| Blog series by PurpLev | updated 12-24-2013 08:14 PM | 19 parts | 167404 reads | 320 comments total |
Part 1: The Workbench
So like every other woodworker, I take pride in my shop, and always aspire to have the most convenient, flowing, accessible, productive, efficient, fun, and good looking setup I can get. This is the story of my shop. So one thing that I wanted for a while, but never really got the chance to setup, nor the place, was a workbench. for the longest time I’ve been mostly assembling on the floor, and working on foldable plastic sawhorses that have a work surface that flips on top –...
Part 2: Workbench: The TOP
72”x24” 1-3/4” thick Top = $25Groz vise = $40Misc fasteners and hardware = $10Building your own workbench that actually fits in a tight space that has no space for a workbench = PRICELESS Now I just need to use scrap wood, and design legs to hold the workbench horizontally… I made it extra tall, cause every other bench I work on I get back pains from having to bend too much. In the mean time, I just improvise and put something under to hold it straight just so that I can work on it ...
Part 3: Bosch 4100 TS - Zero-Clearance Inserts
I got a few questions about the zero-clearance inserts I made for my bosch table saw, so I figured I’d post the procedure here as to how I made those. The basic Idea is to take the factory inserts and use that as a template for the router. but alas, the factory insert is just too thin at some points to be able to follow it with a trim router bit, so to tackle this issue I made an initial template out of 1/2” plywood. This first template took a bit more patience and care so that...
Part 4: Finally the Band has arrived... (saw that is)
So I’ve been planning on getting a bandsaw for a long time, but at first I didn’t have the space for it – then I figured, maybe I can squeeze a 12” version in the tight space that I did have – but that would mean I will not be able to resaw – which is one of the main reasons I wanted to get a bandsaw, so eventually I just had to put this wish on the back-burner… I had recently moved to a larger place, with a larger garage that is currently dedicate...
Part 5: Drill Press Table
I cannot take full credit for this, as this is an upgrade I’ve made to my old drill press table with an idea I’ve seen on Woodscrap’s workshop page. My original table was just 3/4” birch plywood, which was too thin, and when I installed the t-tracks in it, the slot I routed left the plywood useless as there wasnt enough material left to keep it sturdy, and not enough material for the screws to hold into. The new table is 3/4” birch ply laminated with hardboard...
Part 6: New Table Saw : Unpacking and Assembly of Ridgid R4511
So after much research and debates, I have finally charged the card, and 2 days later the delivery arrived with the new saw in the box (I opted to have it delivered from the store as opposed to pick it up myself – at 450lbs, I simply wouldn’t be able to unload it myself) Delivery from HD was swift and smooth, positive and friendly guy stop at my place saturday morning, and helped me position the box in my garage – I couldn’t be happier (took 5 minutes, 4.5 of those was...
Part 7: New Table Saw: Phenolic Zero Clearance Inserts and Fence Faces for Ridgid R4511
So, New Saw, New Zero Clearance Inserts are due! Actually I was planning on working my the Bead Box, but wanted to fine tune the table saw, and ‘get it done’ first, and so, the plan was to use the 5/8” phenolic (not phenolic plywood) panel that I got (I got a 1-3/8” phenolic panel to use as a router table top, and while at it, picked up some ‘lighter’ thinner panels as well, for inserts, plates, etc). I figured – I already have it, and might as wel...
Part 8: New Table Saw: Low Profile Riving Knife for Ridgid R4511
So among the few shotcuts that were made by providing the R4511 at the market price was the fact that it only came with a splitter+integrated blade guard but no additional low profile riving knives (for non through cuts). for the price this saw comes at – one can’t complain, and the fact is- it does have a riving knife mount system which is a good base to start with. solution: homemade riving knife made out of 1/8” plate of 6063 aluminum: EDIT: If I’d do this again,...
Part 9: so, what's the plane?
I guess this is a tool gloat more than anything. I like hand planing boards, but sometimes, and especially when trying to get a board to a certain thickness (while keeping it straight) I just want to be able to throw the board through an infeed and automate that process. especially since I’m coming up with some projects that require large/long boards to be planed down. so, with a budget in mind, I keep an eye on craigslist from time to time. the only things I’ve seen in my p...
Part 10: Reorganizing Single Car Garage I - The plan.
