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Router Table Depot Archive Page
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
If you are interested in making some money, you can start building birdhouses in your shop. It does not take a lot of tools and your imagination is the main driving force for design. Most birdhouses that you can buy today are made overseas and mass marketed to the larger stores for sale. You just do not see any craftsman sellling something of quality anymore. Craftsman have been replaced with mass manufacturing.
You can develop quite a following on Ebay and other auction sites by having a variety of houses for sale. Most of the time if you offer something truely unique you can do well. This is not really about construction or joinery techniques, its about design and the finish. If you follow any of the home improvement or DIY type of sites, you can get a great idea of what people want and what they will buy. I would not necessarily focus on cheap or inexpensive birdhouses, I would focus on something that is clever or fun to look at in the garden. People will open their wallets faster than you ever imagine when you give them some creativity. Labels: birdhouses, building birdhouses, woodworking business by: Router Table Depot 0 Comments 
You can save a lot of money by painting your cabinets instead of buying new cabinets. If your kitchen does not need new cabinets you can give them a great makeover by taking your time in repainting.
I love the fact that he uses a primer/deglosser. Most contractors make shortcuts that do not always lead to high quality. Labels: cabinet building, kitchen cabinets, painting cabinets by: Router Table Depot 0 Comments
Monday, May 16, 2011
If you would like to add a little panache to your home, consider crown molding. It serves only the purpose of adding beauty to a room in the home and is a curved face trim added where the ceiling meets the top of the wall. Installing crown molding will add elegance to the rooms in your home. Although a challenging task for even professional carpenters, the results are beautiful and well worth the time and effort. Find a partner to help you with the install before beginning so the task will go faster. Teamwork will make the installation process less of a challenge.
Careful planning and measuring is crucial. Add additional length to the molding pieces to allow for cutting errors. Choose the style and color, which will best accent the room. Keep in mind the crown molding will need to be the best for your personal taste in décor. The finish and color of the molding should be completed before installation. It is easier to do touch-up work on the trim in comparison to adding stain or paint after it is placed in an area difficult to reach. Before installing the crown molding, measure the space where it will be placed and draw a pencil mark on the wall where the bottom edge of the trim will rest. This will keep your trim straight during install. Create pilot holes in the trim to keep it from splitting as nails are used. Add adhesive on both the ceiling and wall edges of the molding as well as on the seam. Having a partner to help with hanging up the crown molding will help with making sure the molding is properly aligned, which may be difficult to see while up on a ladder and close to the trim work. In the event of errors during the installation phase, remember caulking helps with any mistakes. In the event a wrong cut with the miter saw caused a small hole in a connecting piece, caulk may be used to fill the hole and make it much less noticeable. Crown molding is beautiful trim work, which will add architectural flair to any room in the house. Whether you want to add finesse to the home for you to enjoy or if you need to do upgrades for resale value, crown molding will certainly help. Remember to do your research and take proper measurements before purchasing supplies. Also, ask someone for assistance to help you with installation. Make installing crown molding a snap, use the Bench Dog crown cut tool with your miter saw. More woodworking articles here. Labels: crown molding, woodworking by: Router Table Depot 0 Comments
Woodworking clamps are important tools used mainly for woodworking projects. The primary use of these tools is to hold together work pieces such as timber so they won't move while you are working on them.
Woodworking clamps come in many different types. Each type have a particular purpose and use. Below are some of the most common clamps that you may find indispensable in your woodworking shop: G Clamps Woodworking clamps of this type have a frame that is shaped like a C; therefore, they are also sometimes known as C clamps. G clamps are made of metal and are very strong. They are very versatile and can be used for a wide variety of wood working projects. They can even be used for welding and carpentry. Corner Clamps As their name suggest, corner clamps are used primarily for holding corners of woodworking materials together. Bar Clamps Used primarily as woodworking clamps, bar clamps are usually created with rubber pads placed on its contact parts. This is to ensure that the timber where these clamps are used will not get damaged by the clamps themselves. Bar clamps can be bought in varied lengths depending on the need of an individual for his woodworking projects. Spring Clamps These types are perhaps the easiest to use among all kinds of woodworking clamp. These are typically designed like a big paper clip. Spring types may not be used for heavy woodworking but they still provide a great clamping solution. Web Clamp Also called band clamp, these types are created with a ratchet mechanism that is used to tighten the band. Typically, these are helpful when working on woodworking projects that are not square in shape. Vise Grip C Clamp Like the G types, C clamps are very versatile. They can be used on a wide variety of purposes and are therefore worth your money. They can come in a wide array of sizes and are often created with metal contact parts. Sash Clamps Also popularly known as pipe clamp, a sash clamp is often used in projects where G clamps are not viable because they are too small for the project. Pipe clamps come in different lengths and are extremely indispensable when working on large woodworking projects. Woodworking clamps are extremely useful in whatever type of woodworking project you may have. Investing on these tools are definitely worth your every penny you have. You will never regret having these tools around your shop. Two newer clamps are the box clamp by Woodpecker and the corner square clamp. The corner square clamps are becoming very popular since they are perfect for making drawers and squaring up casing assemblies. The box clamp is popular choice for boxes and picture frames. Labels: woodworking, woodworking clamps by: Router Table Depot 0 Comments
Saturday, May 14, 2011
An outstanding video about router bit profiles, three bits that you really do not hear about. This is like walking into a store and finding someone really knowledgable and passionate about their trade.
