LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

What to do with a Walnut slab..

8K views 16 replies 7 participants last post by  Mean_Dean 
#1 ·
Late night, cutting and a-fittin...

Note to self….IF one closes the shop for the night…..do NOT go back out there. tried to pull an all-nighter….not.

Anyway, laid out some curves and ran the bandsaws….tried the Texas bandsaw, still can't follow a line…Bandsaw #2 seemed to at least try. Starting to get a few more toys down in the shop..
Hand tool Wood Metalworking hand tool Tool Household hardware


Drawknives, a spokeshave, couple low angle block planes…..Needed the spokeshave to remove the saw marks on the curves…
Wood Gas Hardwood Composite material Lumber


Got both lower stretchers curved. Flat will be the "top"and hold the shelf. Got two legs sawn and cleaned up..
Wood Tool Gas Rectangle Composite material


Had to bring a few more chisels down to the shop…
Wood Ammunition Tool Gas Cylinder


Had to dust off the backsaw, as there were tenons to cut..
Wood Gas Bumper Automotive exterior Hardwood


Tried to use that old woodie as a shoulder plane…didn't quite work out. But, I did get a few tenons made..
Wood Wood stain Hardwood Automotive exterior Rectangle


Then used the tenons to layout the mortises they go into. Test fit as I went…
Wood Gas Art Machine Hardwood


Maybe after a good night's sleep, I can try to get the legs done, and make the rest of the connections? If my back will allow. BTW: The cussing has started…..R.Lee Ermy just blushed…stay tuned..
 

Attachments

See less See more
14
#2 ·
Late night, cutting and a-fittin...

Note to self….IF one closes the shop for the night…..do NOT go back out there. tried to pull an all-nighter….not.

Anyway, laid out some curves and ran the bandsaws….tried the Texas bandsaw, still can't follow a line…Bandsaw #2 seemed to at least try. Starting to get a few more toys down in the shop..
Hand tool Wood Metalworking hand tool Tool Household hardware


Drawknives, a spokeshave, couple low angle block planes…..Needed the spokeshave to remove the saw marks on the curves…
Wood Gas Hardwood Composite material Lumber


Got both lower stretchers curved. Flat will be the "top"and hold the shelf. Got two legs sawn and cleaned up..
Wood Tool Gas Rectangle Composite material


Had to bring a few more chisels down to the shop…
Wood Ammunition Tool Gas Cylinder


Had to dust off the backsaw, as there were tenons to cut..
Wood Gas Bumper Automotive exterior Hardwood


Tried to use that old woodie as a shoulder plane…didn't quite work out. But, I did get a few tenons made..
Wood Wood stain Hardwood Automotive exterior Rectangle


Then used the tenons to layout the mortises they go into. Test fit as I went…
Wood Gas Art Machine Hardwood


Maybe after a good night's sleep, I can try to get the legs done, and make the rest of the connections? If my back will allow. BTW: The cussing has started…..R.Lee Ermy just blushed…stay tuned..
Best not to work when you're tired-you'll just make mistakes, and then have to fix them in the morning!
 

Attachments

#3 ·
Trying to catch up, after other issues

Project was put on hold for almost two days….van needed work, had three planes needing rehab…..finally got some time in the Dungeon shop this evening…

The bottom shelf is out of the clamps, and cleaned up. Will cut to final size WHEN I find out what it will be..

laid out for the long aprons/stretchers. Hmmmm, foot of the legs is a bit too small. Had to cut a larger "flat" where the stretchers will go….and still keep them off the floor, too. trimmed almost half an inch to get the right amout of flat area for the stretchers….
Sleeve Wood Flooring Art Hardwood

Which meant a change in the length of the stretchers..Reminds me. I did rip three more pieces to make the strechers and the second long apron. But, how to measure for the right length down on the bottom?

