Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler Got Wood?

Anyone have any tips on evening out wood without a plane? Here's what I mean: I'm assembling a bookcase/cabinet and one of the legs was about 1/8" too tall on the top, reaching over the sides and top braces. Obviously the top wasn't going to be on solidly, so I grabbed my handy fine toothed hand saw saw and went at it. Which of course produced an angle downwards rather than a nice 90° cut. I think a plane would have worked better, although the bit I was cutting was only a 1x2. How could I have done this better? As it stands, this thing will be about 1/2 wood putty...

Photos? With red and green highlights?

So, you're basically asking about trimming down a 1X2, cutting cross-grain, on a piece that already IS installed or not installed?

I always take care when ripping something small. Bad things tend to happen. When you pinch anything in between the fence and blade, chances for something going wrong go up. This thing of Mark's just looks to me like an opportunity for something to go wrong if he were to try and rip it without a jig. I treat router tables with even more care. Never, never trap the work between the fence and bit.

I've had badness happen with binding on my fence, but I put it down to having a crappy fence that was poorly set up. Fortunately, no one was standing in the target area. The piece of wood hit the door of my shed pretty hard, though.

Clearly I need to look up what a M+T jig looks like.

Mark, you've got it right. The piece is installed. I've already messed it up, but if it happens again...

I'm also trying to fit several other pieces of 1x2 between uprights (making the cross on an H) that I cut sliiiiiiiightly too long. So I've been trying to trim them down with a very small, high tooth count saw and then sanding them to fit. Kinda works. Sorta. I'll probably cut the rest on the table saw once I have one of my example pieces almost exactly the right size. Of course, I'll have to do it freehand, since my fence doesn't go out to ~4ft. Nor do I have space for a fence that does 4ft, sadly. Not that it would WORK with lengthwise 1x2s, now that I sit here and have a little common sense about it. Maybe with a jig it might, but that's kinda beside the point right now.

A tenoning jig:



Basically, it's designed to safely hold a vertical piece safely while riding in the miter slot. I haven't had a chance to see how it would work with one of these pieces yet.

Ken, aren't you talking a crosscut? I'm unsure what you mean by your fence doesn't go out to 4'. If you're crosscutting that 1X2 to be a touch shorter, the miter gauge would be used on the saw. A fence is used when ripping long pieces.

THAT'S SO COOL LOOKING. No way could I afford one of those... Those are way less expensive than they look.

Crosscutting the 4'. Yeah, I know about the fence length. Which does raise the question, how wide a fence do I really need? I'm looking at a 40" to the right one, but the one below it is only 26". I kinda want something in between. Just thinking out loud here rather than doing it in the shop where I'll hurt myself by doing something stupid. Just wish I could get more precise cuts with a crosscut. It's frustrating.

I have the Delta jig. I love it.

A good fense makes everything sooooo much easier, better, more enjoyable, etc... After installing one, I was immediately pissed at myself for not doing it sooner. If you're wondering, the fence I went with was an Incra. I liked it so much, I did the same to my router table. The fence is just freaking cool. Kind of a PITA for space though. The T-bar sticks out quite a bit.

Ken you might want to consider making a cross cut sled or you can buy one

Ken, do you have an extension attached to your miter gauge?

I don't right now. I do have one lying around I use from time to time. Today's cuts went fine, I just clamped my example piece to the stock in one place then both together with the miter gauge, and got pretty decently sized cuts.

So the assembly on the cabinet is all done, save for attaching the top, which I am finishing separately from the rest of it for ease of coverage. Oh yeah, and putting plugs in all those extra pocket holes I drilled.

Sadly, I need to trim the end off of all of those plugs for a good flush fit. Ah well. A bit of hand work, and it doesn't need to be precise.

First coat of shellac is on both sides of the top, and I'll probably toss on a second coat on one side tonight.

Crosscut sled looks like a good idea, thanks Jason.