Bull nose Router Bits, large wide trim elements. Almost always used in the router table. A good fence adjustment point. Chamfer Router Bit. Really versitile and great for edge profiling and dressing up a straight line. Flush Trim bit. Bearings have the same diameter as the cutters. Three main kinds are bearing on top (pattern), Shaft bearings, which is designed for freehand use., bits that have bearings on both ends. by: Router Table Depot 0 Comments
This is a super good video that shows some of the basics and some of the basic mistakes you can make when installing crown molding. It also shows the difference between casings and crown moldings and how to cut them on the miter saw.
The Bench Dog Crown cut jig helps hold the molding in place so that it does not move at all while cutting. If it moves, the angles will not line up and you will find yourself filling and sanding. by: Router Table Depot 0 Comments
Birdhouses are gaining popularity for many reasons. People love to watch different kinds of birds, feed them and provide safe home. A beautiful and decorative birdhouse adds beauty to your yard as well. You can choose from different varieties of the homes. They are made of different kinds of materials too. The shelter provided in your yard serves as a safe resting place for birds during the winter months. Various kinds are used to accommodate different species. In order to attract the birds, try to make the size, shape, entrance and construction very convenient.
The birdhouses should have good drainage, insulation and enough interior space for a successful roost. By referring to various woodworking plans you will be able to create excellent shelters for the birds coming to your garden. If you are not interested in building one you can as well buy one from the market. How to choose the best one? The first thing to consider is the space in the garden. If the yard is big then choose a large house. Similarly, if you have a small garden, consider small shelters. You should decide the place where you want to keep the birdhouse. For attaching to a tree it is better to select small models. If you wish to have standalone models then look for bigger ones. Since they come in a wide array of designs and models you should try to pick the best model matching to the natural appeal of your garden. Once you buy the perfect birdhouse, look for the best type of birds. The house you buy should be able to accommodate the birds properly. Various kinds of bird attracts are used for attracting them. Special seeds are available for this purpose. If you wish to get foreign birds you have to arrange these seeds in the area that is near their migration route. When the birdhouses are placed in proper locations and the feeders are filled with seeds, you can wait for the birds to come and enjoy the food. Different kinds of birds will visit your garden everyday and it will be a wonderful past time too. Sometimes people get bored with the birdhouse that has been in the garden for a long time. You can easily make customized birdhouses by referring to the woodworking plans available on the internet. Beautiful and decorative shelters can be built by using good tools and perfect plans. You can also develop this as a hobby and start building and selling birdhouses in your neighborhood. You can spend your time in an interesting way and earn some money too. You may also consider using a router table to make your birdhouses. It gives you infinite design capabilities and more control than most tools in the shop. Combined with a table saw, you could build just about any type of birdhouse you want. More woodworking articles. Labels: birdhouses, woodworking by: Router Table Depot 0 Comments
When it comes too woodworking there are different things that an individual can choose to make or what type of items that they want to specialize in. One of these items can include clock making and this can become a very fun hobby for anybody and an individual can also end up making money from clock making all at the same time. They can make interesting clocks that will not only wow their friends and family but they can also wow potential future buyers of their wood clock products. There are many different things that an individual will want to make sure that they think about before they put a chisel to wood to create a clock.
The first thing that an individual would want to do is make sure that they do the proper research on how to create a clock. It might not be too difficult for an individual to figure out all by themselves but it is always proper for them to do the proper research before they begin so that they do not end up making a mistake or wasting some materials in their exploits. There are many different ways for an individual to do the proper research. One way is by purchasing a clock or woodworking book. These books will help give an individual many useful tips as well as giving them a few different ways to make their creations. Another way for an individual to find different ways to create a clock out of woodwork is by doing a simple internet search on the subject. There are many different resources online that will be able to help them out. By using these different resouces an individual would be able to create the perfect woodworking clock to satisfy their wants and needs. Another thing that an individual can find online is some basic designs which will help them to mold or even decorate their clocks after. It is improper to completely take anothers idea that can be found online since that is stealing but an individual can take a design that they like and create it with their own twist. That way an individual would not get in trouble with their woodworking clock design. Once an individual decides that they want to create a clock via woodworking there are many different options that they are allowed to choose from. There are many different ways that an individual can choose to create their clocks with. An individual can take the time to create these clocks for themselves or they can use their creations to make a little bit of money on the side. No matter the reason that an individual chooses to create clocks they will want to make sure that they make the perfect clocks properly. Labels: clock making, woodworking by: Router Table Depot 0 Comments
The art of pen making appears to be difficult for many a beginner. But once you have the dusted the cobwebs of your craftsmanship insecurities you will soon discover how easy it is. Believe it or not but with some practice you will be able to make a pen in less than an hour. And with further practice and creativity you will move on to more intricate and complicated designs than a novice craftsman can handle. Establishing a workshop containing all the necessary tools is what you have to accomplish at first and with as little as $400 you could be opening your own business in no time at all.
