Keith Beck
09-04-2006, 12:08 AM
First, the projects...
SWMBO wanted some flower boxes to fill up the empty space on the front porch. So, here's what I came up with:
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j114/ldoforcno/DSC02855.jpg
I made a pair for her out of cedar and some scrap T-111 siding I had laying around. Here they are in their new home:
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j114/ldoforcno/DSC02912.jpg
The plants in the box looked much better before Ernesto beat them up. My next goal is to figure some way of dressing up the plain 4x4 porch posts.
The other project I recently finished is my rendition of Wood magazine's cutting board. I didn't have any Cherry and the Maple I have was too wormy-holed (more on that later), so I made mine out of Bloodwood, Walnut and what I orginally thought was Mahogany. After cutting up the supposed Mahogany board, I'm not so sure that's what it is. Any ideas?
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j114/ldoforcno/DSC02908.jpg
Okay, onto the gloats...
I've been wanting a cabinet saw for quite some time. My Craftsman contractor saw was working okay (particularly after I added a link belt, new pulley wheels and upgraded to a Vega fence). Regardless, I wanted a cabinet saw. I was all set to buy an older Unisaw off a guy outside of DC (about three hours from me) for $500, which I'm sure you'll agree is a great deal; however, on my way there, I had some car issues that not only meant I wasn't going to make it there, I also had to use the money I had saved for the saw to get the car repaired. I was pretty bummed to say the least.
A few weeks later, my brother called me from DE and told me that his boss had a used cabinet saw that he'd sell me and that he'd even let me make interest-free payments. Well, here's what I came home with:
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j114/ldoforcno/DSC02909.jpg
A General 350!
It cost more than the Unisaw, but I've heard nothing but good things about Generals, so I couldn't resist. The only thing I don't like about it is the dust collection. It's got a dust port, but it's at the bottom of the motor cover, and there's nothing to direct the sawdust towards that opening, so the sawdust still falls out the bottom of the saw. I'm going to have to figure something out.
I've been getting pretty lucky with the classified ads and on Craig's List. Next to the General is a Ridgid 16-gal. vacuum I found on CL for $25. I also got a Incra 1000se miter gauge for $80. My last gloat I found in the classifieds. I got a Grizzly 1029Z DC and a nice load of lumber for $125. The following picture only shows the Maple, but I also got a nice Walnut board and what I thought were some Mahogany pieces, which I used in the cutting board.
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j114/ldoforcno/DSC02911.jpg
Unfortunately, I don't have a spare 220v outlet for the DC, so I'll have to continue using my HF DC for now. I intended to use the Maple in the cutting board, but it's got a lot of worm holes. But, as you can see, it's also got some pretty nice curl, so I'll find some use for it.
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j114/ldoforcno/DSC02910.jpg
Thanks for looking!
Keith
SWMBO wanted some flower boxes to fill up the empty space on the front porch. So, here's what I came up with:
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j114/ldoforcno/DSC02855.jpg
I made a pair for her out of cedar and some scrap T-111 siding I had laying around. Here they are in their new home:
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j114/ldoforcno/DSC02912.jpg
The plants in the box looked much better before Ernesto beat them up. My next goal is to figure some way of dressing up the plain 4x4 porch posts.
The other project I recently finished is my rendition of Wood magazine's cutting board. I didn't have any Cherry and the Maple I have was too wormy-holed (more on that later), so I made mine out of Bloodwood, Walnut and what I orginally thought was Mahogany. After cutting up the supposed Mahogany board, I'm not so sure that's what it is. Any ideas?
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j114/ldoforcno/DSC02908.jpg
Okay, onto the gloats...
I've been wanting a cabinet saw for quite some time. My Craftsman contractor saw was working okay (particularly after I added a link belt, new pulley wheels and upgraded to a Vega fence). Regardless, I wanted a cabinet saw. I was all set to buy an older Unisaw off a guy outside of DC (about three hours from me) for $500, which I'm sure you'll agree is a great deal; however, on my way there, I had some car issues that not only meant I wasn't going to make it there, I also had to use the money I had saved for the saw to get the car repaired. I was pretty bummed to say the least.
A few weeks later, my brother called me from DE and told me that his boss had a used cabinet saw that he'd sell me and that he'd even let me make interest-free payments. Well, here's what I came home with:
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j114/ldoforcno/DSC02909.jpg
A General 350!
It cost more than the Unisaw, but I've heard nothing but good things about Generals, so I couldn't resist. The only thing I don't like about it is the dust collection. It's got a dust port, but it's at the bottom of the motor cover, and there's nothing to direct the sawdust towards that opening, so the sawdust still falls out the bottom of the saw. I'm going to have to figure something out.
I've been getting pretty lucky with the classified ads and on Craig's List. Next to the General is a Ridgid 16-gal. vacuum I found on CL for $25. I also got a Incra 1000se miter gauge for $80. My last gloat I found in the classifieds. I got a Grizzly 1029Z DC and a nice load of lumber for $125. The following picture only shows the Maple, but I also got a nice Walnut board and what I thought were some Mahogany pieces, which I used in the cutting board.
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j114/ldoforcno/DSC02911.jpg
Unfortunately, I don't have a spare 220v outlet for the DC, so I'll have to continue using my HF DC for now. I intended to use the Maple in the cutting board, but it's got a lot of worm holes. But, as you can see, it's also got some pretty nice curl, so I'll find some use for it.
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j114/ldoforcno/DSC02910.jpg
Thanks for looking!
Keith