[Closed] Any woodworking experts got any tips for Elf?

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. 😀

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.

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.

UPDATE!

Just spoken to [url= http://www.cncworkshop.co.uk/ ]CNC Workshop[/url] (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.

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.

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.

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...?

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4 pages and no mention of Renovo??

😕

http://www.renovobikes.com/

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

Beautiful though. Yet another thing I actually need. 😐

Just a lag in the images

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.

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.

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

Elfin, regarding material maybe head over to [url= http://www.untothislast.co.uk/about.html ]Under This Last[/url] and have a chat. They're a furniture making outfit [url= http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=london&hl=en&ll=51.525527,-0.071923&spn=0.001041,0.002586&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=16.240657,42.363281&vpsrc=6&hnear=Westminster,+London,+United+Kingdom&t=m&z=19&layer=c&cbll=51.525444,-0.071925&panoid=tk8KX6iIalVLV0uH1owvgg&cbp=12,180.805982,,0,0 ]in Poplar[/url] (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.

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.

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.

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...

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

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.

[url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hobby-Rotary-Multi-Tool-Mini-Drill-Kit-Accessory-Set-fits-Dremel-Minicraft-etc-/360406844954?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item53e9ec061a#ht_1231wt_1270 ]Silverline Dremel Type Thing[/url]

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.

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

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

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.... 🙂

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...

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.

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?

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.

Well the thinness of the coats does mean that it'll be easy to sand, plus easier to get a nice even coat on. It's looking good so far. The only things I've varnished in't past have bin a door (yachting varnish ftw) and a couple of picture frames I've knocked up. That was with 'thicker' spirit-based varnish and tricky, tbh. This stuff is easier to apply, for sure.

The brush I've used is not the best I have to say. Bit too stiff really, need something softer. Learning learning learning...

It's slowly dawning on me that I'm proper winging it with this idea. I've no experience of doing anything like this, and it's a bit of a gamble to say the least. 😆 But I have confidence in my designs, the prototype works very well, and it's all looking very positive. Plus this thread has helped me immensely.

Waiting to hear back from CNC place.... 🙂

Elf..

MrsBouy's looking for some small lockup/studio space in/near Canary Wharf.. (shes into sculpture too) She's found something over Hackney way but it's a teeny bit too far IHO..

Don't s'pose you know of anywhere local like?

Just askin.

She's better off in Hackney. CW is way too spensive mate.

Might she consider sharing a space? I'm considering it but can't afford my own entire space atm.

Final production drawings now with cutters. Awaiting quotes and any other info.

I have proper struggled with the production layout. Multiple layers according to different CNC tools, carefully coded names for layers, all in absolutely perfect register, exactly according to requirements of the CNC software. Never produced such files before; everything else I've done has bin in 2-D. Very nervous.

Nearly there. Bin a fascinating journey so far, still some way to go. Success comes after the sale of every single piece.

And this is just the beginning....

You still chiseling away then!

I have a water based varnish you can try
It does not dry with a white base like all other water based varnishes
Also produces a sprayed finish too which we use as a last resort
when on site
You will have to sand between each coat with the finest wet and dry paper

I can give your a low down on hand finishing too.

Elf shall I bring my camera around for a photoshoot? 🙂

Cheers Elf.. Yes she would consider sharing. She's into wood and stone, just finished off some carvings but would like to expand and do some bigger stuff (3-4ft ish)

One of her clients (a painter'ist) has just taken a lock up (serviced with only electricity and sercured mind) over there, she's off to see her the week after next.. I'll poke her in the ribs to see whats over there, properslike.

Cheers.

UPDATE (For anyone even remotely still inertested):

We're in production. 😐

Payment made, all drawings submitted and approved, all systems go. Should have components ready by end of next week, first items for sale from the following Monday. Visiting the workshop on Monday to run over final details. Just the small matter of a website to be built, and an assembly line to be designed and constructed. 😀

I have rarely bin so nervous about any project! Not slept at times, for thinking about it all.

I feel like I'm on the cusp of a New Beginning, and it's very exciting.

Ah well; from initial daydream to actually hitting the button. Feels quite weird actually!

Now begins Stage Two: Actually marketing and selling the bloody things! 😮

No electric shock yet then? 😀

I've not used it yet Dez! 😯

Wear wellys... 😯

UPDATE: The Fullness of Time is almost upon us...

Initial production stage complete, first units rolling off production line. Slightly behind schedule, but not by much. Just preparing production samples now for product photography, first units for sale will be ready for despatch in a couple of days.

Just wondering if anyone has any tips for sanding round the edges of holes. Currently using a fingertip and a bit of fine sandpaper, but a dome-shaped fine sanding thingy would be great, but they don't seem to exist. Any ideas?

[img] [/img]

There is a local hardware shop close to work that we use for fasteners and stuff.

Last time I was in there, they had sanding attachments for dremel style rotary tool. They were in a variety of shapes, and included:

- cylindrical
- conical
- domed

I suspect these would do the trick in a jiffy!

These kind of things...(American site)
http://www.woodcraft.com/Family/2004626/PROXXON-Drum-Sanders-And-Accessories.aspx
that I suspect would work in a normal variable speed drill.
Another site:
http://www.ramprodinc.com/c-23-sanding-caps-and-holders.aspx although these ones seem to be for doing your nails....!

A site in the UK. Slough, no less:
http://www.sloughrc.com/default.asp?itemid=28987

Stumpy this is [i]exactly[/i] what I need. I just coon't find owt like that where I've looked!

[img] [/img]

Now where it is I can get this from in UK?

first units for sale will be ready for despatch in a couple of days.

So do we get to know what it is, you have created yet?

Rich, only when they are ready for despatch will all be revealed....

Elf, the dremmel section of B&Q should have those things.

I'll try and take a detour at lunch & make some enquiries at the shop I mentioned.....
....depends if the bloke I normally wander up the road with minds going a bit out of our way....otherwise it'll be another day.

I'll get some prices and a piccy if they don't mind me taking one.

I'll update after lunch. Can always pop one in the post for you to try or something......

You'll get a much neater finish if you follow route a chamfer or roundover rather than sanding. The holes look a bit small for a bearing guided router bit but a dremel one should fit. Something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005LEXR/dremel300-20
[img] [/img]

Ideally use a dremel mounted in one of these:
[url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-26150335JA-Dremel-Plunge-Attachment/dp/B0009EQ5QA/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&qid=1323086797&sr=8-18 ]amazon link[/url]
[img] [/img]

Just wondering if anyone has any tips for sanding round the edges of holes. Currently using a fingertip and a bit of fine sandpaper, but a dome-shaped fine sanding thingy would be great, but they don't seem to exist. Any ideas?

First things first, When you drill, drill from both sides to meet midway or put another bit of ply underneath as a sacrificial piece. This should reduce the breakout you have there.
Easiest way to deal with those holes if the edges of them to not need to be flat is whip round them with a router fitted with a pencil-round, just to take the edges and some breakout away.

If you sand too much with your fingers you'll go through the top ply most likely, exposing a dark one beneath and it'll look awful.
Only way really is to ensure you don't get any breakout in the first place.