Simple Shop Projects

 I had a couple of small projects that I wanted to do for the garage since we moved in. Both were out of need. I have been working on using the Triton router table more. It is better than my bench top and has more functionality to it. The problem is that it is not easy to move for two reasons. The first is that all the attachments (saw and router) are underneath it and it is not mobile. The second is that it is a flat surface that is a catch all for projects and battery chargers.

I had a couple of thick pieces of “scrap” I purchased from another woodworker. The piece I used was 2” thick 8” wide and 24” long of red oak. I made a floating shelf out of the piece to hold my lawn mower batteries and the cordless system batteries. I cheated and just put a groove in the shelf instead of pocketing out the space for the wall mounting bracket.

The other project was a clamp rack for my larger clamps. I had them hanging from shelf supports. It was working but I wanted to hang them on the wall. I looked at purchasing some but I had several 2x4’s that would do the job just as well. It was a quick project but it made a huge difference in the accessibility of the clamps.

Next shop improvement project is my workbench.

Saburrtooth Burrs

 I am going to try some intarsia projects this year. A lot of them will require shaping and detailing. Some of which I can do with sand paper but others I need to take a lot off. I have used the sanding drums on the Dremel and some of the carving tools that come with the Dremel. I have been watching some videos on the process and someone recommended the saburrtooth brand burs. They were a little more then I hoped, but not unreasonable after using them. The set was about $100.

I have used them on creating deeper profiles on some animated toys that I am making. These things will take material off. These look like little medieval weapons. The will not do a finish ready surface and I will say you will start at a rougher grit sand paper to get it ready. It beats the tool wear that happens on the Dremel carving tools. I would burn them up as well as the sanding drums before finishing the part.

Laguna F2 Table Saw

 I said good bye to one of the first power tools I purchased.  My DeWalt contractor saw has served be well for over 22 years.  It was a good saw and I have no complaints.  It was starting to show it's age.  The alignment was starting to go more often and the plastic on the electrical cord was starting to go.  I had also removed a tossed the blade guard and anti kick back equipment.  These were a couple of the factors for replacing the saw.  Designs have also changed with different safety features.

I purchased a cabinet saw to upgrade.  it comes with the blade guard and a riving knife that are easy to change out.  I had looked at the Grizzly table saw and also the SawStop and decided on the Laguna F2.  I liked the SawStop, but it was expensive for what I wanted to pay.  I understand the safety of it and maybe I will move to one someday.  I have read and heard that the brakes will fault out over time and need to be replaced.  I am safe with the table saw in general.  Grizzly is a decent brand and some of the parts are probably the same on the Laguna.  The features on the Laguna and shipping costs are what made my final decision to go to the Laguna.  

Here are the features that I like about the Laguna F2:

• Mobile base is standard
• digital bevel guage
• The face of the fence slides back and forth
• It has a 36" rip capacity

What I don't like

• The T style fence.  I am use to the DeWalt rack and pinon fence which is really nice.
• Dust collection is not great, but I am using a shop vac so I will give it a pass

I have only used it a couple of time so far and I do not have buyers remorse.  It is quieter and cuts better than my old saw.  It is also a lot heavier.  I don't have to worry about it moving around.  

Kid's Workbench

In preparation of making my own work bench, I made a smaller one for kids.  I used an old kitchen island wood top that I had acquired some  time ago.  The other wood and was gathered from scrap and trash from work.  The only cost that I had in the bench was hardware and labor, which was  not cheap.  It was a good practice and design check for my workbench I hope to make later this year.  Here are the highlights of the project:

• First of all this was designed around the height of my youngest.  It is a little taller than it should be for him.  He does think it is his now.  Kids are taller than I first thought.  My bench is going to be 35".  I am six feet (almost).  Half of 48" is 24".  Good thing I tested before assembly.  I added another 3" to it and made it a better height.
• Drawers are shallow for a reason.  I don't want a lot of stuff in them.  It is mainly for kids and storage of their tools.  I am hoping to put foam with cutouts for all the tools.  This is a project for another day.
• When making five piece side make sure the glides span the two verticals.  I did not check and had to set my glides back 3/4" so I could attach them.  Not impossible, just make the task more difficult.  
• The only drawer that was designed for a purpose was the paint drawer.  All other drawers were made with the same height drawers.  This may not have been the best idea as some tools don't fit as well.  My bench will have more specific drawers and design.
• I purchased a mobile base from Grizzly Tools.  I am pleased with the result.  It does roll smoothly and carries the weight.  my only complaint is that it does not work well with 3/4" board.  It says that it will work with 1/2-1 1/4 board but the screws for the 3/4" board drag on the floor every once in a while.  The 1/2" board works great.  Since I screwed the base also into the work bench frame I am not concerned about bowing of the base.
• 
  I also purchased t-track from Rockler and some of the accessories.  I put this around  the parameter of the bench to make a cheap set of vices.  I did not leave enough material below the track for the clamps to work well.  This is something that I will remedy with my bench.  

