tote for tools

bandit571 said:

tote for tools, part two....

Well, back is giving me fits tonight. I tried to get at least one corner test fitted. Soooo, here we go..

had the lines all marked out, but needed a decent saw to cut the pins for the dovetails…..had a panel saw, 10 ppi, seemed to be sharp. tried it out, just splitting some lines..

Saw isn't all that big, maybe 20" or less. Came from a hardware company up in Cleveland,OH. Seemed to do a decent enough job..

Well, after all the lines were sawn….I clamped the board onto the bench. Had a few chisels handy, and a mallet.

Apparently, the "trick" is to chop down just halfway. Then flip the board over, and chop the rest of the way through. About like doing a through mortise. Goes fairly quickly, too. And you wind up with something that looks like this..

These are the "pins", and I use them to layout the "tails" on the other board in this corner..

It is a good idea to mark which is the waste and which will stay put. While I could have handsawn these lines, I wanted to at least stay on the waste side. So, I fired up the Texas Bandsaw, and made a few cuts. Had to clear a little extra room on the benchtop, as the side board is a bit long. Same routine with the chisels, though..

Just pick a face, and chop halfway through. Couple hits right on the line, and a couple to clear the chips out. Flip the board over, and chop some more, until it looks about like this..

Now, IF all is according to Hoyle, and not Murphy….a test fit can be done, just to see where I need to trim things to fit better..

Ah…yeah, it will need a bit of fine tuning. One corner is about done…..my back is calling it quits for tonight, so, time to close up til tomorrow, back allowing. Stay tuned, three more corners to do…..still haven't any cussing going on…yet.

Click to expand...

bandit571 said:

tote for tools, part two....

Well, back is giving me fits tonight. I tried to get at least one corner test fitted. Soooo, here we go..

had the lines all marked out, but needed a decent saw to cut the pins for the dovetails…..had a panel saw, 10 ppi, seemed to be sharp. tried it out, just splitting some lines..

Saw isn't all that big, maybe 20" or less. Came from a hardware company up in Cleveland,OH. Seemed to do a decent enough job..

Well, after all the lines were sawn….I clamped the board onto the bench. Had a few chisels handy, and a mallet.

Apparently, the "trick" is to chop down just halfway. Then flip the board over, and chop the rest of the way through. About like doing a through mortise. Goes fairly quickly, too. And you wind up with something that looks like this..

These are the "pins", and I use them to layout the "tails" on the other board in this corner..

It is a good idea to mark which is the waste and which will stay put. While I could have handsawn these lines, I wanted to at least stay on the waste side. So, I fired up the Texas Bandsaw, and made a few cuts. Had to clear a little extra room on the benchtop, as the side board is a bit long. Same routine with the chisels, though..

Just pick a face, and chop halfway through. Couple hits right on the line, and a couple to clear the chips out. Flip the board over, and chop some more, until it looks about like this..

Now, IF all is according to Hoyle, and not Murphy….a test fit can be done, just to see where I need to trim things to fit better..

Ah…yeah, it will need a bit of fine tuning. One corner is about done…..my back is calling it quits for tonight, so, time to close up til tomorrow, back allowing. Stay tuned, three more corners to do…..still haven't any cussing going on…yet.

Click to expand...

bandit571 said:

Another hour, another corner

At this rate, it might take awhile. Managed to get one hour of work in, before the back started to have …"issues"

Laid out the lines on the end panel, had to check several times to make sure that THIS was the way the pins go.
Since some diddn't like my use of the old crosscut saw to cut pins with, I tried out the Disston backsaw I have..

Had a lot of trouble with the cuts, even with some wax on the blade…..ah, needed the rip style one. This saw was leaving wavy cuts, and binding up. Got the old crosscut saw back down…..rest of the cuts went like clockwork, and straight. Noticed during the layout, a LARGE knot was on this end. Adjusted to keep the pins away. Started to chop the waste out…

Snap! Ok, didn't need you there anyway. Flipped pin board over, and removed the rest of the waste. Took a tries, checking to make sure which way the tail board actually went, laid out the lines for the tails. Cut on the waste side with the bandsaw. Had to pare a couple pins, due to the wavy saw cuts. mallet to test fit..