I put one of the legs in the end vise, added an apron, and the other leg. These two were already mortised to fit the apron. pipe clamp to hold everything ing place..
Wood Gas Vehicle door Machine Motor vehicle


Then use a c clamp to hold a stretcher in place long enough to mark tenon length..
Wood Hardwood Plywood Lumber Flooring


Pencil mark for now. Will use a square to carry the lines around. Got things ready, tools sitting out…
Wood Gas Tool Machine Composite material


Chisel, mallet, square, pencil, and a backsaw. One side done
Wood Gas Lumber Machine Table


Rotate, do the next. Strictly by eyeball, sawing down 1/3 of the way each time. Rotate again
Wood Gas Tool Composite material Machine


saw down maybe a 1/4 of an inch. chisel to pop the waste off each time. Rotate one more time..
Wood Gas Composite material Lumber Machine


And a tenon is done. flip the stretcher end for end, and do the other tenon. Then do the second stretcher the same way. Then, I had the second long apron to do…..ran into a slight….problem.
Wood Gas Terrestrial animal Metal Tail


For some unknown reason, knots seem to get in the way. made the usual cut. Stopped at the 1/3 of the way down point. Chisel won't pop the waste off…..old school solution…I stood the piece on it's end, and used the saw instead of the chisel to remove the waste. It is the way I was taught back in high school. Then, laid the board back down and finished it up..
Wood Table Gas Machine Bumper


It was while I was doing the last tenon for the night….tried a plane one more time to see IF I could get it to work as a shoulder plane…
Wood Hardwood Gas Composite material Tool


Well, well, what do you know…it can actually do the job! More of a trimming operation. getting things flattened.
Stacked all the parts back onto the benchtop, as it will be a few days before I can work on it..again.
Wood Gas Machine tool Machine Composite material


Short aprons and stetcher need tenons cut. And a LOT of mortises chopped. maybe by the weekend I can get the glue bottle out? Stay tuned. hey, there wasn't any cussing going on this time…what happened?
 

Attachments

#4 ·
Trying to catch up, after other issues

Project was put on hold for almost two days….van needed work, had three planes needing rehab…..finally got some time in the Dungeon shop this evening…

The bottom shelf is out of the clamps, and cleaned up. Will cut to final size WHEN I find out what it will be..

laid out for the long aprons/stretchers. Hmmmm, foot of the legs is a bit too small. Had to cut a larger "flat" where the stretchers will go….and still keep them off the floor, too. trimmed almost half an inch to get the right amout of flat area for the stretchers….
Sleeve Wood Flooring Art Hardwood

Which meant a change in the length of the stretchers..Reminds me. I did rip three more pieces to make the strechers and the second long apron. But, how to measure for the right length down on the bottom?

I put one of the legs in the end vise, added an apron, and the other leg. These two were already mortised to fit the apron. pipe clamp to hold everything ing place..
Wood Gas Vehicle door Machine Motor vehicle


Then use a c clamp to hold a stretcher in place long enough to mark tenon length..
Wood Hardwood Plywood Lumber Flooring


Pencil mark for now. Will use a square to carry the lines around. Got things ready, tools sitting out…
Wood Gas Tool Machine Composite material


Chisel, mallet, square, pencil, and a backsaw. One side done
Wood Gas Lumber Machine Table


Rotate, do the next. Strictly by eyeball, sawing down 1/3 of the way each time. Rotate again
Wood Gas Tool Composite material Machine


saw down maybe a 1/4 of an inch. chisel to pop the waste off each time. Rotate one more time..
Wood Gas Composite material Lumber Machine


And a tenon is done. flip the stretcher end for end, and do the other tenon. Then do the second stretcher the same way. Then, I had the second long apron to do…..ran into a slight….problem.
Wood Gas Terrestrial animal Metal Tail


For some unknown reason, knots seem to get in the way. made the usual cut. Stopped at the 1/3 of the way down point. Chisel won't pop the waste off…..old school solution…I stood the piece on it's end, and used the saw instead of the chisel to remove the waste. It is the way I was taught back in high school. Then, laid the board back down and finished it up..
Wood Table Gas Machine Bumper


