Chip Sawdust Posted November 11, 2019 Report Share Posted November 11, 2019 I normally don’t start threads until I’m close to done but this one started out with an oops so I’ll toss it out here for opinions. I think I know what I’m supposed to do, but it never hurts to kibbutz here I'm building this for my wife for Christmas, with a few changes from Latta’s plans to suit my wife’s use of it. First off I needed wood 11” wide, and I thought I had that but it turns out I could only make it 10 7/8” due to a dip in one side of the board. No biggie, just subtract 1/8” from the depth of everything. I think I can handle that. The top is dovetailed to the side (as is the bottom bit the top is my problem), and there’s a groove along the back to accept the back of the box. I forgot to allow for the groove. I read “dovetail the top” and away I went. So I’m missing about a half inch in the back for the groove. I’m thinking just shorten the rear dovetail and make the groove anyway, what think? The chalk line is about where the groove is supposed to go... The rearmost dovetail is already a bit smaller, but I think it would survive being smaller yet. I don’t think the groove can go into the tails, but maybe. So I’m pondering... and asking for input Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted November 11, 2019 Report Share Posted November 11, 2019 I would put the grove into the tail just be careful prior to glue up as that will be a bit of a weak point. Hard to tell but this groove is in the tail on the right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronn W Posted November 11, 2019 Report Share Posted November 11, 2019 A groove (not a rabbet) can be made to stop before it appears on the outside of the cabinet. That should not affect the exterior appearance at all. The end pin for the top and bottom , if they are affectied inside by the broove couls be a little delicate unitl it is assembled. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chip Sawdust Posted November 11, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2019 I agree it’ll be a bit delicate, thanks for the feedback. I’m thinking I’ll try that instead of making the tail smaller. It’ll look worse if it’s half an inch smaller than it’s supposed to be. Now I need to take a look at the rest of it and make sure whatever change I make won’t affect something else I’ve forgotten to thoroughly research! It’s no wonder Latta said it was quite a joinery project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chip Sawdust Posted November 11, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2019 So I cut the groove perfectly with my router and a spiral upcut bit. On the wrong side of the board. Ok so I cut a piece and put it in the groove as a patch, flipped the board over and started the cut on the other side. The bit came loose and cut all the way through the board. I’m done for the day. 1 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted November 11, 2019 Report Share Posted November 11, 2019 33 minutes ago, Chip Sawdust said: So I cut the groove perfectly with my router and a spiral upcut bit. On the wrong side of the board. Ok so I cut a piece and put it in the groove as a patch, flipped the board over and started the cut on the other side. The bit came loose and cut all the way through the board. I’m done for the day. Some days you're the bug and some days you're the windshield.. Rough day in the shop for sure! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted November 12, 2019 Report Share Posted November 12, 2019 I’ve had both of those happened to me before but never on the same project! Yes sir, time to back off and give it some it some time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chip Sawdust Posted November 12, 2019 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted November 12, 2019 I think I can save it. I’m gonna make some moulding and lay it across the HOLE in the top of the board. Not part of the plan, but the plan is out the window in this are anyway. I just don’t want to replace the board when it’s a waterfall grain effect I was going for. But yeah, it’s still sitting there. I don’t throw things in the shop, but I “dropped” my hearing protection and safety glasses on the bench, went in, fires up the PS4 and killed some monsters Oh and later I had a drink. So there. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted November 12, 2019 Report Share Posted November 12, 2019 This is the whole reason we have a sleep cycle. A time and place to think up another idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronn W Posted November 13, 2019 Report Share Posted November 13, 2019 With all these "modifications" will it still be a spice box??? I feel yo ur pain... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chip Sawdust Posted November 13, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2019 Well it won’t be like the plan 100% but it’ll still be basically the same thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chip Sawdust Posted November 19, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2019 So I got the groove on the correct side... found a little bit of sawdust in between the collet grooves on the router, cleaned that out, tightened the heck out of it, no problems. Still not trusting it, I did run a test groove on another piece (checking for depth) so all is well. Now to fix the piece that tried to split off; two grooves that close on opposite sides of the same board, to be expected. Got that glued and clamped. Next is build the bottom piece; experience with the top will help make that correct. Lots of little details,like different depth grooves on the top and bottom, both 1/4” but one deeper than the other. Stuff like that sometimes catches me out, so I decided to slow down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronn W Posted November 19, 2019 Report Share Posted November 19, 2019 When that happened to me a couple of years ago, It happened repeatedly no matter how much I tightened the collet. I believe that It happened because I was inserting the bit all the way to the bottom and the collet would not tightened properly. By repeating the mistake serveral times I damage the collet. New collet and raise the bits up about 1/8" from the bottm and have not had the problem since. