If You Squint

[ken hatch]

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/VTXAZ/bathVanityStockA20150315_zpspmnxtgf4.jpg


There is a Cherry bath vanity in that pile of wood. All the pieces are to size, they just need final marking out and the joinery cut. I'll let 'em set for a few days to see if they have any more stupid wood tricks left. I expect I'll start the joinery by the coming weekend.

Here are a couple of the rough notes:

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/VTXAZ/vanityPlanA20150313_zps4llca7ph.jpg

and:

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/VTXAZ/vanityPlanB20150313_zpsc85nfjir.jpg

[Bill White]

If you're gonna use a vessel type (sit on) sink, you might want to consider a lower base. Sometimes the vessel can be a bit difficult to use if it is a on a tall base.
I say this 'cause I've been the taller route. :(
Bill

[ken hatch]

If you're gonna use a vessel type (sit on) sink, you might want to consider a lower base. Sometimes the vessel can be a bit difficult to use if it is a on a tall base.
I say this 'cause I've been the taller route. :(
Bill

Thanks Bill,

The boss and I have tested at the current planned height....seems to work ok but....if not I have a saw and I know how to use it :D. All kidding aside, you make a very good point and one we almost overlooked. I've planned a little extra distance between the floor and the lower shelf just for that reason. I believe I can take 25mm to 35mm off without it looking too strange if needed.

ken

[Winton Applegate]

Ken,
I look forward to the future build posts.
Say . . . you must hand saw pretty fast to scorch the wood like that.
What kind of vitamins do you take ? I gotta get me some of those. :)

[ken hatch]

Spent most of the day marking out the legs. I don't know if you'll fret and fuss over the mark out as much as I do but....for me it is the most stressful time of the build. I guess too many mortices chopped in the wrong place or wrong size to relax. Anyway the legs are marked out and checked at least three times. I've finished chopping the mortices on one leg, only three more to go. It will go quickly, a couple or three hours and the legs will be finished.

No photos today. My camera battery is dead and the charger has disappeared, typical for Casa Chaos. When MsBubba goes on a cleaning frenzy stuff will disappear only to be found a year or two later. Not wanting to wait a couple of years to take photos I ordered a new charger from Amazon, it should be here tomorrow.

Off to work in a couple, I've the late shift....BTW, sleep is over rated.

[ken hatch]

Ken,
I look forward to the future build posts.
Say . . . you must hand saw pretty fast to scorch the wood like that.
What kind of vitamins do you take ? I gotta get me some of those. :)

I've got to talk to my iron apprentices, they need to clean their saws.

[ken hatch]

It's a good thing MsBubba isn't home, if she were I would swear she was missing with me....As it is I can only blame Sweet Maggie Dog. As I got out of my work monkey suit and was putting my braces away, right on top of the dresser where I had looked at everything on it before going to work, was the camera's battery charger...It has to be a male thing.

Anyway, in between coffee and scratching doggie butt I've started chopping the mortices on the second leg. I'm using a shop made guide on these to start the mortice, once I'm down 15-20mm I remove the guide and finish to full depth. In this case 35mm. I don't always use the guide, but sometimes it's helpful. Is there rhyme or reason for use of the guide....not really, this time I had one made that had the right offset so why not.

I do not expect to make much progress over the next couple of days. I'll get a little done today before work and then tomorrow MsBubba comes home from two weeks in Houston with the new grandkid. Most of the day will be spent erasing the evidence of myself and two big hairy dogs living two weeks with out adult supervision.

ken

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/VTXAZ/pantryChoppingMortices20150317_1_zpsqmodspb9.jpg

[ken hatch]

I'm older than dirt and one of the effects is not being able to sleep all night. The sleep gods let me carve out a couple of early morning hours both Saturday and Sunday to finish chopping the leg mortices, otherwise not much would have been done as MsBubba had other plans for my time.

I was able to finish chopping the leg mortices and have the stretchers marked and ready for the saw. As posted earlier, sometimes I will use a guide, sometimes not. I could be wrong but I think it might be marginally faster to use a guide than not because once the guide is set the chopping can be done mostly on autopilot.

