and to get the basics working. I think allot of new people need help with work spaces/benches, hand tool and power tool tuning, setup, safety and use, sharpening and the thousand other little things that is only experience can give. If people do not any one to turn to it can be very frustrating undertaking.

This is a great ongoing saga to read - when does the TV series come out?

I am curious - why are the planks on the top joined face to face rather than edge to edge?

Originally Posted by jisk

I am curious - why are the planks on the top joined face to face rather than edge to edge?

jisk, I wasn't there, so hope this is the reason! In any case it is worth remembering:

In terms of face/edge joins it doesn't matter which orientation the planks are as long as the GRAIN is consistently vertical. This gives the effect of having a fully quarter sawn bench, and is the best shot one has of minimising cupping and movement in an undesirable direction during its life.

Cheers,

P

Sounds like one of them replies from the Complaint thread Midge..

Al

Originally Posted by Bois

Where is Ravensbourne?

about 60 ks or so as the crow flies form where you are, basically the next range back. If you wanna get up here just follow the road out behind Mt Glorious, when you are near Wivenhoe turn towards Esk, when you get to Esk turn left and head about 35k's up tot he top of the Range. Thats Ravensbourne.

Originally Posted by Bois

The Sydney Blue Gum (Eucalyptus saligna) here is very tall and straight as a gun barrel.

yeah some huge old growth ones up here, in the national park all over the place. A huge old one fell down the road a while back, I have been hacking chunks of it occasionally with my chainsaw. I have done some turnings and other woodworks with it.

Originally Posted by Bois

I have tried to source it from timber merchants without any luck and have been told they are not cutting it any more. So I dont know if what you have there is the same species. Flooded Gum (E. grandis is very similar) but if it is either, I would love to come up and get a few large logs when they are cutting them for removal. They both have a beautiful grain and colour.
Regards, Jonathan (Bois)

Ok, they have just finished clearing the roadside at Highfields and cut and chipped several of them. Lionel at Amalagamated timbers (0408457156) in Highfield has a sawmill and there heaps of SBG logs piled up there (just behind the garden place as you come into high fields from Toowomba).

Also Crokers Mill (alos know and Anduramba sawmillsers) at Anduramba, just outside Crows Nest has heaps of it as well, plus other species.

Feel free to drop up any time mate, i still have some chunks to give away and theres lots of trees and wood around these parts.

To cut costs while getting vice faces, that will taper to hold angled and tapered work like chair legs and bokkens, I am intending to use two Vise Screws like this one by carbatec. Just large/longer and not made in china.

I am therefore in need of two larger style old style Vise Screws. Something like the one that I am using for the tail vice.

If you have something that fits my needs can you PM me with details and a price?

So thumbie is that you in the third pic?... IF SO Ive got one issue mate


WHERE THE BLOODY HELL IS THE PLEASURE??

Where the hell is the joy?

Where the hell is the utter happiness?

I mean NOT ONLY did you get to meet a couple of bloody legends in one go NOT ONLY did they supply the timber NOT ONLY did they show and teach you NOT ONLY did this thread of your rush head on for 9 pages NOT ONLY did a whole bunch of us encourage inspire motivate and show concern for you and your woes NOT ONLY that... but you have a FRIGGIN BLOODY UBLOODYBEAUT BENCH!!!

So why the crappy expression? I mean comeon at least ONE smile??? You could show some happiness at the fact that you now have mates who you KNOW will help you with the woodworkin stuff you dont know or with access to tools you dont have... that you can share a barbie with... but YOU HAVE A BENCH!!!

MAN!! youd think a bloke would at least smile for the camera standin over his new bench And a group shot would have been good to strewth young fellas no sence of the rediculous at all

Good on you all well done

Originally Posted by Wild Dingo

So thumbie is that you in the third pic?... IF SO Ive got one issue mate ............

youd think a bloke would at least smile for the camera standin over his new bench

Good on you all well done

Trust me I was very happy, just ask Waldo, I just get all nervous standing in front of cameras and I look the same in all my photo's. That is why I do not like being in photo's. Just plane hate the buggers.

But I was happy, happier then a pig in mud.

Dingo next time, we will get a group shot, with all of blokes and I will be just for you

Schmick bench!

Can I join the queue to make one?

Originally Posted by thumbsucker

But I was happy, happier then a pig in mud.

Very courteous indeed
Might add, that Scottish Chinese gentleman Mr McJing has these, if they are of any use, about $10 a piece

This may be silly but who is?

Originally Posted by Iain

Scottish Chinese gentleman Mr McJing

Originally Posted by rsser

Schmick bench! Can I join the queue to make one?

Anything is possible.