Had to tilt things a bit to get the picture, glare from the overhead light and my camera just don't get along. Found a wedge, and grbbed the Oak plank for the bottom panel. Installed the first corner, and clamped it up dry. Dropped the plank in place..

I'll need to bevel the sides of the panel to set at the bottom. Wedge helps with the clamp, will need a few more made up.

Soo, next time the back and my schedules agree, I can MAYBE work on this end? Stay tuned, this might take a few…

Click to expand...

bandit571 said:

Last two sets of dovetails...

Well, the lower back settled down for a while…..set with a HOT heating pad on it for a day and a half. Could finally walk more than 10' without going OUCH! Got bored sitting around, didn't have anything to "baste" the back with while it was baking.. meandered SLOWLY down the steps to the Dungeon Shop…..stairs and my back are NOT are speaking terms to each other. Had the correct tools back from the Loft Bed Project in one hand, and a pine 1×6 in rhe other. The board came in handy as I waddled down the steps. As long as I didn't lean over items to look at them better, no "OUCH" was heard. So, here we go with a few more dovetails..

Ok, need some toys, er…TOOLS before I start. That router bit is what I lay out the pins with. The bevel gauge finishes the lines. The correct saw is in the house..

Might be a 50s model Disston No.4? 9ppi rip saw filed. Added a swipe of candle wax along the teeth. Laid out where the remaining parts go. Trying to avoid "Ooops" and backwards dovetails….Numbers 3 and 4 labled and even which side is the "IN" side. Router bit and the stanley bevel gauge to lay out the pin board #3, and a small square to carry the lines all around.

Add an "X" to show which area is the waste of this joint, grabbed the saw.

The old saying is: "Ya bought the saw that long, use the entire blade" made short work of the cuts. Cleared the bench of a few tools, and the sawdust pile. Clamped the piece to the bench, and chopped halfway through

You know, dogpin holes are great for keeping chisels from rolling off the bench and onto the concrete floor? Cleaned the loose chips off, flipped the board over, and finished the cuts..

Looks something like this when done. Decided that since I'm on a roll here…I'd go ahead and do the other end as well…same steps, and the board winds up looking like this..

Since things were labeled as to what went where, I could lay out the tail boards. Then I used the bandsaw to cut inside the lines on the waste side. I can then pare for a fit later. Clamped down to the bench, and the chisels were at it again..

Then a test fit to show me where the pare should be done at. Test fit, cuss a bit, pare some more ( hoping I don't go too far) and a test fit again. I then did the last tail board, and the same fiddling around for a fit. Finally I could put all four sides together….. ( hide yer eyes, Mabel, this might be ugly..)

Will need some plane work to "Spiffify" things up, but this will do for now. need to plane a couple bevels on the plank for the bottom. And hoping I can lay the next item out correctly so it will fit….all that bandsaw work

Need to drill out for a hand hold, tenons on the ends will go into shallow mortises in the ends, won't need nails, either. Back started to get stiff, and was no longer "Happy, Happy".....need to go up and sit on the heating pad, again. Tomorrow, I call the family quack, and see what she says about this old back. As for this tote for tools? Stay tuned….

Click to expand...

bandit571 said:

Last two sets of dovetails...

Well, the lower back settled down for a while…..set with a HOT heating pad on it for a day and a half. Could finally walk more than 10' without going OUCH! Got bored sitting around, didn't have anything to "baste" the back with while it was baking.. meandered SLOWLY down the steps to the Dungeon Shop…..stairs and my back are NOT are speaking terms to each other. Had the correct tools back from the Loft Bed Project in one hand, and a pine 1×6 in rhe other. The board came in handy as I waddled down the steps. As long as I didn't lean over items to look at them better, no "OUCH" was heard. So, here we go with a few more dovetails..

Ok, need some toys, er…TOOLS before I start. That router bit is what I lay out the pins with. The bevel gauge finishes the lines. The correct saw is in the house..

Might be a 50s model Disston No.4? 9ppi rip saw filed. Added a swipe of candle wax along the teeth. Laid out where the remaining parts go. Trying to avoid "Ooops" and backwards dovetails….Numbers 3 and 4 labled and even which side is the "IN" side. Router bit and the stanley bevel gauge to lay out the pin board #3, and a small square to carry the lines all around.

Add an "X" to show which area is the waste of this joint, grabbed the saw.