Basic Requirements To start with you ought to purchase a wood turning lathe. A lathe is going to be your next best friend as it is this device which will be with you all along the way to skilled craftsmanship. In addition to a lathe you will of course need the raw materials themselves. Raw materials include: exotic types of wood, composites, laminates, polymers, and metals conducive for the pens you wish to make. Narrow planks of wood-also known as pen blanks-are also going to be needed. Most of these materials go for at least a dollar per piece. Then of course the hardware tools themselves, which fortunately, come in DIY kits. These woodworking DIY kits with pen making in mind are very useful when it comes to making designs the simple way. Safety Safety is very important when it comes to woodworking. There are so many associated hazards which can cause injury and unexpected illness. It is for this reason that you must buy protective gear such as respirators, face shields and noise blocking headphones. Plus, there are several online websites which offer safety guidelines for beginner’s who are not so well-versed with the art of en making. See more Woodworking articles. Labels: pen making, woodworking by: Router Table Depot 0 Comments
The outdoor decks can be very ideal for families to keep a stronger bond. These do not just expand the outdoor living space; it is also a good place for families to spend quality time together apart from serving as an ideal place to entertain visitors. The idea of designing and building a deck in your house can be a good idea. Here are basic ideas for you to start building your own outdoor decks:
1. Take measurements of the space. As you need to decide which part of the house is the best location for you to keep a deck, you should also consider the dimensions that you are going to work on. Imagine that you are going to entertain friends there and family members can gather there as well, if it will be too small, who would enjoy staying in there? 2. Frame the space temporarily with the use of stakes. Having patio furniture and arranging them in the space will help you determine the best size for the deck. 3. Start creating a design for the deck. You can start off by deciding whether you should build one that is elevated or one that is level with the ground. One rule that should be taken into consideration before woodworking is that you have to be consistent in the design. Make sure that it matches that of the whole house so it will not look off. 4. Plan the budget needed for the do it yourself project. It is expected that you will spend for the materials so this is where you need to invest on. Make sure that the materials are worth the price and would last a long time. 5. Start with the woodworking. Of course it after the plan has been laid-out, you will need to start doing the tough work and that is woodwork. It will be good to have good carpentry skills to come up with a good product. If you cannot trust yourself on this, you can always ask the help of friends.http://www.routertabledepot.com/articles.html Labels: do it yourself, outdoor decks, woodworking by: Router Table Depot 0 Comments
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Woodworking joinery is the art of joining two or more pieces of wood to create structures such as door and window frames, toys, furniture, construction frames etc. The way the wood is joined and the quality of the wood determine how long the structure will last. Woodworking joints can be made out of different kinds of wood depending on the specifications and intended use of the final structure. Here are a few examples of woodworking joints.
Butt woodworking joinery: This is usually where a strong joint is not desired. This means that a simple firm blow with the palm of your hand is enough to dislodge the joint. In this wood working joint, two flat ends of two pieces of wood whose ends are cut square to each other and then glued together. The glue will never form a firm joint in this case and you can use screws or nails to make it stronger. Lap woodworking joinery: This is the woodworking joint that is used for making most types of cabinets. Dovetail lap, half lap, end lap and cross lap are common examples of this joint. The half lap is used mainly in construction and the dovetail lap is used in making cabinets. The ends of the two pieces of wood are cut in such a way that their ends fit together like would be the case when you cross the fingers of your hands. Housing woodworking joinery: This is the woodworking joint in which two pieces of wood are cut according to a die at specific angles. One piece fits into the other through a slit cut into it. You can find this type of joinery in bed joints, book shelves, and drawers. Woodworking joinery is a beautiful art that allows carpenters to create amazing wood structures to beautify your home or office. Labels: woodworking joinery, woodworking joints by: Router Table Depot 0 Comments
Outdoor decks are often found in most houses. It is a perfect home improvement project for increasing your living space and enjoy the outdoors at the comfort of your home. Below are the basic procedures that you should undergo if you plan to build a do it yourself outdoor deck.
Determine the Location Determine the ideal location of your outdoor deck relative to your house. Most outdoor decks are situated at the rear portion of the house for privacy. Knowing where you will build your outdoor deck will also allow you to determine its ideal size. Make a rough plan on paper. Get the Necessary Permits Contact the local building authorities and ask for the building permits that you will need to get before you can start building your outdoor deck. Prepare your Materials Determine how many posts you will need for your deck. It is ideal to use pressure treated wood posts to increase the lifespan of your deck. Make a list of how much wood you need to build the outdoor deck. You can use 2x6's for a small deck. For larger decks you can use 2x8's or 2x10;s but you will need to build joists. As for your deck floor, you can choose between 4x6 pressure treated wood boards and the more expensive Cedar. Calculate how much materials you need for your railings and stairs. Install the Posts You must have a little of woodworking skills to accomplish this task. If you do not have one, you can ask the help of a friend who has experience on this type of home improvement project. Dig a hole beyond the frost line if you live in a cold area. Install the posts in its proper location and make sure that each is secured firmly on its base. Align the posts relative to the beams of the house. Install the Framing Use joists hangers to firmly secure the deck framing to your house. For added support to the framing, use double rim joists. Install the Flooring Use the proper connector to install the flooring materials to the deck frame. The type of connector ideal for your flooring depends on the material of your flooring. For wood flooring, you can use nails or screws. For composite flooring, use only screws. Install the Railings and Stairs You can opt to buy pre-maid railings or stairs for your deck that are available at home improvement centers. Choose a style that blends well with the architecture of your deck. Apply a preservative finish to all parts of your deck to protect it against the harsh outdoor elements. Labels: do it yourself, outdoor decks, woodworking by: Router Table Depot 0 Comments
Clock making is considered one of the favorite and skilled arts like woodworking. A clock can be crafted using any type of material like plain wood, plates, serving tray, skillets etc. based on the required size and level of expertise. When designing mechanical or electronic timepieces it is first important to obtain suitable parts or gears that function simultaneously to regulate the time. The components can be easily purchased from online or offline stores at budgeted rates.
