Marc Spagnuolo's Blog, page 54
March 7, 2017
James’ PurpleHeart Keepsake Box
This keepsake box was built for a friend who loves the color purple and also loves boxes. She is an avid collector of stones and crystals and wanted a place to store her pieces.
The main box is built with purpleheart wood and through dovetail joinery and a rabbeted in bottom of tiger maple. The top is a modified raised panel door construction, with purpleheart stiles and rails, and a tiger maple panel. After the top was glued on, the lid was cut off from the box. Then attached with hidden Soss brand hinges. The trays inside are tiger maple and are built with finger joints.
The entire project was sanded to 400 grit, then finished with three coats of spray lacquer. It was also sanded down to 2000 grit between coats.
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March 3, 2017
Friday Live! – Leveling Chair Legs
Today I answer a question about leveling chair legs as well as a bunch of other Q&A. Don’t forget you can help support the show on Patreon! Here’s the rundown.
0:40 – Giveaway winners
1:30 – Guild member discount at Oneida
3:06 – Reddit contest giveaway – https://www.reddit.com/r/woodworking/comments/5uowjb/the_fine_woodworking_52_boxes_in_52_weeks_build/
4:39 – Woodworkers Fighting Cancer update – http://www.thewoodwhisperer.com/2016woodworkers-fighting-cancer-results/
6:30 – Patreon reward coins came in this week.
7:08 – How do I level a project with 4 legs?
12:40 – How are the Jet 18-36 drum sanders in regards quality?
14:14 / 19:02 – How do I deal with arguing quality vs cost with my spouse?
15:30 – Nicole tells Marc her deep dark secret.
16:22 – Any advice for someone getting started and tackling their first major project?
20:55 – Does birch go well with maple?
22:25 – After using a tung oil blend on wenge I have to wipe excess oil off for several hours, is this normal?
24:00 – Have you ever used router bits in a shaper?
26:58 – What brand of CA glue do you use?
27:37 – Have you used the beard friendly dust mask yet?
30:22 – Any advice adding an extension fence to a miter saw?
33:17 – How do I deal with family members who expect full access to my shop?
36:01 – What are your thoughts on a combo jointer/planer as a save spacer in a small shop?
37:09 – What should I get after the table saw? Drill or Band saw?
40:21 – Patreon thanks.
41:02 – Trestle table video part 1 update.
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March 2, 2017
Nick’s Sculpted Dining Table
I’ve always enjoyed the art of Sculpture. Particularly sculptures that show natural and flowing curves.
This piece is designed for a small one bedroom apartment and can sit up to 4 people but will mainly be used to seat only 2. Its made from American Oak and consists of around 25 pieces, all strategically placed to ensure grain continuity and strength. I then used a power carver to get the rough shape of the table. Rasps and files allowed me to finesse the shape and finally, using sanders, I was able to get the table to a smooth and consistent finish.
The table is anchored to the wall which provides the strength needed to firmly secure the table. This solid wall fixing allows the table to stand on only one narrow leg.
This piece was fairly experimental as I was unsure of not only the strength of the joinery but also the stability of the design. After completing this table I can confidently say that as long as you have a solid understanding of wood movement and grain direction, almost any design is possible.
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February 24, 2017
Friday Live! Bandsaw Blades & Jointers
Today we discuss bandsaw blade options as well as jointer cutterheads. Of course we have tons of Q&A as well. Here’s the rundown:
1:52 – Why Marc’s beard is gone.
3:17 – New patreon reward levels – https://www.patreon.com/woodwhisperer
4:08 – Metric thread taps are now available – http://wwthreadtaps.com
6:52 – Trestle table progress update
7:38 – Tool post-move accuracy update
10:05 – What types of bandsaw blades are you using and how do you store them?
13:28 – Is it really worth it for a hobbyist to buy a carbide blade on the bandsaw?
14:50 – Are the tables on your bandsaws the same height?
15:12 – How do you decide on the size of blade for cutting curves on the bandsaw?
17:33 – What’s the best way to fix a warped panel glue up?
19:36 – What are your thoughts on using a blade dampener with a thin kerf blade?
20:55 – Is horizontal or vertical wood storage better?
