Viewing 40 posts - 121 through 160 (of 196 total)
  • Any woodworking experts got any tips for Elf?
  • cinnamon_girl
    Full Member

    Deer themselves are free-standing(when alive), but if you feel the need to reduce a body-part of this once majestic animal to a tacky nik-nak in a suburban living room,

    kayak23 – may I correct you on your assumption? I didn’t shoot it, I bought it from a gift shop of a Chilterns country house that has a deer park in its wonderful grounds. Annual antler shedding you know. But I don’t have a problem with country pursuits anyway.

    Elf – your enthusiasm for woodwork is amazing. 😀 At this rate it will take over from mtb’ing! Looking forward to seeing the results.

    Elfinsafety
    Free Member

    At this rate it will take over from mtb’ing!

    MTBing? What’s that? 😀

    All Shall Be Revealed, as I’ve said before, in the Fullness of Time….

    It’s therapeutic. Stops me from going (more) mayd.

    Zedsdead
    Free Member

    Just in case you may be interested… We have a lot of wood working machines and tools available. From hand tools to wood lathes etc…

    Fresh Goods Friday 696: The Middling Edition

    Fresh Goods Friday 696: The Middlin...
    Latest Singletrack Videos
    Elfinsafety
    Free Member

    Who what where when? 😀

    Zedsdead
    Free Member

    I shall prepare a list….

    swiss01
    Free Member

    i couldn’t find any wooden tony cragg’s currently in london but this is the one me and ms swiss were spanking over when he had his thing in edinburgh this year
    http://www.lissongallery.com/#/exhibitions/2010-03-17_tony-cragg/
    we were looking at it for the best part of an hour but still none the wiser as to how he did it.

    swiss01
    Free Member

    no, that linky isn’t working right. it’s the fourth one along

    Dobbo
    Full Member

    All I am trying to do is make a start & see if it’s something I am interested in; not necessarily cabinet making, but just general woodwork so I can get to a standard that will allow me to knock out some decent quality items…

    Thats like me, I wanted 2 small kitchen units not a standard size, the quotes I got were crazy prices. So I thought I’d make them myself and then some of money I save I’d spend on the tools, I bought a table saw a router and a router table of ebay a few other bits (clamps 35mm drill bit for the door hinges etc) and just went for it. I’m pleased with the results and were good fun to make. The worktop I got off a mate for doing a website for his slate buisness.


    Now I have the tools I’ve a growing list of things I want to make, this thread made the list expand rapidly and I defo want some birch ply now!

    This started off as a spice rack that just grew, all done with the table saw including the dado joints.

    I had some studding knocking about so I bunged it in.

    grantway
    Free Member

    swiss01
    we were looking at it for the best part of an hour but still none the wiser as to how he did it.

    How was it done !!!
    Very simply actually.First its made in parts/pieces and you include invisible joints
    or a dowelled joint within the manufacture and then put it all together.
    In taller pieces they would use long metal threaded rods and stack the pieces
    and glue and bolt the parts together then hide the bolts within the final
    top and bottom part of the sculpture.

    Never look at the whole thing, start looking and breaking it down as individual sections
    then it will become apparent how it is done.

    grantway
    Free Member

    By using one material or colour will also make great Camouflage to how it was made.

    stumpy01
    Full Member

    Dobbo – exactly! That’s the kind of thing.

    Nice one.

    swiss01
    Free Member

    grant – which was why we looked at it so long. there were only a couple of spots where there was an obvious dowel, the rest it was difficult to see how they could’ve got it all squeezed together let alone got an arm in to fix a joint.

    it’s a quality bit of work and worth a look should it appear. you’re not allowed to touch it tho which is a tad annoying

    grantway
    Free Member

    swiss01 – Member
    grant – which was why we looked at it so long. there were only a couple of spots where there was an obvious dowel, the rest it was difficult to see how they could’ve got it all squeezed together let alone got an arm in to fix a joint.

    Then the visionary has done his/her job!
    This is what I call them as they don’t make them but made by others.

    Elfinsafety
    Free Member

    This started off as a spice rack that just grew

    😆

    My projects tend to be like that. Start simple then become mopre and more elaborate, to the point that they’re no longer feasible. This time, I’ve managed to keep it simple and stick to the original plan. To some degree of success, I think.

