Some time off during the holidays afforded me the opportunity to hit the shop. Over the last couple of days I managed to cut all the dado’s, mortises and tenons. Today I loose fit the front frame and the two end frames.
Since I cut the mortises with my drill press, I had to clean the sides up with a chisel. Well the only chisels I have around were very dull Sears Craftsman that have been used to do everything from cut mortises for door lock sets and scrape paint (wifey!). Needless to say there are all pretty dull. This gave me the opportunity to sharpen the 1” chisel using the “Scary Sharp Process”. That all sounds good, but I didnt have a honing guide and with my eyes, getting and holding a 25 degree angle was going to be difficult. Alas, I found a piece of scrap wood, squared up the edges, cut a 25 degree slope on the front face, then cut dado slots top and bottom. The bottom slot was cut to allow the guide to span the wet/dry abrasive strips. After about 20 minutes of 400, 800 and 1000 grit rubbing, I had a chisel that was sharper than ever and sliced down the ridges in my mortices like they were butter.
Here are a couple of pics of my progress.
This is the blanket chest’s front frame (upper and lower rails and two muntins) loosely assembled.
These are the tenons I cut. I was amased. I ‘eyeballed’ the blade height, cut both sides and the darn thing slid with a little pressure right into the dado/mortise. I guess it’s better to be lucky than good sometimes.
The next two pics are of the ‘poor man’s honing guide’ I made to sharpen my chisel.
I did manage to clean up my tenons, round their edges, cut my haunces and dry fit the blanket chest end frames too. Tomorrow I plan to complete the fit up of the front and back frames and dry fit the entire box (without the panels and lid).
Have great day.
-- I love the smell of sawdust in the morning....
9 comments so far
David
home | projects | blog
1982 posts in 1038 days
posted 329 days ago
I enjoy blanket chests and this is indeed a very worthy project. You are off to a great start. Congratulations on your”luck”! Are you going to be doing the dimpled relief detail on your chest? Great photos. Thanks for sharing. I am looking forward to updates as you progress.
David
-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com
FlWoodRat
home | projects | blog
589 posts in 808 days
posted 329 days ago
David,
I’m not sure “congratulations are in order, but thanks anyway. LOL
No, I am not going to do the dimples. T-Chissels panels were raised on the back and dimpled on the front. I am building this for my grand daughter’s second birthday and her Mom didn’t care for all that detail. She wanted simple clean lines and likes raised panels. Thus, I plan to raise both faces. So that the panels will be flush front and back, I’m making the panels 1-1/8” thick to match the rails and muntins.
-- I love the smell of sawdust in the morning....
Thomas MacDonald
home | projects | blog
101 posts in 360 days
posted 329 days ago
sweet….we need to get you some whattah stones so you can cut anything like…butthah… : )
-- For free woodworking video tutorials and contests, check out Woodworking with Thomas MacDonald & Friends at http://www.mlwwoodworking.com/index.html
FlWoodRat
home | projects | blog
589 posts in 808 days
posted 329 days ago
Hey T Mac… What I really need to get is a “real” honing guide and then take the time to sharpen all my hand tools.
-- I love the smell of sawdust in the morning....
Thos. Angle
home | projects | blog
4013 posts in 861 days
posted 329 days ago
Aw, yer makin’ T-Chisel proud!
-- Thos. Angle
Karson
home | projects | blog
25811 posts in 1299 days
posted 329 days ago
WoodRat Looking good. and good job on the sharpening. You might want to check out my blog on my sharpening station.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
Topapilot
home | projects | blog
123 posts in 739 days
posted 329 days ago
I had a chisel that was sharper than ever and sliced down the ridges in my mortices like they were butter…
OOOhhh…Thats Scary sharp…
OOps, I mean Scary shaaap…
FlWoodRat
home | projects | blog
589 posts in 808 days
posted 329 days ago
Karson, Thanks. Nice blog.
-- I love the smell of sawdust in the morning....
FlWoodRat
home | projects | blog
589 posts in 808 days
posted 328 days ago
Thos “Don’t call me Right Angle. LOL, I know that was obtuse. Thanks for the kind words. How are things out in the Owyhee area? Wifey and I spent some time out in the area (Merridian, Nampa, and Caldwell, with a couple of day trips down to Marsing and a bit south and west of there) last summer and really loved it. That area is definitely gorgeous.
Hope your winter there hasnt been too harsh. Happy New Year.
-- I love the smell of sawdust in the morning....