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Crafting the tops and bottoms of the containers.
Try half 1 of this story.
After milling and beveling (mitering) the lengthy edges of the containers’ sides, I turned my consideration to the tops and bases. I crafted these rectangular components from the identical reclaimed inventory used for the edges to take care of a cohesive look.
For connecting the bases and tops to the edges, I selected the dependable and easy tongue-and-groove joint. Given the bases measured roughly 4″ x 4″, I didn’t account for seasonal growth and contraction. Because the long-grain dimension wouldn’t change and any width fluctuation can be negligible, I confidently glued the tongues of the bases and tops into the corresponding grooves I milled into the field sides.
Forming the Tongues
To create the tongues, I used the desk noticed. There are two widespread approaches:
- Utilizing the Fence: Run the sq. inventory upright alongside the fence to make the primary shoulder minimize.
- Utilizing the Miter Gauge: Place the inventory in opposition to the miter gauge for managed cuts.
I opted for the miter gauge to make the primary sequence of cuts, then completed the tongues by holding the inventory upright in opposition to the fence for a secondary go.
Afterward, I cleaned the tongues utilizing a carbide scraper—an indispensable software when working with hardwoods like wenge. A rabbet aircraft may battle with such dense materials, however the carbide scraper dealt with the duty with ease.
Reducing the Grooves
As soon as the tongues had been full, I measured and marked the groove areas on the field sides. Listed below are three strategies I demonstrated for marking:
- Utilizing a Pencil: Place the fashioned tongue subsequent to the field aspect and mark its place with a pencil.
- With a Marking Gauge: Set the blade to the tongue’s width, scribe the groove baseline, and align this mark with the noticed blade for accuracy.
- Fence Alignment Technique: Align the bottom flush with the fence, alter the fence till the noticed blade’s enamel meet the tongue’s edge, and lock the fence for consistency.
With the grooves marked, I set the noticed’s fence to the suitable distance and crosscut the grooves into every of the field sides. If the groove width exceeded the desk noticed blade’s kerf, I adjusted the fence and made a second go.
Take a look at Meeting
After milling the tongues and grooves, I test-fitted all of the components. I assembled the edges over the bases and tops, securing all the things with rubber bands to carry it snugly in place.
Keep tuned for the following installment, the place I’ll element the gluing course of and share ideas for attaining tight, seamless joints.
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