You know, I just realized I haven't asked a single question here. I guess I need to get into the garage and start making something so I can run into an issue to ask you good folks about...
@FreeMan You can ask questions even if you already know the answer, somebody won't know the answer and will have learned something.
The other day, someone posted a question about what to do if you're missing your drill press chuck bit and the idea of using a pivoted standard screwdriver to tighten was freaking marvelous, I would not have thought to try that.
@PeterGrace Valid, but I haven't done any woodworking, carpentry or even minor house repairs in so long, I'm drawing a blank on what to ask wonderful knowledge I've accumulated over the years that I could share. There's a lovely bronze badge just waiting for me to be creative, but nothing's coming... :/
@Matt built the garage from the concrete up ~20 years ago. Have worked on a variety of home repair projects since then, mostly involving electrical and plumbing work. Watched months, years, even of The Woodwright's Shop, This Old House, The New Yankee Workshop and others. Was intending to get into woodworking, starting with new kitchen cabinets.
@FreeMan I hear you, though I get to do a little more, but I always want to do fancy stuff and most of what I get to do are 'needed' projects, other than my turning that is. And that is mostly because I can usually start and finish a project in a few hours.
Just read this on family handyman, tips for building decks, it confirmed something for me that I had kind of learned on my own: don't ever buy boards that you can see the pith on the end-grain! familyhandyman.com/decks/building-a-deck/…
@FreeMan doing my own kitchen cabinets is kind of the holy grail for me, I think. The amount of money I can save by doing that and installing them myself would be amazing.
My wife cannot stand our kitchen, it is small and the cabinetry is as basic as it comes. I'd love to be able to apply what I've learned in making a custom kitchen.
It isn't as awesome as some people's woodworking, but, I built a garden box and it is solid, and I enjoyed adding the extra dowel plugs to kind of "finish" it a bit.
These miters, though, were installed loose. Mostly because the 2x12 I used for the boxes was cupped and it threw off the squareness
I didn't realize how screwed I was until it would have been a production to take it apart and plane them down, so I just said "I'll deal with some open miters" and called it a project complete
@PeterGrace I decided a couple of weeks ago that I'm getting the veritas plug cutter set. I want to hide all the screws. Just need to time to go to lee valley
Too late now but I made my own "plugs" from sawdust and glue .... should have used outdoor glue but they look ok. My own custom plugs would look AWESOME
harbor freight is such a siren's call. It's SOOO much cheaper than so many other tools, but, you never know if you're getting that diamond in the rough or a total pooper.
I got the Kreg jig to hid my screws. I also have been warned by several to stay away from Harbor Freight. In my experience by cheap tools you get cheap tools.
When I buy HF, I figure I'll get a couple of uses out of it. If it lasts more than that, I'm ahead of the game. That said, I bought a 1/2" torque wrench for about $40 that's lasted through several car projects.
Dust collector? crap (on par with other low-end ones, but the wheels don't even mount properly). Furniture dollies? crap, but I'd buy more of them at $8 apiece. Collapsible earmuffs? if only they were made for an adult's head. Sisal rope? good enough for a cat's scratching post. Wireless proximity alert? crap.
Funnels? I'd be impressed if they could screw those up. Momentary foot switch? actually works, but I haven't used it much. "Revolving bins" small parts carousel? ARRGGGHHH, so many little nuts, bolts, and washers; why didn't they cough up 10 cents to put this thing together in the factory or use spot welds or plastic snaps to hold it together? And OWWWW, so much fine metal dust cutting up my fingertips; if only I had worn gloves...THE PAIN, MAKE IT STOP!!
@rob :) It wasn't harbor freight but one like it, I bought cheap clamps. ya, they don't hold anything. might manage a couple pieces of paper. And I refuse to buy any Black & Decker tools ever again.
I've come to the decision that if I need to buy a tool and actually plan to use more than once a year, buy the best one I can afford. that way I should only have to buy it once.
not really, some are still in beta with only 1 question a day or less. However, I would feel much better if we could get up closer to 5 a day and sustain that for a while.
That's somewhat of a relief, though it would be nice to get back up to 5/day or more. I've been worried because gamification was terminated after only 20 days. area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/61762/gamification
The Workshop
The Workshop