More Woodshop! (Sorry Brian)

Nice belt!

As Meg and I are cleaning up the laundry room we decided that we need a cabinet. Meg looked around for stuff at IKEA and some other big box stores like the Depot and Menards. Everything seemed to be in the $80-100 range and we didn't want to spend that much. Luckily we ran into some scraps that the Home Depot were getting rid after building one of there latest displays.

We basically got a sheet of 4x8 MDF for about 8 bucks. It was even already cut into the widths we needed which saved us some headache trying to cut a gigantic piece of wood with a teeny tiny table saw.

We took up shop in the laundry room knowing that we were going to make a mess but the room still needed a good cleaning anyway. Meg went right to work, she does a really good job. I'm really impressed!

As you can see, first timers don't always know what they are doing:)

But it all started coming together

The one thing we knew was going to be a challenge was the sloping of the floor. We have a semi make-shift operation now with a few shims but we are hoping to make this a little more esthetically pleasing soon.

The hardest task was actually throwing on the doors. I thought self-closing hinges would be perfect for the job but in reality they weren't made for this. So after a few more trips to Menard's I think we got it right. We put magnets up at the top to keep the doors shut which totally does the trick for a lot less than the self closing hinges.

One door was made shorter (left) because we had some pipe interference.

The doors work!!

Meg's plans on giving it some color when it warms up a bit.

Nate's Woodshop Class - Shelf

Time again for another Nate creation. Meg pointed out a shelf a long while back that she really liked. Of course, I said... "I can make that":)

Well, several months later... here it is! I actually gave this to Meg as part of her anniversay present, she wasn't able to show it earlier because I didn't know what color she wanted to stain it. Now it's in its final form.

She's already got it nice and decorated.

I started out thinking that I could get it done with a router but several guys at work introduced me to a DADO blade. Works with any table saw. Essentially you group together several saw blades to create a thickness. It's pretty slick and worked really well. I was able to get the slots cut and easily add in the shelves.

I used a 6 ft 2x6 for main piece and a 8' 2x12 for the shelves. A few screws and voila! Meg chose to use the same stain as we had been using with everything else (black Minwax).

Now she's waiting for another on the other side of the TV stand.

Nate's Woodshop Class - Dining Room Table - 5.21.2009

Oops:)

Meg and I flipped the table over last night so that I could finish the top and it may be a little bit too tall.  Going to have to make some mods.  Keep you updated!

Nate's Woodshop Class - Dining Room Table - 5.13.2009

One step closer...

Wood filler ended up working out well. I have filled all of the Kreg holes with the filler as well. The legs have been screwed and glued. Next step is sand and stain!

The picture on the right is immediately after I added the wood filler.


Kreg sells wood hole fillers but because the material for the sides is so thin (3/4"), the fillers are a bit too large. Meg had the idea of using the remaining wood filler to do the job. It turned out perfectly.

I had initially thought that I wouldn't be able to get the table in the house with the legs on because of its size and weight. The original door we wanted fell through and the replacement is not as wide nor as heavy. I stained the corners of the door/sides and then screwed and glued the legs in position.

Tonight we will let the remaining wood filler and glue dry. Tomorrow night we sand, clean, and stain!

Nate's Woodshop Class - Dining Room Table - 5.11.2009

We are getting closer! The last post I had just finished up the legs, over the weekend Meg and I got the table top assembled and almost ready for stain.

We used the left over leg material to do the appropriate measuring and fitting.

Once we had the side boards cut to there correct length, we clamped them in place and using the Kreg Jig, we fastened them in place. The Kreg makes life so easy.

Next step was to sand everything down (which meant I had to get a new sander:)). We got most of it finished however there is one place I will have to use a little wood filler on the end of the door.

Convenient how Meg is in all the pictures "doing work". I will say that she does an awesome job and shes not afraid to get her hands dirty.

Nate's Woodshop Class - Dining Room Table - 4.23.2009

The table is underway! I picked up the table legs and side pieces last week from Menards. I don't have the tools to cut down the legs (4x4's) so I had them cut them for me. They do a much better job than the Depot.

You can see that the cuts still weren't the best so I had to do a little clean up work last night. You can also see that the cats got after the plastic wrap! I sanded down the ends, got them flat, and then broke all the edges to avoid splinters.

Some of the edges are still a little rough but these won't be visible when the table is assembled. To show you what I'm working with, I've got an old table for a workbench, the $10 special Menard's sander and some sand paper. I'm using pretty coarse paper to start to get rid of all the roughage. The finer paper will be used when I am applying the polyurethane to the table.

Tonight I started to stain the legs. Meg and I both like the darker look, this is the same from the console table. I believe it is dark walnut. All the pieces of wood for the table are white oak so I think this should turn out really well.

To apply the stain I'm using a foam brush. I let the stain sit for a few minutes and then I wipe it down with what I call the "Stain Sponge". Close up is below.

I highly recommend the gloves! I will let everything sit for the evening and put on coat #2 tomorrow night. Keep you updated!

Nate's Woodshop Class - Dinner Table 4.13.2009

The dinner table is getting fired up.  I have ordered the door that I will be using for the table top and planning on picking up the remainder of the supplies this evening.  The video below is the CAD model, excuse the colors its pretty ugly...

I'll be posting pictures as we go!  Wish me luck!

Next Project for Nate :)

So clearly I am excited for the 3 day weekend, and have given up on working - I would leave, but I have a meeting still to come :(

But- just because I am not working, doesn't mean that I am not being proactive. I have been very proactive - in finding the next project for Nate :)

Below are the different pictures of what I want:

Via West Elm


Via At Home America


Via Apartment Therapy

Okay, so this may have to come after the table, but hopeully not too far after - in fact Nate, you may want to make more than one - because I already have about 3 places to put them.

Nate's Woodshop Class - Console Table

Table is all finished up! Meg had an easy design idea so it made my life pretty easy!! The cats are lovin' it. Meg has some fun decorating ideas that will be up soon.

It turned out pretty well. Since I no longer have the pickup I had to have the depot cut down the board for me. I figured they would have it right for me but one side turned out to be a little longer. Had to do some sanding! The Kreg worked really well for this. Meg was concerned about the holes showing so I picked up some of the plugs they sell and they actually worked out really nice.

Nate's Woodshop Class

We are giving it a go, pics to come. Easiest way to save some cash...

Ever heard of the Kreg? AWESOME! Easiest thing to use. I bought the Kreg Jig ($100 at the depot). This place has an entire aisle dedicated to accessories (screws, plugs, clamps).

Meg has a pretty good eye for interior design which you'll see all over the site. We had a couple of random cabinets next to the fire place and she had a pretty good idea.

Nice little wood storage (The deer head came along with me to the new crib, he's been moved since then:(). I removed the lower door, made a simple box out of 1/2" plywood and screwed it into the existing structure. BOOM!

Currently working on a console table. Keeping it real simple. One 2"x12", one 2"x2", a little sanding, and some stain. Next step is polyurethane and we're all done.

Next adventure is the dining room table!