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Woodworking follies ...

jpr62902

jpr62902

Jeanclaude Spam Banhammer
Kudos to Adillo for mentioning a router table to make raised panels. I didn't want to hijack that thread completely, so I'm starting this one.

So post your carpentry gaffes here!

One of my classics:

Back in 2001, my buddy asked me to build a wall cabinet for a stereo system that he kept outside in a covered dock\lakeside bar area. No problem. I chose birch, since it was pretty inexpensive to get cabinet grade plywood, and the local woodworkers' store had birch stock cheaply available, too. It's also a pretty close match to maple, bird's eyes and all.

I wanted to try all kinds of joinery -- plugged screws, pocket holes, biscuits, and dados. More importantly, I built a router table and wanted to try my new raised panel bit set (massive panel raiser and two cope and stick bits for the stiles and rails).

It turned out great! I finished it with spar varnish smoothed with .000 steel wool between coats, and it still has a nice sheen to it after being waterside for 9+ years.

But in my exuberance to make this thing (aka haste) I forgot something critical about biscuit joints. You don't put biscuits where the door panel will be raised. Duh. Here's the evidence:
 

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Pretty nice JPR! I'd love to do that kind of work but I need a shop first. Right now I have to set everything up in the garage and put it away (usually the same day) or face the wrath of the one that wants to park her car inside.

I also figure my dogs would just walk up and shake water all over the finish after I stained it.

Someday, when the kids are gone and paid for I'll build a shop and get started on some cool projects.
 
JPR, I'd be proud of that, biscuit joints or not.

Most of my disasters have resulted from mismeasuring things. Like the time I built a bookcase to fit in to a recess in our house in Dallas. I built it and finished it in our garage and I must admit that it looked pretty good but when I brought it in to install .... it was 1/2" too wide. I was cussing so badly that my wife actually left and spent the week-end with her parents and called on Sunday night to find out if it was safe to come home.

Since it was already finished , there wasn't much else to do except junk it, salvage what I could and start again.

I'm sure if I stop to think about it I've made more than one woodworking mistake in my life. No, no, no, I' not going to think about it.
 
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