Ned Bulken
09-24-2004, 2:07 AM
No Injuries, but Man today was just NOT my day when it came to the shop. After putting on a second coat of Maloof mixture on the Mahogany and Quartersawn Maple jewelry box I'm working on, I decided to try my hand working up a template for some routered boxes, using a bushing and straight bit with a template to hog out the insides. I was doing 'ok' I made a template out of 1/2" mdf, clampted it down, put a test board under it and routed out the cavity. Then I decided to take another pass and make it a bit deeper. Well, measured using the mod 1 mach 0 eyeball system. Proceeded to make the test board see-through in several large spots thanks to some hefty Tear-out and about 1/16" left at the bottom of the board. OK, chalk it up to experience. Moving on, I am just about to route out another test board and I'm not sure exactly how I managed, but somehow I proceeded to drop the ROUTER, yes you guessed it, while it was ON. I have the presence of mind to keep hold of the motor, and get it shut off, not until it put a nice character gouge in the assembly table, break the router bit and a plastic cased utility knife. I thought I had tightened the motor in the plunge base, but evidently I hadn't. OK... after the nerves calm down, I get the D-handle router, cinch a different straight bit in it, with the Bushing, and finish the test cut. Still not what I'm looking to accomplish, so back to the drawing board.
I take another piece of MDF, and using the scrollsaw I cut a new template, get that screwed onto a jig, clamp it down and cut a hole in another piece of pine. Ok, it finally works, a little ragged around one edge, so... we try again. This time the Bushing comes loose. When it finally was cool enough to touch, there is Another broken bit, and a chunk taken out of the bushing! AAAARGH. Put routers away, vacuum up the shavings, metal pieces etc...
I then take a good look around the shop for something I can accomplish instead. I realize I have a honeydo project in the van; the LOML's cutting board which is in pieces. Take the ROS and clean up the ends, which are a bit ugly from living under the sink. (note to self make rack to hold board so it doesn't get damp).After sanding it down, take a good look at one end, realize that some judicial trimming is required. Get out panel jig and new CMT cabinetshop blade. and make cuts. Blade scoffs at the 1" Rock Maple, what a nice feeling that is. Joint the edges to glue up the two halves into one board again. Pretty nice maple, but the surface needs help. Ok... Couple of passes through the planer and we have nice maple cutting board halves again. A little water, some gorilla glue and three pipe clamps to set up overnight. Tomorrow I'll round over the freshly cut ends and bring it home.
After getting that accomplished I decided to scrollsaw some bowls. John and I put on the resaw blade for the bandsaw and I cut off some sections of an apple log I have in the loft. put a pattern (from scrollsaw workshop mag) on it and cut out a basket. Then I say, hmmmm, There is that white Birch log up in the loft too... test measurement and it will fit through the throat of the bandsaw. I manage to get a couple of slabs cut off, and set aside to dry out a bit more. Third cut, however the blade gets trapped in the log and I bend the blade. *sigh* just one of those days. Dissasemble saw, remove blade, and put it in pizza box for disposal. John quips, this just hasn't been your day.
I put on a wry grin, and wave all 8 fingers and both thumbs at him. I reply:
"I've still got all these, no injuries!"
so, Scorecard reads, two partially complete projects, two busted router bits, one bushing shot and one bandsaw blade to replace. I had one heckuva climb up that nasty old learning curve today, but I got out with no damage other than my pride and a few replaceable parts on tools.
For all of that chaos by the way, my 'little voice' was keeping me in check. I had my safety gearon: goggles, earmuffs etc... John even reminded me to use my panel jig. (who says the 'little voice' has to be internal?) Could have been much worse, come to think of it. Thank goodness it wasn't.
I take another piece of MDF, and using the scrollsaw I cut a new template, get that screwed onto a jig, clamp it down and cut a hole in another piece of pine. Ok, it finally works, a little ragged around one edge, so... we try again. This time the Bushing comes loose. When it finally was cool enough to touch, there is Another broken bit, and a chunk taken out of the bushing! AAAARGH. Put routers away, vacuum up the shavings, metal pieces etc...
I then take a good look around the shop for something I can accomplish instead. I realize I have a honeydo project in the van; the LOML's cutting board which is in pieces. Take the ROS and clean up the ends, which are a bit ugly from living under the sink. (note to self make rack to hold board so it doesn't get damp).After sanding it down, take a good look at one end, realize that some judicial trimming is required. Get out panel jig and new CMT cabinetshop blade. and make cuts. Blade scoffs at the 1" Rock Maple, what a nice feeling that is. Joint the edges to glue up the two halves into one board again. Pretty nice maple, but the surface needs help. Ok... Couple of passes through the planer and we have nice maple cutting board halves again. A little water, some gorilla glue and three pipe clamps to set up overnight. Tomorrow I'll round over the freshly cut ends and bring it home.
After getting that accomplished I decided to scrollsaw some bowls. John and I put on the resaw blade for the bandsaw and I cut off some sections of an apple log I have in the loft. put a pattern (from scrollsaw workshop mag) on it and cut out a basket. Then I say, hmmmm, There is that white Birch log up in the loft too... test measurement and it will fit through the throat of the bandsaw. I manage to get a couple of slabs cut off, and set aside to dry out a bit more. Third cut, however the blade gets trapped in the log and I bend the blade. *sigh* just one of those days. Dissasemble saw, remove blade, and put it in pizza box for disposal. John quips, this just hasn't been your day.
I put on a wry grin, and wave all 8 fingers and both thumbs at him. I reply:
"I've still got all these, no injuries!"
so, Scorecard reads, two partially complete projects, two busted router bits, one bushing shot and one bandsaw blade to replace. I had one heckuva climb up that nasty old learning curve today, but I got out with no damage other than my pride and a few replaceable parts on tools.
For all of that chaos by the way, my 'little voice' was keeping me in check. I had my safety gearon: goggles, earmuffs etc... John even reminded me to use my panel jig. (who says the 'little voice' has to be internal?) Could have been much worse, come to think of it. Thank goodness it wasn't.