    B+Q trip postponed due to neighbour being taken ill last night, he suffers from high BP and hazzunt had all his necessary tablets due to some running out. We’re waiting for the doctor. 🙁

    Want to get going on the next idea now! Need to pace meself though…

    Dobbo
    Full Member

    Want to get going on the next idea now! Need to pace meself though…

    Thats just what I’m like, I just want to keep making things and doing it NOW, I keep thinking of new things and ways to do things and looking at tools and woodworking stuff on the web, my job is defo suffering now I’m too easily distracted and I know what I’d rather be doing! I have to try to calm down a bit but it’s so addictive 😀

    Elfinsafety
    Free Member

    Heh! My mum’s already commissioned a knitting needle box. So that’s another project to think about. 🙂

    Also, I need a new wardrobe, as this piece of chipboard junk my landlord installed is already crumbling.

    And I do actually need a spice rack. And a tool board. And a tool box. and a workbench. And and and…

    It’s much more fun to make your own stuff. Step by step, and one day I’ll have built my own house. 😀

    Dobbo
    Full Member

    Brilliant! When you gonna unveil what you’ve been working on or do we have to wait for the patent to got through? 😆

    I’m halfway though my work bench using an old fire door that was left when we moved in, I’m going to fit the table saw into it so I have a large saw to make even bigger projects!, tool box is on the cards I’ve bought the protective metal corners so I have to make it now, tables shelving, weird plywood things that are in my head inspired by the topo table back on page 1 or 2. More kitchen units, big picture frames for album covers (I got the glass for them last week) I’m possessed by the wood devil and I like it.

    grantway
    Free Member

    Dobbo – Member
    I’m halfway though my work bench using an old fire door that was left when we moved in, I’m going to fit the table saw into it so I have a large saw to make even bigger projects!, tool box is on the cards I’ve

    Dobbo Be very carful has some of the old fire doors contain Asbestos inside them.
    Best get a new/recent fire door blank and use that.

    Elfinsafety
    Free Member

    UPDATE!

    Just spoken to CNC Workshop (nice one Grantway), and going to send them some details and hopefully visit them next week. 😀

    It just gets more exciting by the day….

    Off to B+Q now. My neighbour is now unresponsive so no pensioner discount unfortunately but hey ho.

    Dobbo
    Full Member

    grantway – Thanks for the warning, I’m fairly sure the door is just wood it’s fairly new, I just assume it was a fire door due to the weight, I’ll give it an exploratory later today.

    Elfin, if you’ve got a timber merchant nearby it’s worth giving them a once over as they often are cheaper than B&Q, my local merchant has given me a 10% off card and they have a VAT free Saturday every few weeks, I’ve got a long list of wood and boards I’m going to get on the next VAT free day. They delivery for free and do a good range of tools and finishes as well, good brands like Osmo, and Sikkens. Worth a look.

    grantway
    Free Member

    Effin
    Do you need a lift to return your material?
    I am drawing plans at home so if you need help and advice
    I have my Vivaro van at home so can pick you and your materials

    Has you know I’m only 10 min drive to you

    Im home till this Friday then have a massive work load.

    Elfinsafety
    Free Member

    I’m leading a charmed life at the moment! Tons of fantastic advice, a really positive and happy thread, extremely kind donations of tools, and I’ve just returned from B+Q with a big bundle of assorted plywood offcuts what I got for free! I could barely carry it all actually. Big up an nuff respekt to Marco in B+Q North Woolwich (plus he’s going to put any decent ply off-cuts to one side for me from now on)! 😀

    And I get back, to yet more kind offers of help from Grantway! I owe you a pint already fella, will let you know if I do need transport. More than happy to pay for petrol etc. 🙂 Should be ok for a while anyway, but thanks once again.

    Woohoo! Now what can I make next…?

    CharlieMungus
    Free Member

    4 pages and no mention of Renovo??

    Elfinsafety
    Free Member

    😕

    CharlieMungus
    Free Member
    Elfinsafety
    Free Member

    Erm, Mung Bean, have you not, kind of, noticed what’s up there? ^ 🙂

    Beautiful though. Yet another thing I actually need. 😐

    CharlieMungus
    Free Member

    Just a lag in the images

    Dobbo
    Full Member

    big bundle of assorted plywood offcuts what I got for free!

    Nice one, good on them, too many big chains would rather throw stuff away rather than give it away. I might go for a sniff around my local one, hope they have a marco.

    Elfinsafety
    Free Member

    Dobbo, I’m well chuffed. Expected to pay at least a few quid for them. Only basic stuff, 12mm most of it, but one nice bit of 18mm thick light wood ply. They’ll doofer test pieces and experiments for sure. Without transport, it’s impossible to get a bit of 2440x1220mm stuff home, even if it’s cut up.

