Thread: Sort of a Workbench WIP - Slow...

Trimmed down the top to final size today, biggest project through the table saw to date and it was a bit of a struggle but I managed it.

Attachment 117479

I'm planning on attaching the top to the bench, making sure it's all square and flat, then cutting out the centre section. This should make it a bit easier to ensure that the two outer sections of bench top are level with each other.

I had hoped to screw the benchtop up from the underside of the rails but realised I didn't have a long enough drill bit to pre-drill the pilot holes. I made up a set of blocks from all the scraps I'd cut off to remove the machine snipe earlier, and have dominoed them into the frame members. I've pre-drilled a countersunk hole and now just need the pilot hole to be done once the top is in place.

Attachment 117480 Attachment 117481

Once the top is cut I'll size and fit the edge strips with mitred corners. Not real confident on that one so there could be a few attempts involved.

Argh!!!

Just had a terrible realisation that should I commit circular saw to bench top whilst it's attached I'll end up with some horrible, horrible chipping that I've so far seen on the bottom surface from where all cuts have been made...

Looks like I'll have to fit up the top, make sure it's all level and square then remove it again for cutting. Don't like that idea at all.

I might try taking a very shallow cut on my scrap piece of formply first to see if I can get away with leaving it fitted. I think masking tape over the cut line was another possible solution. Will try that too.

Looking good Steve, despite your struggles.

Have you thought of deep scoring a line where the edge of the cut will be? This could be done with a very stiff and sharp knife. I have done this successfully to prevent chipping or ffurry edges.

I've used the masking tape trick to good effect in the past. Try it on some scrap first, but you might be surprised at how effective it can be.

Tex

Thanks for the suggestions gentlemen.

Had a go at it today, first on some scrap and found that the masking tape and a very shallow first cut both gave excellent results that I was happy with. Unfortunately it didn't work as well on the actual benchtop for some reason so the first cut left a bit of chipping. I think it might have been due to the fact that I was cutting twice the thickness as the scrap so had to lower the blade a lot more resulting in more vertical tooth movement at the surface.

On the second cut, to free the centre section, I used the scoring method and it worked a bit better but still left some chipping unfortunately. What's done is done so that's how it shall stay. If I find that it starts lifting at the chipped areas then I'll think about filling them with epoxy later on.

Here's a couple of photos. It looked so good with the benchtop fitted that I seriously considered ditching the SCMS and just keeping it as one piece...

Attachment 117550 Attachment 117551 Attachment 117552

I trimmed up a set of the edge strips for the small end of the bench and fitted them up with the domino. The picture shows a dry run to see if the mitres lined up ok. They weren't perfect but went together reasonably well with some clamping pressure once glued.

Attachment 117553 Attachment 117554

Not too disappointed with the progress and results today. I did manage to catch a screw with the domino and destroy a 5mm cutter though so that was a bit of a bummer... Luckily I had a spare one so was able to keep working.

Coming along nicely I'm sure you are not the first to wreck a cutter on a screw

Stevemc32, you got a great work bench in your pics and the bench your building now, wow its out standing. I might have to build one. Keep us posted.
Harrison

Looking very nice indeed.

Thanks guys.

A little bit more done today. Got the edging onto the router table side of the bench. Shown here with a dry fit it's looking ok.

Attachment 117676

I seem to have a bit of a systematic error occurring the domino in that every joint is about 0.5mm off line once joined up. This occurred all the way around the router table top so there must be something going wrong.

Attachment 117675

It caused a bit of misalignment with the mitre joins but I just filled them with glue and squeezed tighter on the clamps.

Steve, I use the domino on the tightest setting for the first domino only, then open its cut for the remainder. Are you trying to do all the dominos on the tightest setting?

Also, there is a procedure to 'dial-in' the accuracy of the domino when you first get it, did you follow that procedure?

Thanks Groggy.

I have been using the tightest setting for all dominos to date so will try loosening them up a little in future after the first one.

I must have missed the dialling in procedure when I first got the machine. I'll go and have a look at it to see what's up.

Originally Posted by stevemc32

Thanks Groggy.

I have been using the tightest setting for all dominos to date so will try loosening them up a little in future after the first one.

I must have missed the dialling in procedure when I first got the machine. I'll go and have a look at it to see what's up.

I will PM you with a link to my FTP server where you can download an updated manual, on page 21 it describes how to adjust the locating pins by using the eccentric bushing. Lots of pics, even I could follow it.

Champion effort Groggy.

Thanks again.

Finished the edging on the centre section of the bench today and fitted it up for a photo opportunity.

Attachment 117917

Couple of decisions to make now. The first one is whether or not to round over the top of the hardwood edge strips. It's quite sharp at the moment and prone to splintering so I think it's probably a good idea though I have done this on my other bench and it causes a bit of a problem when clamping to the edge. Any suggestions.

I've also been thinking about a finish for the bench.

Both this bench and the previous fibreglass cabinet project have really been a bit of a learning and testing opportunity for me before I start working on some furniture for the house. It's easier to trial ideas and techniques on shed items that won't be on permanent display.

I finished the fibreglass cabinet with a water based polyurethane and it gave quite a nice result but I would like to try something different with this one. I've heard of lots of different finishes - wax, oils, varnish, lacquer, shellac???? I haven't really done any research on finishes so don't know which would be suitable.

On impulse, I bought myself some Feast and Watson Scandinavian Oil today and gave it a quick run on a piece of scrap. It looks pretty good but I'm still not sure if it's suitable for shed use? I've only given it one coat so far and it suggests two coats would be the norm. Will finish it off tomorrow and see how it turns out.

Any suggestions on which one / ones might go well on both the bench and household furniture would be much appreciated.