February 8, 2012

From computer model, to the shop

For now, all I have is this teaser. My client saw the work-in-progress today, and was ecstatic. What more could one ask for? We should be able to deliver it about mid-week, next week. In the meantime, this is all I can share today — a computer rendition, from the eCabinet Systems software (Thermwood Corporation) I use to prepare renditions for clients:

For this project I partnered with Dan, owner of one of the largest local cabinet shops. There was no way I could handle this one in my shop, especially application of the finish. Dimensions: 72 inches wide, 30 inches deep, and 40 inches tall. One small box will be located between the two shorter boxes now seen on the top. The question is: what is it?

I promise photos of the final item, in its proper location.

Al Navas

The curvy table is finished

I present to you the little table, complete with gussets and a stabilizer shelf across the long stretchers, but without any varnish – it is a prototype at this point:

The table is now done.

To improve stability, I added gussets at the top of the legs, and one small shelf across the top of the stretchers. I used more epoxy on this project than I have ever used on all previous projects combined.

In case you are wondering where this table will go, I can reveal the purpose now. This is a prototype I have been eager to start; what pushed me over the edge was an announcement on the WoodNet woodworking forum, calling for a contest to make “anything” out of a single construction pine board measuring 2″ x 6″ x 8 feet long. You can read the thread here, and my contest entry here.

The beauty of this kind of contest is that it tends to increase your creative juices, to produce your best. I have no idea how my entry will do, but I am glad I am done! I will provide an update “around” July 4, when the Moderators have targeted to announce the winners in four categories: Usable, Furniture, Turned, and Weird.

Wish me luck!

Al Navas

Curvy legs

I wanted to try my hand at curvy legs for the little table I designed with SketchUp (image on the right — click on the image to enlarge it). The best way to accomplish this is to resaw the board to get thin pieces. I estimated that resawing the pine to a thickness somewhere between 0.060″ and 0.100″ would be best, to minimize spring-back following the glue-up. This was important, to get the correct angle to glue the (more) upright portion of the legs that connect to the underside of the table top.

Resawing was an uneventful event with the new Driftmaster fence and the Resaw King blade — until I was finished resawing, that is (I had to use lacquer thinner remove the sticky pitch from the blade and the guide bearings after this operation):

Glue-up of two legs goes well when both are done at the same time; I used three layers of the resawn board per leg. In this next photo I apply and distribute the glue (Unibond 800):

Then the two legs go into the mold — in a separate article I will show how to make this two-part mold:

The results are great. Spring-back was only one inch:

Cutting to width, to remove the bulk of the glue that squeezed out:

Now it was time to make sure the spacing is correct, to get the scarf joint at the proper angle:

I suspect the scarf joint will not be long enough to hold the corner joints. I hope that epoxy will hold the joint together; if it does not, it means the bevel must be longer. I can always wish, right? What follows now: Sanding, prior to gluing up this part of the legs.

Al Navas

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