Any woodworkers?

Congratulations on your son’s graduation. I love maple…This 22lr stock was cnc’d out a chunk of big leaf maple that my BIL’s uncle logged and milled off his property in Woodland Wa. The last photo is a CZ 527 Maple stock 223. I also have access to furniture grade slabs in Grand Junction CO that I will eventually bring home. Have fun!

 

Sheesh! Teach me the ways of stock shaping!

 

Thanks! We are all super excited. Party time in La Jolla for my family this weekend! He will be attending Graduate School next year at Trinity University in Dublin Ireland to get his Masters Degree in International Finance and Economics. He got a nice scholarship that makes it much cheaper than pursing higher education in the states, especially CA. I am a very proud dad right now!

Love to stock on the rifle. The grain looks amazing! My FIL built a baby crib that both of my boys used out of figured maple 22 years ago. It is now a family heirloom that all of his grandkids have used. It is currently fresher up and waiting for the first great grandchild.

Funny, I just sold off a chunk of my firearms collection to help with my woodworking addiction. I am going to use the proceeds to buy Festool Domino, a dust extractor and possibly a laser or CNC.

I was just through Grand Junction a couple of months ago. The wife and I stayed in Ouray Colorado for a week. Beautiful country! High on our list of possible retirement areas. We really liked Montrose. The closeness of the mountains for hiking and the Utah desert for off-roading are huge pluses. That is 10 years away, unless I can learn how to make some money on the side woodworking.

 

Wow well done Dad! You should be super proud. Ouray is one my favorite places. If you go back you need to take the drive up to Yankee Boy Basin if you haven’t already been. It’s my absolute favorite place to go. Our first trip was when boys were young. They’re both grown now but the destination keeps bringing us back.

 

When one tablesaw just isn't enough , lol

https://youtu.be/BLJhLq8ZQHE

 

Mmm... bits.

 

Next question on my table project. Sanded (random orbit ... what an arm workout!) down as far as I could to remove 20+ years of oxidation from the maple. Added support braces under the table-top and screwed them into the legs and that when the top tries to tilt it must contend with those braces. Added two long under-supports on the outside edges because the top is "cupping" to bow "up" ... these new supports will at least partially limit the "cupping". Sanded to 120 by hand.

I am tired of refitting for strength. Will add maple veneer edging to the table-top and that is it. Time to stain/finish.

I have 26-ish sq ft of bare (as close as i can get it) maple wood. Mistakes will be obvious. I do have several maple remains to test my theories. I have read and seen "gel stain" applied as wipe-on (short demonstration at the wood-shop). But the more I read and hear the less decided I am as to final approach ... gel or liquid. Gel stain may not bring out the grain as nicely as liquid stain, but gel seems a "less effort" approach to getting a decent highlighted surface and pre-conditioner may not be required even on porous woods like maple ... and there all of the vertical surfaces. Liquid stain dries faster and allows deeper pattern reveal.

Either way a seal of probably simple polyurethane will protect the results of the staining.

So ... gel or liquid stain?

 

Man, the thought of grinding the arbor plate while the saw is own, and when that didn't work, to bust out the router definitely was a pucker moment. Kickback with wood is one thing... kickback with a 1.75hp router as the projectile! Turned out great tho

 

If you havent already, wipe everything down with a wet cloth let dry then final sand to 400grit.

Id test a couple scrap pieces for stain.

 

Did the wet cloth but read that maple "burnishes" and closes the pores for gel by higher than 220 grit (some say stop at 150). Liquid stain maybe not but still against closed pores ...

 

I fear I have to give up my dream of of a $3000-$5000+ cabinet table saw. :sad:

I just bought a $1000 pressure washer and other home projects cleaned out the slush fund. Plus I have a run-off drain pipe that is blocked and it's a bit unknown $ right now.

I need to finish a fence and gate, and I really need a table saw! What 10" "table top" bench saw with enough precision for some small medium crafts and home owner indoor/outdoor work?

The lucky part is I scored a FREE stand a guy was hucking at the dump right when I rolled up. So I will just put it right on that.

 

Ive been using dewalt 10" folding table saw

 

Can that one come off the stand for a more robust mount? The one at HD seemed wobbly.

 

Some may call me crazy but my 10" craftsman ive had for a decade and aside from replacing blades, its never failed me. It takes some constant attention to make sure before precision cuts that its square but aside from that it runs like a charm

 

I built mine into my rolling project table

 

Here’s the pic

 

Yes and You can catch them on sale for a good discount price.

this @Pablo8

 

Nice. I bet you are correct. Yeah I've seen them "assembling" tools at BB stores