Here is setting up the guide for one of the small mortices:

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/VTXAZ/bathVanityCheckingForSquare20150323_zps3jac3zqp.jp g

Chopping:

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/VTXAZ/bathVanityChopSmallMortice20150323_zps88ftqapa.jpg

Small mortice finished:

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/VTXAZ/bathVanitySmallMorticeFinished20150323_zpsxc6my35z .jpg

[Jim Koepke]

I don't know if you'll fret and fuss over the mark out as much as I do but....for me it is the most stressful time of the build.

Often after marking the first piece I get out of the shop for a break. Then when I come back the second piece is marked and compared to the first. When the pieces are marked out they are laid out on the bench in what is a flat "exploded" view to make sure everything is in agreement. Then it is rechecked before any cutting begins.

jtk

[ken hatch]

Thanks Jim,

It's nice to know I'm not the only one....

ken

[Tom Vanzant]

Measure twice (or more), cut once.:)

[Brian Holcombe]

Thats a nice looking mortise Ken.

I skip the guide personally, Japanese mortise chisels are tapered toward the back so using the guide gets me into more trouble than it gets me out of. I use a visual guide and check my work against my square as I go.

[ken hatch]

Thats a nice looking mortise Ken.

I skip the guide personally, Japanese mortise chisels are tapered toward the back so using the guide gets me into more trouble than it gets me out of. I use a visual guide and check my work against my square as I go.

Thanks Brian,

About 90% of the time I do not use a guide but this time I had one already made that was the correct size, I figured what the heck, might as well. It had been awhile since the last time I used a guide and I was pleasantly surprised that it seemed faster using one when I remembered it being slower. Not a lot of difference but some.

The pig sticker has a slight taper as well and you need to allow for the taper, I've thought about a couple of LN mortice chisels for use with a guide but....I sure do love my pig stickers.

ken

[ken hatch]

My clients canceled at the last minute so my very bad week of 6 days out of 7 changed to a good week of 3 days out of 7 with 4 days off in a row. Because of the change I'm beavering away on the bath vanity along with entertaining two big hairy, smelly dogs, I do love scratching doggie ears and butt.

I'm cutting the joinery, staring with the dovetails on the top front stretcher. A couple of photos, first is of one side and shoulder. Need to clean out the nasty bits but for the most part it is ready to fit: BTW, notice the extra lines, what can I say other than stuff happens, glad I caught it before sawing.

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/VTXAZ/bathVanityCuttingDovetails20150324_zpsp8omo4qh.jpg

Next is setting up to saw the other shoulder:

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/VTXAZ/bathVanitySawingDovetailShoulder20150324-2_zpsgmszirxz.jpg

Last is marking the pin on the leg:

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/VTXAZ/bathVanityMarkingDovetailPin20150324-2_zpsxk5mgidu.jpg

[ken hatch]

A Bath Vanity update;

My four unscheduled days off were cut to three today. They asked me to come in and run the Sim for a couple of hours so another instructor wouldn't be doubled, hard to refuse. But when you are off stuff happens, when you work, even if only for a couple or three hours stuff doesn't happen.

The major part of the joinery on the vanity is finished, I need to saw the tenons on the lower shelf stretchers and do the mortise and tenons for the shelf slats, make and fit the drawer divider, and make a top and chop the button mortices for attaching the top. If I can find a couple of days to rub together and MsBubba forgets I'm around I'll have this sucker finished.

Here is a photo of setting up to saw a shoulder on one of the stretchers. The Bad Axe Large Tenon saw is a beast but is really nice to use on these wide tenons:

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/VTXAZ/bathVanitySawingShoulders20150326_zpsoxdmyank.jpg

I assembled the base to get an idea of how it looked and to see if everything fits and pulls up snug. One shoulder has something binding that will need taking care of before I drill and mark the joints to be draw bored. Not too bad for the first go.