It was while I was doing the last tenon for the night….tried a plane one more time to see IF I could get it to work as a shoulder plane…
Wood Hardwood Gas Composite material Tool


Well, well, what do you know…it can actually do the job! More of a trimming operation. getting things flattened.
Stacked all the parts back onto the benchtop, as it will be a few days before I can work on it..again.
Wood Gas Machine tool Machine Composite material


Short aprons and stetcher need tenons cut. And a LOT of mortises chopped. maybe by the weekend I can get the glue bottle out? Stay tuned. hey, there wasn't any cussing going on this time…what happened?
Looking good, bandit! Nice pics, good story, fine progress.
 

Attachments

#6 ·
Last of the saw work, start of the cussing

Well, Landlord WAS coming over to finish the painting upstars…..fell asleep. he will TRY to get over here in the morning….he says. Wandered down to the shop, to see what sort of trouble I could get into….

Had three parts to make tenons on….two had curved sides. Might be a bit tricky to clamp in the end vise?
Wood Plank Lumber Hardwood Bumper


I picked out a scrap of walnut from when I sawed the curved parts. Had to trim the ends back a bit..
Wood Gas Metal Terrestrial animal Lock


So I could clear the "work area". Waxed up the saw..
Wood Tool Gas Machine Engineering


And let the work work. Tried to get 1/3 of the way through..
Wood Art Gas Machine Artist


Chisel to dislodge the waste, then the wood bodied shoulder plane to smooth things out. Finally got all the tenons cut..
Wood Composite material Gas Machine tool Machine


So, last of the tenons are now cut….should have stopped there….but…
Wood Gas Machine Hardwood Bumper


Needed a place to put the tenons. laid out for the short parts. Fitted a few. Out of the four legs, mainly worked on just two…
Wood Gas Engineering Machine Auto part


Different chisels were needed. As long as the legs were flat like this, was easy enough to do, However..
Wood Tool Machine tool Gas Machine


This set up was a bit different to do. Still, got the long stretcher fitted, then the fighting began. While trying to lay out for the next set of "holes" things kept wanting to drop onto the floor, apron and stretcher tried to trade places…BIG dizzy speel hit….OK, that will be quite enough of that..grbbed a clamp and a couple 1" long nails, and spread some Elmer's around. Got one apron and two legs into the clamps, mallet to "adjust" things a bit. grabbed a stretcher to sit at the bottom of the legs, to try to keep things almost square…..then just piled the rest of the parts on the bench..
Wood Gas Machine Engineering Metal


I even set the bottom shelf panel in place…...to find out it is a bit on the short side….
Wood Gas Machine Machine tool Auto part


Well, I can add breadboard edges to correct that. Maybe Sunday, I can try again?

Stay tuned, glue has started to spread…
 

Attachments

#7 ·
Last of the saw work, start of the cussing

Well, Landlord WAS coming over to finish the painting upstars…..fell asleep. he will TRY to get over here in the morning….he says. Wandered down to the shop, to see what sort of trouble I could get into….

Had three parts to make tenons on….two had curved sides. Might be a bit tricky to clamp in the end vise?
Wood Plank Lumber Hardwood Bumper


I picked out a scrap of walnut from when I sawed the curved parts. Had to trim the ends back a bit..
Wood Gas Metal Terrestrial animal Lock


So I could clear the "work area". Waxed up the saw..
Wood Tool Gas Machine Engineering


And let the work work. Tried to get 1/3 of the way through..
Wood Art Gas Machine Artist


Chisel to dislodge the waste, then the wood bodied shoulder plane to smooth things out. Finally got all the tenons cut..
Wood Composite material Gas Machine tool Machine


So, last of the tenons are now cut….should have stopped there….but…
Wood Gas Machine Hardwood Bumper


Needed a place to put the tenons. laid out for the short parts. Fitted a few. Out of the four legs, mainly worked on just two…
Wood Gas Engineering Machine Auto part


