Preparation
Preparation for this new project started a couple of weeks ago, although planning has been going on for a while. I purchased 200 board feet of locally harvested, air dried 4/4 walnut lumber. It has been sitting in a barn for quite a few years, and most of the boards are wide and fairly straight. Price was $2.00 per board foot. From what I have seen for prices on here, this seems to be pretty good. (I know 200 bf is more than I will need for this project, but I have a few others planned.)
The plan is to build a more-or-less "standard" size coffee table, but to have four drawers in it under the table top and no open space or lower shelf. Size is to be 48" by 25" by 18" LWH. In some ways it may resemble some type of short chest of drawers rather than a table, but my wife and I both like the idea of some storage space in the living room to hide away magazines and books and things. I will try to post a Sketchup-based shot of it soon.
I spent my last day home before my shift trying to get the shop ready. I had already done the basic cleaning before I started spraying finish on my last project, so just had to get everything moved back into the "woodworking" arrangement instead of the "finishing" arrangement. Since almost everything is on wheels, not a big job.
I also opened up the table saw, did a thorough cleaning and lubrication of the mechanism so that the tilt and lift are back to being smooth and easy. Miter saw got a cleaning and lubrication, and everything I could think of got a coat of Johnson's paste wax. Then I took my eight most used router bits and three most used saw blades in the house and gave them a good cleaning in the bathtub (sshhh, my wife wasn't home so don't tell her…). They all came out looking and feeling as sharp and shiny as when they were brand new.
I have to say that having a clean and maintained shop and equipment just feels good. But then again, I was the kid who had to have everything in his room right where it goes. I look at pictures of my old ham radio station for example, and recall that it wasn't posed for the picture, it always looked that way. And I think my penchant for organization has served me well as a firefighter and paramedic, so carrying that in to my latest hobby is only natural.
Next time will be more details on the actual plan. Bye for now.
Preparation for this new project started a couple of weeks ago, although planning has been going on for a while. I purchased 200 board feet of locally harvested, air dried 4/4 walnut lumber. It has been sitting in a barn for quite a few years, and most of the boards are wide and fairly straight. Price was $2.00 per board foot. From what I have seen for prices on here, this seems to be pretty good. (I know 200 bf is more than I will need for this project, but I have a few others planned.)
The plan is to build a more-or-less "standard" size coffee table, but to have four drawers in it under the table top and no open space or lower shelf. Size is to be 48" by 25" by 18" LWH. In some ways it may resemble some type of short chest of drawers rather than a table, but my wife and I both like the idea of some storage space in the living room to hide away magazines and books and things. I will try to post a Sketchup-based shot of it soon.
I spent my last day home before my shift trying to get the shop ready. I had already done the basic cleaning before I started spraying finish on my last project, so just had to get everything moved back into the "woodworking" arrangement instead of the "finishing" arrangement. Since almost everything is on wheels, not a big job.
I also opened up the table saw, did a thorough cleaning and lubrication of the mechanism so that the tilt and lift are back to being smooth and easy. Miter saw got a cleaning and lubrication, and everything I could think of got a coat of Johnson's paste wax. Then I took my eight most used router bits and three most used saw blades in the house and gave them a good cleaning in the bathtub (sshhh, my wife wasn't home so don't tell her…). They all came out looking and feeling as sharp and shiny as when they were brand new.
I have to say that having a clean and maintained shop and equipment just feels good. But then again, I was the kid who had to have everything in his room right where it goes. I look at pictures of my old ham radio station for example, and recall that it wasn't posed for the picture, it always looked that way. And I think my penchant for organization has served me well as a firefighter and paramedic, so carrying that in to my latest hobby is only natural.
Next time will be more details on the actual plan. Bye for now.