    Got some general purpose varnish and ‘Antique Oil’ to try out different finishes. Was a bit annoyed they don’t still do an own braynd Dremel type thing; had one for years had loads of abuse, was only £15 or something. Dremel’s are overpriced imo.

    grantway
    Free Member

    Elfinsafety
    No probs fella i dont need you hard earned cash but thank you
    just let me know

    Markie
    Free Member

    Elfin, regarding material maybe head over to Under This Last and have a chat. They’re a furniture making outfit in Poplar (you have to spin the street view thing round to see their workshop!) who make everything out of ply using machines:

    everything you buy from us is made at the back of our shop, on a digital router.

    [quote]We use a special birch ply composite throughout, in order to get edges we can polish to a smooth finish. Our software optimises the use of each sheet with smaller products to spread the cost of this material and reduce waste.

    All the parts of our products are cut from the same material to avoid depending on industrial fittings. This simplifies our supply chain and shortens our lead-time.[/quote]There may be other aspects of their working style that you like too 😉

    Unto This Last is the title of a book written in 1860 by John Ruskin. He advocated a return to the local craftsman workshops, having a few doubts about the human cost of the Industrial Revolution.

    They were always very friendly whenever I wandered in on my lunch breaks, but that must be seven years ago now. Still, they may have some tips on ply and how to work it with sweet machines!

    Elfinsafety
    Free Member

    More sawdust all over the kitchen. 😀

    I swear all my food’s starting to taste of sawdust now…

    Analysed first prototype; a few smallish issues, but it’s a learning exercise so it’s fun! Learn form your own mistakes can help make the next one better. Already starting to ‘see’ how things will come out, got more of an idea of how the next project will look. 2nd prototype will be underway asap, feel compelled to improve on the first one. The ‘mistakes’ are shouting at me, I need to quieten down the noise. Won’t feel satisfiued until there’s naught but a faint grumble. 🙂

    Markie; Grantway mentioned them earlier in the thread but thanks, I will pay them a visit actually, possibly tomorrow. Oh, and they’re nowhere near Poplar, dunno why Street View says they are! They’re in Shoreditch which isn’t far anyway.

    UTL make some nice stuff, gives me an indication of where other people are at, and the standard needed. Large items of furniture are a little way off yet, but one day, one day…

    Markie
    Free Member

    Oops, sorry Grantway, Elfin… and Poplar didn’t sound *quite* right to me either, but I figured how could Google ever be wrong?!

    Dobbo
    Full Member

    Was a bit annoyed they don’t still do an own braynd Dremel type thing; had one for years had loads of abuse, was only £15 or something. Dremel’s are overpriced imo.

    Silverline Dremel Type Thing

    But it is Silverline and I dont have much faith in them, may be worth a try or see if you can find a review online.

    stumpy01
    Full Member

    ELFIN – this has got to be worth a look as a Dremel equivalent….

    http://www.ryobidirect.co.uk/tools/info_RYEHT150V.html

    Elfinsafety
    Free Member

    Had a ‘complaint’ from my neighbour downstairs, about drilling noise. 😳

    I had something on the floor, and was drilling down into it, but the sound went right through the building and with all the plasterboard and stuff, caused a right old racket. Used a Yellow Pages underneath which did help to deaden it a bit, but sound is an issue unfortunately. I’ll have to be careful with that one.

    2nd prototype now complete and being varnished (the Antique Oil leaves a matt finish which isn’t what I wanted). B+Q Quick Dry varnish goes on nicely, thin even coats, and is water-soluble which is a right bonus, but I’m not sure if it’s all that great tbh. I’ll have to experiment with different varnishes. Liking the idea of ‘kind to the planet’ type stuff though.

    Attaching my vacuum cleaner to the sander has helped keep the dust down a bit, but tbh I’m going to have to look into hiring workshop space if I’m going to be doing lots of other bits in’t future.

    A reasonable sense of accomplishment at this stage, but feeling a little hampered by the limitations of the resources I have, and gaining a more realistic sense of what can actually be done. Am under no illusion that this is a massive undertaking for someone with little practical skills, and need to refine ideas in terms of practicality. Keeping me feet on the ground though, which is a new thing for me really; I tend to go racing ahead then get stuck, frustrated and fed-up.