It is not the best work I have done but it does function.  My youngest is happy with it.  It is a good addition to the shop as I start working with more kids.  I enjoy the mobility of the bench and the storage it has.

Making Changes

 There are changes happening in the garage shop.  There are things that I have wanted to do in the past three homes that I have lived in.  I have wanted to add more electrical outlets in the garage.  I finally did it because I am hoping to stay in this place a little longer than the last one.  I upgraded the line to a 20amp breaker and added 2 more outlets.  I can now have my scroll saw and drill press always plugged in.  the third is for the extension cord that I use for the mobile equipment.  

The line was pretty simple.  It was on one wall in line with the electrical panel.  There was little damage to the dry wall.  I did have help because I do not like electricity and have never done work in the panel.  He did panel and wiring work and I watched for the most part.  

I did upgrade the line from a 15 amp to a 20 amp breaker.  This is largely because I was tipping the breaker when running the table saw and shop vac at the same time.  There is another reason that I will get to later (probably another post).  

I actually looked at some of my equipment specifications and they said I need a 25 amp breaker.  There is no such thing at the local box stores.  Ironically, some of my tools have a 16 amp startup draw and a 14 gauge plug. So I knew that a 20 amp line would be fine.  If I went to a 30 amp breaker, I would need new plugs on everything.

There is a thing called new work and old work fixtures.  That was a mind blowing experience.  New work is for all the stuff that drywall is not in place.  Old work makes it real easy to put the junction boxes in drywall.  

There are a lot of breakers out there.  Make sure to know which breaker to get.  It is actually pretty straight forward to replace the breaker.  That being said, I still don't ever want to do it.

I did help install the wiring in the outlets and attach the outlets in the wall.  When we first powered the line the circuit blew.  Why did it blow, I had the ground touching the hot wire when I put the wires in the the box.  One more reason I do not like working on electricity.

Year in Review

If I said this year was great for woodworking I would be lying.  I actually did not get a lot of woodworking in this year.  A lot of this year was painting our old home, repairs and moving.  I did get better painting as I progressed through the house.  It was pretty noticeable from the first rooms to the last rooms.  I was doing basic repairs to sell the house and make it livable.  I replaced the deck boards in the deck and did some last-minute landscaping.  I don’t know if the landscaping even survived.

Tool purchased this year.  I purchased a DeWalt battery operated brad nailer.  This was a game changer for me.  I no longer had to carry an air compressor and a hose to do repairs and add moulding.  It works as well as my pneumatic one without the hose.  I am very happy with this purchase.  I also purchased a DeWalt battery jigsaw.  This is mainly to cut down large boards and repair work.

My favorite project this year was painting the final room in the house.  I was happy that I don’t have to paint for a little while.  We do plan on painting our new home, but it is not needed at this time. 

No new plans this year.  I have some ideas, mothing concrete.  There are some books that I have that I want to try some of their designs. 

Business is holding steady.  Etsy has been doing well.  I have taken off all my actual toys and made it strictly plans.  I am getting less complaints about people thinking they have ordered a physical toy.  I have not done anything to grow business out here.  There are a lot of craft fairs, but I am not sure if I want to go through and get a Virginia sellers license.  Time will tell on that.  I am enjoying what I am doing now.  I do need to find some charities to donate to.  I have a couple of leads.

Next year should be a good year.  I have a lot planned and it is mostly setup in the garage.  I have been saving up to upgrade my table saw and some of my workshop.  I am looking at the Laguna Fusion 2 table saw.  I am also looking into a dust collection system.  I also want to build a couple of workbenches.  One is going to be mine for projects.  It will be on wheels with stops.  The other is going to be a kid’s bench.  I have been doing a fair amount of research on making movable benches and I think that I am ready to upgrade from sawhorses. 

New Guinea Pig Cage

My middle child got a pair of guinea pigs over the summer. One of the things that I wanted to do was elevate the cage we got so that we (I) didn’t have to bend down as much to pick them up and clean out the cage. I also wanted a place to store all the supplies they have instead of having them all over the floor. The base is made from scrap 2x6’s that were left by the previous owner. I purchased a sheet of particle with melamine on both sides. I also edge banded all the edges. I try not to use the convenience of Amazon for wood projects, but edge band was ½ when compared to the stores and twice as much. I cannot tell you about performance, because it is the first time I used iron on edge band. It worked well and cleaned up nice. The new cage is slightly larger than the old one. It seems to work well. We shall see how it holds up.