Clock faces and hands that constitute the visible part of any timepiece needs to be chosen based on own taste and preference. Faces that range from contemporary to traditional designs with Arabic or Roman numerals can be selected. While it is essential to look out for hands that can be perfectly fitted at the center of the dial using a bolt, this in turn needs to connect to the gears set within the interiors of the watch in an effortless way. Additionally, clock movement is the other key element that rightly coordinates the rotation of the hands on the dial. The makers now hold the choice to opt for any type of movement depending on the style and size of a timekeeping device. The conventional mechanical movements feature interlocking mechanisms with speed regulated by the to and fro motion of a pendulum located at the front side. While electronic movements consists of programmed devices that automatically move the minute and second hands or offer a digital display of time. On the other hand, it is necessary to carefully pick weights and pendulums on the basis of the dimension and movement. For timers that operate on a faster manner it would be best to prefer a long pendulum that takes more time to complete a stroke or it would be perfect to lengthen the size of the existing one by lowering the bob. Similarly, weights with the accurate amount of pull needs to be determined else the timepiece will tend to run either slow or fast. Another primary factor is to use appropriate chimes or play the ideal kind of music on the display of hour or fraction of an hour. For instance, when building cuckoo clocks it is vital to use the sound of a cuckoo bird while for wind-up models it would be best to use chimes that generate a rhythmic tick-tock sound. It can thus be regarded that both clock making and woodworking is a leisure activity that a professional or novice can enjoy to a great extent. More Clock Making articles Labels: clock making, woodworking by: Router Table Depot 0 Comments
It used to be that all furniture for a home was built by the men in the family. This art is not dead in society and many families are supported by the woodworking skills of the father. There is no limit to how large or small the items built can be, there is no limit to what kind of wood is used and the creativity just makes it nicer for them to have unique pieces that they can use for many generations to come.
Building furniture can be done with online or printed patterns or the craftsman can create his own designs and build them for either the family or for sale. Most historic areas have a woodworker who sells their wares to tourists and locals. In many cases the designs that are sold are unique and only one of the product exists. Building home furnishings is a great way to spend time with one or more of the children creating something together. It is also a lot of fun to let them help in building kids furniture. This gives the children in the family a chance to have a say in what kind of designs they want to sleep in, put away their clothes in and even what color to make it. Everything from rockers, beds, bunk beds and desks are easy enough to make with the great accessories that are currently found in hardware departments. When building furniture there is a lot of help to be found so it is done right the first time. Software is even sold that explains each part of the project. One of the most popular kinds is log furniture. Trees are cut down, their wood soaked and bent so it will create arms, foot and head boards for beds and rockers. Desks are even nicely put together when using logs and finely sanded tops of knotty wood. When searching for patterns to build exactly what is wanted there are lots of books by folks like Time Life Books that have complete sets available with patterns and step by step instructions that will take the craftsman from a stack of wood to a finished product. The internet has a plethora of options for sites that have patterns and instructions for everything from book cases to cedar chests and even coat hangers that are mounted on a wall. Anything desired in the way of furnishings for the home can be built. by: Router Table Depot 0 Comments
There is no denying that one of the most rewarding woodworking projects that any amateur woodworker can create is a full functional bird house that can be quickly inhabited by the birds that frequent their gardens. Such birdhouses can be built in a day or they may take a few days or even weeks. The time that it will take you depends upon your level of expertise, your comfort level when using power tools and hand tools and your budget.