    The woodworking process is very therapeutic and rewarding, and fun to learn and refine techniques. Being entirely self-taught, it’s nice to be able to look at a finished piece and think ‘that’s doen entirely by my own hand and mind’. Very satisfying. Also developed my own ‘specialist’ tools for particular little tasks; I’m pretty good at working out solutions to problems. Necessity is the Mother of Invention…

    Frustrated with imperfections, and limitations of material (this ply ain’t bad, but does splinter a bit at the edges which has been annoying). Surprised at my own patience though; a significant mistake on the first prototype din’t deter me as much as it may have done in the past, and I’ve salvaged something reasonable. Got to keep things in perspective and accept that imperfections at this stage are inevitable, and that I shoon’t be expecting too much from myself. Good to want to push yourself in terms of skills and ideas though.

    For those excitedly expecting to see some examples of my endeavours; probbly ain’t gonna happen for a while. I’m quite insecure about showing off stuff I’ve done, and not great with criticism, so won’t be showing owt until I’m a lot happier and confident in my results. Soz, but you’ll just have to wait.

    In all, I should be pretty happy with how far I’ve come in the space of quite a short time really. Just hungry for progression though; a positive energy which needs to be handled carefully.

    Oh well, must press on…. 🙂

    Elfinsafety
    Free Member

    How long takes for varnish to dry propply? Sez 4 hours on’t tin, but it’s still slightly sticky. Best to leave it a couple of days?

    Patience is not one of my strengths…

    stumpy01
    Full Member

    Nice update!

    I can see noise & dust being a problem! Perhaps have a word with the neighbour and try & find some time that is acceptable to both of you? Would you be able to get all of your ‘machining’ done in one hit, to get it out of the way in a 30min session & then get on with other stuff?

    As for dust, I was thinking the other day about this – if I get into woodwork & stuff as i’ll mainly be doing it in my garage. I don’t really want to cover the entire contents of my garage in sawdust!

    As for varnish drying, 4hrs is the minimum I would say in a well ventilated area. I normally leave it overnight before sanding, but if just re-coating will probably not leave it that long.

    Further to your previous comment about the price of Dremels…..
    the banner ad at the top showed a site called toolbox. I just googled it and found this:

    http://www.toolbox.co.uk/other-multi-tools-6047-0000

    I went to that open day that I mentioned above to find out about their carpentry course. Apparently it’s a back to basics course where you learn from the very basics upwards. The guy I spoke to seemed to have limited knowledge of the exact course detail, but said that fairly early on you decide on something to create with the tutor. The course then teaches you stuff that you apply to create your object, whatever it may be. You are assessed on your final object.
    Think I will give it a go, so long as I can get the boss to approve leaving early once a week.

    Elfinsafety
    Free Member

    Nice one Stumpy. There’s a GMC one there looks ok. Might go for that.

    Neighbour was very good about it; he looked a bit frazzled as I’d bin drilling for some time. And it was getting on a bit, about 8pm. Went down next day when I was doing some sanding, asked if it was a problem but they were ok about it. So, ok now and then but not all the time! And I’m going to find some bits of rubber to glue to the feet of my ‘workbench’.

    Using a hand held drill to do vertical holes through several layers of ply is not ideal. Miraculously, all were pretty straight!

    The varnish is looking good so far; two or 3 more coats I think will have it looking lovely. Seeing it now, in it’s more or less finished state is a joy. Reward for all the hours of work, not to mention really thrilling to see an idea I had in my head in a real, solid tangible form. Holding an ‘idea’ in your hand is something magical.

    I can see that when I do get some made up, that I’m going to have to allocate a batch for ‘testing samples’, to practice varnishing techniques. Are standard fine bristle paint brushes ok for varnishing? What’s a really nice clear varnish?

    stumpy01
    Full Member

    I can see that when I do get some made up, that I’m going to have to allocate a batch for ‘testing samples’, to practice varnishing techniques. Are standard fine bristle paint brushes ok for varnishing? What’s a really nice clear varnish?

    erm….good question.
    To be honest, I have only really used some basic clear B&Q varnish and some Wickes’ floor varnish for re-doing my dining room floor.
    Seems to me that it is the preparation & sanding between coats that really makes the difference. Can you get tester pots for varnish? Thinking out loud – if it needs to be hard wearing, can you get marine specific varnishes? I imagine they would be good.

    When I was looking recently, Wickes brushes were labelled for certain applications – there were some that were not recommended for varnish, but were for emulsion stuff & others that were the other way round; recommended for gloss & varnish, but not emulsion.

    I bought a narrower version of one of these, recently:
    http://www.wickes.co.uk/mastercoat-brush/invt/607323/
    It was pretty good, paint went on nice & smoothly, didn’t lose any bristles & was easy to clean.

Viewing 40 posts - 121 through 160 (of 196 total)

The topic ‘Any woodworking experts got any tips for Elf?’ is closed to new replies.