LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

Project Information

Boys and Girls,

I have recently reviewed my Freud 8" Dial-a-Width Dado set, Woodpeckers Dado Set-Up Fixture and vented my spleen about the crappy box packaging with my Freud Dial-a-Width Dado box insert..... which just goes to prove that you can get some great mileage out of a Dado stack.

For once, the Woodpeckers' offering didn't come in a systainer or one of their little black boxes, so I was faced with a swag of loose tool pieces that had the tendency to go walkabouts and me spending hours trying to find the truant pieces. They needed to be boxed!

Becoming a tired statement, nevertheless, off to SketchUp to devise some sort of an enclosure for them.

Voila,


peek-a-boo


exploded,


laser destined cutting layout,


Ready for glue-up, for the boxing…
,


chose to use CA as I was too lazy to scrape off the burn marks (preferable for PVA glue),


a bit of unnecessary clamping,


tried for fit before final glue up,




After laser engraving to about 1.5mm (2 passes), the lettering (PINEWOOD font) was filled in using ebony coloured wood filler,


After several passes of sanding and filling,


I always had issues of attaching these laser cut box tops to the bottom. Came up with this swivel arm over a 4mm dowel design,


The swing was designed in SketchUp and proved to be a smooth "locking" movement. Opted for more streamlined curves,




After some buffing using the Beall 3 wax system (Tripoly, White Diamond and Carnauba wax), the box was ready for its residents,


For any thrillseeker after the SketchUp model.

Gallery

Comments

· Registered
Joined
·
1,839 Posts
I like your box more than the dado setup set.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
343 Posts
Good job, that is what woodworkers do they build a Better box. Well done.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
969 Posts
So you are more than just a pretty face Duck! Nice job on this project!
In all the years I've had my laser, I've never made a box so I guess I'll have to try one just to keep you from getting too far ahead of me…
 

· Registered
Joined
·
5,698 Posts
..... In all the years I ve had my laser, I ve never made a box so I guess I ll have to try one just to keep you from getting too far ahead of me…
- mikeacg
I've found that my laser is limited in cut thickness… I limit it to 6mm, however, if I laminate I can get virtually any thickness I like. with tennons it is easy to make up box sides that fit together like jigsaws to high tolerances.

Not trying to teach you how to suck eggs… 'special duck ones… but if you need any inspiration I'm only 15,723 Kilometers away from you.

Thanks Dutchy, oldrivers and Red' for you acknowlegement. Used to make tool boxes the "traditional way" in the past out of pine, but I thought that since I have the laser (a daughter's reject… long story if you don't already know it), I might as well exploit it… It also gives me a chance to exercise the brain by playing around with SketchUp instead of watching the idiot box at nights.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
6,114 Posts
Always wonderful to see people take care of their tools.
Fun to see it lazer cut, I feel it must be like a boy with his LEGO set - lots of fun.
Best thoughts,
Mads
 

· Registered
Joined
·
969 Posts
Duck,

You are as close as my email inbox Duck! There is no such thing as 'distance' in the world today!

I only have 25 watts (the machine is old!! Got it in May of 2007) so I am limited to a max. cut of 1/4"... Seems like you should be able to cut quite a bit deeper than 6mm without too much degradation.

I want to try cutting the bendable corner boxes one of these days but I never seem to have enough BB plywood around the shop when I finally find the time to play! Can't just run down the street to get it up here…

Mike
 

· Banned
Joined
·
5,339 Posts
love the box really love the font you did it again ducky GREAT JOB :<))

ONLY 1 PROBLEM NO VIDEO :<(((
 

· Registered
Joined
·
296 Posts
First class box for a first class tool. very well thought out design.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
660 Posts
That is a beautiful box! I think the drawing looks great too. I'll bet you could sell these-different sizes-flat pack. I wish I had a laser.

I do love me some Woodpecker's tools-very well designed and made-but the price kinda makes me queasy. I had to look up the dado set-up fixture to see what it is. While I think this is undoubtedly a nice tool and probably works very well, when it comes to cutting dados-I opted for the other uber-expensive tool known as the "Kerf Maker" made by Bridge City Tool Works.
 

· Banned
Joined
·
18,919 Posts
nice little box there ducks good to see you taking a break from the vino and creating something useful.still havn't had the time to make the box for my router plane yet,"duck inspired" maybe after the holiday gifts are all done.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
4,326 Posts
excellent post LBD!

When I read your dado review I wondered why you didn't make a decent box for it
Whats that huge black hammer for?