The old saying is: "Ya bought the saw that long, use the entire blade" made short work of the cuts. Cleared the bench of a few tools, and the sawdust pile. Clamped the piece to the bench, and chopped halfway through

You know, dogpin holes are great for keeping chisels from rolling off the bench and onto the concrete floor? Cleaned the loose chips off, flipped the board over, and finished the cuts..

Looks something like this when done. Decided that since I'm on a roll here…I'd go ahead and do the other end as well…same steps, and the board winds up looking like this..

Since things were labeled as to what went where, I could lay out the tail boards. Then I used the bandsaw to cut inside the lines on the waste side. I can then pare for a fit later. Clamped down to the bench, and the chisels were at it again..

Then a test fit to show me where the pare should be done at. Test fit, cuss a bit, pare some more ( hoping I don't go too far) and a test fit again. I then did the last tail board, and the same fiddling around for a fit. Finally I could put all four sides together….. ( hide yer eyes, Mabel, this might be ugly..)

Will need some plane work to "Spiffify" things up, but this will do for now. need to plane a couple bevels on the plank for the bottom. And hoping I can lay the next item out correctly so it will fit….all that bandsaw work

Need to drill out for a hand hold, tenons on the ends will go into shallow mortises in the ends, won't need nails, either. Back started to get stiff, and was no longer "Happy, Happy".....need to go up and sit on the heating pad, again. Tomorrow, I call the family quack, and see what she says about this old back. As for this tote for tools? Stay tuned….

Click to expand...

bandit571 said:

A bottom and a handle?

Well, first thing this morning, after the morning pill intake, was to set up a sharpening station that my back could handle. On the kitchen stove, we have a wooden tray. It is to cover the elements when the stove is not in use. Thanks to the height of the tray on the stove, I could set up the oil stones and sandpapers. Couple chisels needed a refresher on the grinder, but most just need some work on the stones and a final polish at 2K grit. Wound up doing 9 chisels, but not the gouge..

After this, and a long break to rest the back, I wandered down to the Dungeon Shop. I was looking to see IF any more chisels needed sharpened,....really, I was. But, that pile of pile boards beckoned, needed a bottom fitted to them, as it where. Figured a little bit couldn't hurt the back any…

The White Oak plank I have as the tote's bottom panel. I clamped it up in the leg vise, and added a c clamp to keep things from sliding around. Found the angle of the side's splay, marked that on the end. Grabbed the lightest of the jointer planes I have, a Stanley No. 5-1/2. And started to plane away the waste. I had marked the "low" side with a marking gauge, to help tell me when I was done with the bevel…..Took awhile, but finally hit the line.

Used the asembled (dry fit) case to determine the width of the bottom…..hmmm, almost a full inch to plane off? NOT!. We have ways…

Now, this bandsaw has trouble cutting a straight line with the table not tilted, it was almost as bad with it tilted over. I kept away from the line as best as i could. Then clamped the plank back in the leg vise. More plane work, to get rid of all the high points. A test fit showed I needed a wee bit of bevel on the ends, so a Stanley #4 did that work. About like raising a panel, actually.

This is the view from underneath. I also laid out the dados for the handle. Dados? Bit of a design change. I figured it would make the handle easier to replace, IF it ever broke. Laid out the lines, stand the case up on it's nose. A try with a saw to start the dado…..not the greatest. Mallet and chisel, and about 10 minutes later…

Rotate the case onto the other end, same tools, same result..

tried the blank for the handle a few times, as I didn't want to go too deep into this. Got close, but something wasn't quite right. I had cut the handle blank on the bandsaw, and there cuts weren't quite straight. Soo

Look into the background, see the mitresaw? I used it to straighten the cuts on the ends. Didn't take all that much off, but there was a"hump" in the middle of the cut. Line now straight, handle still the right length?

Looks decent enough. Peeks out a bit at the top? I still have to mill along the top edges of the handle, the pee-a-boo will then disappear. tried out the wedges with the clamps,

Looks like I'll need a few more wedges…back had just started to stiffen up, soo, I trudged slowly back up the stairs..maybe later this week, I can manage a wee bit more time. Stay tuned, there MIGHT be a glue-up coming up..

Click to expand...

bandit571 said:

A bottom and a handle?