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/VTXAZ/bathVanityBaseA20150326_zps1aj7vr8z.jpg

[ken hatch]

The bath vanity is slow going for now....not many days off, so I'm only able to get an hour or so to work on it in the early AM most days. All the M/T's are fitted with the exception of the bottom cross slats. I've put it together one last time to mark the slats. After marking the slats I will chop and saw their M/T's and drill the draw bores for the joints that will be draw bored. I still need to make a couple of drawer boxes and the top. Not that much left if I can find a couple of days to rub together.

The base with the slats laid out for marking:

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/VTXAZ/bathVanityBaseB20150330_zpsf5ixzaes.jpg

[Brian Holcombe]

Nice, coming together very well.

[ken hatch]

Progress is slow, just an hour or so in the shop today. I did get most of the marking out of the lower shelf slats and one of the tenons finished.

Using my favorite goto saw. It was my first Bad Axe saw, a 12" Carcase filed 14ppi hybred. It's my "Jack Saw", it does a great job on almost any cut from dovetails to small tenons:

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/VTXAZ/bathVanitySawingTenons20150401_zpsg9qgq038.jpg

Here's the finished tenon almost straight off the saw, just needed a little clean up of the nasty bits at the base of the tenon:

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/VTXAZ/bathVanityFinishedTenon20150401_zpsousz2onk.jpg

[Shawn Pixley]

Nice work! I love my Bad Axe as well.

[ken hatch]

Thanks Brian,

It's a pretty straight forward build but still, as usual, I scribble some basic measurements and start cutting, it other words working without a plan nor a net. For a couple of nano-seconds yesterday I thought about being wild and crazy and using a live edge slab for the top, even went by the wood store to see if they had one that would work. They didn't, and the thought passed so I dodged that bullet.

I still haven't decided on the slab, I could just make it out of some of the Cherry I have on hand but....boring. I think a South American Walnut slab would look really nice but it is a little soft and can be almost brown-black when finished. I would like the almost black with the Cherry base but MsBubba has already shot that idea down....I've got to learn to keep my mouth shut and just build.

ken

[ken hatch]

Nice work! I love my Bad Axe as well.

Thanks Shawn,

They, Bad Axe Saws, are a sickness.

They are just enough custom to feel like they were made just for me but priced just a little higher than a good production saw like a Wenzloff or one from Lie Nielsen. I'm ashamed to admit but Bad Axe has my number, knows my buttons, and has a direct line to my paypal account.

BTW, at the other end of the price/quality/saw bling curve, I have a full set of Veritas molded spine saws and use them almost as much as the Bad Axe, go figure.

ken

[ken hatch]

The vanity has been coming along, slower than I would like but that is the case with most builds, life has a way of intruding. No photos today because there isn't much to see other than just some markings on project pieces. All that is left are 24 small mortises to chop, shaping the legs and final clean up before assembly. My guess is with just a couple of exceptions all the joints will be draw bored and pegged and the only question left to answer is: Glue, do I use it? My guess is I will add a little hot hyde glue to some of the joints during assembly but it is not a given.

Have I ever said how much I like to use draw boring and pegging? Almost as much as I love hot hyde glue. The old guys knew a little about making furniture, it's our loss when we forget.

ken

P.S. Twenty-four is a lot of mortises but they are all shallow and not too long, so it shouldn't take more than maybe four hours to finish them including the required breaks for doggie butt scratching and ball throwing.

[ken hatch]

Chopped the 24 small mortises and have fitted all the pieces together. It all fits and pulls up. I need to shape the legs and clean up the show faces before assembly. I also think I will run some beads on the shelf slats to help prevent chipping and damage. While the beading plane is out I might as well run a bead around the drawers to add a little visual interest.

Because it will be installed in a bathroom and subject to high humidity I will use metal runners for the drawers. I ordered some very nice bottom mount runners to use thinking they might be a little over kill but would be nice and smooth and not show on the sides. The runners showed up the other day, they ain't a little over kill....I could use 'em to support a diesel truck and then some. It's back to the drawing board and it may be side mounts if I can't find something a little less but better than the single runner el cheapo under mount I looked at before ordering the Taj MaMounts.


Also the assembly puzzle woke me up tonight, not that it is really complex but there are a couple of places to screw up. As I'm back to work today, that puzzle may keep me awake for several nights. Pegging will help by taking some of the time pressure off but .....


