Woodworking_Hobby Posted April 23, 2021 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2021 Making some progress! Was able to get one of the sides completed and all glued up tonight. Glad I kept the taper cutoffs as they really helped in the clamping! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodworking_Hobby Posted April 23, 2021 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2021 So I was lucky enough that a guy at work has a domino and he let me use it to make the joints on the project. I did a couple of test fits with it and seemed to be set up pretty good. I watched a couple of videos online and and tried the test that used some scrap parts to show that when I made a connection the end of the scrap parts stayed flush showing the alignment sight was correct. As you can see from the two photos below, one joint looks right on but the second one looks slightly off. The parts all went together ok and at first look they appear to be level. I was not sure if that is just something that comes with time, practice, and use with the tool. Just looking to see if folks have had any similar experiences or what they have done to improve their jointing with dominos? Practice? Tuning tool? Other? For folks that do not have a domino any suggestions on a different type of joint that I could use for a project like this? Maybe I am just too tough on my work as still trying to lead and hone all of my skills? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted April 23, 2021 Report Share Posted April 23, 2021 I usually make the mortise wider than the floating tenon and then adjust the part into alignment with center lines or edge lines. A tap with a mallet during glue up is usually all that's needed. The rounded portions of the domino mortise are end grain and add little if any strength to the joinery. If the joinery is rotating in the mortise and pressing against the narrow sides of the mortise the joint has already failed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodworking_Hobby Posted April 24, 2021 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2021 On 4/23/2021 at 7:33 AM, Chestnut said: I usually make the mortise wider than the floating tenon and then adjust the part into alignment with center lines or edge lines. A tap with a mallet during glue up is usually all that's needed. The rounded portions of the domino mortise are end grain and add little if any strength to the joinery. If the joinery is rotating in the mortise and pressing against the narrow sides of the mortise the joint has already failed. Any suggestions on the radius of the round over bit to smooth the edge or is that just really preference? The parts are 3/4-inch and I was going to round both sides of the part. Would a 1/4 round over be too much on both sides and an 1/8 would be better? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted April 24, 2021 Report Share Posted April 24, 2021 On 3/4” wood, I would just do the slight 1/8” round over. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodworking_Hobby Posted April 24, 2021 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2021 1 hour ago, Coop said: On 3/4” wood, I would just do the slight 1/8” round over. Thanks! I am going to have some scrap left over once I can get this project done and I was wanting to try and make just a simple box. No real sizes in mind and did not want to make any complicated joints if possible for the first adventure with box making. Any suggestions on a good place to find some plans to just make a basic box? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted April 24, 2021 Report Share Posted April 24, 2021 Basic Box Making by Doug Stowe is a great place to start. I still refer back to this book after many years. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Woodworking_Hobby Posted April 30, 2021 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted April 30, 2021 It’s not done yet, but today I was able to get the small side project I was talked into doing with the kitchen helper assembled. It is a small bench one of the kids talked me into that they found plans for in an old book we had. They helped with the layout and sanding of the parts and are going to paint it with some milk paint to finish it off. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted May 1, 2021 Report Share Posted May 1, 2021 Any project you can do WITH your kids is a project worth doing! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Woodworking_Hobby Posted May 2, 2021 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted May 2, 2021 Made some good progress this weekend in my projects. Got the kitchen helper all dry fitted, holes drilled for the hardware, and final measurements taken for the platform. Now time for my favorite part...sanding...not so much. ;-). Also got the final coats of milk paint on the little bench and the first coat of linseed oil on for surface protection. I was not sure how I would like the milk paint, but it was awesome for the kids to use. It did not get thick like paint can and if they got some globs or drips, it was easy to chip off with my fingernail or sand a little extra in that spot and it turned to dust not all gummy like paint can get. I was just careful to mix the paint good like the instructions and hit with 220 grit by hand in between the coats. Will see how well it looks when all done with the oil coats. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Woodworking_Hobby Posted May 6, 2021 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted May 6, 2021 Getting into the home stretch! Got the parts sanded and the knock-down hardware added. Those threaded inserts where a lot harder than they looked to get them set correctly in the parts! All that’s left is adding the cleats, cutting platform to size, final sanding, and the finishing. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnG Posted May 7, 2021 Report Share Posted May 7, 2021 Looking great! I don’t recall if this was in the plans, but on mine I took a forstner bit just bigger than the knockdown bolt’s head and made a recess approximately the depth of the head so it doesn’t stick out. That way when the kids push it around they aren’t scraping the head along the refrigerator or something like that. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted May 7, 2021 Report Share Posted May 7, 2021 Looking good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodworking_Hobby Posted May 7, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2021 2 hours ago, JohnG said: Looking great! I don’t recall if this was in the plans, but on mine I took a forstner bit just bigger than the knockdown bolt’s head and made a recess approximately the depth of the head so it doesn’t stick out. That way when the kids push it around they aren’t scraping the head along the refrigerator or something like that. That’s a great idea! I will have to see if I have the right sized bit and add that little recess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Woodworking_Hobby Posted May 8, 2021 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted May 8, 2021 Well finally got the little side project bench done! The “client” could not have been more happy so to me that’s all that mattered plus learned a few things a long the way. A few of the joints were not 100% tight, but it looks ok since was going for more of that rustic look. Gave it a few coats of Danish Oil over the milk paint for a little protection. Hopefully I can get the main project finished up in the next few days. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Woodworking_Hobby Posted May 9, 2021 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted May 9, 2021 I almost cannot believe it...in the real home stretch. Just need to drill the holes for the dowel safety pins; final sanding with 220; and then finish with some danish oil. Sure there were a few bumps along the way and things in the project that could be improved, but overall I am pretty happy for my first build that was not as much of a DYI style project. There is some truth in “just build something” as I think I was holding myself back by thinking it would be too hard or I would just mess up. Plus I am a firm believer in my Uncles Two Day Rule. When doing any project if you mess something up, it will make you mad or not happy with it, but just wait two days and you will lose that feeling and move on with your project and probably no one will ever know. Thanks to all who have followed along in my first adventure on the forum and for tips and help along the way. I will for sure start another post for my next project and will post some pictures when I get the finish on in the next few days 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted May 9, 2021 Report Share Posted May 9, 2021 That looks really good, congratulations! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnG Posted May 9, 2021 Report Share Posted May 9, 2021 Hard to tell from the pic, but if you haven’t already, you’ll want to round over all the edges of the platform. I’ve personally never used the safety dowels. I made my platform to a snug fit so there’s really no chance of it shifting. Looks great! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Woodworking_Hobby Posted May 14, 2021 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted May 14, 2021 Made some more progress last night! Does anyone else start to get nervous when you have to drill a hole and put screws into your project. I always get a little nervous when you are so close to the end of a project and have to do something that is not easily corrected. Got the cleats screwed down; final sanding with 220; and the first coat of Danish Oil on the parts. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted May 15, 2021 Report Share Posted May 15, 2021 Looking good! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted May 15, 2021 Report Share Posted May 15, 2021 Nice clean work! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted May 16, 2021 Report Share Posted May 16, 2021 I get nervous when I'm doing something to a piece that is irreplaceable, like a sequenced drawer front or a book match. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post treeslayer Posted May 17, 2021 Popular Post Report Share Posted May 17, 2021 Looking great, I always dread putting on hardware on any project, always figured it was my last chance to screw something up, get it , SCREW something up 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted May 17, 2021 Report Share Posted May 17, 2021 I dread putting on finish. As in "curses, finished again". 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted May 17, 2021 Report Share Posted May 17, 2021 That's looking real nice. Great work. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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