Will's Workshop Tip, Miter Joints without clamps

 

 

I recently needed to make some frames for some of my daughter's paintings. I considered buying new frame molding for the project but that's just not how I like to do things! This was a great opportunity to clear out some of my scrap wood from my scrap can(the scrap wood can will be another tip)

I pulled out all the leftover 2x4s I could find(no treated wood). I ripped the 2x4s down to 1x1 1/2 on the table saw. Then using stop blocks on my extended miter saw fence to insure the frame sides and tops were all the right size. I cut the miters. No problem so far, been there and done that so many times I don't even waste brain power thinking about it! BUT! I didn't have enough miter clamps or time to make any jigs for clamping. This is what I came up with.

 

I nailed a small block of MDF to my workbench. Then I spread  glue on one of the mitered parts. I placed it along the block of MDF and put the other part along the other edge of the MDF. It was really easy to hold the joint together and keep my hands safely away from the brad nail gun. Anytime you're using tool you should be very careful. I got a great deal on a Full size Framing nail gun because my little brother shot himself in the hand. He spent about 10 hours looking at the nail sticking out of his hand before the Doctor finally pulled it out! Be carful! And if you do get hurt don't blame anyone but YOURSELF!  

 

 

 

Will's Tips

As I mentioned yesterday, the best way to buy glue is in bulk. One of the problems with buying in bulk is that working with a gallon jug of glue just isn't handy! Over the years I have tried reusing old smaller glue bottles. Commercially available glue bottles work okay but add to your total cost for the glue. I have never been satisfied with the push pull tops on most of the glue bottles or the long thin necks on some of the glue bottles. I had tried dishwashing detergent bottles but again the tops tend to clog.

 I know most people who have been doing woodworking for more than about 30 minutes have something they like to use for gluing. If your happy with what your using and its working for you that's great! But if your not....you might want to try my glue bottles. My glue bottles come in a variety of colors and sizes. My favorite glue bottles for most glue jobs are the 20oz Mt Due bottles with a 1/8th in hole drilled through the center of the cap. They are great for spreading glue when edge joining boards. You don't have to worry about lost caps or stopped up necks. When your done just sit the bottle down and the glue on the cap will skim over sealing the glue inside from drying. The next time your ready to glue just peel off the dried glue from the bottle cap with your fingernail and your ready to go!

Another problem with the gallon jugs of glue occur after the jug has been opened and your glue bottle filled. The air inside the jug starts to cure and thicken the glue. The first time I fill a smaller glue bottle from the gallon jug I don't just fill one bottle. I fill as many bottles as it takes to empty the jug. The glue last longer in the smaller glue bottles than it will in a half full gallon jug. And the smaller bottles fit better on my workshop shelves. I also find it handy to have a glue bottle in each workstation in my shop.
For getting into tight spots with the glue....well...that's another tip!

 



 

Prepping for the Geranium Festival

Busy, busy, busy trying to get some work done on Heather's shutters for the Geranium Festival on Saturday, May 18th. The festival will be on the square in beautiful McDonough, Georgia. In addition to selling her Day of the Dead paintings, Heather will also be doing face painting. Great art work done by a fabulously talented young lady at reasonable prices too! I heard she even take credit cards! Come see us.

But, back to the shutters and other projects. I keep finding spots I missed when I initially painted these shutters. They were white and yellow but the artist requested black so the spray gun had to be put to use.  I guarantee there will be at least one can of "rattle can" black on hand for the day of the festival.  In the process of building display shelves for the corners. Need to make them easy to attach for future festivals.

Had to stop and glue this one back together. Here's a tip - it is cheaper to buy glue in big jars and then put it in clean 20 oz soda bottles to make it easier to use.

One other project that we finished this week was this child's table and chair. The pink is pretty bright and the chalkboard top should make some child very happy. It will be up at one of our booths at Front Porch of the South sometime this week.

Have a wonderful, productive day and we will check in again soon.

Hello from Will's Workshop! It's been way too long since I have had time for my blog! To bring you up-to-date. We are now in four cities/towns. We have three booths in the "Front Porch of the South" Columbus Ga. Booths A19, A24 and O3. We are in "Country Home Furnishings of Cataula" in Cataula Ga. "Corner Arts Gallery and Studio" in Newnan Ga. and "Southern Home and Ranch" in Carrollton Ga.

We just finished our first festival at Country Home Furnishings in Cataula Ga. We had a great time meeting and sharing information with people who enjoy doing the things we love. If your ever in the Columbus Ga or Callaway Gardens area you really should stop and visit with Helen and Anna May at Country Home Furnishings. They are located on Hwy 27 between Callaway and Columbus.
     
Just a reminder! We build custom furniture on a very limited basis.

Times are changing!

Good to have a little time for my blog! Every time I think I know what is around the corner for me things change again. I was all set to retire from Lawson Army Airfield at Ft Benning Ga. But it seems the Army wants to keep me a little longer!
 For the people who don't know me yet or haven't read my bio. I'm an Air Traffic Controller working in Airfield Operations. I have been working in aviation since I was 18 and now I'm 56. I must admit I'm getting a bit burnt out! Don't get me wrong, I still love the work but the shift work is taking a tole on me. I look forward to retiring from ATC and the DAC workforce sometime in the next year or so.
 The things I love most in life at this point are. Time with family/friends. Working in my shop and sharing the knowledge I have gained over a lifetime of "being handy" in the workshop. I hope to start putting more "meat" in the blog in the next week. first article should be out this week teaching you how to make bird feeders. Till then...God bless you all!
       

Things to come!

Some of the things you will be seeing more of in future posts. This is a bird feeder made from a reclaimed lamp, mason jar and a old plate. I'll be showing you step by step how to turn things you find at yard sales, thrift stores and even your own home into treasures.

This is an old rolling pin I found at a yard sale for a dollar. I carved a "Wood Spirit" and now it is a treasure in someone's home. I don't know whose home because it was stolen from our booth (A19)at Front Porch of the South in Columbus Ga. 

Question: If you steal a Wood Spirit will it bring you good luck or bad luck?

 

This is a what I call a Potters Bench. Made from reclaimed 2x4 lumber destined for the landfill. This simple bench would be great sitting next to your grill on the deck or as a small work bench.

This is a Walking Stick I made for a friend. Making walking sticks can be very satisfiying and as simple or fancy as you like. Don't be intimidated by the Wood Spirit! I will be showing you how to carve one. It really isn't that difficult and your friends will be blown away by how "talented" you are!

Thats it for today! I just wanted to let you get a look at some of the things I love to do.

I'm Back!

Sorry it has taken so long to get started on my new Blog. I had great intentions but life tends to get in the way sometimes. I will be retiring on November 30, 2012. That is, retiring from my full time, making money so I can have a house to live in and food to eat, job! I'm looking forward to spending most of my time with family & friends. Doing the things I love most in life. Like fishing and kayaking, Making old things new and new things look old! I will be posting lots of photos of things that come across my workbench. Most of the projects will be geared to show people how to use reclaimed and/or re-purposed materials to make things people love again. I will have a lot of projects for the home and yard. I don't claim to be a expert on anything! I speak two languages fluently (Redneck & Hillbilly) A little bit of what some people might call English. For about the last 30 years or so I have been talking to airplanes & helicopters. And yes...they talk back!

Bottom line is this. If you're looking for a polished and slick blog with correct spelling, grammar & punctuation just move on down to the next blogger. You won't find that here. What you will find is a lot of useful information about fun and useful projects almost anyone can do. And you will be keeping things out of the landfills.