Chopping the button mortises:

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/VTXAZ/bathVanityChoppingButtonMortises20150406_zpsfoof3z 72.jpg

The bottom shelf:

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/VTXAZ/bathVanityLowerShelf20150406_zpshk2jqbox.jpg

[Mark Stutz]

Also the assembly puzzle woke me up tonight, not that it is really complex but there are a couple of places to screw up. As I'm back to work today, that puzzle may keep me awake for several nights.

Not that I would wish sleepless nights on anyone, but I'm glad I'm not the only one laying awake at night figuring out the order of things, or how to work around a problem!

[ken hatch]

The rubber is hitting the road this AM. One module is in the clamps and pegged, the second is waiting for my coffee to boil. Once the two long side modules are glued and pegged the two short sides will fit it all together....Pics to follow.....Maybe :eek:

[ryan paulsen]

Thanks for taking us through the project. I always like the posts with "action shots." I have to wonder, though, why someone who takes the time and effort to cut his joints by hand would have an electric pencil sharpener!

[James Pallas]

Ken
Very well done write up about your build. I like the step by step and the inclusions of your thoughts as you go along. Lots of draw boring to do. Will you be doing all of the slats as well. How do you like those Universal bar clamps. I have had some of their frame clamps for years and was thinking about those bar clamps. Looking forward to the finish.
Jim

[ken hatch]

Thanks for taking us through the project. I always like the posts with "action shots." I have to wonder, though, why someone who takes the time and effort to cut his joints by hand would have an electric pencil sharpener!

Ryan,

Thanks but Busted :-). It's kinda like my iron apprentices, handy to have.

ken

[ken hatch]

Ken
Very well done write up about your build. I like the step by step and the inclusions of your thoughts as you go along. Lots of draw boring to do. Will you be doing all of the slats as well. How do you like those Universal bar clamps. I have had some of their frame clamps for years and was thinking about those bar clamps. Looking forward to the finish.
Jim

James,

Thanks. Yep all the joints that had enough meat were draw bored, including the slats.

The Universal bar clamps are very good, not cheap for bar clamps but worth the extra money. They are light, easy to set, very strong, and can exert a lot of force if needed.

The vanity glued and pegged, I still have a couple of pegs to trim but for the most part the base is finished. I expect I will make the top out of South American Walnut and take the grief from MsBubba....been there done that before :rolleyes:

Of course when I went to look for drawer box wood today the piece I needed was near the bottom of the middle stack. It was time to quit anyway. Tomorrow is another day with, I hope, a stronger back and more ambition.

Here is where I stopped today:

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/VTXAZ/bathVanityAssembled20150412_zpsg9gqqgxs.jpg

[ken hatch]

Put the first coat of BLO on this AM. Wood was thirsty, glad I went with BLO instead of the usual Tried & True for the first coat. I'll let it set for a day or two and then come back with T&T.

Here is the front:

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/VTXAZ/bathVanityAssembledOilFront20150413_zpsgmxh9vmo.jp g

And the back:

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/VTXAZ/bathVanityAssembledOilBack20150413_zpsa6db6jtz.jpg

[Jeff Ranck]

Looking really, really nice!

I've been following the thread and I have to ask. Are you a metric shop or an imperial shop? I notice your drawings have both metic as well as a 13" measurement. I'm always interested in shops that are ambidextrous as I chose imperial a long time ago to try to make things easier.

[ken hatch]

Thanks Jeff,

I'm a basically a metric shop but can work either and do some because my tools are a mix. But for major measurements it is metric. I find I make many fewer mistakes when working metric vs. fractional.

The 13" was for the Boss Lady who only thinks in feet and stones (Scottish of a certain age and not likely to change). She wanted to know how much room she would have for baskets on the lower shelf, turns out it is close to 15" but as long as she buys no taller than 13" life will be good.

ken

[ken hatch]

Update on Bath Vanity.....It's been slow going for the last week or so, the day job has made heavy demands of my time. I had planned on or at least wanted to use a wood slab for the top. After testing a number of finishes that the wood store folks said would be water resistant it was no joy, they all would water spot and I do not want to use an Applebee's bar finish. Ordered an Ebony composite top, it should look OK, not what I wanted but....What the hey.

