Re: Crib Project from Design to Completion - In Progress
Thanks! Yep you got it, not ideal for sure but it's working. It's a 1/4" chisel.
Thanks! Yep you got it, not ideal for sure but it's working. It's a 1/4" chisel.
Crib Project from Design to Completion - *Completed*
- Thread starter mbromley
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Re: Crib Project from Design to Completion - In Progress
Well, I genuinely wish I lived closer and could loan you a couple tools.
Chopping mortises with a proper Joiner’s Mallet and a real mortising chisel is light years away from the way you are doing it. If you are enjoying the Dewalt chisel and hammer, using better suited tools will blow your socks off. For me, there was an enormous difference.
I see you like Veritas/Lee Valley tools. I’m embarrassed by just how many of their tools I own. FWIW, it is well worth getting a proper mortising chisel. I think Veritas now has an outstanding mortising chisel made out of PM-V11. LV also sells some other excellent brands. If you can afford to buy one, I’d encourage you to buy it for this project.
I’m a big matching set of tools OCD kind of guy, but a mortising chisel is the one exception. For 95% of your work, you can get by with just a 5/16” chisel. Works just fine in stock from 3/4” to full inch (and more) thick material.
As for a Joiner’s Mallet, If you haven’t already seen it, I highly recommend an episode of the WoodWrights called “Big Ash Mallet” which is about an excellent mallet Roy makes in just 30 minutes. If you have a 1” bench chisel and some firewood, you’ll be amazed at just how easy it is to make. Even more amazed by how well it works for chopping mortises. After all, what is a Joiner’s Mallet really for?
Well, I genuinely wish I lived closer and could loan you a couple tools.
Chopping mortises with a proper Joiner’s Mallet and a real mortising chisel is light years away from the way you are doing it. If you are enjoying the Dewalt chisel and hammer, using better suited tools will blow your socks off. For me, there was an enormous difference.
I see you like Veritas/Lee Valley tools. I’m embarrassed by just how many of their tools I own. FWIW, it is well worth getting a proper mortising chisel. I think Veritas now has an outstanding mortising chisel made out of PM-V11. LV also sells some other excellent brands. If you can afford to buy one, I’d encourage you to buy it for this project.
I’m a big matching set of tools OCD kind of guy, but a mortising chisel is the one exception. For 95% of your work, you can get by with just a 5/16” chisel. Works just fine in stock from 3/4” to full inch (and more) thick material.
As for a Joiner’s Mallet, If you haven’t already seen it, I highly recommend an episode of the WoodWrights called “Big Ash Mallet” which is about an excellent mallet Roy makes in just 30 minutes. If you have a 1” bench chisel and some firewood, you’ll be amazed at just how easy it is to make. Even more amazed by how well it works for chopping mortises. After all, what is a Joiner’s Mallet really for?
Re: Crib Project from Design to Completion - In Progress
Thanks for the tips, after sharpening my chisel for the fifth time this weekend I was beginning to wonder how much nicer a mortise chisel would be. I do love the veritas tools so I'll put one on my want list and see when I can pick one up. I also just watched the episode on the joimters mallet. That seems like a good afternoon project one of these weekends. I'll just have to pick up some wood for it as most of my scrap is poplar.
Thanks for the tips, after sharpening my chisel for the fifth time this weekend I was beginning to wonder how much nicer a mortise chisel would be. I do love the veritas tools so I'll put one on my want list and see when I can pick one up. I also just watched the episode on the joimters mallet. That seems like a good afternoon project one of these weekends. I'll just have to pick up some wood for it as most of my scrap is poplar.
Re: Crib Project from Design to Completion - In Progress
Thanks to the snow yesterday I left work around 1:30 in the afternoon and was able to spend the remainder of the evening in the shop. After my first few test slats I decided to get the rest of them ready. This required rough cutting my 5/4 board to length, hand jointing one edge, ripping the opposite edge on the table saw, resawing on the bandsaw, planing to final thickness, and finally ripping to the final width. I'm super impressed with my new Laguna 14 12 bandsaw. This is my first time resawing and I was able to split the 5/4 board and only have to plane about 1/16th or less to get it nice and smooth again. It didn't take much to get it set up and operating in top condition. A couple more hours and I should have both sides assembled. The last few details will be added the router on all the slats.
-Bromley
Thanks to the snow yesterday I left work around 1:30 in the afternoon and was able to spend the remainder of the evening in the shop. After my first few test slats I decided to get the rest of them ready. This required rough cutting my 5/4 board to length, hand jointing one edge, ripping the opposite edge on the table saw, resawing on the bandsaw, planing to final thickness, and finally ripping to the final width. I'm super impressed with my new Laguna 14 12 bandsaw. This is my first time resawing and I was able to split the 5/4 board and only have to plane about 1/16th or less to get it nice and smooth again. It didn't take much to get it set up and operating in top condition. A couple more hours and I should have both sides assembled. The last few details will be added the router on all the slats.
-Bromley
Re: Crib Project from Design to Completion - In Progress
I prefer a bevel chisel. Here's why:
https://youtu.be/q_NXq7_TILA
I prefer a bevel chisel. Here's why:
https://youtu.be/q_NXq7_TILA
Re: Crib Project from Design to Completion - In Progress
Very interesting! So maybe it's just my low quality chisels but I was really struggling to keep and edge on them. It's only poplar and after just one mortise there would be small nicks in the edge. Maybe sharpen to a different angle?
Very interesting! So maybe it's just my low quality chisels but I was really struggling to keep and edge on them. It's only poplar and after just one mortise there would be small nicks in the edge. Maybe sharpen to a different angle?
Re: Crib Project from Design to Completion - In Progress
Bill, I’m curious about what kind of hammer/mallet you use. Also, what type of mortising chisels were you using before you converted over to bevel/bench chisels?
