Thread: The Adirondack Trio

Would it be possible for you to post some pics of your work ? I'm afraid I'm having a hard time imagining what your saying.

I assume what you've done is make a 30 degree cut then continued it along the second piece. I'd say most people have made that mistake once

As for spacing off the rip fence for cross cuts, yes that's a safer technique than running along the rip fence for a cross cut. The chances of the part skewing and jamming between the blade and fence is fairly high and the consequences aren't pretty. Just check and recheck you have taken the saw blade thickness into account for each cut. For this type of work it's really easy to forget which part your keeping and which is waste and run the saw blade the wrong side of the line...

It's always best to cut the longest parts first that way you can reuse the timber for shorter parts if you cut short.

Originally Posted by damian

. For this type of work it's really easy to forget which part your keeping and which is waste and run the saw blade the wrong side of the line...

I always mark the piece that I need with a tick beside the cutting line and a cross on the other side.

Originally Posted by damian

It's always best to cut the longest parts first that way you can reuse the timber for shorter parts if you cut short.

Excellent advice Damian, many a times have I forgotten that to my disgust.

Peter.

a good point also. I have also started to use a straight edge along the blade and up to my timber drawn line to see where I should align my cross cut. I will use the tick and cross method also.It could be so easy to put your timber down and forget which piece is the right one. I have cut out most of my timber pieces for the chair,need to start sanding and routering the edges against the template. Found a great article on cutting curves etc in a magazine I bought at the weekend. The artice is called "

The secrets to cutting perfect parts

" page 32 in Australian Woodsmith Issue 62. I would recommend it to all who need to learn the basics like me.lol

Woodsmith is a good mag for us beginners. They focus on the nuts and bolts of woodwork rather than the more arty stuff the other mags get into. That's fine for some but I get more value from woodsmith..

It's not hard to list common errors for others when you make them yourself regularly

Where is Doncaster ? I recall the name but can't remember where it is. Victoria ?

Really appreciated the information in the article, so much so, I have taken the plans to the photocopy shop to have them blown up to real size as suggested in the article. I have made templates by counting out the squares and marking, but just to put the paper patterns against them to see the accuracy will be good. If they are not accurate enought, will make a new set of templates, as orders are starting to come in for more Adirondach chairs from family.lol. Little do they know the stress I am having, but this will be our little secret..lol
Doncaster is a Suburb of Melbourne, on the eastern Freeway it is about 15 minutes from the CDB and a little under 1 1/2 hours from the yarra valley wine region. We are currently waiting for building permit to build down in Queenscliffe are coastal town 1 1/2 hours from CBM a beautiful town full of historical grand buildings and the first fort in Victoria. with views of the rip and dolphins swimming in the bay. That is why I am building the chairs, we are building a huge deck overlooking the ocean and Swan bay so cannot think of a better house project that will be enjoyed by all.
My new jigsaw has so much umph I could cut trought a railway sleeper with no problems what so ever. What is the difference between a jigsaw in a jigsaw table and a band saw? besides having a table that will tilt? does anyone have a tilting jig saw table plan? have you ever heard of anything like that?
Love Brisbane, spent many days up there so green and tropical, love taking your ferries up and down the rivers just for fun.
Will get the digital camera out and take some shots when I have sanded the pieces would not want anyone to see them as they are right now. Hope my oscillating sander comes back soon. Not happy that I only had it for 10 minutes.

a jigsaw reciprocates a bandsaw always runs in 1 direction. Sometimes you can get kickback with a jigsaw.

A jigsaw blade is supported at only 1 end. The triton tries to address that but there have been problems with the triton jigsaw attachment, can't remember what they are search back through the forum.

Also the oscillating mechanism in a jigsaw can get sawdust in it and block up. Worth giving it a clean every now and then. They are designed to be used hand held.

The thing is with woodwork there is a lot of overlap between machine functionality. A tablesaw will do a lot of work a router table can do, likewise bandsaw, jigsaw, scrollsaw etc. You have to decide what your doing and how you prefer to do it. Some day I'll have the skill and feel to do most stuff with hand tools, and that is what I will use. In the mean time I bludgeon my way through with my trusty circular saw and routers. Name any task and ask the question here and you'll get 1/2 dozen ways of achieving it. All will work just a question of personal approach and equipment on hand. You have enough stuff right now to do nearly anything, the question is are you happy using what you've got or do you want another tool or machine. As I've said never be in a rush to spend money but if your frustrated with what your doing it may be necessary.

I remember now. I avoid melbourne, don't like the place at all. Rural victoria is very pretty, be it geelong, healsville, queenscliff, sale....

Don't like big cities so regard sidinee, melbourne and brisbane as probably the 3 worst places in aus. 2c...

Diana. I just realised last night that I was wrong about the 30°

I used teh cosine of 30°

<OI should have used the tangent of 30° = 0.577


This means that the side you had to cut back is 0.577 x the width of timber, not half the width. This means you have to take off a bit more still. if it is 20mm thick it means an extra 1.5 mm. I hope I haven''t casued too much greif.
</O

Thanks for this Brian. I used my Jigsaw at 30degrees and used that. So all is ok.
They are sending me a new replacement oscillating sander from Perth. Very happy about that. When it arrives will start to sand away the saw marks.
Will post a Photo when I am getting closer to letting anyone see a finished piece/
Thank you again Brian
Diana

Hi Damian,
Well as promised here are the pictures of the Adirondack Trio. They are a winner indeed my husband now does not want to come inside. He sits on his chair with a cool glass of beer and confesses he has found his place in life.
They are made from spotted gum, and have stainless steel, bolts and screws for the harsh australian climate.
I finished them with oil natural and they really have taken on a beautiful patina.
I know have to make two more for guest as when they are here they dive for the chairs and Joe and I are left sitting in mediocre chairs.
Thank you again to all who assisted and guided me to complete these beautiful chairs. I am still hoping that Santa will bring me a band saw, so much easier than the jigsaw

Diana - I can't see the pictures.

Hi
Sorry that the picture did not download. I have tried again. Hope this works.
Very happy with the outcome great to sit on. will be making two more out of spotted gum again.
Cheers
Diana

They look beautiful Diana, well done.

Donna

Thank you Donna for your kind words. Love working with spotted gum, and I can know take orders from my family for christmas birthday presents.lol.
so much fun so much easier than fitting a dress..lol.. one chair fits all...
Merry Christmas
Diana

Yes well done. Perhaps you'll never get off the verandah