22:25 – Is it better to rebuild/rehab planes or to buy newly manufactured planes?
23:51 – Any advice on buying new tools vs rehabbing old ones?
25:23 – Do you like spiral or straight blade jointers (or planers)?
27:10 – What wood species would be better for a cutting board?
28:36 – Do you have a video on sharpening a forstner bit?
29:07 – Can you elaborate on the best way to get good rip cuts on the tablesaw?
31:04 – What podcast was Nicole featured on recently?
32:05 – Any reason you can’t use the wwthreadtaps on non-ferrous metals?
32:47 – Do you have to be a guild member to buy the taps?
33:18 – Can you do a review of the Multirouter?
33:44 – How Marc deals with negative feedback on videos.
38:55 – Have you done an office desk project yet?
40:04 – Do you have any recommendations to stretch the platform bed width for a California King mattress?
41:00 – What was your first wood project & do you still have it?
42:16 – What’s the difference between wwtaps and a regular machine tap? – http://wwthreadtaps.com
44:46 – Patreon Thanks
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February 23, 2017
2017 Shop Tour
Welcome to the official 2017 Shop Tour. If you’ve been with us since the beginning, you know that my shop has changed a few times due to various domestic reasons. Back in November 2016, we packed up the house and shop one last time to head to our new home in Denver, Colorado. Curious why we moved? Read this. It’s been about three months since we moved in and I’ve been working diligently to transform my new 950 square foot 4-car garage into a dedicated shop. While there’s still more to do, I’m done with what I’m calling “phase one” since I’m now at the point that I can comfortably start building projects. If you want to catch up on all of the details regarding the move and the shop setup up to this point (as well as previous shop tours), check out the Shop Archives.
This video contains a LOT of references to products, articles, and videos and you’ll find those links below.
Special thanks to:
Powermatic for continuing to sponsor the show and support our efforts.
Oneida Air Systems for supplying us with a new Dust Gorilla Pro.
American Green Lights for supplying us with LED light fixtures.
Relevant Links:
Shop Archives
Dream Shop Build
Parallel Clamp Rack
Utilitarian Clamp Rack
Assembly of a Powermatic PM2000 Table Saw
Assembly of an Oneida Dust Gorilla Cyclone Dust Collector
Tool Storage Cabinet
Bosch Glide vs Festool Kapex
Organizer Bins
Shop Heating Options
LED Shop Lighting
Acoustic Panel Installation
Stanley Organizers
Rubber Tiles for Shop Flooring
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February 20, 2017
Laminated Plywood Rocking Horse
The idea of a rocking horse first came when my older brother and his wife gave birth to their first child. As a woodworker, I fell I wanted to give them something representative of my passion for wood that could be transferred for multiple generations. I began searching the Internet to find an example of a rocking horse I would find interesting to build. I found it at The Rocking Horse Shop, UK. They specialized in carved traditional rocking horses. They can sell you anything from the plan only to the complete horse. Be aware, they are not cheap.
I decided to give it a try and ordered the medium sized Rocky plans. It is made of laminated birch plywood and a wood base. Basically, the plan is all the shapes overlaid in a 1 to 1 scale. I managed to find a place that was able to scan that size of plan, then imported it in AutoCad to retrace it, nested on a 4 x 8 stock, and outsourced for CNC machining. I knew I wanted to make two, so I didn’t want to spend all that time on the jig saw, plus the result was much cleaner and I could use one set as a template.
Once I received the pieces, I simply glued everything with regular PVA glue. The two halves were glued and then put together. The centre is hollow to reduce the weight. Once it is together, you can start carving. I tried a few different methods but finally my best combination was the Lancelot chainsaw attachment for the angle grinder, then sanding disks (flaps) again on the angle grinder and finally sanding drums on my drill. I also used smaller sanding drums on my dremel.
This is a great project to start with if you are not that confident with your carving skills as I was, since the shapes appear like magic just by reaching the junction of each plywood layer. The head is a little trickier but instructions are provided to help you create the details. The hardware, saddle, mane and tail came in a kit that I bought and mounted following instructions. The finish is clear polyurethane.