Well, first thing this morning, after the morning pill intake, was to set up a sharpening station that my back could handle. On the kitchen stove, we have a wooden tray. It is to cover the elements when the stove is not in use. Thanks to the height of the tray on the stove, I could set up the oil stones and sandpapers. Couple chisels needed a refresher on the grinder, but most just need some work on the stones and a final polish at 2K grit. Wound up doing 9 chisels, but not the gouge..

After this, and a long break to rest the back, I wandered down to the Dungeon Shop. I was looking to see IF any more chisels needed sharpened,....really, I was. But, that pile of pile boards beckoned, needed a bottom fitted to them, as it where. Figured a little bit couldn't hurt the back any…

The White Oak plank I have as the tote's bottom panel. I clamped it up in the leg vise, and added a c clamp to keep things from sliding around. Found the angle of the side's splay, marked that on the end. Grabbed the lightest of the jointer planes I have, a Stanley No. 5-1/2. And started to plane away the waste. I had marked the "low" side with a marking gauge, to help tell me when I was done with the bevel…..Took awhile, but finally hit the line.

Used the asembled (dry fit) case to determine the width of the bottom…..hmmm, almost a full inch to plane off? NOT!. We have ways…

Now, this bandsaw has trouble cutting a straight line with the table not tilted, it was almost as bad with it tilted over. I kept away from the line as best as i could. Then clamped the plank back in the leg vise. More plane work, to get rid of all the high points. A test fit showed I needed a wee bit of bevel on the ends, so a Stanley #4 did that work. About like raising a panel, actually.

This is the view from underneath. I also laid out the dados for the handle. Dados? Bit of a design change. I figured it would make the handle easier to replace, IF it ever broke. Laid out the lines, stand the case up on it's nose. A try with a saw to start the dado…..not the greatest. Mallet and chisel, and about 10 minutes later…

Rotate the case onto the other end, same tools, same result..

tried the blank for the handle a few times, as I didn't want to go too deep into this. Got close, but something wasn't quite right. I had cut the handle blank on the bandsaw, and there cuts weren't quite straight. Soo

Look into the background, see the mitresaw? I used it to straighten the cuts on the ends. Didn't take all that much off, but there was a"hump" in the middle of the cut. Line now straight, handle still the right length?

Looks decent enough. Peeks out a bit at the top? I still have to mill along the top edges of the handle, the pee-a-boo will then disappear. tried out the wedges with the clamps,

Looks like I'll need a few more wedges…back had just started to stiffen up, soo, I trudged slowly back up the stairs..maybe later this week, I can manage a wee bit more time. Stay tuned, there MIGHT be a glue-up coming up..

Click to expand...

bandit571 said:

A bottom and a handle?

Well, first thing this morning, after the morning pill intake, was to set up a sharpening station that my back could handle. On the kitchen stove, we have a wooden tray. It is to cover the elements when the stove is not in use. Thanks to the height of the tray on the stove, I could set up the oil stones and sandpapers. Couple chisels needed a refresher on the grinder, but most just need some work on the stones and a final polish at 2K grit. Wound up doing 9 chisels, but not the gouge..

After this, and a long break to rest the back, I wandered down to the Dungeon Shop. I was looking to see IF any more chisels needed sharpened,....really, I was. But, that pile of pile boards beckoned, needed a bottom fitted to them, as it where. Figured a little bit couldn't hurt the back any…

The White Oak plank I have as the tote's bottom panel. I clamped it up in the leg vise, and added a c clamp to keep things from sliding around. Found the angle of the side's splay, marked that on the end. Grabbed the lightest of the jointer planes I have, a Stanley No. 5-1/2. And started to plane away the waste. I had marked the "low" side with a marking gauge, to help tell me when I was done with the bevel…..Took awhile, but finally hit the line.

Used the asembled (dry fit) case to determine the width of the bottom…..hmmm, almost a full inch to plane off? NOT!. We have ways…

Now, this bandsaw has trouble cutting a straight line with the table not tilted, it was almost as bad with it tilted over. I kept away from the line as best as i could. Then clamped the plank back in the leg vise. More plane work, to get rid of all the high points. A test fit showed I needed a wee bit of bevel on the ends, so a Stanley #4 did that work. About like raising a panel, actually.