So what are the tools necessary for building a bird house? Many of the tools that a DIY handyman uses can be used when building birdhouses. Remembering that a bird house is made from wood means that most of the tools you will need must be suited to working with wood. For cutting your lumber to the required lengths you will need a saw. A saw can be a general use carpenter's saw or you may choose to spend a little extra money on specific saws for each job - ie. tenon saws, jigsaw's, coping saws and the like. The rest of the tools are usually found in most people's garden shed's or tool boxes - a hammer and nails, screw driver's, cutting knives, tape measure's and straight-edged ruler's. The Design of Your Bird House / Birdhouses - This is something that needs to be thought out before attempting to build a bird house as a hobby and even more important for those people who are planning to sell birdhouses to make some extra money. A simple bird house is just a few pieces of timber that have been joined together, it needs to have a floor, three sides and a roof. A simple bird house can be perched on a specially made stand and placed in your garden or it can be mounted up on a branch in a tree. A bird house that is free-standing will need to have some conveniently placed perches attached for them to perch on when eating the food that you have placed inside, but a tree will not necessarily need extra perches due to the fact that it already has branches. Whatever your reason for building birdhouses, whether it be as a hobby or to beautify your garden / yard or even to sell them at your local flea market or hobby market, there are many resources that can help you to reach your goals and get the job done. You can read more woodworking articles about making money in a woodworking business here. Labels: birdhouses, woodworking by: Router Table Depot 0 Comments
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
More Building Outdoor Decks woodworking articles
The materials and finishes that we use on the interior of our homes require cleaning and occasional maintenance; we dust, we vacuum, we mop-n-glo to keep them looking good and long lasting. Without too much effort we can stay ahead of the wear and tear from our kids and our pets. Materials on the outside, however take a daily beating from the sun, wind, rain, temperature changes, and other environmental elements (in addition to kids and dogs). Those materials need a great deal more care and maintenance but that can be reduced somewhat by selecting the proper materials to suit your goals. Outdoor decks are subject to a great deal of abuse - the deck surface is especially susceptible to sun and rain. Wood is the most popular surface for decks, but it's also the quickest to wear out. Fortunately there are a variety of deck surface products available that allow you to choose between appearance, cost, and the effort needed to keep your deck looking great for many years. Natural Wood Decking Natural wood is the obvious first choice for decking. It's sturdy, attractive, easy to work with, and it comes in a wide variety of types with different qualities and costs. Pressure-treated wood decking is far and away the most popular decking surface in use today. Most PT lumber is made from Southern Yellow Pine, impregnated with ACQ, a chemical that increases the wood's resistance to rot and insect damage. But treated lumber is often poorer quality material so the wood shrinks, cracks, and splits more easily. A better choice for "real" wood decks is one of the many woods that have a natural resistance to rot and insect damage. These woods include Western Red Cedar, Redwood, and some species of tropical hardwoods. While these better quality decking materials last longer and look better they also cost more. One of the very best natural deck surfaces is a group of South American hardwoods called Ipe ("Ipe" is Portuguese for hardwood). These are extremely dense, tight-grained woods, dark in color and virtually free from knots. Ipe is very hard, heavy, and difficult to work with but is also very beautiful and is nearly indestructible. Expect to pay top dollar for Ipe materials and the labor to install it. The use of any type of natural wood decking comes with some negative environmental impact. When pressure-treated decking is disposed of, the chemicals used to treat the wood may leach into groundwater; burning it puts these same chemicals into the air. And while the new ACQ treatment is less toxic than the previous CCA (which contains arsenic) the long-term effects of the chemical aren't fully known. Much of the tropical hardwood used for decking material is plantation-grown, but some isn't and at the retail level it's nearly impossible to tell the difference. Most folks don't want their decks built at the expense of an acre of rainforest. Wood Composite Decking Wood Composite decking has become very popular recently due to its longevity and environmentally friendly characteristics. It's a pretty good imitation of natural wood in workability and appearance. Sold under names like Trex, Correctdeck, and Timbertech, composite decking boards are made from recycled plastic (usually grocery bags or milk jugs) and ground-up waste wood. It can be cut and attached like real wood and requires almost no maintenance. Composite decking mimics the look of natural wood but varies in appearance and performance depending upon the manufacturer and the ratio of plastic to wood in the mix, usually about 50-60% wood products. Although composite decking can't be stained or painted like natural wood, many manufacturers produce boards in several colors. Since the color is throughout the material, chips and scrapes don't require restaining to maintain a consistent appearance. And because of the high wood content, the uncolored composite boards weather to a pleasing silver-gray. As with any decking surface, the method of securing composite decking to the framing can improve or reduce the appearance of the deck. Poor installation can even affect the structural integrity of the boards. Ideally, all decking boards should be installed with concealed fasteners - more effort and expense, but the result is a better looking and longer lasting deck. There are a few other choices in decking - Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) for example, but they look much less like "traditional" decking than natural wood or wood composite. All-plastic and aluminum decking products also require the use of a large number of end caps, specialized fasteners, and other proprietary parts and pieces that can detract from the overall appearance of the deck. Your choice of decking depends upon the desired appearance, budget, and your tolerance for the required maintenance of different materials. A good balance of those characteristics should result in a deck surface that the whole family will enjoy for many years - kids, dogs, and all. Richard L. Taylor, AIA is a published author and recognized expert in Residential Architecture. He is President of Richard Taylor Architects, a 5-person firm in Historic Dublin, Ohio. Residential Architect - Luxury Home Plans By Richard Taylor, AIA Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Taylor,_AIA http://EzineArticles.com/?Outdoor-Decks---Choosing-The-Right-Materials&id=519031 Labels: outdoor decks, outdoor projects by: Router Table Depot 0 Comments
Here is a great way to get ideas for a outdoor structures project. Some of these are drop dead gorgeous.
    http://www.outdoorspacesandrooms.com Labels: outdoor projects, pergolas, woodworking by: Router Table Depot 0 Comments
This is a pretty cool woodworking project. I love these kinds of projects since they are so practical and can help you save a lot of money. Not only that, but you can end up building something that meets your exact specifications, that is hard to find in a retail store. I would imagine that you would spend the same amount of time looking around and comparison shopping as it did to make the bed.
