Maple Mania part 7

I wasn't plan on this being a 12 step program but it is starting to feel like it. After giving the aprons a good sanding it was time to start thinking about how the pieces need to go together.

I trimmed the two thick aprons a little longer than I need. Then took time to lay out the locations of some dowels to help with alignment during glue up and hopefully add a little strength. After drilling for the dowels I test fit the two thick aprons and measured for the two thin aprons. After cutting the thin aprons to the final size I once again marked out locations for dowels to connect the thin aprons to the thick aprons.

Then it was time for a dry assembly.

dry assembly

 By doing the dry assembly I found I didn't have enough clamps to clamp it all together at once and to get alignment correct I didn't think I could assemble it in stages. That meant I had to get some more clamps.

After a trip to the store I had enough clamps to start the assembly. I wish I had some pictures of it going together but I was working alone and was in a hurry to get it all together and clamped before the glue started to set.

a more appropriate number of clamps

you can't ever have to many clamps

 I scraped as much glue squeeze out off as possible and then let it all set to cure.

Out of the clamps, you can see I left the aprons proud of the top. They will be evened out when flattening the top.

I then used a hand plane to even the corners of the aprons up and a belt sander to flatten the top.

The top is looking really good

Next the aprons need trimmed to length, some more sanding, attach the legs, and apply finish.

Work Bench Mods

I don't have a typically wood working work bench. I have a couple of work benches I made from some salvaged counter tops on a frame made of 2x4's and 2x2's.  While they work great for being a nice flat surface for stacking things on, they lack the work holding capabilities of a real work bench.  It also isn't sturdy enough to not want to move around while using a hand plane. 

Recently I added a hold down clamp to my bench, it was something I had gotten at a yard sale my grandma was having. Grandpa had never installed the clamp, it was new in the box.

 A bolt is counter bored into the top so the bolt head is recessed when not in use.

Even though I don't have a vise, I can still edge plane a board.  This is a mdf fence I've used in the past with the bandsaw, but with the help of some clamps it works for edge planing. I also drilled a 3/4" hole in the bench and inserted a 3/4" dowel to use as a planing stop.

So don't let not having a "real" work bench keep you from getting things done.