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chip Sawdust Posted November 30, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2019 On 11/18/2019 at 8:30 PM, Ronn W said: When that happened to me a couple of years ago, It happened repeatedly no matter how much I tightened the collet. I believe that It happened because I was inserting the bit all the way to the bottom and the collet would not tightened properly. By repeating the mistake serveral times I damage the collet. New collet and raise the bits up about 1/8" from the bottm and have not had the problem since. The thing is with this little DeWalt router, dropping the bit to the bottom takes it well into the flutes. I place it as far in as a little short of the flutes then tighten the crap out of it. Used it yesterday again, a little scared lol but it worked fine. My Bosch never has the problem but it’s upside down isn’t he router table most of the time so that may make a difference. I also sometimes swap out the 1/2” for the 1/4” which may help knock loose some of the issues. Yesterday it was too cold in the shop to move my cheap HF DC hose, so it broke when I tried to bend it around the corner to my router table. Time for better stuff I reckon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chip Sawdust Posted November 30, 2019 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted November 30, 2019 I actually did make progress on he box yesterday. Had to change a brake caliper in the car before getting to the woodworking but once I had that started, I paid close attention to the plan (this time) and got the bottom made, tails cut and grooves and rabbets routed. Lots of small corners and joinery on this thing. The base is sapele joined to alder, per the plan but I had more sapele than alder, width-wise, so it’s made differently but at least is the proper size. Today is pins day and I’m not sure if I’ll start the door next or some of the inside pieces. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronn W Posted December 1, 2019 Report Share Posted December 1, 2019 Looking good. I like the case work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chip Sawdust Posted December 2, 2019 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted December 2, 2019 Pins done. I’m liberally using chalk to remind me what goes where. I’m sure my second one will go smoother 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chip Sawdust Posted December 2, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2019 6 hours ago, Ronn W said: Looking good. I like the case work. It’s more intricate than I’d anticipated but it’s turned into a fun learning experience so I’ll be able to apply it to the next project. As long as my reach isn’t beyond my grasp, or vice versa 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chip Sawdust Posted December 4, 2019 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted December 4, 2019 There’s a jig needed to make grooves for the partitions. They have to be 9” long exactly. There are pictures of the jig in the article that accompanies the plan, but no dimensions. So I sized a piece of 1/4” material, made a fence about yay wide that engages the dado on the back side of the box, and added runners for my little DeWalt router. Yeah, I have to use that spiral bit again *eek* Made the jig, tested it on a piece of scrap and pronounced it good. Tonight I’ll make those grooves and all will be well, since I’m gonna tighten the crap out of that bit! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chip Sawdust Posted December 8, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2019 Made a little progress today. For a box, this thing sure has a lot of pieces! i need a 3/16” router bit but don’t have one. Tomorrow I have to use a 1/8” and just make two passes. the jig worked perfectly ... after I waxed it, which I did t figure out till the last groove *shrug* 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chip Sawdust Posted December 8, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2019 Started on the front feet as well. Decided to cut them out then plane them from 3/4” to 5/8” which worked out ok although I wasn’t sure it would. A 7/8” Forstner and my small Grizzly bandsaw (which is ok for this kind of work but is NOT a good bandsaw) cut them out. I’ll smooth the curves on my oscillator later on. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chip Sawdust Posted December 8, 2019 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted December 8, 2019 Thé partitions are alder and sapele, just jointed and glued Some 3/4” material together. Ran them through the “real” bandsaw to resaw a little thicker than the 1/4” final thickness, then ran it through the planer to the finished thickness of 1/4”. You can see the feet in the upper left corner of this picture. They’re color-coded, and will be mitered and splined for final assembly, which I’ll do when I’m closer to needing them. The planer took a chunk out of the end of one board. That’s by not paying attention to grain direction, which is more important on thin stuff than any other time. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted December 8, 2019 Report Share Posted December 8, 2019 Looking darn good Chip, aside from that one little hickie! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted December 9, 2019 Report Share Posted December 9, 2019 I always make sure to wax all my jigs as well as my router base regularly. It makes a large difference and helps keep accuracy up. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chip Sawdust Posted December 10, 2019 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted December 10, 2019 7 hours ago, Chestnut said: I always make sure to wax all my jigs as well as my router base regularly. It makes a large difference and helps keep accuracy up. I’m always trying to find new ways to do things wrong After doing things wrong often enough I eventually learn how not to do it wrong any more! Sometimes I even figure out how to do it better *shrug* 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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