FWIW, I’ve never used a huge pigsticker like the one in the video. I do have and occasionally use some smaller antique ones, but mostly the set of Narex.
Paul Sellers knows way more about woodworking and teaching woodworking then I’ll ever know but he definitely “doinked up” the first mortise and did a much better job on the second one. There are some very obvious reasons for some of that.
Bill, I’m curious about what kind of hammer/mallet you use. Also, what type of mortising chisels were you using before you converted over to bevel/bench chisels?
FWIW, I’ve never used a huge pigsticker like the one in the video. I do have and occasionally use some smaller antique ones, but mostly the set of Narex.
Paul Sellers knows way more about woodworking and teaching woodworking then I’ll ever know but he definitely “doinked up” the first mortise and did a much better job on the second one. There are some very obvious reasons for some of that.
Re: Crib Project from Design to Completion - In Progress
I use an oak mallet I made years ago.
The mortising chisel I had was one I'd picked up at woodworking shop. I simply do not recall the brand. I also say "had" because I have no idea where it is.
As for bevel chisels, I use some Stanley Fat Max and a variety of "no name" and some old Stanley chisels my dad has had for around 40 years. I beat the snot out of my chisels.
Paul's video was pretty much a demonstration thing so you have to take it with a grain of salt.
I use an oak mallet I made years ago.
The mortising chisel I had was one I'd picked up at woodworking shop. I simply do not recall the brand. I also say "had" because I have no idea where it is.
As for bevel chisels, I use some Stanley Fat Max and a variety of "no name" and some old Stanley chisels my dad has had for around 40 years. I beat the snot out of my chisels.
Paul's video was pretty much a demonstration thing so you have to take it with a grain of salt.
Re: Crib Project from Design to Completion - In Progress
I had a little more time to work in the shop this weekend and was able to get both sides fitted up. There was a lot of hand work involved here to get all of the slats fit right and tight with the curved upper rail. I'm very happy with the final results. Just need to add the details to the slats at the router table, but the hard part is complete. Onto the front next...
-Bromley
I had a little more time to work in the shop this weekend and was able to get both sides fitted up. There was a lot of hand work involved here to get all of the slats fit right and tight with the curved upper rail. I'm very happy with the final results. Just need to add the details to the slats at the router table, but the hard part is complete. Onto the front next...
-Bromley
Re: Crib Project from Design to Completion - In Progress
Bill,
That is not a demonstration - that is how Paul cuts a mortise and teaches his students to chop a mortise. (a regular bevel chisel, not with a pig sticker! ha ha)
Bill,
That is not a demonstration - that is how Paul cuts a mortise and teaches his students to chop a mortise. (a regular bevel chisel, not with a pig sticker! ha ha)
Re: Crib Project from Design to Completion - In Progress
Its been a few weeks, but I finally had a full weekend to spend in the shop. It was a very productive weekend and I got quite a bit more done on this crib build. I'm just working on getting all the major joinery done now and I will go back and add the routed details. Everything is just dry fit at this point (I also despise glue up as it stresses me out so I'm putting it off). I did change up the design on the back frame and panel such that the trim detail is routed into the rail and stiles. I'm hoping a few nights this week I can get into the garage and get the whole rear assembly put together. I plan to sand and pre finish as many pieces and sub assemblies as I can so I don't have to deal with all the corners.
-Bromley
Its been a few weeks, but I finally had a full weekend to spend in the shop. It was a very productive weekend and I got quite a bit more done on this crib build. I'm just working on getting all the major joinery done now and I will go back and add the routed details. Everything is just dry fit at this point (I also despise glue up as it stresses me out so I'm putting it off). I did change up the design on the back frame and panel such that the trim detail is routed into the rail and stiles. I'm hoping a few nights this week I can get into the garage and get the whole rear assembly put together. I plan to sand and pre finish as many pieces and sub assemblies as I can so I don't have to deal with all the corners.
-Bromley
Re: Crib Project from Design to Completion - In Progress
Quick question... I still need to purchase some plywood for the 3 back panels. Any recommendations on a plywood that would match the grain/color of the poplar? Can I buy a poplar ply? I'm open to any and all suggestions.
Quick question... I still need to purchase some plywood for the 3 back panels. Any recommendations on a plywood that would match the grain/color of the poplar? Can I buy a poplar ply? I'm open to any and all suggestions.
Re: Crib Project from Design to Completion - In Progress
You're right originally I was, but I'm going to tryout a transtint or something similar and go for a greyish tone. I've really taken my time on this build and would hate to cover it all up with paint (as someone advised earlier). I need to pick up some finish and start experimenting with it. I've read that possibly birch could work. I did find poplar ply on home Depot but it's 50$ to ship it and not stocked locally.
You're right originally I was, but I'm going to tryout a transtint or something similar and go for a greyish tone. I've really taken my time on this build and would hate to cover it all up with paint (as someone advised earlier). I need to pick up some finish and start experimenting with it. I've read that possibly birch could work. I did find poplar ply on home Depot but it's 50$ to ship it and not stocked locally.
Re: Crib Project from Design to Completion - In Progress
Since you are tinting, you have some leeway on the match. I guess I’d try baltic birch or maple ply which should be available in your area. Shiplapped solid poplar or raised panels would be an option if you think you can make it work with your design. I wouldn’t bother with HD for this given the typical quality of HD ply, or lack thereof.
Since you are tinting, you have some leeway on the match. I guess I’d try baltic birch or maple ply which should be available in your area. Shiplapped solid poplar or raised panels would be an option if you think you can make it work with your design. I wouldn’t bother with HD for this given the typical quality of HD ply, or lack thereof.
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