This is the view from underneath. I also laid out the dados for the handle. Dados? Bit of a design change. I figured it would make the handle easier to replace, IF it ever broke. Laid out the lines, stand the case up on it's nose. A try with a saw to start the dado…..not the greatest. Mallet and chisel, and about 10 minutes later…

Rotate the case onto the other end, same tools, same result..

tried the blank for the handle a few times, as I didn't want to go too deep into this. Got close, but something wasn't quite right. I had cut the handle blank on the bandsaw, and there cuts weren't quite straight. Soo

Look into the background, see the mitresaw? I used it to straighten the cuts on the ends. Didn't take all that much off, but there was a"hump" in the middle of the cut. Line now straight, handle still the right length?

Looks decent enough. Peeks out a bit at the top? I still have to mill along the top edges of the handle, the pee-a-boo will then disappear. tried out the wedges with the clamps,

Looks like I'll need a few more wedges…back had just started to stiffen up, soo, I trudged slowly back up the stairs..maybe later this week, I can manage a wee bit more time. Stay tuned, there MIGHT be a glue-up coming up..

Click to expand...

bandit571 said:

A bottom and a handle?

Well, first thing this morning, after the morning pill intake, was to set up a sharpening station that my back could handle. On the kitchen stove, we have a wooden tray. It is to cover the elements when the stove is not in use. Thanks to the height of the tray on the stove, I could set up the oil stones and sandpapers. Couple chisels needed a refresher on the grinder, but most just need some work on the stones and a final polish at 2K grit. Wound up doing 9 chisels, but not the gouge..

After this, and a long break to rest the back, I wandered down to the Dungeon Shop. I was looking to see IF any more chisels needed sharpened,....really, I was. But, that pile of pile boards beckoned, needed a bottom fitted to them, as it where. Figured a little bit couldn't hurt the back any…

The White Oak plank I have as the tote's bottom panel. I clamped it up in the leg vise, and added a c clamp to keep things from sliding around. Found the angle of the side's splay, marked that on the end. Grabbed the lightest of the jointer planes I have, a Stanley No. 5-1/2. And started to plane away the waste. I had marked the "low" side with a marking gauge, to help tell me when I was done with the bevel…..Took awhile, but finally hit the line.

Used the asembled (dry fit) case to determine the width of the bottom…..hmmm, almost a full inch to plane off? NOT!. We have ways…

Now, this bandsaw has trouble cutting a straight line with the table not tilted, it was almost as bad with it tilted over. I kept away from the line as best as i could. Then clamped the plank back in the leg vise. More plane work, to get rid of all the high points. A test fit showed I needed a wee bit of bevel on the ends, so a Stanley #4 did that work. About like raising a panel, actually.

This is the view from underneath. I also laid out the dados for the handle. Dados? Bit of a design change. I figured it would make the handle easier to replace, IF it ever broke. Laid out the lines, stand the case up on it's nose. A try with a saw to start the dado…..not the greatest. Mallet and chisel, and about 10 minutes later…

Rotate the case onto the other end, same tools, same result..

tried the blank for the handle a few times, as I didn't want to go too deep into this. Got close, but something wasn't quite right. I had cut the handle blank on the bandsaw, and there cuts weren't quite straight. Soo

Look into the background, see the mitresaw? I used it to straighten the cuts on the ends. Didn't take all that much off, but there was a"hump" in the middle of the cut. Line now straight, handle still the right length?

Looks decent enough. Peeks out a bit at the top? I still have to mill along the top edges of the handle, the pee-a-boo will then disappear. tried out the wedges with the clamps,

Looks like I'll need a few more wedges…back had just started to stiffen up, soo, I trudged slowly back up the stairs..maybe later this week, I can manage a wee bit more time. Stay tuned, there MIGHT be a glue-up coming up..

Click to expand...

bandit571 said:

A bottom and a handle?

Well, first thing this morning, after the morning pill intake, was to set up a sharpening station that my back could handle. On the kitchen stove, we have a wooden tray. It is to cover the elements when the stove is not in use. Thanks to the height of the tray on the stove, I could set up the oil stones and sandpapers. Couple chisels needed a refresher on the grinder, but most just need some work on the stones and a final polish at 2K grit. Wound up doing 9 chisels, but not the gouge..

