You can see the tools I have at my disposal in my shop section. A couple months ago, I built a racing cockpit for a video game out of MDF with my jigsaw and circular saw, a straight edge and a couple of 3" C-clamps. Nothing on it is square, but it came out well enough to use. Had a bunch of fun doing that so I thought I might start building up a woodshop in the garage.
Trying to tackle this workbench right now:
http://www.finewoodworking.com/PlansAndProjects/PlansAndProjectsArticle.aspx?id=29507
Right off the bat things are not going so well. I had the Borg make a couple cuts in the plywood sheets so they would be easier to handle, but I still had 8' long pieces to deal with. Due to my inexperience with the table saw, and my apparent inability to set it up/align it/etc. correctly, I don't think any of the 8' strips I ripped ended up being straight, square, or the same width down their entire length. I'm starting to break down the strips because I figure they will be easier to square up that way, with less material removal required. I crosscut some with the circular saw last night, but right now I have 8 boards (the outer pieces of the stretchers and aprons) that I really need to make square, straight, and exactly the same length. They are all rough cut to around 3 9/16" x 48", but I'm at a loss to know how I am going to square up the edges to the ends, and how to make them all exactly the same length (47 7/8" would be ideal, none are shorter than that, but I could go a little shorter if needed).
I guess my #1 task should be to set up my table saw correctly. I've got a dial indicator and feeler gauges coming today, hoping I can throw together a jig than can help me align the saw blade, miter sled, and fence more accurately than my combination square allowed.
Next steps after that? Do I need a crosscut sled? Even if I had one, not sure I can cut 4' long pieces on it. Just looking for some advice here.
Thanks in advance!
Trying to tackle this workbench right now:
http://www.finewoodworking.com/PlansAndProjects/PlansAndProjectsArticle.aspx?id=29507
Right off the bat things are not going so well. I had the Borg make a couple cuts in the plywood sheets so they would be easier to handle, but I still had 8' long pieces to deal with. Due to my inexperience with the table saw, and my apparent inability to set it up/align it/etc. correctly, I don't think any of the 8' strips I ripped ended up being straight, square, or the same width down their entire length. I'm starting to break down the strips because I figure they will be easier to square up that way, with less material removal required. I crosscut some with the circular saw last night, but right now I have 8 boards (the outer pieces of the stretchers and aprons) that I really need to make square, straight, and exactly the same length. They are all rough cut to around 3 9/16" x 48", but I'm at a loss to know how I am going to square up the edges to the ends, and how to make them all exactly the same length (47 7/8" would be ideal, none are shorter than that, but I could go a little shorter if needed).
I guess my #1 task should be to set up my table saw correctly. I've got a dial indicator and feeler gauges coming today, hoping I can throw together a jig than can help me align the saw blade, miter sled, and fence more accurately than my combination square allowed.
Next steps after that? Do I need a crosscut sled? Even if I had one, not sure I can cut 4' long pieces on it. Just looking for some advice here.
Thanks in advance!