wtnhighlander Posted March 7, 2017 Report Share Posted March 7, 2017 Put it where it is most visible. The laminations are plenty strong, assuming you did it right! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estesbubba Posted March 7, 2017 Report Share Posted March 7, 2017 47 minutes ago, wtnhighlander said: Put it where it is most visible. The laminations are plenty strong, assuming you did it right! +1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Denette Posted March 8, 2017 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 Got the legs milled down to their final dimensions aside from length. My gimmicky old miter saw is a fraction of a degree off in both planes, so I'll need to calibrate it. But the blanks are together. They'll be 34" long including the tenon so my bench can double as an outfeed table in a pinch. Beefy! In the second picture above, you're looking at the top side of the legs and they're all in their final orientation, with the top edge in the photo being the front of the bench. Most of the defects are going to be well hidden this way, plus the cleaner-looking full-width board will be the most prominent one in the finished bench because I decided to be smart and take everyone's advice! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat60 Posted March 8, 2017 Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 Looking nice man. I bet its getting heavy on the saw horses. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denette Posted March 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 Looking nice man. I bet its getting heavy on the saw horses. Yeah. They are rated to support enough weight, but the more weight that goes on them, the wobblier they get. I'll be glad to have these slabs on a base! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SawDustB Posted March 8, 2017 Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 Nice legs! I see you've got the same table saw as me. I've been trying to figure out whether to bump up the bench to 37" like you are to match the height. Seems tall when I propped mine up that high. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denette Posted March 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 Nice legs! Hello there! I see you've got the same table saw as me. I've been trying to figure out whether to bump up the bench to 37" like you are to match the height. Seems tall when I propped mine up that high. Well, it's a comfortable height to work at for me. I'm about 6' tall with my boots on, so I actually appreciate the extra height. You could always put it on some sort of temporary rider to give it a shot and see if you like it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SawDustB Posted March 8, 2017 Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 Well, it's a comfortable height to work at for me. I'm about 6' tall with my boots on, so I actually appreciate the extra height. I like it for the table saw for sure. I'm 6'1", so it's a good height for me too. I'm more concerned about how comfortable it'll be for long planing sessions. I've got no room for a jointer, so the bench and my planes will have to get me to where I van put things through the planer. I suspect (OK, I know) I've been over thinking it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Denette Posted March 10, 2017 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted March 10, 2017 Tonight I got my legs to final length, marked the layout for the mortises on the legs, and did the first two mortises with my router and a 2.5" straight bit I picked up for 20 bucks at Lowe's. It cut like butter, and I'm looking forward to getting the rest of them done. Plunging mortises is pretty fun to me. I set up stops on each end of the mortise, set up the router fence, and plunge away! The only hitch here is that my router bit that can get it to depth is actually a little too long for my router, so I have to change out bits halfway through the mortise - not too terribly disruptive if I leave the fence in place. Here's how far the bit protrudes - the router is not plunged at all. These legs are beefy. Manly. Robust. Massive. And the first two mortises went relatively smoothly! I hope to get the base finished this weekend and get the bench top off of those sawhorses! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted March 10, 2017 Report Share Posted March 10, 2017 Is anybody else going to tell him the mortises are on the wrong face or should I? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denette Posted March 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2017 Is anybody else going to tell him the mortises are on the wrong face or should I? I'm reasonably sure they aren't. The leg with the mortises is turned 90° relative to the other 3. If they are on the wrong side, well, I've done dumber things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estesbubba Posted March 10, 2017 Report Share Posted March 10, 2017 29 minutes ago, Denette said: I'm reasonably sure they aren't. The leg with the mortises is turned 90° relative to the other 3. If they are on the wrong side, well, I've done dumber things. Put them on the ground as they will sit and you'll know. Too early for me to think about it without caffeine. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denette Posted March 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2017 The one with the mortises is in the bottom left on this picture, and the legs are oriented just as they will be for the bench. The rails all run flush to the outside edge, right? So I should be good. Worst case scenario is that I did do them wrong - still not a huge problem since I have only drilled mortises in the one leg, and only those two you see there. Still, I'm pretty sure I got it right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Brendon_t Posted March 10, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted March 10, 2017 I'm sure they're right, I was totally joking with ya. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denette Posted March 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2017 I'm sure they're right, I was totally joking with ya. I thought that might be the case, but it never hurts to double check. Yesterday my biggest problem was that I marked things where they shouldn't be and had to erase and restart, so I was a little concerned, joke or not! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Carlsten Posted March 10, 2017 Report Share Posted March 10, 2017 Even as an outside observer I was concerned and trying to think of he had it right lol Well played sir. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted March 10, 2017 Report Share Posted March 10, 2017 Well my trolling for the day is done. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SawDustB Posted March 10, 2017 Report Share Posted March 10, 2017 35 minutes ago, Brendon_t said: Well my trolling for the day is done. Based on your avatar, I would assume you're just getting started Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted March 10, 2017 Report Share Posted March 10, 2017 always fun watching this build! keep up the good work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Denette Posted March 10, 2017 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted March 10, 2017 Boom. All the mortises are plunged, and all the top tenons are cut. Some of the tenon shoulders turned out pretty rough, so there will be a substantial bit of cleanup work there, but I'm feeling good about today's progress! I blame the rough parts on my drunk miter saw and disabled cross cut sled. The miter saw has always been a little unpredictable ever since I got it. I need to take time and actually try to make a dedicated high-quality cross cut sled, because the one I have is cobbled together from scraps and sits a little loose in the miter slots. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denette Posted March 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2017 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denette Posted March 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 The base is standing! I feel like I'm finally getting the hang of tenons with this project. Later tonight or tomorrow afternoon I'll get the counterbores done, as well as work on boring all the important holes in the legs prior to assembly. I looked at BC's directions for the leg vise (which I can't buy just yet), and the instructions say both that you should not make any cuts until you have the hardware and that you should make all the cuts before assembly. That's dumb. I'm making the cuts unless someone can give me a good reason why not to. Also, the tail vise has been ordered! I've told my wife that I would finish the bench, make trim molding for our new floors, and build a changing table all before our firstborn arrives. T minus 3 months until the baby gets here... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 Finish the bench, build the changing table and BUY the molding if you run out of time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 Unless you already have the wood and bits and no money just buy the molding. Maybe you can borrow a changing table ? Someone is bound to have one that's in the way or collecting dust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 The length of time of need for a changing table will pass before you can blink. Absolutely no one will bother to look at the changing table. I know it may seem of great importance right now, but everything will change soon enough. I make all sorts of molding, but shoe molding for a new floor is not on the list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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