After this, and a long break to rest the back, I wandered down to the Dungeon Shop. I was looking to see IF any more chisels needed sharpened,....really, I was. But, that pile of pile boards beckoned, needed a bottom fitted to them, as it where. Figured a little bit couldn't hurt the back any…

The White Oak plank I have as the tote's bottom panel. I clamped it up in the leg vise, and added a c clamp to keep things from sliding around. Found the angle of the side's splay, marked that on the end. Grabbed the lightest of the jointer planes I have, a Stanley No. 5-1/2. And started to plane away the waste. I had marked the "low" side with a marking gauge, to help tell me when I was done with the bevel…..Took awhile, but finally hit the line.

Used the asembled (dry fit) case to determine the width of the bottom…..hmmm, almost a full inch to plane off? NOT!. We have ways…

Now, this bandsaw has trouble cutting a straight line with the table not tilted, it was almost as bad with it tilted over. I kept away from the line as best as i could. Then clamped the plank back in the leg vise. More plane work, to get rid of all the high points. A test fit showed I needed a wee bit of bevel on the ends, so a Stanley #4 did that work. About like raising a panel, actually.

This is the view from underneath. I also laid out the dados for the handle. Dados? Bit of a design change. I figured it would make the handle easier to replace, IF it ever broke. Laid out the lines, stand the case up on it's nose. A try with a saw to start the dado…..not the greatest. Mallet and chisel, and about 10 minutes later…

Rotate the case onto the other end, same tools, same result..

tried the blank for the handle a few times, as I didn't want to go too deep into this. Got close, but something wasn't quite right. I had cut the handle blank on the bandsaw, and there cuts weren't quite straight. Soo

Look into the background, see the mitresaw? I used it to straighten the cuts on the ends. Didn't take all that much off, but there was a"hump" in the middle of the cut. Line now straight, handle still the right length?

Looks decent enough. Peeks out a bit at the top? I still have to mill along the top edges of the handle, the pee-a-boo will then disappear. tried out the wedges with the clamps,

Looks like I'll need a few more wedges…back had just started to stiffen up, soo, I trudged slowly back up the stairs..maybe later this week, I can manage a wee bit more time. Stay tuned, there MIGHT be a glue-up coming up..

Click to expand...

bandit571 said:

Clamps and glue, and cussing

Well, first I had to go to the store and buy a bottle of Elmers. Dug out a few "acid" brushes to spread it around. Plan WAS to use wedges to help the clamps….not enough hands for it… that is when the cussing started up..

Spread a bunch of glue onto the dovetails, fought the clamps. Several clamps are a bit too long..

Had to use what I had on hand,,,,got a bit crowded, though..

new use for a sander's handle? Clamp support. Finally managed to get thing clamped up tight..

Hammer was giving "love taps" to both the clamps and the wood. Did managed to keep the wedges in on the far end. Spread some sawdust into the glue joints, to fill a few voids. With this all clamped up, I figured I could at least get the handle's fingergrip shaped….now, WHERE did i lay the handle blank at???

After crawling under the clamps, drug out the handle that was sitting aways over there. Was going to drill a few holes with a 1" spade bit….wasn't enough room on the drill press.. Dug out the 7/8" Forstner bit, and made a series of five overlapping holes, then used the bit the polish out the ridges….almost..

Spokeshave, and a low angle plane to start the round overs. Beltsander I have could get into the grip areas, and round them over.

Something like this. Once the top sides were all smoothly rounded over, I flipped the handle over, and just barely rounded the bottom edge..

used a bit larger plane for that..

Then more sanding. Might as well get all that done, while it is easy to get to.

Tomorrow, I can remove the clamps. Then plane the edges square. Dress up the corners abit, and add the bottom plank. Might pin it in place. Then I can add the handle…..and think about a finish??
Stay tuned…

Click to expand...

bandit571 said:

Clamps and glue, and cussing

Well, first I had to go to the store and buy a bottle of Elmers. Dug out a few "acid" brushes to spread it around. Plan WAS to use wedges to help the clamps….not enough hands for it… that is when the cussing started up..

Spread a bunch of glue onto the dovetails, fought the clamps. Several clamps are a bit too long..

Had to use what I had on hand,,,,got a bit crowded, though..

new use for a sander's handle? Clamp support. Finally managed to get thing clamped up tight..

