Dear Fanlax Experts - Help and advice thread.

[youthathletics]

Gorgeous...well done.

A cool look for the base might be to use a small torch and burn the wood slightly giving it an aged look. This YouTube video can give you a visual. https://youtu.be/Jir-1_-iETQ

I have been looking into making a kitchen island something like this. Considering using 2” threaded black pipe with plumbing fittings and threaded flanges for the base, going for the industrial/rustic look....I’m not a fan of your typical cabinets and big box store products.

that torch idea is really cool! i have a small food-grade torch. maybe ill practice on scrapwood?

is this an idea of what youre looking to do? http://jenloveskev.com/2016/07/26/diy-b ... en-island/

Similar but on a larger scale...yes.

[ChairmanOfTheBoard]

here's a quick addition to the bench- a toolbox.

working on top of my new workbench, i cut a board for the bottom, and added 4 walls:



down the center, i stood up a board, chamfered the edges, and then attempted to rout a handle- which didnt go well:



a few woodscrews later, this is what it looks like:



i was going to put a rail along the centerpiece and cut out slots for tools (like screwdrivers) but this just didnt work. (something like what this guy did http://elelyon.com.co/wp-content/upload ... n-shed.jpg)

final product, sans tool rail:



and, here it is fitted into the workbench! (sorry for the blurs)

[DMac]

Nice box , Chairman Handyman. Suggestion from the arm chair expert (not), unscrew the handle part of your new toolbox and cut a good size chunk of it out. Will still be plenty strong eonough and will double(ish) your carrying space. Kinda like this:

[ChairmanOfTheBoard]

didnt notice the similarity until you posted that!

[Bart]

didnt notice the similarity until you posted that!

First, nice box. Arm chair suggestion.........if you are going to start making boxes get yourself a Kreg jig. It makes wonderful joints. I use them in most of the cabinets I have made. Easy to use.

[ChairmanOfTheBoard]

googling!!!

[Bart]

googling!!!

nice. Let me know what you think. It really is easy to use and makes great joints.

[DMac]

Check this guy out, Bart. An idea that might be helpful?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2ig_RRN97k

[ChairmanOfTheBoard]

those are pretty cool- my question would be how does the drill bit not cut the metal guide inside the jig?

[Bart]

Check this guy out, Bart. An idea that might be helpful?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2ig_RRN97k

Thanks for that! I might just make one up. Mine currently resides on a large piece of plywood and takes up a lot of space.

Mr. Chairman, the bit fits snugly into the guide but does not catch or cut the metal inside. The bit in my set has worn a little but I have used it a bit. I have had no issues with any of the boxes (basically what most cabinetry is) that I have built using this jig. Biggest thing for me is ensuring my cuts are 90 degrees. I really think you'll like it.

[Bart]

Chairman. Here are a few pics of the Kreg,

image5.jpeg (126.82 KiB) Viewed 2593 times

This one is a picture of the set up I use. As you can see it is quite big. I like the option DMac showed above and will be going in that direction.......I think.

image4.jpeg (114.49 KiB) Viewed 2593 times

This is a pic of the jig itself. I had to put the bit at a bit of an angle so it did not slide down. It is a snug fit but does not catch.

image3.jpeg (77.86 KiB) Viewed 2593 times

This is what a face plate might look like using the jig. As long as the cuts are 90 degrees they are nice and tight and strong. I do not have a picture of a joint that would be used in constructing a box as they are buried but they are similar. It really is a nice jig. Easy to use and makes good joints. I think you would like it. ( I have no idea why this picture continually rotates 90 degrees but you can get the gist.)

[ChairmanOfTheBoard]

one more easy project... the in-laws have an heir loom table and over a hundred years, the leaves disappeared. so i picked up some pine, and made some:




it's just a board, with two slats glued to the bottom to make it flush with the tabletop.

then, lot's of sanding.

here is the dowel pin, i had to trial/error the pilot holes so they didnt get too big. ended up 3/4''.




then, more sanding! i also penciled in which side of the table this was meant for, so when people put them in, they use them on the correct side.




a few coats of stain. i am NOT trying to match the table, is this is merely going to be covered with a tablecloth. so as long as it's close im satisfied.

here is a flat view- you can see how the slats bring the board even to the tabletop:




and here is a more aerial view- they are functional!




total cost was around... $15. havent used them yet! built on my new workbench, of course.

[youthathletics]

Thrifty and purposeful. Based on the view of the table. You may be able to build a small rack on the underside of the table to store them. Now get to work!

[DMac]

Geezuz H, Chairman, what an absolutely outstanding job!!!
Don't know if Mrs. Chairman has any sisters, but you've sure as hell got to be the in-laws favorite son-in-law.
Well done!!
"Built on my new work bench, of course."
Too funny, made me laugh...

[ChairmanOfTheBoard]

thanks!

youthy- i considered that. but didnt want to screw (pun?) with the heir loom table that doesnt belong to me... also, i dont know how to build that!

[DMac]

Stick a piece of velcro on the bottom side of the leaves and the under side of the table. Voila, job done.
Or the closet would work just fine too.

[ChairmanOfTheBoard]

i didnt think of the velcro idea!

but right now they are in the closet. in fact, they are leaning up against the door, on the outside of said closet.

[DMac]

As they should be, fine workmanship on full display.

[ChairmanOfTheBoard]

so i decided i didnt love the plywood shelf... i tore it out, and added in slats (like on the bottom):







my toolbox still fits right inside.

[cradleandshoot]

so i decided i didnt love the plywood shelf... i tore it out, and added in slats (like on the bottom):







my toolbox still fits right inside.

Very nice chairman. My workbench is an 8 foot piece of bowling alley that somehow wound up in our basement when we bought the house. It was too damn heavy to get up the stairs and I do mean too freaking heavy. I built a frame for it out of pressure treated 4x4s and tapconned and liquid nailed a PT 2x8 as the back ledger board to support the top. The bench will be there long after I am dead and gone. I have probably built a hundred bird houses on it and it has the paint splatter that gives it the character I love. I make all my birdhouses out of reclaimed old pallet wood I get from work. One nice thing about your bench... it looks portable. You gonna put a finish on that or leave it natural?