Different chisels were needed. As long as the legs were flat like this, was easy enough to do, However..
Wood Tool Machine tool Gas Machine


This set up was a bit different to do. Still, got the long stretcher fitted, then the fighting began. While trying to lay out for the next set of "holes" things kept wanting to drop onto the floor, apron and stretcher tried to trade places…BIG dizzy speel hit….OK, that will be quite enough of that..grbbed a clamp and a couple 1" long nails, and spread some Elmer's around. Got one apron and two legs into the clamps, mallet to "adjust" things a bit. grabbed a stretcher to sit at the bottom of the legs, to try to keep things almost square…..then just piled the rest of the parts on the bench..
Wood Gas Machine Engineering Metal


I even set the bottom shelf panel in place…...to find out it is a bit on the short side….
Wood Gas Machine Machine tool Auto part


Well, I can add breadboard edges to correct that. Maybe Sunday, I can try again?

Stay tuned, glue has started to spread…
Curved legs look great, Bandit? What would you think of a kind of floating shelf instead of the breadboard end?
 

Attachments

#9 ·
Getting the last of the mortises done..

Well, since the last time I was here…...Got a glue up somehow done.
Wood Gas Metal Cooking Antique tool


Test fit wasn't too hateful…..tried to clamp it up with glue on the tenons…...
Motor vehicle Automotive tire Wood Gas Bottle


Well after letting that mess cure for a day or so…...

Did you ever have to use a hammer while clamping up a glue up? One Pipe clamp kept trying to rotate right back off….Add a c clamp to put a stop to that. Had to rotate the second one, for a better "grip". Then had to add the third one in the middle, to keep things almost flat….

Ok, pulled a late night in the shop, tonight. Wasn't going to do a whole lot, but had 4 mortises to do. These should be the last of the chopping, I hope. Tried out the new shop tool as well..
Motor vehicle Wood Automotive tire Idiophone Drumhead


yep, sat right down on that stool. Made working a bit easier on my back, too. I clamped the newly glued up frame to the bench's top. Grabbed one apron/stretcher and marked where to put a mortise. I also used a Sharpie to mark which part went where. laid out the mortise..
Wood Sleeve Grey Font Pattern


Had to adjust it a bit. Laid out the tools.
Wood Gas Metal Cylinder Tool


Mallet and chisel. Had a "bullpen" as well..
Wood Motor vehicle Gas Auto part Engineering


Different sizes for different areas. Got that one chopped out, and test fitted. Rotate..
Automotive tire Wood Bumper Gas Drill


And start on the next ones. Kept going until I got to the last one….I wanted to see how the other frame sat on this mess..
Wood Gas Automotive wheel system Machine Engineering


What this is, is looking at the base of the table laying on it's side. You are looking up toward the bottom of the table's top. of course, I had to remove the second frame, was getting in the way of my swing. Got #4 done and fitted. brought the other frame back, and clamped it down..
Wood Gas Machine Automotive wheel system Engineering


And stacked the rest of the parts on top. The Boss doesn't like it, when I have a bunch of MY stuff on HER washer. Pushed the stool out of the way, and closed up for the night. Back actually felt pretty good, too.

Will try tomorrow ( MAYBE??) to glue the base together into a single unit. Then I can size the top and the shelf a bit better. After that? We'll see what happens. Stay tuned, getting thing assembled…
 

Attachments

#10 ·
Getting the last of the mortises done..

Well, since the last time I was here…...Got a glue up somehow done.
Wood Gas Metal Cooking Antique tool


Test fit wasn't too hateful…..tried to clamp it up with glue on the tenons…...
Motor vehicle Automotive tire Wood Gas Bottle


Well after letting that mess cure for a day or so…...

Did you ever have to use a hammer while clamping up a glue up? One Pipe clamp kept trying to rotate right back off….Add a c clamp to put a stop to that. Had to rotate the second one, for a better "grip". Then had to add the third one in the middle, to keep things almost flat….

