finished! Here is the finished coffee table with the two side tables:
A reasonable success I think: there are enough similarities between the side and coffee tables so they seem part of a set, yet the coffee table design is much more sturdy.
A fun project and I am pleased I have made something from...
finished! Here is the finished coffee table with the two side tables:
A reasonable success I think: there are enough similarities between the side and...
coffee table
The plan is that the legs will be splayed 6 degrees and tapered on two sides. I will keep the top bit square and start the taper from beneath the aprons.
My reasoning was that if the tapers went straight through to the top I would need to get the tapers exactly the same on...
The plan is that the legs will be splayed 6 degrees and tapered on two sides. I will keep the top bit square and start...
coffee table
I have replaced both my horrible Furniture Land side tables with home made versions and now the coffee table has to go too. Initially I thought I would try and keep to a similar design to the side tables, albeit with beefed up the cross members and legs:
But I was concerned about the strength...
I have replaced both my horrible Furniture Land side tables with home made versions and now the coffee table has to go too. Initially I...
coffee table
Here is the finished side table – the ebonizing process shows up a few minor bumps and scratches that were not obvious when the wood was paler, but overall I am pleased with the result.
This is a good beginners project I think – it is straightforward but the simple design encourages you to work as precisely...
Here is the finished side table – the ebonizing process shows up a few minor bumps and scratches that were not obvious when the wood was...
side table
Ebonizing is a technique used to stain timber black. Traditionally the colour is created by painting the wood with an iron oxide solution that reacts with the natural tannins in the woods. The iron solution is made by adding wire wool to vinegar. Depending on the natural tannin quantity of the wood you may need...
Ebonizing is a technique used to stain timber black. Traditionally the colour is created by painting the wood with an iron oxide solution that reacts...
side table
To finish the top you create a taper on each edge of the underside extending inwards about 2” and leaving about 1/4” on the edge, which helps give the illusion that the top is thinner and lighter than it really is. It is quite simple to do really, although while I was paying a...
To finish the top you create a taper on each edge of the underside extending inwards about 2” and leaving about 1/4” on the...
side table
Good news and bad news this morning – the joints turned out okay, but I suddenly remembered that I had forgotten to cut the cross members to the correct length having cut them longer than needed originally so that I could trim them down later. This is a pretty disappointing cock-up, even by my standards! They...
Good news and bad news this morning – the joints turned out okay, but I suddenly remembered that I had forgotten to cut the cross members...
side table
The bridle joint guides are optional, but are simple to make. Despite that I managed to balls up the first set – the errors at least meant I learned how they worked and the second set were done much quicker as a result.
There are plenty of details on the guides in the Richard Maguire video...
The bridle joint guides are optional, but are simple to make. Despite that I managed to balls up the first set – the errors at least...
side table
The two cross rails are held by a halving joint. Luckily this does not have to be super precise since a small amount of wiggle room is needed to allow the top to expand and contract (one of my saw cuts was a bit wonky, which should cover it!)
The other job was to taper...
The two cross rails are held by a halving joint. Luckily this does not have to be super precise since a small amount of wiggle...
side table
The time has come to try and make an actual bit of furniture using hand tools. I am attempting a suitably straightforward piece given my inexperience (a side table) and will be ably assisted by Richard Maquire, albeit virtually:
Side Table - learn to build by hand - Woodworking ProjectsSide Table - learn to build...
The time has come to try and make an actual bit of furniture using hand tools. I am attempting a suitably straightforward piece given my...
side table
The first post on a new topic, the Piaggio Ape.
Ape TM owners, spare parts and service manuals, + a couple of manuals for other models. I’ll add more as I find them.
Ape TM
APE TM (Petrol, Diesel) – Owners Manual (2012, English)
APE TM (Petrol, Diesel) – Spare Parts Catalogue (2009, English)
APE TM (Petrol)...
The first post on a new topic, the Piaggio Ape.
Ape TM owners, spare parts and service manuals, + a couple of manuals for other models....
Piaggio Ape
I got hold of a sorry looking example of this North Bros bench drill – it was very rusted and all of the moving parts were seized.
Adjustable table
Having removed and cleaned up the table I found the hand wheel only turned a couple of degrees in either direction before becoming stuck. The grub screw...
I got hold of a sorry looking example of this North Bros bench drill – it was very rusted and all of the moving parts were...
drills
So far as I can discover the Ward & Payne Aristocrat chisel is the only chisel ever to have been granted a Design Award. The Council of Industrial Design (CoID) granted the award in 1959.
Design Awards
The CoID was set up by the British Government as part of its plan for post-war reconstruction. In...
So far as I can discover the Ward & Payne Aristocrat chisel is the only chisel ever to have been granted a Design Award. The...
chisels
What is a firmer chisel?
Nowadays when we talk about firmer chisels we tend to think of a fairly stout chisel with parallel sides:
.. but in the past the term ‘firmer’ had a broader meaning, covering a wide range of general purpose chisels.
It is not clear why the term ‘firmer’ came to be used...
What is a firmer chisel?
Nowadays when we talk about firmer chisels we tend to think of a fairly stout chisel with parallel sides:
.. but...
chisels
We are all familiar with chisels: simple tools made from a long piece of steel with a bevelled cutting edge and a handle which is struck or pushed in order to cut or shape wood, stone or metal. Is there much more to say on the matter? Of course there is! Take for example this...
We are all familiar with chisels: simple tools made from a long piece of steel with a bevelled cutting edge and a handle which is...
chisels
Following the last few posts on the history of the quick release vice covering the major developments in the UK over the past 100 years or so, the Twenty Century Vice deserves an honourable mention, if only for its memorable face design
The main aspects of this unusual vice’s history were uncovered by a...
Following the last few posts on the history of the quick release vice covering the major developments in the UK over the past 100 years...
vices
