The heat works better when the furnace is turned on!

Today was a productive day.  At lunchtime, Jenny and I went up to the mall to get some lunch at Red Robin, and then returned two boxes of flooring that we didn’t use in the dining room.  We kept the last box that we had opened for repair pieces, and hope that we won’t actually have to use any of them.  I still have to take that up to the attic.  Blah.  Anyway, we returned the two boxes of flooring, then I picked up some bolts, screws and hinges that I needed for a few workshop projects. 

When we got home, I got to work in the workshop.  On the list of stuff for today was to finish some zero-clearance inserts (ZCI) for the table saw, build a removable outfeed table for the table saw, and build a jig for the router to help me to cut tenons on rail stock (specifically dovetail tenons, but it will work for anything). 

First up on the list were the zero-clearance inserts.  These replace the standard throat plate in a table saw, and provide a “zero-clearance” slot around the blade.  This helps so that small parts don’t get dropped through the slot, and helps to make cleaner cuts in lots of different types of stock.  Making one of these also enabled me to build and install a splitter behind the blade, which helps to keep stock during a rip cut from closing on the blade or rotating back onto the blade, both of which can cause kickback.  Making these went well, except that I broke the (cheap) tap in one of the two holes I had drilled in the support flange to secure the insert to the top, so I had to file-down the broken bit of tap and drill a new hole 

While making the inserts, I noticed that it was about time to change the furnace filter, so I turned it off at its safety switch and replaced the filter, then got back to work. 

Next up was the outfeed table for the saw.  This catches and supports parts as they are cut so that they don’t have to fall off the back of the saw.  It also aids safety by making the job of controlling the cut-off parts easier, and holding delicate pieces so that I don’t have to worry about how to hold them from falling while I turn off the saw.  The depth also makes it easier for me to do a longer rip cut, as the support catches both sides of the cut, while the splitter keeps both pieces from trying to rotate back onto the blade. 

After both of these were done, I got to work on the first steps for building the router jig for tenoning.  This is a jig designed by Pat Warner, who has written a lot about woodworking with routers.  I had just finished cutting the MDF panels and a dado in one of them when Jenny came home from a little shopping trip, so I came upstairs to make dinner. 

About an hour later, I was thinking that I was a bit colder than I would like.  I was about to reach for a blanket, but I decided to check the thermostat to see what the current temperature was.  It was 60F.  It should have said something more like 68F.  Er, oops.  I forgot to turn on the safety switch on the furnace after I replaced the filter.  A quick jaunt downstairs to turn that back on again, and we started to get back to a normal temperature in the house again.  Doh.

Tomorrow will hopefully see the completion of the router jig, and then some test joints to make sure that my plans for the next project are going to work.  If I get done with all of that, I need to start working on the router table frame.  I already have the parts milled to dimension, and just need to cut them to size and mill the joinery.

jonathan

jonathan