The table top requires 5 boards at 8" wide by 70" long. I cut mine a little longer at 71" just so I can flush up the ends at a later time.
Tips: The 2 boards on the outside edges I left a little wider than 8" due to shrinkage when gluing and clamping. About an extra 1/8" for each side. I did achieve a perfect 40" width that was desired.
I lined up all the boards and clamped them lightly to mark the dowel holes across all boards at 10" apart. I purchased a dowel drill jig to help with alignment and marked the depth of the hole plus the jig on the drill bit.
After drilling the dowel holes I made a dry fit to check everything. I did find that I did not clean out 2 hole so the boards did not squeeze together tightly. Once everything was fitted and all the clamps and dowels are where I needed them, it's time to glue!
Tips: Test fit and measure everything. Make a dry run of clamping placement and pressure; I have 5 bar clamps on the top and 5 on the bottom. Apply clamps at joints on each of the ends of the table top to ensure alignment and flatness; 4 joints so an extra 8 C-clamps. Don't forget to use dunage between your work piece and the clamps for protection.
Tips: The 2 boards on the outside edges I left a little wider than 8" due to shrinkage when gluing and clamping. About an extra 1/8" for each side. I did achieve a perfect 40" width that was desired.
I lined up all the boards and clamped them lightly to mark the dowel holes across all boards at 10" apart. I purchased a dowel drill jig to help with alignment and marked the depth of the hole plus the jig on the drill bit.
After drilling the dowel holes I made a dry fit to check everything. I did find that I did not clean out 2 hole so the boards did not squeeze together tightly. Once everything was fitted and all the clamps and dowels are where I needed them, it's time to glue!
Tips: Test fit and measure everything. Make a dry run of clamping placement and pressure; I have 5 bar clamps on the top and 5 on the bottom. Apply clamps at joints on each of the ends of the table top to ensure alignment and flatness; 4 joints so an extra 8 C-clamps. Don't forget to use dunage between your work piece and the clamps for protection.
With yellow carpenters glue you should have about a 5 minute working time so you need to move quickly to apply and spread your glue. I let my table top sit in the clamps to dry for 24 hours.
Next is the base assembly.
Progressing well. I love how you need math for this.
ReplyDeleteGood tips.
Thank you, it's moving along slowly.
ReplyDelete