I
don't show this side of the shop very often since it tends to get very overcrowded with
new stuff that is on the "to do list."
As you can see by the fence and stop at the right, this is the infeed side of
the sliding miter saw and in order to cut boards to repetitive length, I have to push and
cajole the new stuff to allow for the board length — not a good way.
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This
is another area that gets junked up fast since it is right at door's edge.
My plan is to push the workbench to the left 24" and build a storage
unit that will take the space. The red lines give you a rough idea of where I am heading.
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I have
purchased four 6' pieces of 1" x 12" pine. Beth has laid them on a work surface
and is lining up the bottoms so that she can draw shelf layout lines.
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Rather than to just cut dados for each of the shelves, I have decided to
"raise the bar" and cut sliding dovetails. There are two reasons for my
thinking. First, done correctly, they will add some strength to the case construction and
second, I have recently received a new sliding dovetail jig. It is the Accurate SD Jig
— we have used one jig from them last year. I will use this project to learn how to
use the new one. To make it more challenging and fun, we will use the new jig on one side,
and the Easy Sliding Dovetail jig to make the ones on the other side. If you recall, I
used it when making the dollhouse/toy shelf for my granddaughter. That was a very cool jig
and one worth bringing out and using again.
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With the
two boards aligned at the bottom, she can draw a line where the top shelf will be. Rather
than to cut a rabbet for the top, she brings it down a few inches so that a sliding
dovetail can work and the top will have a about a 2" surround — keeping whatever
is stored up there from falling off.
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Beth continues marking the locations of the sliding dovetail grooves that she will cut.
Since we want the shelves to be level and line up, we will consider these lines to be center
lines since each the jigs works in different fashions.
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Beth takes a quick look at the pages she and I created when we first used the
Easy Sliding Miter Jig. It may seem ironic, but we, too, use the web site at times.
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Beth's next task is to cut all the shelves to length. She has set the fence
stop to 22".
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Beth
counts out 7 shelves that she will need for this case. [By the way, if you have noticed
some shaky pictures, you are right. The very good digital camera was set way off
without my realizing it. I was just shooting away without a care. They will get sharper
pretty soon.]
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There are
just a few things to do in preparation for using the new jig. First, she has cut two
pieces of MDF per the instructions and is now marking for the drilling of three holes.
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She
drills the holes. Note that I have pulled an old Workmate out from the corner. It is old
(1976) but as good as new and will work very well for clamping shelves for this project.
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Beth attaches the MDF to the jig. [This is the point that I caught the "camera
error."]
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The
jig instructions call for a 2nd piece of MDF ripped to an exact size. It is used to serve
as a height gauge when installing the workpiece in the clamp.
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Beth
installs the rest of the jig and clamps it in place with the MDF and the workpiece.
We will pick it up from here for next week's update, and I promise you
correct camera settings.
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