| Project by footprints | posted 11-24-2009 10:15 PM | 2525 views | 7 times favorited | 11 comments |  |
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Here’s a way to use those pieces of wood too big to throw away and too small to actually use on the next project. Tilt your table saw blade to 30 degrees and run them through to get a rhombus shape. Use three contrasting woods. Cut the rhombus strip into 1” thick pieces and glue them into a hexagonal shape with Tightbond III. No clamping required. Then glue the hexagons together edge to edge. You will need to clamp these – I used a framing square to make sure they lined up properly and built an MDF jig to aid in the clamping. Cover it with plastic wrap so the glue doesn’t stick to it.
When dry, saw it rectangular and edge it in maple. Mineral oil is the finish to use. I’m making a bunch for Christmas.
Have fun.
addendum 11/26/09 : Attached is a bad photo of the jig some of you have inquired about. Commentary below in the comments section.
-- Ray, Lakeland, FL
11 comments so far
Loogie
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100 posts in 3175 days
#1 posted 11-24-2009 11:11 PM
This one is definitely on my list Ray! Very cool!
-- Mark
OhValleyWoodandWool
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970 posts in 2516 days
#2 posted 11-24-2009 11:34 PM
very nice
-- "All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then Success is sure." Mark Twain
isetegija
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#3 posted 11-24-2009 11:43 PM
Beautiful design and very well done.
Thanks for sharing with us and welcome to Lumberjocks community.
-- Not my woodworking http://woodworkessence.com/
degoose
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7189 posts in 2750 days
#4 posted 11-25-2009 01:25 AM
Nice job… they look familiar.
-- Drink twice... and don't bother to cut... @ lazylarrywoodworks.com.au For lovers of all things timber...
footprints
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45 posts in 2503 days
#5 posted 11-25-2009 03:27 AM
Hi Larry – after going to your site I can see why! You have taken Louis Cubes to the next level. Really nice work. I’ll check in with your site more often.
ray
-- Ray, Lakeland, FL
a1Jim
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#6 posted 11-25-2009 03:34 AM
Looks great Ray
-- http://artisticwoodstudio.com Custom furniture
RetiredCoastie
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#7 posted 11-25-2009 04:06 AM
Very nice Ray, excellent craftsmanship!
-- www.thepatriotwoodworker.com Proud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops
scrappy
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#8 posted 11-25-2009 08:03 AM
Fantastic use of scraps! Grat boards.
Keep it up.
Scrappy
-- Scrap Wood's the best...the projects are smaller, and so is the mess!
eddy
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936 posts in 2760 days
#9 posted 11-25-2009 06:34 PM
i have mae a few of these the glue up is very tricky. i would like to see the jig you made to glue them up
thanks for sharing
-- self proclaimed copycat
RexMcKinnon
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2593 posts in 2590 days
#10 posted 11-25-2009 11:09 PM
Look nice, I too would love to see the jig you used.
-- If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail!
footprints
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45 posts in 2503 days
#11 posted 11-26-2009 08:07 PM
Eddy and Rex – attached is a poor photo of the jig you asked about – my camera is going on the fritz and only takes purple pictures!
A right angle is made in the left corner by screwing MDF strips to a panel. The top and right side of the panel have 5/16 holes drilled to receive stove bolts, washers and wing nuts. Countersink the back so the stove bolts don’t cause rocking. Cut slots into two pieces of scrap MDF as shown. Decide on the width of the cutting board and lock the right hand piece down – the width is dependent upon the size and number of Louis Cubes you make. You may have to make several top slotted boards to reach down into the jig.
Pour glue into a dish, lather the hexagons up on the edges and start at the lower left corner. Lay down the first row toward the right. Use plenty of glue. I use Tightbond III because it has an open time of 30 minutes. Adjust the right slotted board to just snugly push the hexagons to the left. Lock it down. Install the second layer, move the top slotted board down to align the hexagons and continue in this fashion until done. The only purpose of the slotted boards is to aid in the alignment of the hexagons so they don’t squeeze out as you build. When done, add clamps to the edges of the slotted boards and the panel and clamp GENTLY.
There will be glue squeeze out everywhere but a trip through the planer cleans it off. Hope this helps.
-- Ray, Lakeland, FL
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