This bed also eliminates the need for a box spring, which helps save you some more dollars. Putting a mattress directly onto the platform will help your mattress feel brand new again. You can adjust the height of the platform to your needs, nowadays taller beds are more popular. I also liked that they showed them finishing stain the platform. I would love to see some type of clear finish that goes over the project. If this was my project, I might embellish it with some pull out drawers in the platform. That way I could get a little extra storage out the project. You can find more woodworking project ideas in our woodworking articles section. Labels: bed building, woodworking by: Router Table Depot 0 Comments
People use outdoor decks for leisure in backyards and other suitable parts of a house. While hiring carpenters for building an outdoor deck can shoot expenses through the roof, learning to do it yourself will help restrict the expenses only to materials. However, in order to get started, you may need some answers about woodworking.
The cost of materials will depend mainly on the number of landing areas and steps. The budget will also depend on area measurements of the proposed outdoor deck. It is not necessary to have outdoor decks that cover an entire face of the house. Most often, the decks cover less than 10 feet on each side of the leading door, and less than 15 feet between the door and the yard. Wood materials for such an area usually cost eight hundred to twelve hundred dollars. You will most likely need to purchase a circular saw if you do not already have one. They can be purchased anywhere from $60 to $200. The key to keep in mind is investing the money in the tool that you may use in the future. If it is something you might not use a lot, buy the more inexpensive brand. If you plan on using it for a lot more projects then spending more is a good idea. Before setting out to make your own deck, remember to keep a few items within reach. Its a good idea to do a little research before building the deck, you will need a lot of materials and a good place to get an idea of all that would be the hardware store. Asking a professional will give you an idea of a basic list. For implementing the deck design, you will need a shovel, a plumb bob, a drill, a carpenter's basic kit, bracing lumbers, a measuring tape and protective eye-wear. You will also need a wheelbarrow for mixing the support concrete. With it, you can ensure a long-lasting deck, enhancing your property value to some extent. For more information on building outdoor decks, see our woodworking article section. Labels: do it yourself, outdoor decks, woodworking by: Router Table Depot 0 Comments
This is wood magazines sanding center project. If you have the room to make a designated sanding station, this is the one to get. It has drawers to file the sandpaper and sanders as well as a spot to house your shop vac. I have seen guys who use an integrated dust collection system, simply attach a dust port and then connect it to their system, which is pretty clever. You can find this on the Wood Magazine download site, this is a downloadable pdf file plan. Follow the link above and then click workbenches and it will take you right to it. Labels: sanding, woodworking by: Router Table Depot 0 Comments
Turning pens is one of those skills that anyone can learn, but it can also be difficult. The challenge is what makes it interesting. You eventually get the hang of this woodworking style as you go along. There are some people that make this hobby into a profession or at least a money making hobby. Pen making does not take up a lot of room in the garage or shop. You can make one for just less than an hour.
Pens can be made out of all sorts of material available. It can be made of wood, metal or even an old bowling ball. Pen blanks are necessary for completing this project. Usually they cost at least a dollar or two for one piece. You can get the pen hardware kits for about less than $5 each. This is also a way of getting rid of wood that are lying around. If you want to learn more about the art of making pen there is a free DVD available for you from Penn State Industry. There is a tutorial titled "Slimline" which is the easiest way to learn how to make pen. So if you are interested in learning just look for these materials. Before you can start this activity it is best to take necessary precautions in order to avoid the danger that comes with it. American Association of Woodturners also known as AAW has a set of safety guidelines that are available as well. This is required to learn before you start taking in this project. It is crucial that you wear all the required protective gear for safety reasons. You will need to wear a face shield, respirator and hearing protection. This is a fun skill to gain knowledge of. You can find more in depth woodworking articles in our article section. Labels: pen making, pen turning, woodworking by: Router Table Depot 0 Comments
The success of a project lies in woodworking joinery. Usually, the joint is stronger if the joining of wood is made intricate. For this reason, woodworkers decide ahead of time the type of joints they will use while still in the stage of planning. The joining of woods is basically needed in creating different structures of furniture and toys. Some needed the use of adhesives, bindings and fasteners. Other woodworking joints only use wood elements. The distinctiveness of joints which are its appearance, flexibility, strength and toughness lies in the joining materials and its properties and how effective they are being used in the wood joints.
There are simple and difficult joints. A Butt Joint is a simple kind of joining two wood pieces. This may be connected from the edge of one wood to the edge of another wood or at the corner of the wood. Then it is made stronger with the use of glue, screws or blocks. The joint seen on bookshelves is called the Dado Joint. One piece of wood receives a dado type of cut and it will be attached to the other end of the next piece of wood. Drill in two pieces of wood aligning holes. After this, dowels should be glued in place to make the joining tight. This is called the Dowel Joint. A joint wherein a rabbet is cut in the piece that overlaps the other piece to create a gluing surface to the simple pattern of butt joint is called the Lap Joint. The rabbet also adds strength to the joining of woods. Different woodworking joinery techniques are required to accomplish differing requirements. An example of this is that the joining of materials to construct a house is not the same with the joinery of making puzzle toys, though there are concepts that are quite the same. To see more woodworking articles check out our article section. Labels: woodworking, woodworking joinery, woodworking joints by: Router Table Depot 0 Comments
 Woodpecker is a brand that continues to innovate. They are a company that never sits still long enough to look at their product line. They are constantly improving and tweaking all their designs, which is one reason they are a great company to work with. by: Router Table Depot 0 Comments
This is a pretty good response from one of our readers, good enough to post it and give a little credit. I would imagine that the response is from the article section and free report we give out regarding woodworking routers for router tables.