I made a second one a few years after for my kids which was basically the same but took less time. It also makes for a very unique showpiece in the living room!
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Lift Lock N’ Roll Lathe Mobility System
When I buy an extremely niche product, I don’t typically make a video about it. But this one did such a good job of solving a problem for me and someone recently requested that I talk about it, so I figured I would make a quick video.
My new Colorado shop is smaller than I’m used to, and that means more of my tools need to be mobile. One of the heaviest and most difficult to move tools is my Powermatic 3520B Lathe. I’ve hurt my back several times pushing that thing around. I did a few quick web searches and quickly found a solution: the Lift Lock N’ Roll Lathe Mobility System. Unfortunately, it seems they only make this add-on for a few Powermatic models and the Jet 1642.
The system is easy to install and doesn’t require you to life the lathe at all. As long as the feet are extended, the system slides right under the legs and bolts in place. While the sales video of the product gave me the impression that I could easily engage the wheels with my feet, the reality is it’s quite difficult. I eventually got it to work on the lighter tail stock side of the lathe. Under the head stock, forget about it. Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to engage the system by hand.
So you might be wondering how in the world is it actually EASIER to do with your hands? Well, the problem lies with the position of the handle. It’s so close to the legs of the lathe that you have to wedge your foot in a tight space where the handle is happier resting against the side of your foot rather than the sole of your shoe. So even though it doesn’t take much pressure to move the handle, you have almost no leverage in this position. Perhaps if I were wearing something other than running shoes, the result would be different. But if you kneel down and pull the handle out with your hand, it’s a pretty simple matter to then push the handle down to engage the wheels.
Bottom line is it makes my lathe mobile, and that’s what I bought it for.
Please note that I have no connection with the makers or vendors of this product.
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February 17, 2017
Friday Live! – Trestle Table Preview
Today I’ll give you a little SketchUp preview of the upcoming Trestle Table build and we’ll also discover my increasingly-common problem of forgetting to zip my fly. Here’s the rundown!
0:28 – Check out Wood Talk!
1:36 – Slab coffee table video released today
2:18 – New clamp racks
5:35 – Marc & Nicole’s Valentine’s Day activities
5:52 – Trestle Table Preview
10:22 – Will you be using the thread taps on the top?
16:08 – Marc will be hanging out with Alex Snodgrass this summer.
18:00 – YouTube Superchat
18:44 – Can a shoulder plane be replaced by a rabbeting block plane? Check out Hybrid Woodworking
21:00 – Marc can’t figure out why his zipper is always down.
25:47 – Should the blade on my new band saw cut fast?
26:45 – How do you stay focused on projects?
29:22 – Does the speed of the jointer cutter head make a difference in cut?
30:22 – What is the best way to keep tight joints on a wide miter?
32:23 – Do you know if hobbyists are allowed to attend the AWFS show (or other trade shows)?
33:33 – How do I explain to my wife that I don’t have enough clamps?
35:10 – Do you have experience with carbide tipped forstner bits?
36:10 – Is a bandsaw an important tool to have in the shop, and do you sharpen or replace band saw blades?
38:25 – Have you ever had a dislodged band saw tire?
39:00 – How can I prevent my wife from misusing my tools?
41:17 – When are you losing the beard?
42:30 – When wet sanding with a sander, does the liquid get sucked into the sander?
44:15 – What sharpening system do you use? My Sharpening System
44:34 – Why didn’t you go with the infrared heater in your shop? Shop Heating Options
44:48 – Tormek, workshop, or whe(a)tstones for sharpening chisels?
46:20 – Is there a Guild only forum to look through? Here’s the Facebook Group
48:20 – Any chance for a barn door build in the future?
50:10 – Patreon Update Thanks
http://patreon.com/woodwhisperer
51:00 – Do you suffer from hand numbness when working in the shop?
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Live Edge Slab Coffee Table
One of the most exciting things about moving to Denver is that I now have access to more live edge slab material. We needed a new coffee table and I also wanted to build something that would showcase the new Wood Whisperer Thread Taps, so a simple Live Edge Slab Coffee Table with metal legs fit the bill nicely.
