Issue 481 Archives - Woodworking | Blog | Videos | Plans | How To

Clamp-on Workbench Storage Trays

Reader Submitted — Tue, 30 May 2017 13:32:15 +0000

These little 9″ x 3″ plastic organizer bins sure are handy to have around the shop, and you can find them at hardware or home decor stores. To make them even more useful, I screw a piece of 3/4″ scrap to one side of the bin, then fasten a longer strip of hardboard to the top of the scrap. Now I can clamp these trays by their hardboard “ears” close to wherever I’m working. They’re great for holding small tools, fasteners or other supplies.

– John Stahr
Chicago, Illinois

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Simple Scroll Saw Resawing

Reader Submitted — Tue, 30 May 2017 13:31:01 +0000

Here’s how I resaw small stock into thinner pieces at my scroll saw. I clamp my workpiece standing on edge to a 2″ x 2″ scrap block that’s long enough to support the wood and clamp. Leave a little space between the back edge of the wood and your C-clamp for the blade to exit the cut. Now, just push the assembly through to make the resaw cut following your layout line.

– Dale Miller
Modesto, California

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Rockler HVLP Finishing Sprayer

Chris Marshall — Tue, 30 May 2017 13:00:58 +0000

If you’ve been considering buying a spray gun system but have waited to find an easy-to-use, affordable option, Rockler’s new HVLP Finishing Sprayer might be the answer. It is designed to quickly and efficiently deliver even coats of finish, with minimal overspray, for a wide array of woodworking and home improvement projects.

Enhanced with Earlex® high volume, low-pressure (HVLP) technology, this sprayer will accommodate varnish, lacquer, urethane, unthinned latex paint, enamel, stain and water sealant — virtually every finish option a woodworker or DIYer will need. It features a two-stage turbine, 700-watt motor. The nozzle’s spray pattern can be adjusted from one to 12 in., so users can tailor the output to suit both hard-to-reach interior surfaces and broad-surface spraying applications.

A 13-ft. flexible air hose, plus a 13-ft. power cord, enable the compact sprayer to accommodate large and tall projects conveniently. A one-quart plastic paint cup provides sufficient capacity without adding excessive fluid weight. Both 1.5mm and 2.5mm needles are also included, to suit various finish viscosities, along with complete instructions for operation and cleaning.

“An even coat is one of the most important parts of any finishing project,” says Steve Krohmer, Rockler’s vice president of product development. “Our new HVLP Finishing Sprayer helps to deliver even coats of many different finishing products quickly and consistently, making light work of virtually any finishing project.”

The Rockler HVLP Finishing Sprayer (item 56405) is available now online, in the printed catalog and at Rockler stores nationwide. It is priced at $149.99.

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Best Method for Infilling Tabletop Hollow With Epoxy?

Chris Marshall — Tue, 30 May 2017 12:30:25 +0000

I am currently putting together a hollowed-out tabletop with the intent of inserting a ship profile that will be back-filled with clear epoxy. As you can imagine, once poured, there is no going back and, as much as I like to experiment to get the appropriate results, I really need to get this right the first time. I have done some research with respect to clear epoxy filler, and there seems to be a lot of short videos available on YouTube, etc., but I find very little specific information on the topic. For instance, is there shrinkage after curing? Is it better to pour a layer at a time or all at once? Does the depth of the fill affect the visual aspects of the insert? I am hoping that you might have a resident expert on the use of clear epoxy who may include future articles on its use with respect to filler effects. If not, can you recommend a site that could provide some detailed information? – Peter Hamon

Tim Inman: Measure twice, cut once. You must create a sample board set on which you can test your materials and your techniques. You must. Otherwise, you’re casting your lot with the gods of serendipity. They are often not kind. As for your other questions: Epoxies create heat during curing. The thicker the cross-section, the more heat they will generate. I have seen pours like you’re describing get so hot they smoke – and distort the epoxy. Epoxy shrinks when it sets, mostly. One nylon-modified epoxy I use for some fine furniture work actually expands. Test your product to be sure! There are any number of filler products available to use with epoxy. I like sanding dust from the woods I’m repairing as a favorite filler. Glass beads are great, too. Coloring materials are available, but they must be tested in small batches to know if their colors will remain true, or if they will shift during curing. Some epoxies are cured with phenolic compounds, and these can react with anilines to really play billy heck with the colors (yellows will turn into bright reds!). So, test, test, test.

Chris Marshall: Along with Tim’s good advice, if you have a specific brand of epoxy you’re planning to use, consider directing your questions to the experts who make it. There’s probably a technical services phone number for that brand, and those folks should be able to give you some helpful pointers on how best to use their products for your table application. As you say, once it’s done, it’s done. So, definitely worth a phone call.

We may also have eZine readers who have tackled projects just like yours, using large quantities of clear epoxy. Folks, what material and method have worked best for you? Please share!

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Pantry Organizer

Reader Submitted — Tue, 30 May 2017 12:00:12 +0000

We got tired of endlessly moving around canned goods in the pantry to see what was in back. So I came up with this multiple lazy susan rack to facilitate inventory. As usual, I went metric in the design and layout. The round, rotating shelves are birch plywood, the bearing blocks are cherry, the posts are oak dowels and the stand is pine. It was worth the trouble to build a jig for cutting out discs with a band saw, and another to locate holes automatically on the drill press.

– Moh Clark
Marble Falls, TX

See the Gallery Below:

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