Project: "Sunday Toodling"

[Jim Becker]

I took a little break from "Sting-zilla" (the name Dennis Peacock awarded my CNC machine) after completing that architectural appliqué job a little over a week ago so I could clean up the shop and start working on a furniture commission that frankly doesn't have any CNC work at all. While I originally intended to cut up some fallen ash trees today, the wind was uncomfortable, so I spent a few minutes in the shop on my continuing quest for better organization.

Having scored a complete set of essentially unused Festool Centrotec drill bits (all the stuff in the top of the photo below) this week from a fellow 'Creeker and in the spirit of organization, I did a little quickie CNC project with a piece of scrap HDU to get all of my Centrotec stuff in one place and not rolling around in a drawer. 20 minutes of computer time and 15 minutes of cutting and this was the result..and it fits right into the right side of one of my tool chest drawers exactly as I wanted it to do.



Yet another "to a hammer, everything is a nail" CNC episode from my shop...with more to come since I might as well have the machine cutting something while I building a double-decker bed for someone. I have a lot of drawers and a lot of stuff rolling around in them.

[John TenEyck]

That looks like it was molded, Jim. Very cool. You're going to be way too organized to find anything now.

John

[Jim Becker]

I love cutting HDU, John...and every scrap gets used somehow!

[George Yetka]

So thats what $1,000,000 worth of festool bits looks like in one place. Interesting. Looks good, does it stack in the drawer?

[Von Bickley]

Great idea... Looks neat.

[Jim Becker]

So thats what $1,000,000 worth of festool bits looks like in one place. Interesting. Looks good, does it stack in the drawer?

ROFLOL!

No stacking on this one...KISS method.

[Bill McNiel]

Jim,
It is time for you to admit you have warped into a "computer geek"!

BTW - organization is way over rated.

[Jim Becker]

Jim,
It is time for you to admit you have warped into a "computer geek"!

BTW - organization is way over rated.

ROFLOL. 38 years in the Tech/IT/Telecom business prior to my retirement a year and a quarter ago probably means I've been one for a very long time.

[Tom Bain]

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but what is HDU? Not familiar with that 3-letter acronym.

[Gary Edwards]

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but what is HDU? Not familiar with that 3-letter acronym.

High Density Urethane aka sign foam, sign board. It's a type of foam board commonly used for making signs. Comes in different densities, thicknesses and sizes. Great stuff, but kind of expensive.

Gary

[Jim Becker]

HDU (and other non-wood products) have essentially all but replaced wood for signage, at least for outdoor work. They don't rot and aside from physical damage, they "last forever". It's a pleasure to work with on the CNC because it cuts cleanly, fast and quiet. I grabbed a vehicle full of scraps from a friend (and SMC-er) in Richmond VA on the way north from Florida last summer, and what I don't use for signs, I use for other things, such as this little project. I don't like wasting anything! And depending on thickness and density, this stuff costs between $200 and $400 a 4x8 sheet purchased new.

[Tom Bain]

Woah, that’s pricey ... it’s basically like super hard foam?