Ok, pulled a late night in the shop, tonight. Wasn't going to do a whole lot, but had 4 mortises to do. These should be the last of the chopping, I hope. Tried out the new shop tool as well..
Motor vehicle Wood Automotive tire Idiophone Drumhead


yep, sat right down on that stool. Made working a bit easier on my back, too. I clamped the newly glued up frame to the bench's top. Grabbed one apron/stretcher and marked where to put a mortise. I also used a Sharpie to mark which part went where. laid out the mortise..
Wood Sleeve Grey Font Pattern


Had to adjust it a bit. Laid out the tools.
Wood Gas Metal Cylinder Tool


Mallet and chisel. Had a "bullpen" as well..
Wood Motor vehicle Gas Auto part Engineering


Different sizes for different areas. Got that one chopped out, and test fitted. Rotate..
Automotive tire Wood Bumper Gas Drill


And start on the next ones. Kept going until I got to the last one….I wanted to see how the other frame sat on this mess..
Wood Gas Automotive wheel system Machine Engineering


What this is, is looking at the base of the table laying on it's side. You are looking up toward the bottom of the table's top. of course, I had to remove the second frame, was getting in the way of my swing. Got #4 done and fitted. brought the other frame back, and clamped it down..
Wood Gas Machine Automotive wheel system Engineering


And stacked the rest of the parts on top. The Boss doesn't like it, when I have a bunch of MY stuff on HER washer. Pushed the stool out of the way, and closed up for the night. Back actually felt pretty good, too.

Will try tomorrow ( MAYBE??) to glue the base together into a single unit. Then I can size the top and the shelf a bit better. After that? We'll see what happens. Stay tuned, getting thing assembled…
Party foul. I don't see a beer.
 

Attachments

#15 ·
Glue up, and a lot of assembly work

Ok, first was a late-nighter, to get things glued up..
Wood Gas Machine Metal Composite material


Four of the F style clamps, and that pipe clamp. Pipe clamp was to pull everything into square. Checked the diagonals each way…30-1/2" Seems to be good enough. Stacked a few other parts on top..
Gas Wood Machine Machine tool Engineering


Note the little metal bracket? I had a few sets of these Stanley Chair brackets from a yard sale, might as well use them in the corners as reinforcements.
Wood Hand tool Hardwood Flooring Metal


Ok, let this mess set awhile. Woke up today, back was 95% pain free! Decided to put ALL of the parts together
Table Wood Gas Wood stain Hardwood


Working from the "Top" down as it were… Used the shop stool to help hold up the end of the top. Seemed to be a problem at first. Couldn't get the top off the leg assembly….glue had run down and under a leg…Popped them apart. Edge of the top needed jointed, as it was still roughsawn.. Stanley No.5-1/2 took care of that.
Wood Gas Metal Machine Lumber


Corners needed to be rounded, needed a "pattern" first….what to use?
Wood Automotive tire Table Gas Automotive wheel system


It is called a Dose Cup. Used to put in just the right amount of soap into the washer. Black Sharpie to mark things out. Vintage tool to cut the curves..
Table Wood Drill Tool Writing desk


Yep, B&D sabre saw. Used it for quite a few things today. As for those brackets? I opened a second set, had a place for them. Needed a "drill" to do pilot holes, though.
Wood Tool Bumper Gas Hardwood


This was after I "fixed" a couple bad knots in the top. Bandsaw had a pile of walnut sawdust. Spread some glue into the holes, add the sawdust, then sand it flush.
Brown Wood Flooring Floor Insect


Ok, top is installed, set aside. I worked on the shelf. It wound up too wide, and too short. Too wide I can fixed by a few notches on the ends to fit around the legs.
Table Wood Desk Rectangle Hardwood


Too short? well, I kept a few offcuts. Two were picked out. Cleaned up, counter-bored holes made. I used the dose cup again to curve a few places….
Table Wood Rectangle Hardwood Flooring


