Any wood workers here?

[derf]

I recently started on a small project to refinish some chairs, nothing too complicated, just sanding and varnish to match my dinner table. The chairs were in terrible condition, and with minimal work they are as good as new.

I was thinking I should finally get around to building myself a good solid work bench too. I was thinking about using this design with a much sturdier table top, possibly a 2" oak top the size depicted in the plans.

http://www.workbenchdesign.net/rplansfree.html

[Bluestreak]

I'm into wood working. Wish I had more tools but I do ok with what I have.

I've built night stands, lamps, entertainment centers and all sorts of things.

I got into display building a few years ago. I make 1/64th (matchbox size) scale farm displays. I build all my own buildings.

My father-in-law is a contractor. Every time they renovate a building, I get all the good materials. I got 2" thick oak doors once. They are now the top of my shop bench.

If you can find a saw mill anywhere around you, rough cut lumber is MUCH cheaper and a planer will pay for it's self very quickly.

Good luck and show some pictures of the build.

[derf]

I'll take some photos of the chairs later.

As for a planer, i would love one, but I cant justify the cost yet, especially when I have access (and a fully supplied shop) to one within a 30 minute drive. If I could find a planer that does both direction I would pick it up, that would be worth its weight in gold.

I did some oak countertops a few years back, and was very successful in building a sliding jig for my router and used that to level the whole thing off, in fact I built the whole counter top as one solid piece by gluing together a ton of 2" strips together then using the sliding router, pretty much what this guy does. It took me all day to shave 1/16" off the top, but again I can't afford (nor would I ever need a $5k machine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqhQutXvyDM

[Particle Man]

We built a kickass bar and a beer pong table in college.

[derf]

Originally Posted by Particle Man

We built a kickass bar and a beer pong table in college.

So did I, I don't have any finished photos of it handy, but it was eventually red on one side, white on the other with R and U (rutgers university) in opposing colors and LED's under the cups and an abbacus scoring system, fold out legs and wheels under one side for easy movement.




Here is my current chair project:

Before and after







And my hi tech air filtration system (actually works pretty good for most of the stuff the sander puts off)

[Amber Lamps]

Rangerscott likes to work wood... Oh wait this isn't dark alley is it?

[derf]

Originally Posted by Amber Lamps

Rangerscott likes to work wood... Oh wait this isn't dark alley is it?

I thought we had a section for telescopes?

[Hydrant]

Derf,

you should check out your local craiglist. My dad found an ad for some old bowling lanes that were still intact, he just bought a section of lanes, made a frame set on there, had a piece of angle iron sheet metal made for the back so nothing falls off. Works great.

[derf]

Yeh I looked already, didnt see much, I read about the whole reused bowling lane thing a while back.

Anyway, I just put the first coat of polyurethane on the first chair

[LeeNetworX]

I'm an amateur - I consider it a hobby that I hope to have more time in the future to grow. I've made some adorandak chairs from scratch as well as some tables, and refinished / repaired some furniture. One of these days I'll have my basement finished along with my shop. Right now, most of my tools are sitting unused down there, waiting for a place to call home. I'm planning on making a custom work bench with a recess for the miter saw, along with a rolling router table. Also making built-in cabinets in the workshop.