Making Sawdust
/This is quickly getting out of hand. It’s like when I started sewing - the possibilities of what I can build are unfolding and I’m making a list…
Since I was on vacation this past week and the weather wasn’t really cooperating to support outdoor activities early in the week, I kept busy by making shit and skill-building each day…
In my last post, the game was building shit so I can build shit…it started with a workbench.
Sunday
I decided that this heavy-ass miter saw stand needed some roller skates so I can move it out of the way when it’s not being used. This was done with half lap joints on the cross brace. I did them on my miter saw since table saws scare the living hell out of me. I learned how to set the depth stop on the saw and notch out areas. Level up.
No, I do not use the miter saw while it’s on its roller skates. That would be unsafe.
Monday
I decided to wrap up the inside of the boat shed, which called for installing rods to hang life jackets, a shelf, and something to organize my skis/wakeboard. I thought it might be fun to try making the shelf out of pallet wood. Turns out, those things are not super easy to pull apart! I got a couple pallets from my local hardware store and after a lot of YouTube, some trial, and many errors, I pulled one apart and used it to create the slats for the shelf.
Using the lap joint skills I learned the day before, I notched out some little grooves on the 1x2s for the shelf brackets.
I then made a super easy ski organizer out of a 2x4 and some 1” dowels. I just measured out the distance I wanted between the rods and drilled a 1” hole and tapped the dowels in. Screwed the 2x4 into the studs. Easy Peasy.
Tuesday
It was time to make something to put my little router on. Haven’t used that bad boy yet because I didn’t have a good place to work with it and it’s too high when it’s on top of my workbench.
For this one, I did a different style cart and mastered pocket holes. Achievement unlocked! I had picked up a small Kreg pocket hole jig but quickly decided it wouldn’t do, so upgraded to the Pro520 version which is a lot easier for me to use with the built in clamp.
I made it so that the actual router table surface would be 36” high to match my workbench exactly, so when side by side, I can use the workbench to support whatever I decide to route…router…routify? This puppy is on roller skates too. Now I just need to learn how to use the router…
The workbench I made on Saturday had become covered in tools, so it quickly became clear that I needed to devise some sort of storage system to organize all this shit I’ve procured in support of this new hobby. I picked up a slatwall panel and some hooks from Menard’s but realized I needed another set of arms to hang it and the Brady Bunch was away, so I had to wait. While I waited, I piddled around with some other things, and discovered the magic of french cleats.
Wednesday
I was awoken to a leaf blower running outside my window at 7am. Sigh. A peek out the window revealed my neighbor’s driveway was being prepared for sealcoating. About 30 minutes later, I heard someone right outside my bedroom window, so peeked again, and saw the painters were here! That was a great surprise - they were finally here to start painting the exterior of my house!
With my late night discovery of french cleats, I ran back to Menard’s to trade in the slatwall stuff for some more lumber to create a french cleat system. If you don’t know what a french cleat is, it basically uses two pieces of wood that interlock on a 45 degree angle. Mount a piece of wood cut with a 45 degree bevel to the wall, and whatever you want to hang with the opposing 45 degree angle, and you’ve got a flexible system to hang stuff securely.
But, the french cleat system would require a table saw, which I don’t have, so I had to wait for Elder Brady Boy to free up so he could cut this for me. So, I set that aside and worked on a planter box instead (post coming on that).
Thursday
It was Brady Bunch Family Fun Day, and we did a little go-kart racing and spent the afternoon floating down a river in tubes. It was a great time!
Friday
Elder Brady Boy came by with his table saw and cut my french cleat lumber for me, so I got started on that. I got a couple of the 1x4s mounted to the back wall of my garage/shop and started making a couple of holders for stuff that had taken up residence on my workbench.
I also spent some time cutting PVC trim boards for the planter boxes I’m making, and holy hell that stuff makes a damn mess! Did some more YouTubing and found some ideas on improving the dust collection on my miter saw as well as a DIY cyclone dust collection system.
Saturday
I did some work in the morning on my planter boxes (drilling out pocket holes), made a Home Depot run and then Elder Brady Girl suggested some boat time. It was too nice a day to be in the garage, so we spent the afternoon on the lake and wrapped it up with BBQ and fireworks at the Brady’s.
Sunday
Too hot to be in the garage. Twas a boat day. Took the Brady dog out to see if he’s a boat dog. Boat dog yes; water dog no. We put a life jacket on him and put him in the lake and he was not impressed. However, he was perfectly content to just lay on the boat and watch everyone else swim.
I did some work on rigging up my cyclone dust collection system, but had to wait until morning to do any loud stuff because I am not rude, unlike others who are still setting off fireworks at 12:30am. ‘MERICA.
Monday
I hate the last day of vacation. Might as well take a break. It was hot, so I floated around on the lake for a while and wrapped up the day with a much-needed nap on the hammock.
Stay tuned for more projects I’ve been working on that are almost complete!