I would like to respond to your message in regard to purchasing routers, or anything for that matter, that are made in Asia; especially China. To begin, I am a retired Quality Assurance Engineer with over 40 years in this discipline. I've been involved with building and testing the lunar module that was part of the Apollo program and after that on space electronics hardware that had quality and reliability requirements that required the equipment to work 24 hours a day for up to 14 years through very harsh environments. I have noticed in recent times that most all power tools are now made in China, including Porter Cable. For years P-C has been considered the benchmark of tools and they earned their reputation by building good product using the best parts, materials, and processes. Now if they had elected to move their manufacturing facility from one state to another, this would not concern me. More than likely, key personnel would transfer to the new facility and their would be little or no loss in product quality. However, they chose to transfer to China. Now, I'm sure they sent key personnel to China to oversee the setup, but did they remain there. That's a big question. If, like many companies, they turned over the operation to Chinese personnel, then we consumers are now left to accept Chinese personnel to manufacture the products. Can a company in the USA be assured that all parts, materials, and processes are of the same standard as those produced in the USA. Sure, the company can inspect product as it arrives into the USA and it can "look" ok, but will it hold up over time. Who can tell? One thing I've learned over the year is that the farther away a vendor is, the less control you have. It just becomes too taxing to spend all that time and money travelling, inspecting, and auditing the processes. My feeling is that buying goods manufactured in 3rd world countries is risky business and remember, the corporate heads are in the business of maximizing profits. One final point. Do your remember the toys that Mattel imported from China that were painted with leaded paint? It seems that the vendor ran out of paint and as Christmas was coming and timely deliveries were crucial, a procurement manager in China found an alternative supplier who could deliver the paint and enable the vendor to deliver on time. Of course, he neglected to specify that the paint contain no lead or if he did, there was no plan in place to qualify this vendor or inspect his product before accepting it. Meanwhile, Mattel, back in the USA, had no idea of what was happening. This is a classic example of losing control of a product because of a vendor being in a far off land. I hate to pick on China, but they appear to be much like Japan in the 50's and 60's. Thanks Marc by: Router Table Depot 0 Comments
Friday, May 6, 2011
More woodworking articles about Gazebo Building and plans here.
Building Your Own Gazebo - A Summer Project By T. O. Chuong Design: There are many shapes and sizes of a gazebo, even though most of the people imagine the gazebos to be circles or pentagons. Circular or rectangular gazebos, have the same essential steps to make them. Aside from the circular gazebos, it will need quite more attention when it comes to the measuring and cutting. Layout: You have to find the core of your circular gazebo. In order to make a drive, drive a stake at the center and then attach a string. You will use this string to swivel through the circle, after so, you must drive a stake for each foundation site, and of course the bigger your gazebo will be, will call for much more the foundation holes. Foundations: Even if your gazebo is a self-supporting construction, you may be required to have a building permit for it. Checking with your local registry for the imperative requirements is the best thing to do. For the foundation holes, dig the required dept. If a frost line is appropriate, you have to dig in deepness below it, it is typically more or less 4". After that, you ought to place the foundation cone inside of the hole in order to have it rests 3" or so underneath the surface. Pile up the foundation tube with the cement you have mixed. As soon as the cement dries up, position a post anchor inside of the cement. Repeat all steps. Casing: Put together the joist hangers up to the posts and then make sure that they are level at each footstep. Inaugurate 2x10" floor joists and then after that check once more that everything is in level. For a much bigger gazebo, it is definite that there is a more convoluted framing system may be needed. For a smaller one though, you may only need a single in-between cross brace for the lateral solidity amid the main floor joints. Decking and columns: Install your floor decking, with a nail's width amid the boards for the drainage and a possibility of swelling. Also, install the columns to all the foundation pints. You have to toenail all of the columns to points and the decking. If you see that there are no attachment points at the peak of the column, then you have to install a piece of wood to improve on facing boards and the roof joists. Roof frame: You can use a pole to lift up the roof key block and then you can cut the joists to the length and then the nail to the column top and key block. Roof and railings: You can have diverse building codes for each locality, but as for the railings that are generally in stock sizes and lengths. You have the option of building your own railings, but of course, if you want to save some time you can use the pre-built railings. Most roofing materials are made up of plywood, a roofing paper that is like a membrane, and the asphalt shingles. The roof of a gazebo is a complicated item to cover up. Whatever you may do, please make certain that everything is nailed well. T.O. Chuong writes home & garden articles for Benjamin Franklin Plumbing in Arlington, Texas. Visit us if you need plumbers Forest Hill TX or plumbers Haltom City TX. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=T._O._Chuong http://EzineArticles.com/?Building-Your-Own-Gazebo---A-Summer-Project&id=2642026 by: Router Table Depot 0 Comments
Find more articles on Building Gazebos
