Boxland: Work Stations and Boxing Tips #1: The Glue Up Table

The Glue Up Table

In my shop the most important element in efficiency is organization. That means having what I need at hand when I need it. In the case of the glue up table it starts with a straight line that I can put the sides of the box against to line them up for glue-up.

This is a shop made holder for the tape dispenser. It allows me to have the tape already positioned over my work and it is easily removed from the holder.

Glue and brushes are essential. I keep my brushes in water and they don’t clog up. I can use the same brush for months on end as long as I put it back in the water cup at the end of each use. Since I use the thicker Tightbond Trim and Molding glue it is essential to hold the bottle up-side down.

Paper towels are another must. I use them to clean up and dry off the brushes when I first take them out of the water. They are handy here on the left.

My home made band clamps hang on a hook on the left. I can quickly reach them and put them back when I’m finished.

An air hose is useful for blowing away dust before finish is applied and for the pin nailer I use to hold parts in place until the glue dries. The small shelf also holds a scraper for cleaning dried glue off the table and a screwdriver for cleaning away glue squirt out. I set the timer (silver left) for an hour to let me know when the glue has set up enough for me to work on the next step.

Of course you need a nice bright task light and if you are wondering about the piece with the bars welded across it that is a press for attaching tops. The other boards are culls for the press.

In later chapters I will show the actual process of gluing a box together and talk about the press.

-- Big Al in IN