This was the easy end, the other end had other issues..
Wood Tool Hardwood Gas Wood stain


A little out of square. While making all the other cuts, I also squared this off. Ends are now capped. Cleared the bench, brought the table over and set it up. Took a bit of fussing to get the shelf in….had to turn it end for end.
Drum Roll, If you please?
Wood Motor vehicle Gas Automotive tire Automotive exterior


We have a PIP!! Shelf ends even look good?
Wood Natural material Wood stain Hardwood Plank


So, what is left for this table? Debating on using the router to make a fancy edge on the top, and maybe the shelf..Needed the holes plugged with shop made walnut plugs. Lots of sanding? Maybe. Then maybe a finish of some sort? Just a clear finish would do? BLO/Poly?
Stay tuned, we are just about done with this …..thing.
 

Attachments

#16 ·
Glue up, and a lot of assembly work

Ok, first was a late-nighter, to get things glued up..
Wood Gas Machine Metal Composite material


Four of the F style clamps, and that pipe clamp. Pipe clamp was to pull everything into square. Checked the diagonals each way…30-1/2" Seems to be good enough. Stacked a few other parts on top..
Gas Wood Machine Machine tool Engineering


Note the little metal bracket? I had a few sets of these Stanley Chair brackets from a yard sale, might as well use them in the corners as reinforcements.
Wood Hand tool Hardwood Flooring Metal


Ok, let this mess set awhile. Woke up today, back was 95% pain free! Decided to put ALL of the parts together
Table Wood Gas Wood stain Hardwood


Working from the "Top" down as it were… Used the shop stool to help hold up the end of the top. Seemed to be a problem at first. Couldn't get the top off the leg assembly….glue had run down and under a leg…Popped them apart. Edge of the top needed jointed, as it was still roughsawn.. Stanley No.5-1/2 took care of that.
Wood Gas Metal Machine Lumber


Corners needed to be rounded, needed a "pattern" first….what to use?
Wood Automotive tire Table Gas Automotive wheel system


It is called a Dose Cup. Used to put in just the right amount of soap into the washer. Black Sharpie to mark things out. Vintage tool to cut the curves..
Table Wood Drill Tool Writing desk


Yep, B&D sabre saw. Used it for quite a few things today. As for those brackets? I opened a second set, had a place for them. Needed a "drill" to do pilot holes, though.
Wood Tool Bumper Gas Hardwood


This was after I "fixed" a couple bad knots in the top. Bandsaw had a pile of walnut sawdust. Spread some glue into the holes, add the sawdust, then sand it flush.
Brown Wood Flooring Floor Insect


Ok, top is installed, set aside. I worked on the shelf. It wound up too wide, and too short. Too wide I can fixed by a few notches on the ends to fit around the legs.
Table Wood Desk Rectangle Hardwood


Too short? well, I kept a few offcuts. Two were picked out. Cleaned up, counter-bored holes made. I used the dose cup again to curve a few places….
Table Wood Rectangle Hardwood Flooring


This was the easy end, the other end had other issues..
Wood Tool Hardwood Gas Wood stain


A little out of square. While making all the other cuts, I also squared this off. Ends are now capped. Cleared the bench, brought the table over and set it up. Took a bit of fussing to get the shelf in….had to turn it end for end.
Drum Roll, If you please?
Wood Motor vehicle Gas Automotive tire Automotive exterior


We have a PIP!! Shelf ends even look good?
Wood Natural material Wood stain Hardwood Plank


So, what is left for this table? Debating on using the router to make a fancy edge on the top, and maybe the shelf..Needed the holes plugged with shop made walnut plugs. Lots of sanding? Maybe. Then maybe a finish of some sort? Just a clear finish would do? BLO/Poly?
Stay tuned, we are just about done with this …..thing.
Atta boy Bandit, just rolling through it ! Looking good..
 

Attachments

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top