Made the drawer boxes out of some Soft Maple. It's been awhile since I've used Soft Maple and I had forgotten how nice it is to work. Anyway, finished up the drawer boxes yesterday and now waiting on the top and the sink to show up. Here is my set up for box clean up:

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/VTXAZ/bathVanityDrawerBoxA20150427_zpsfaqiyuih.jpg



A cleaned up drawer box:

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/VTXAZ/bathVanityDrawerBoxB20150427_zpsc4j2wg9r.jpg

[Brian Holcombe]

Coming along nicely Ken.

Just a note on finishes, I've found waterlox to hold up when applied heavily. Not just the sealer, but the sealer then the 'finish' applied as the can suggests.

[ken hatch]

Coming along nicely Ken.

Just a note on finishes, I've found waterlox to hold up when applied heavily. Not just the sealer, but the sealer then the 'finish' applied as the can suggests.

Thanks Brian,

Of the finishes I tried Waterlox worked almost OK, maybe I just didn't use enough :confused:. Oh well, the composite top is on its way.

ken

[Brian Holcombe]

I realize you already have another solution, but just for conversation;

Thats likely the case, I usually use a light wipe-on coating of waterlox, maybe 4-5 coats on most projects and they will show rings. I did use waterlox sealer followed by the finish on a table that was set to see a lot of use, I used in the aforementioned manner and it has held up to 4 years of scotch, water glasses and cigar ashes without flinching.

Commercial bar finish type stuff is quite tough as well, I have a table finished in a commercial bar finish and the stuff is really durable against spills.

[ken hatch]

Brian,

I appreciate the info...A roll around Kitchen island is coming soon and I expect to use a wood top on it. It's good to know what will work.

ken

[ken hatch]

I realize you already have another solution, but just for conversation;

Thats likely the case, I usually use a light wipe-on coating of waterlox, maybe 4-5 coats on most projects and they will show rings. I did use waterlox sealer followed by the finish on a table that was set to see a lot of use, I used in the aforementioned manner and it has held up to 4 years of scotch, water glasses and cigar ashes without flinching.

Commercial bar finish type stuff is quite tough as well, I have a table finished in a commercial bar finish and the stuff is really durable against spills.

Brian,

Well I'm back to plan A. After almost three weeks the top came in and I picked it up, un-boxed it, set it on the vanity base, and it didn't fit. After a few ##@$$%^&& I turned it over and all I can say is what an abortion. I thought about trying to make it work for a couple of seconds, MsBubba showed up and voted "no way". I may be just a dumb West Texas Farm Boy but....after many years I've figured out the secret of life and that is to say "yes dear" with convection.

Bottom line: The vanity top went back to HD, I dug through my wood pile and found enough 8/4 Walnut to make a top. I'll take your advice and use the Waterlox sealer with 5 or 6 coats of Waterlox and see what happens.

That's the kinda bad, kinda good news....the good news is the bath re-do is finished except the top and it shouldn't take more than a couple or three days to finish it and connect everything up.

Photos to follow.

ken

[Brian Holcombe]

Hah, indeed, that is quite honestly the true secret to a happy life. I chose my protests wisely (most times).

looking forward to seeing the walnut top on this project. Just an FYI, the finishing does take quite some time when done in the manner suggested on the can.

[ken hatch]

The vanity is installed. Lots left to do; connect the plumbing, make the drawer fronts and pulls, and do the tile splash guard. I still need to do a small wall cabinet and a mirror. Whatever, it is good to have it out of the shop.

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/VTXAZ/bathVanityInstall20150516_zpsewp2v38d.jpg

ken

[Brian Holcombe]

Looks great Ken, happily enjoying that walnut top I presume :D

[Mark Stutz]

Beautiful execution. I really like the simplicity of the design.

I know you used two tenons on the wide side aprons, but do you still need to elongate the holes in the tenons to allow for movement?

