indianawoodbutcher's Blog at LumberJocks.com http://lumberjocks.com/indianawoodbutcher/blog Sat, 17 Dec 2011 00:23:11 GMT End Grain Cutting Board http://lumberjocks.com/indianawoodbutcher/blog/27005 I have been making a few end grain cutting boards, but keep running into the same issue. I spend a lot of time sanding the surface. Once it is glassy smooth, I start applying the mineral oil. However, even after a good serving of oil, the first time the board gets wiped down with a wet rag, the end grain fibers swell up and the board is rough. I usually just give it another sanding and oil. That cleans it up. Does anyone have any techniques that will prevent the additional sanding and oiling? Just trying to make it more efficient.

]]> Sat, 17 Dec 2011 00:23:11 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/indianawoodbutcher/blog/27005 indianawoodbutcher indianawoodbutcher Dust Collection on Grizzly 0690 Table Saw http://lumberjocks.com/indianawoodbutcher/blog/26823 I just received my new Table Saw from Grizzly this week. I love the power and the price. So far, the only thing I don’t like is the dust collection. It has a built in dust port, but it doesn’t seem like much gets to the port. After quite a bit of cutting, I found the bottom of the saw held about 3 inches of dust. I used the same dust collector on my old Craftsman that I had to rig with a dust port. It is gobbled up everything the blade could make. Does anyone else out there have a Grizzly table saw that can give me some ideas?

]]> Mon, 05 Dec 2011 01:47:40 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/indianawoodbutcher/blog/26823 indianawoodbutcher indianawoodbutcher Spline Joints http://lumberjocks.com/indianawoodbutcher/blog/21645 This may sound like a silly question, but I need someone to do me some good old fashioned learn’n. I keep seeing great box projects with spline joints. I have been wanting to try something like that, but not sure how hit works. How do I cut the slots for the splines? What is the best way to get the splines the exact thickness? Is there excess spline material that must be cleaned out after the box is glued together? Help me out.

I suppose I could use that new fangled Google method to figure this out, but wanted to let my LJ brothers and sisters teach me.

]]> Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:02:53 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/indianawoodbutcher/blog/21645 indianawoodbutcher indianawoodbutcher Laminating thick hardwood stock http://lumberjocks.com/indianawoodbutcher/blog/20978 I am seeking guidance from some more experienced LJs. Recently, I completed two projects that required me to laminate many thick boards together to make massive pieces. The first was my workbench. I tried to keep it simple by just using milled 2×4’s laminated together to make the work surface. The second project was my wife’s dinette table. I made a 40” X 40” bar height maple table that is 2 1/2” thick.

The issue I ran into with both projects involved keeping the pieces flush, square, even, etc. The dinette was especially challenging. I clued it all together, cut it apart, replaned everything and tried again.

At one point, I even drilled holes through each and every piece so I could insert a 3/4” threaded bars to pull the pieces together.

Ultimately, I eliminated the threaded rod and just did a lot of gluing, grinding and sanding. The table completely defeated my inspiration to work with heavy, thick pieces of wood.

I am probably not really spelling this out enough, but can anyone just give me some good tips regarding best practices for laminating thick stock.

I should mention that I do not have a joiner. I always have to use my table saw and planar to get the edges smooth and square. Not the perfect technique, but it works (sometimes).

]]> Thu, 03 Feb 2011 01:31:47 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/indianawoodbutcher/blog/20978 indianawoodbutcher indianawoodbutcher