Unfinished projects

metalspinner · August 15, 2021, 07:08:45 PM

This is typical in my shop. Here is a stack of mitered boxes I started several months ago and set aside because I got distracted by other things.

Each strawberry flat has two mitered boxes.
Well, today I was in the mood to work on a few.
Here are the lid medallions I had started and set aside.

I taped them all together down on a board so I could sand them with the ROS up through 400 grit.

I had only to make the mitered lid frame. The pieces are rough cut on the miter saw then finished on the miter trimmer.

A cool little pile of edge grain shavings. This is a really cool tool.

I tried something different today. I used CA glue to glue this mitered lid together. So I used making tape along the faces of the frame to keep from making a mess.

All glued up without too much of a mess.

Then straight to the table saw to cut some slip feather slots.

Still plenty of finish sanding to do, but needed to stop for the day. Hopefully it won't be 3 months before I get back to them. 🙄

Dan_Shade · August 15, 2021, 07:26:12 PM

It's way more fun to start a project than it is to finish one.

How do you like that trimmer, is it an old one?

metalspinner · August 15, 2021, 08:04:58 PM

The trimmer is new and I love it. In fact I started these boxes just to give it a test drive.
I made the auxiliary table it is on. The extended fences let me set up stops for the longer pieces.

Dan_Shade · August 15, 2021, 08:07:26 PM

Where did you find the trimmer?

I like the boxes, I think making mitered frames is a miserable job, but I'm a perfectionist that either never gets it done, or settle for a substandard job.

metalspinner · August 15, 2021, 08:20:46 PM

The trimmer came from Rockler. But several places sell the same one. And it is very reasonably priced. It came right out of the box super sharp.

The CA glue gave no chance to adjust the miter joint. Stick it once and you get what you get. 😂

Larry · August 15, 2021, 08:24:14 PM

I really like your "lid medallions", they look so peaceful and serene. In the picture it looks like they are fairly thin. Do you make the initial glue up on a thicker board and resaw to get several lids out of one board?

I make lots of boxes, I may borrow your idea

, hope you don't mind.

metalspinner · August 15, 2021, 08:44:34 PM

Thanks, Larry
Yes, this was a thicker glue up that was resawn.

I got the idea for this glue up last fall. Mom was in town to see the fall colors and we went each day to the Foothills Pkwy to look out on the vistas. It came to me then that I might be able to replicate the scene with various woods. I talked through the idea with her on the way home each day.
That visit was the last time I saw her. She passed from Covid the following month.
If you think of your mom while you work, Larry, I would be honored for you to use it. 😉

firefighter ontheside · August 15, 2021, 08:47:36 PM

These are very nice. My personal projects often get delayed like that. I cut out parts for my kitchen island build and then set them on a shelf for like 2 years. I came back to it though. I almost bought a miter trimmer at an online auction that I frequent, but I let it go. I may still buy one someday if I come across another one. That's a nice table saw you have there.

btulloh · August 15, 2021, 09:02:06 PM

Very nice. I'm a big fan of unfinished projects, btw. I seem to have plenty of them.

(I guess you mean unfinished as in no finish applied yet. I seem to have plenty of incomplete projects. :-[ And of course they are . . . unfinished as well.)

Nice trimmer. Those are really good to have around and faster than a shooting board in most cases. Nice to see they're more widely available now. Used to be the only way to get one was to find an old Lion trimmer and then do a restoration job. I picked up an original Lion a few years ago from a neighbor that was downsizing. It was in great condition, freshly sharpened knife plus an extra knife also just sharpened. It was a lucky find and great price.

Nice job on the mitres and bevels. Nice job on the marquetry too.

farmfromkansas · August 15, 2021, 09:48:35 PM

I have a couple unfinished projects in my shop, been delayed because of the increase in humidity this year. My glue up panels warped, and could not cut the grooves b/c of the warp. Been running dehumidifiers in the shop, dumping them regularly, and just the other day discovered a side window had been unlatched, and a small gap had been leaking air into the shop. My wife uses that side window to reach in and get the air hose to air up tires on the mower.

metalspinner · August 15, 2021, 10:39:57 PM

Scenic mountain glueups - YouTube

Texas Ranger · August 15, 2021, 11:58:00 PM

I have an older stand alone trimmer that is handy as a pocket on a shirt.

Texas Ranger · August 16, 2021, 11:02:19 AM

metalspinner · August 16, 2021, 11:15:04 AM

8) 8) Jealous!

VB-Milling · August 16, 2021, 12:36:20 PM

Glad to know I'm in good company regarding incomplete (and unfinished) projects.

I'd say 90% of the incomplete projects for me are planned that way, but not too many people understand that.

Controlled chaos and mitigated mayhem should be nicknames for both my headspace and my shop space

21incher · August 16, 2021, 03:02:23 PM

I had a mess of them up until this past winter. I built a CNC router but had no room left in my shop for it so I gathered up all the partially finished projects ( some over 30 years old ) chopped them up with my bandsaw then used them for kindling wood to start the stove. Anything under 1 x4 x 2 ft long is being chopped up now and put in boxes for this winters fires. I finally figured out with a couple thousand feet of wood dried in the barn that I never grab the small pieces anymore because its easier to work with larger pieces and I need the space.

WDH · August 17, 2021, 03:18:28 PM

MS, simply fantastic and inspiring.

metalspinner · August 17, 2021, 09:53:26 PM

The worst part of sanding is wondering when to stop.
This is up through 400 grit.

I've made many of this style box in the past. And always struggled with drilling the hinge pin hole just right. The slightest misalignment drilling will cause the lid to lift crooked.
This time, I made this simple drill guide that was clamped to the box and drilled by hand. They all came out perfect!