Straight Shooting
I have a revelation--there is no such thing as a straight line. At least there's not in MY carpentry.
Here I am, down to the wire in my Christmas gift-making, and I'm having problem after problem with the checker set. I'm off work today, so I planned to glue the final pieces together and cut and paint the checkers. When I started to glue, I discovered that there are tiny gaps where the edges of the strips weren't perfectly straight. Now, either my fence wasn't perfectly straight (which is perfectly possible), or my first edge wasn't perfectly straight (which is also perfectly possible). So now I have all these tiny gaps that I'll have to fill somehow. The glue won't be enough to close the gaps, I fear, and may, in fact, not set well in those places because of the gaps!
Nevertheless, I did my best and clamped the board after applying the glue (being careful not to let glue get underneath and cement it to the board on which it was sitting, like last time). I also weighted the board down on top to be sure it was level.
Then I turned to the checkers. Easy enough, I thought, naively. I pulled out the trusty power miter saw, measured the 3/8-inch width of the checker, clamped a stop block on the fence (I was proud that I remembered to do that!), and cut a sample checker. The entire edge of the disc was splintered! I tried another one--same thing. So I applied masking tape to the whole dowel, which I have read is one way to get a cleaner cut. It didn't make much difference. I still had to sand too much of the wood away to get a smooth edge.
I examined the blade, and it looks like I may need a new one. So off to Home Depot I will trek later today, but I can't leave now because my daughter has an overnight guest.
Unrelenting, I pulled out the table saw. If I can't use the miter saw, let's try that instead, I thought. Of course, there was no way the fence could be secured close enough to the blade to make a 3/8-inch width cut (that's not what the table saw is for). So I marked the line and decided to eyeball it. The first two pieces went okay, but not as clean an edge as I needed. Still, it was better than the miter saw edge. But when I got to the third piece--WHAM! As soon as the piece was cut--and before I could reach down and turn the saw off--the blade hit the checker again and obliterated it. Fortunately, I had been savvy enough to stand to the side when cutting, and the flying shrapnel hit the wall instead of me.
OK, so the table saw is out for this step, at least. I guess I either have to accept the ragged edges of the miter saw or go ahead and get the blade. The problem is . . . I have no clue how to replace the blade on that tool! It's a second hand model, and we don't have the manual. Maybe some kind, unbusy Home Depot worker will know enough to show me on one of their floor models. And maybe I'll be lucky enough that the process is the same on my saw.
Meanwhile, I still have to sew Kate's pillows, shop for Christmas dinner and a few last-minute things, and clean house. I also have to help both girls with their presents for Dad, which they're not finished with yet.
I received a meditation today in the mail about Advent and the importance of giving yourself the gift of time, especially in these last couple of days before Christmas. I don't want to forget that. So maybe I'll live with the ragged checker edges. Maybe I'll sew just one pillow instead of two. And maybe I'll kick back tonight and take a long walk with the dog, looking at the stars and relishing the quiet.
It beats getting hit by a flying checker!
Here I am, down to the wire in my Christmas gift-making, and I'm having problem after problem with the checker set. I'm off work today, so I planned to glue the final pieces together and cut and paint the checkers. When I started to glue, I discovered that there are tiny gaps where the edges of the strips weren't perfectly straight. Now, either my fence wasn't perfectly straight (which is perfectly possible), or my first edge wasn't perfectly straight (which is also perfectly possible). So now I have all these tiny gaps that I'll have to fill somehow. The glue won't be enough to close the gaps, I fear, and may, in fact, not set well in those places because of the gaps!
Nevertheless, I did my best and clamped the board after applying the glue (being careful not to let glue get underneath and cement it to the board on which it was sitting, like last time). I also weighted the board down on top to be sure it was level.
Then I turned to the checkers. Easy enough, I thought, naively. I pulled out the trusty power miter saw, measured the 3/8-inch width of the checker, clamped a stop block on the fence (I was proud that I remembered to do that!), and cut a sample checker. The entire edge of the disc was splintered! I tried another one--same thing. So I applied masking tape to the whole dowel, which I have read is one way to get a cleaner cut. It didn't make much difference. I still had to sand too much of the wood away to get a smooth edge.
I examined the blade, and it looks like I may need a new one. So off to Home Depot I will trek later today, but I can't leave now because my daughter has an overnight guest.
Unrelenting, I pulled out the table saw. If I can't use the miter saw, let's try that instead, I thought. Of course, there was no way the fence could be secured close enough to the blade to make a 3/8-inch width cut (that's not what the table saw is for). So I marked the line and decided to eyeball it. The first two pieces went okay, but not as clean an edge as I needed. Still, it was better than the miter saw edge. But when I got to the third piece--WHAM! As soon as the piece was cut--and before I could reach down and turn the saw off--the blade hit the checker again and obliterated it. Fortunately, I had been savvy enough to stand to the side when cutting, and the flying shrapnel hit the wall instead of me.
OK, so the table saw is out for this step, at least. I guess I either have to accept the ragged edges of the miter saw or go ahead and get the blade. The problem is . . . I have no clue how to replace the blade on that tool! It's a second hand model, and we don't have the manual. Maybe some kind, unbusy Home Depot worker will know enough to show me on one of their floor models. And maybe I'll be lucky enough that the process is the same on my saw.
Meanwhile, I still have to sew Kate's pillows, shop for Christmas dinner and a few last-minute things, and clean house. I also have to help both girls with their presents for Dad, which they're not finished with yet.
I received a meditation today in the mail about Advent and the importance of giving yourself the gift of time, especially in these last couple of days before Christmas. I don't want to forget that. So maybe I'll live with the ragged checker edges. Maybe I'll sew just one pillow instead of two. And maybe I'll kick back tonight and take a long walk with the dog, looking at the stars and relishing the quiet.
It beats getting hit by a flying checker!
posted by Tif at 10:36 AM
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