Building a Gazebo In Your Garden by Bill Timbers There are many ways to improve the beauty of your property. A great way to enhance the look of your home is to build a gazebo in your garden. This will help you get the most out of your garden and will greatly increase the worth of your land. It will allow you to experience your garden in a whole new way. By building a gazebo, you are not just building an additional pavilion structure but you are also creating an area for recreation and fun. It will help you and your family to build many wonderful memories and it will ultimately become an outdoor retreat. Now that you have decided to build a gazebo in your garden, let us look at the various elements and choices that need to be considered. If you are not very skilled at woodworking then it is better to plan on building a simple gazebo. Plans for a Gazebo There are many free online building plans for gazebos, which will help you build a gazebo right from the bottom up. These plans usually contain detailed stepwise instructions along with the blueprints for building the gazebo. Alternatively, you could buy a gazebo kit which would then contain pre-assembled parts of the gazebo and will come with plans for setting up these components. Tools for Building a Gazebo Most of the tools required for constructing the gazebo will be already present in a carpenter's toolkit. You need a level to measure that the various components are plumb. An electric saw or a miter saw would be needed for cutting wood at various angles. A screw gun would be required for fastening the various pieces together with screws. Materials required for the Construction of a Gazebo The most commonly used material for building a gazebo is wood. There is a good reason for choosing wood. In today's modern world gazebos can be built with all types of materials like vinyl, fiberglass, metal etc. However, none of these provide the authentic natural look of a wood. Wood can blend into the surrounding natural beauty and complement the landscape. It also increases the aesthetic value of the gazebo. Redwood, cedar and pine are commonly used, depending on their local availability. Pine would be cheaper and redwood can get costly, whereas cedar lies somewhere in between these two in terms of cost and durability. Cedar has good weather resistance and rot resistance. However, redwood has much more durability and can outlast cedar. So if it is within your budget, try to use redwood for the corner posts and other such vital components of the gazebo to make sure the gazebo does not require much maintenance over time. Building a gazebo in your garden will definitely help you enjoy the garden better and allow you to spend more time in it. It will definitely be worth the efforts as you will be building a lifelong asset for your home. Visit http://www.squaregazeboplans.com for some free plans for gazebo. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_Timbers http://EzineArticles.com/?Building-a-Gazebo-In-Your-Garden&id=6143663 Labels: building gazebos, woodworking by: Router Table Depot 0 Comments
Monday, May 2, 2011
By Tony Scorch
All the time you see different products that come out to help the woodworker sharpen his or her tools in the shop. There is just about every contraption out there with a variety of prices and features. The one thing you never see is a good system for sharpening router bits. I am all for having super sharp chisels in my shop, but I just don’t use my chisel set all that much. Buying a $350 sharpener just does not do much for my enthusiasm. However I am constantly using my router bits since the router table is a big part of my workshop. Every time I sharpen a bit, it cost generally between 5 and 10 dollars. I like to use quality bits so sharpening them and keeping them sharp is in my best interest. In the meantime, keeping the bits clean is probably one of the best things you can do to prolong the life of your router bit. I try to make a system so that the bits stay as clean as possible. This may work for you. I take a small piece of mdf and drill some ¼ and ½” holes in them. On one piece I write “clean” and the other I write “dirty” Having duplicate bits is the key to this system. When a bit gets gunked up, I take it and place it on the dirty holder. When I get enough of them to warrant a few minutes of cleaning, I get out my cleaners and brass brush and have at it. Always remove the bearings first so as to not damage them. I quick scrub removes some of the pitch that builds up on the cutting edges. If you do laminate work, you will notice that flush trim bits get very dirty very fast. Simply cleaning the bit in this instance makes a world of difference. At this time it’s a great idea to give the bits a few swipes on a diamond sharpener to touch up the edges. This helps keep the bit tuned up between sharpening. After I finish I move the bits to the “clean” bit holder and they are ready to go back to work. Sharpening I use the same system for cleaning as I do for sharpening. The two bit holder technique works well for keeping things organized. You can send bits and blades out to be sharpened with companies you find on the internet. This is becoming handier since the items are turned fairly quickly (a week or less) and the companies ships them right back to your doorstep. I like this option because I do not have to allocate any time in taking them and picking them up. I call that a “low value activity” Having duplicates allows me to keep working while the other bit is getting sharpened. I do like to go the extra mile and make a simple chart that keeps track of my sharpening. This way I know that I am using sharp tools which give me better cuts in my materials. Today So what exists out there today for the home user? Not much. I have always said that the person who invents the tool that helps automates this task will do very well for themselves. Investing time in some good quality stones would be a good alternative. However if you are a production shop, stopping and taking the time and learning curve to get good at this might not always be cost effective. Hobbyists might are more prone to taking the time to hand sharpen their bits, but there is a some kinks in that theory too. Many of the newer bits are very complex. Their shapes don’t lend themselves to easy sharpening and thus can kill the whole do it yourself theory. These bits are best sharpened by the professional. The next time you read through your favorite woodworking magazine, take note of all the sharpeners for sale and you will definitely notice what I am talking about. Take the time to organize a good cleaning and sharpening system and your wallet will thank you. It can make a big difference when you are working on that special project if you have nice clean and sharp router bits. About the Author: More information Router Bit Sets, More Router Table Articles, and Your Router Table Headquarters. Source: www.isnare.com Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=199038&ca=Recreation by: Router Table Depot 0 Comments
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