You give me the impression you've got all the good gear!

Have you done a Abranet video?
 

· Banned
Joined
·
18,919 Posts
excellent post LBD!

When I read your dado review I wondered why you didn t make a decent box for it
Whats that huge black hammer for?

- robscastle
i think he uses it to whack guys that ask too many question rob-LOL.
actually im surprised,only one question,you gettin lethargic buddy?
 

· Registered
Joined
·
5,698 Posts
Always wonderful to see people take care of their tools.
Fun to see it lazer cut, I feel it must be like a boy with his LEGO set - lots of fun.
- mafe
Thx maf'. I'm told that when I was young (I can't 'member back that far) we were too poor to afford LEGO.. hell they're so bleeding expensive nowdays that not too many can afford them now… that's why I refused to have grandchildren… so I am catching up on lost jollies.
The missus always says that if I looked after my body like I do after my tools she might have an excuse to keep track of my whereabouts.
You are as close as my email inbox Duck!...
- mikeacg
As long as you read your emails on your PC that inbox is still 15,723 KM unless you post it to me… but then your inbox will be 15,723 KM from you.
Mine is only 30W (a tad betta). I like to do non-critical work out of MDF as it is flat, easy to cut into laser bed sizes, blemish free and the laser kerf seals the cut edge brilliantly… even toughens it. While it easily handles 6mm, the next steps in MDF are 9, 12, 16 and 18+. I could do 9mm with slower speed or a second pass (after lowering the bed) the outburn and kerf becomes unappealing. I prefer to do a 6mm and a 3mm cut (after all they'll be exactly the same (shape) off the laser and align with dowels for glue up.
I used to limit my laser use to engraving and following templates, however, just recently I have started to use it for structural (boxes etc…) projects… where MDF is an acceptable.
For high end projects I still use "normal" woodworking practices (allbeit use of machinery) out of solid timber.
I have more duck's teeth that good quality ply in the backwoods of Churchill.

PS. I did make a replica dressing table out of solids using the laser, many years ago.

ONLY 1 PROBLEM NO VIDEO :<(((
- GR8HUNTER

Whats that huge black hammer for?
-Regards Rob
Both questions can be addressed here.
I hit my thumb with that blackie while making the video… I cussed, stopped the bleeding, cussed some more, hit the hammer with another hammer and cussed even more… all captured on the video.
As you may have noticed in my past videos, I haven't mastered the art of editing out the crap, so I thought that the video with all the blasphemy should be restrained for YouTube publishing… GR8, I can email you the cuss words I used if you like.
That is the excuse I use for the gentile masses.

However, for my hard-noses intimate friends… my blue night shirt was at the dry cleaners and I feared that I wouldn't be recognised without it in a video.
.... i think he uses it to whack guys that ask too many question…
- pottz
pottzy, old chook, I have never shyed from questionable questions… as long as they're in English (Dutchy!)... I's trying to formulate a smart arsed answer that gets me beffudled. A sensible LBD retort is still on the invertors' wish list.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
6,114 Posts
Big laugh, thanks. ;-)
The one than can keep his inner child alive the longest wins!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
5,698 Posts
Thanks Bushie and B'S' (no BS intended)...

It is a great little tool all be it that Woodpeckers is in a savage price war with Fe$tool… who can charge the most. If you can somehow pole vault over that hurdle, they both make quality (and usefull) products.

I also bought the Kerf Maker, however, I shy from multi passes as I fit into the class of measure once and cut 5 times… and that number increases every year (that is the number of cuts… after all I only use 1 tape measure at a time). However, I do use the Kerf Maker for wide dados.

Now having said that, this Woodpecker jig could be made up from scraps and hardware floating about in most workshops, although not as flashy… unfortunately, this old fart had to buy one to realise that alternative.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
969 Posts
Mafe,

I'm putting that on a sign for my wall at the store! Classic!!!!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
5,698 Posts
.... still havn t had the time to make the box for my router plane yet,"duck inspired" maybe after the holiday gifts are all done.
- pottz
Look forward to another one of your master creations… might even hold back on the vino so I can focus on the post… just give me sober-up notice!
 

· Banned
Joined
·
18,919 Posts
.... still havn t had the time to make the box for my router plane yet,"duck inspired" maybe after the holiday gifts are all done.
- pottz

Look forward to another one of your master creations… might even hold back on the vino so I can focus on the post… just give me sober-up notice!

- LittleBlackDuck
you got it as long as im sober myself,busy time of year ya know,for vino that is-lol.
 
Top