Shop Local
The one place Denver locals kept recommending I check out what Collector’s Specialty Woods (CS Woods). After looking at their website, I hopped in the truck and decided to see what they had to offer. To say my mind was blown is a bit of an understatement. This place has more slabs than I’ve ever seen in one location including numerous species and sizes ranging from small to simply ludicrous. I selected a nice little slab of Claro Walnut that I thought would fit my space nicely and while I was checking out, I noticed a cool set of metal legs sitting over to the side. As it turns out, the legs were made by a local fabricator and they were also for sale. SOLD! I lovingly placed my new slab in the cab of my truck (it was just too beautiful to put in the bed) and headed by to my shop to get to know my new friend a little better.
Fix It Up
In many ways, a slab project seems like woodworking on easy mode. And believe me, this was easy! But don’t underestimate the time and attention to detail it takes to prepare a slab properly. My slab was in incredibly good shape yet I still spent several hours over the course of a few days filling knots, bug holes and checks. I like to use West System Epoxy for filling: 105 Resin, 205 Hardener, and Pump Set as well as CA Glue with Activator.
I Had a Blast
To clean up the live edges, I used a combination of carving gouges and sandblasting. I don’t have a serious sandblasting setup so I decided to dip my toes in by purchasing a fairly simple sandblasting gun. I loaded it with Black Beauty Abrasive Media, connected the compressed air, and I was off to the races. Given the cost of this setup, I was really pleased with the results as it had no trouble cleaning up and smoothing the irregular surface of the live edge.
The Finish
Since this coffee table needs to withstand hurricane Ava and tropical storm Mateo, I decided to go with a polyurethane finish. Poly finishes generally have a bad reputation as they tend to make the wood look like plastic if applied too thick. But if you use a wiping poly (which is pre-diluted for you) and you apply it with care, you can end up with a show-stopping finish that looks natural and provides a good deal of protection. The video shows the details but here’s the quick recap.
Step 1 – Sand thoroughly to 220 grit and vacuum the dust.
Step 2 – Apply Coat 1 of wiping poly with sponge brush.
Step 3 – Once dry, sand surface with 500 grit wet/dry paper and vacuum the dust.
Step 4 – Apply Coat 2 by repeating steps 2 & 3.
Step 5 – Apply Coat 3 by repeating steps 2 & 3.
Step 6 – Thin the Wiping Poly even further with some mineral spirits. Coat the surface and wet sand using an abrasive 2000 grit pad. Wipe off excess (leave very little on the surface) and let dry overnight.
Attaching the Legs
The legs are attached to the table using 1/4″-20 x 1″ L bolts. Instead of using threaded inserts, I’m using Wood Whisperer Thread Taps to get the job done. The taps are super easy to use. Just drill the appropriate sized hole to the depth you want it, and use the tape to cut the threads. The bolts can then be driven home. For more information about these taps, check out WWThreadTaps.com.
The Moral
When it comes to live edge slabs, less is more. The slab itself is the true showpiece and Mother Nature did nearly all of the work for us. Our job as woodworks is to include a base that both compliments the slab and stays out of its way, visually speaking. Too many times I see an over-designed base that competes with the top. Don’t do that. Let the top be the hero and design a base that supports it in the simplest and most complimentary way. Or you can get around the design challenge by simply using a visually “light” metal base or legs. Normally, I would have made the base from wood but as I said initially, I wanted to show the Wood Whisperer Thread Taps in action and this seemed a cool way to do it. All in all, I’m very happy with the results.
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February 15, 2017
AJ’s Train Bed
When it came time for our 3 year old son to get a “big boy bed,” well of course I had to build one. He loves trains so I started looking at pictures of real steam locomotives to get some ideas and inspiration. I also looked at posts from both The Wood Whisperer and Fine Wood Working sites. I sketched some ideas on paper in the shop and started playing with dimensions to make sure a twin mattress would fit. I settled on a few drawings and what I had in my head and started building.
All the parts are poplar except for the light of course. I used a single piece of 1/2 inch birch ply for the bulk of the front. The most difficult part was the curved veneer for the front. Yeah, my bending form needs some work but overall, I’m very pleased with how it turned out. Seeing the smile on our son’s face brings great joy to my heart.
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