In previous posts, I described a tearout problem I experienced while shaping the sides of the Shaker Hanging Shelf. Cherry is not only hard but also somewhat brittle and I had ruined several side pieces by splitting out small chunks of wood when routing across the grain. The solution came in the form of a shear angle router bit from MLCS Woodworking.
The photo shows two flush trim router bits side by side. The bit on the left is a standard pattern bit with the carbide cutter running parallel to the axis of the bit. The one on the right is the shear angle bit with its diagonally oriented cutter. The bit has been equipped with guide bearings above and below the cutter so it can be used both as a pattern bit and a flush trim bit. In use, the angled cutter has a cross-grain slicing action compared with the chopping action of the conventional bit. I found it cut more smoothly than the conventional bit, with less tendency for tearout when dealing with irregular grain.
I am adding MLCS to my links section for those interested in trying the bit themselves. I have purchased a number of bits from this source over the years and can recommend them as a source for reasonably priced bits of decent quality.
This blog is devoted to handmade woodworking, cabinetmaking, and furniture projects with an emphasis on the Shaker and Arts and Crafts styles. I will be writing about the technical and creative processes involved in the design and construction of a series of projects in solid domestic hardwoods including oak, maple, cherry, and walnut.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
A Week Spent on Details
It has been a week since my last entry and I haven't really been able to do much woodworking. I spent much of the time sorting out my Etsy store, figuring out the best way to ship, designing an ad for a local neighborhood newspaper, and working at my day job. I did make a sale to an out of town friend, which rallied my spirits a bit.
I have a second hanging shelf partially finished but am waiting for a new router bit to arrive so I can complete the side pieces. Meanwhile, I am beginning to plan my next project, a Shaker serving tray. None of the actual Shaker designs I have been able to find suits my purpose exactly, so I will be drawing elements from a number of existing pieces in the design process. I will be posting the design as it develops.
I have a second hanging shelf partially finished but am waiting for a new router bit to arrive so I can complete the side pieces. Meanwhile, I am beginning to plan my next project, a Shaker serving tray. None of the actual Shaker designs I have been able to find suits my purpose exactly, so I will be drawing elements from a number of existing pieces in the design process. I will be posting the design as it develops.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Shaker Hanging Shelf - Done!
Shaker Hanging Shelf - Complete |
I made a trip to Kettle Moraine Hardwoods yesterday morning and purchased another 22 board feet of cherry, half 4/4 thickness and half 5/4. I milled up a small amount to use as the sides of another Hanging Shelf and am happy to report that it is beautiful material! I haven't decided which thickness will turn out more economical for me in the long run, so for now I am experimenting with both.
I had to order some larger shipping boxes to accommodate the shelf, so I will be planning my next project while I wait for my order to arrive. I am considering a serving tray based on a surviving Shaker piece, but need to adjust the proportions to better suit present day needs. I will post more information as the design evolves...
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Shaker Hanging Shelf - Applying the Finish
No photos tonight, but I did apply the first coat of finish to the shelf. I used Zinsser Seal Coat, which is a high quality dewaxed shellac, straight out of the can. I usually thin commercial shellacs with denatured alcohol and apply them with a cloth, but this product seemed to be a good consistency for brush application right out of the can. The brush technique worked quite well. I will allow the shellac to dry overnight, sand lightly by hand, then apply a second coat.
Shellac is not as durable as varnish or lacquer, but does have many good qualities. Drying time is very short, a matter of minutes if the shellac is properly thinned with alcohol. Because subsequent coats partially dissolve the previous layer, brush marks and other errors are easily corrected. Brushes are easily cleaned with alcohol, though cleaning is not absolutely necessary, as re-immersion in shellac will soften a dirty brush in a matter of minutes. Also, I particularly like the way the shellac brings out the natural color and grain of cherry.
Shellac finishes do discolor after prolonged contact with water and will dissolve if placed in contact with alcoholic beverages. Heat resistance is not spectacular, either. The ease of application and clarity of the finish make up for many of its weaknesses in my opinion. With reasonable care, a shellac finish can last a long time and is easily renewed if damaged. I will post a final photo of the shelf after applying the second coat so readers may judge the results for themselves...
Shellac is not as durable as varnish or lacquer, but does have many good qualities. Drying time is very short, a matter of minutes if the shellac is properly thinned with alcohol. Because subsequent coats partially dissolve the previous layer, brush marks and other errors are easily corrected. Brushes are easily cleaned with alcohol, though cleaning is not absolutely necessary, as re-immersion in shellac will soften a dirty brush in a matter of minutes. Also, I particularly like the way the shellac brings out the natural color and grain of cherry.
Shellac finishes do discolor after prolonged contact with water and will dissolve if placed in contact with alcoholic beverages. Heat resistance is not spectacular, either. The ease of application and clarity of the finish make up for many of its weaknesses in my opinion. With reasonable care, a shellac finish can last a long time and is easily renewed if damaged. I will post a final photo of the shelf after applying the second coat so readers may judge the results for themselves...
Monday, November 8, 2010
Shaker Hanging Shelf - Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
Gluing Up the Shelf |
My first thought was to use the router table as I felt that would yield the smoothest cut. Unfortunately, the router bit grabbed the piece, splitting out a substantial chunk of wood along the grain line. My attempts to salvage the piece by trimming it down spoiled the proportions, so I ended up deciding to make a new side piece. Unfortunately, I was out of cherry by that point. I will be making a trip to Kettle Moraine Hardwoods soon to replenish my supply. I am putting their website in my Favorite Links area in case readers would like to check it out.
Luckily, I only damaged one of the two shelf units I was making. I ended up nibbling the notches in the remaining side pieces using the table saw. The small amount of roughness left by the saw was easily cleaned up and produced none of the splintering I had with the router, so I will be using this process from now on.
After sanding all the pieces, I glued them together using the setup shown in the photo above. I checked everything for square after tightening the clamps, then left them to dry overnight. I plan to use dewaxed shellac to finish the piece as it brings out the color of the wood. Cherry is prone to blotchiness with most other finishes and shellac will allow the wood to darken evenly over time as it naturally tends to do. While I wait for the glue to dry, I will begin the process of selecting my next project...
Friday, November 5, 2010
Shaker Hanging Shelf - Making the Sides and Shelves
Cutting the Sides to Length |
Before cutting the dadoes in the side pieces, I examined each of the blanks carefully to determine the most advantageous grain orientation before tracing the desired outline on each one in pencil. Since I would be doing the final shaping on the router table, it was critical to be sure I would be working the grain in the right direction to avoid tearout just as when I jointed and planed the stock in the first place. I then marked the bottom of the surface I wanted to use as the inside face of each piece to ensure I oriented it correctly in the dado jig.
Dado Jig and Router |
Roughing Out |
Shaping the Sides |
Copying the Angle |
The Shelf Dry-Fitted |
More to follow...
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
A Brief Post-Election Post
This will be a short post because I have had a pretty busy week, setting up my Etsy store and working on the Shaker Hanging Shelf. I spent about two hours making the banner you see above for my store. I figured Photoshop would be the best way to go since the banner has to have a certain number of pixels, but I forgot to take into account how unfamiliar I am with the program. The end result wasn't bad considering that I was working by trial and error.
I will do a more complete post on the Hanging Shelf in a couple of days, but progress has been encouraging so far. I dry fitted my first attempt tonight and I am very pleased with the result. All my jigs worked as planned and all the parts fit as they should. The proportions are perfect. Whew! Stay tuned for the full story...
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