Lately, everytime I go to the garage whether it be to get something, or work on something I tend to always come back with bruised/scratched shins. The garage is a somewhat of a mine field. It never really started as a workshop, so tools and machines just accumulated as they came with no order or planning and each one made it more and more stuffy and cramped. My wife just asked me ‘why don’t you take everything out and reorganize the place’.... hmm.. that means spending...
Part 11: Reorganizing Single Car Garage II - Machines are Resting
Hmm… I thought this step would take longer, but after ~3-4 hours of labor and some sweat I was able to do the following: reposition short-lumber rack in a 2 tier (or 4 tier) setup to utilize what was wasted space above it before, also clearing out the space for the milling machines relocate milling machines (jointer, planer, shaper) to newly created space relocate workbench to space left by milling machines relocate drill press, bandsaw, and router table to space left by work...
Part 12: reorganizing Single Car Garage III - Give or Take a Few
Had some good progress on the garage reorganization, Although it may not look like it. To start, I wanted to tackle all the medium sized lumber that was now roaming around, scattered on the floor in various locations as it no longer had a dedicated place. I had 4 kitchen cabinets that I got off of craigslist a couple of years ago hoping it’ll help me get organized, but in the end, it just took wall space, and didn’t prove to be very useful, as it was just left as is, and ended ...
Part 13: Reorganizing Single Car Garage IV - Getting in Shape(r)
I mean literally – I got the shaper to work :). I guess that would constitute as a tool gloat, although I’m not much of a gloater, I just like getting things done. I got this shaper off of CL a couple of weeks ago just because it was too good of a deal to pass up. I contacted the seller, and told them my budget which was lower than their posted price, and they agreed to my offer – I was psyched! I’ll probably set it up with some 3/4 bore cutters for cope-stile at some ...
Part 14: Greasy Business (wasn't mine, but it is NOW)
Did not post this as a project although it IS a woodworking finished project – yet not made by me. I got a little package in the mail yesterday, and inside was awaiting quietly this little gem: made and sent to me by none other than LJ blackcherry Thank you very much Wilson! This will be allocated to my tool cabinet and shall be put to use often. My main uses for this would be to wax my handplanes metal bodies and soles after use to keep it from developing surface rust (used T9...
Part 15: I got it, I got it, I got it.... I ain't got it - fixing the DW735 planer rollers
As mentioned in a previous post, I was in the midst of planing quite a bit of hard maple, when my planer decided it was not hungry anymore, and would not feed the lumber under any circumstance – I tried the “here comes an airplane”... no go. I tried the “I’ll get you ice cream if you finish all the lumber” – nope. I tried “I’ll tell mama you didn’t finish your wood” – nada. So I decided to play doctor and open it up an...
Part 16: Incra 998SE Miter Gauge
So I am building a box frame using box-joints. I have my Incra 1000SE miter gauge setup with the stop block to cut the side pieces to length, and I’m all done with that. Time to cut the box joints. So I swap the blade on the table saw with my new (only used once before) Dado blade, I attach my homemade high fence for making box joints onto the Incra 1000 fence, and I’m ready to start cutting. If you’ve followed the details up to this point – you might have ...
Part 17: Sharpening Station
When I started working with bladed tools (chisels/planes/etc) I wanted a sharpening system that was on the cheap, small and storable and versatile. I chose to start with the scary sharp, and used sand papers from 100grit (rough shaping and cleaning nicked blades) to 2500 for final honing and green compound for touch ups. I added the Veritas MK-II honing guide and was using it for reshaping/resestting blades and honing them through the grits. While this method worked for the time I wanted s...
Part 18: Finally Took the Plunge (saw)
I have wanted to get one of those track saws for a while now just couldn’t fork out the 600 for the original green machine. with the recent introduction of a track saw by the other green company (Grizzly) I did some research (online reviews, online videos, demos, different model user manuals for features, parts diagrams and features) and found the Scheppach CS-55 model to be a suitable match for me. I have had good past experience with Scheppach products (my slow grinder) and from lo...
Part 19: Bar Clamp Storage
I just went over some old pics and noticed I never officially posted this one, so here it is. This is how I have my bar clamps stored and organized (by length) at eye level so that even if one falls, it won’t do much damage (to me) as well as making it easy to reach and grab what is needed: Cheers!