Hammer was giving "love taps" to both the clamps and the wood. Did managed to keep the wedges in on the far end. Spread some sawdust into the glue joints, to fill a few voids. With this all clamped up, I figured I could at least get the handle's fingergrip shaped….now, WHERE did i lay the handle blank at???

After crawling under the clamps, drug out the handle that was sitting aways over there. Was going to drill a few holes with a 1" spade bit….wasn't enough room on the drill press.. Dug out the 7/8" Forstner bit, and made a series of five overlapping holes, then used the bit the polish out the ridges….almost..

Spokeshave, and a low angle plane to start the round overs. Beltsander I have could get into the grip areas, and round them over.

Something like this. Once the top sides were all smoothly rounded over, I flipped the handle over, and just barely rounded the bottom edge..

used a bit larger plane for that..

Then more sanding. Might as well get all that done, while it is easy to get to.

Tomorrow, I can remove the clamps. Then plane the edges square. Dress up the corners abit, and add the bottom plank. Might pin it in place. Then I can add the handle…..and think about a finish??
Stay tuned…

Click to expand...

bandit571 said:

Clamps and glue, and cussing

Well, first I had to go to the store and buy a bottle of Elmers. Dug out a few "acid" brushes to spread it around. Plan WAS to use wedges to help the clamps….not enough hands for it… that is when the cussing started up..

Spread a bunch of glue onto the dovetails, fought the clamps. Several clamps are a bit too long..

Had to use what I had on hand,,,,got a bit crowded, though..

new use for a sander's handle? Clamp support. Finally managed to get thing clamped up tight..

Hammer was giving "love taps" to both the clamps and the wood. Did managed to keep the wedges in on the far end. Spread some sawdust into the glue joints, to fill a few voids. With this all clamped up, I figured I could at least get the handle's fingergrip shaped….now, WHERE did i lay the handle blank at???

After crawling under the clamps, drug out the handle that was sitting aways over there. Was going to drill a few holes with a 1" spade bit….wasn't enough room on the drill press.. Dug out the 7/8" Forstner bit, and made a series of five overlapping holes, then used the bit the polish out the ridges….almost..

Spokeshave, and a low angle plane to start the round overs. Beltsander I have could get into the grip areas, and round them over.

Something like this. Once the top sides were all smoothly rounded over, I flipped the handle over, and just barely rounded the bottom edge..

used a bit larger plane for that..

Then more sanding. Might as well get all that done, while it is easy to get to.

Tomorrow, I can remove the clamps. Then plane the edges square. Dress up the corners abit, and add the bottom plank. Might pin it in place. Then I can add the handle…..and think about a finish??
Stay tuned…

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bandit571 said:

Clamps came off, but the cussing remains

Well. After letting the glue cure for a couple hours, went down to remove the clamps. Another fight broke out, as the longer clamps wanted to fall onto the floor, taking everything they could with them…..didn't work. Clamped the case upside down to the bench, was going to level some edges..

Nice, thin shaving…..but, I wasn't in the mood for things this slow. Got out the cambered Jack planes. Got the bottom almost leveled out, I figured I could install the bottom….another fight broke out…

Have some ring-shanked finish nail for paneling i think. They went through the pine side fine….when they hit that old Oak… they went squirrelly on me. Figured the ones that poked out the bottom, and I couldn't back out, I'd just belt sand them off…...tore a couple belts instead. One spot did NOT want to go in all the way. Found some scrap wood, got down a clamp, and push the reluctant part of the oak plank in place…then nailed it there. Then a bit more plane and sander work..

Bottom is now flat as can be expected. Flipped the case over, and worked the topsides down to almost level…..installed the handle. It was going to get screws, but a couple ringshank nail into each end works just fine. More plane and sander work, to blend the handle and ends…..time to call it a night, back was getting stiff…so..

How about a PIP instead? I still need to sand and plane the outsides a bit. Working on a way to hold this thing still long enough to do that. tried a full length handsaw this morning….it does fit. have it leaning against the handle right now. Still not sure about a finish…..just BORG Pine and a bit of Oak. Tool holders?? We'll see. Almost ready to post as a project?

I think the woodworking part to this story is about done…..stay tuned for the Project post…

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