[ken hatch]

Mark,

Thanks. I was cussing it yesterday, the day was spent with my head and shoulders stuck under it installing the plumbing. What a miserable job.

The tenons are draw bored and with the usual "sloppy" length of my mortises I don't think or at least I hope movement will not be a problem with the double tenon.

ken

[Jeff Ranck]

Love it! I can't wait to see it with the drawer fronts on.

[ken hatch]

Looks great Ken, happily enjoying that walnut top I presume :D

Brian,

Yep. it looks better than the composite would have.

Plumbing is kicking my butt but that's to be expected.

ken

[ken hatch]

Love it! I can't wait to see it with the drawer fronts on.

Jeff,

Thanks.

I have a nice Spalted Sycamore board in my wood pile. I expect that will be the first I try, if it doesn't work then Cherry.

ken

[Mike Allen1010]

Great thread - thanks Ken! I really like your project and appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and picks. I'm really enjoying your description of your build.

You are a better man than I; anything involving plumbing at our house invariably entails cursing, thrown tools I don't know how to use, followed by calling a plumber. Usually costs extra to fix the "repairs " I did.

I look forward to seeing the your project with the drawer fronts on.

Best, Mike

[ken hatch]

Great thread - thanks Ken! I really like your project and appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and picks. I'm really enjoying your description of your build.

You are a better man than I; anything involving plumbing at our house invariably entails cursing, thrown tools I don't know how to use, followed by calling a plumber. Usually costs extra to fix the "repairs " I did.

I look forward to seeing the your project with the drawer fronts on.

Best, Mike

Mike,

All of the above except calling a plumber were evident at Casa Chaos :). When I started connecting the plumbing my first thought was to use black PVC because it never leaks and custom fitting is easy but because it was exposed I decided to go with chromed under sink connectors. Wrong move Bubba, after two days, a dozen trips to HD and Ace, and more money than I care to admit I gave up on the chrome fittings and went back to the original black PVC. One trip to the Orange Box, less than $20USDs, and about an hour on my hands and knees with my head stuck under the vanity and it was a done deal. Sometimes I think I'm too dumb to live.

The drawer fronts will be sometime next week, SWMBO has plans for my time this long weekend. Best I can tell they involve Mexico and a beach.

Thanks for following the project,

ken

[Brian Holcombe]

I know that feeling. If it's copper and clean water I'll work on it....

[Mark Stutz]

I learned my lesson many years ago, after almost turning a $20 plumbing repair into a $200 house call by the plumber. Over a holiday weekend. With a 6 month old baby in the house!:eek: I haven't attempted anything since.

[James Pallas]

Ken your vanity looks great. A good write up on the process also. On the plumbing thing, my experience is you can't get what you need at the big box stores. You will always end up having to adapt to get something to work. I'm sure you have a plumbing supply house somewhere near you. That is the place to go. The chrome stuff is mostly used for commercial work nowadays so the big box won't have it because of price point. It is a bit like tools, they won't have a good brand saw that costs a hundred bucks because it will not sell. The good part is you worked through it and are happy with the finished product. I enjoyed following your build very well done.
Jim

[Jeff Ranck]

My Dad, who I remember this memorial day weekend, always told me that plumbing was easy: pipes are round and water runs downhill. Now my experience is that is hasn't been quite so easy, but that is my Dad for you!

[ken hatch]

First I want to thank all that followed and commented on this build. My part of it is now finished, SWMBO will install a Mexican tile splash guard once she finishes the sitting room tile. The bathroom redo still has a roll holder, towel rack and a door for me to install and a hanging cabinet to build but.....That stuff will happen when it happens.

The vanity has a Cherry base, Walnut top, Soft Maple drawer boxes, and Spalted Sycamore fronts all finished with BLO based finishes. It wasn't a bad build, a few mistakes were made but most are well hidden and if, a huge if, I can keep my mouth shut only another woodworker would find 'em.

Here are a couple of photos:

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/VTXAZ/bathVanityFinalFront20150527_zpsl7fp8lpg.jpg



http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/VTXAZ/bathVanityFinalFrontUpper20150527_zpsk4x8fgkz.jpg