Matt's Basement Workshop - Audio

After what felt like forever I finally completed the pre-finishing process for the body of the bathroom cabinet. A brown dye with a few coats of poly and it's now ready for assembly. If you’re curious how this first attempt at a pre-finish went, checkout my earlier blog “Confessions of a first time pre-finisher”. In today’s episode we’re concentrating on getting the doors installed. At this point it's all about finessing the fit to get the desired reveal I like for inset doors. While I like to think I have enough experience to be able to hang the doors without a lot of effort, the truth is I rely a lot on the adjustability of the European-style hinges I'm using in this build. Installation of this style of hinge looks complicated at first, but in reality it's a lot easier than you may expect. But to make it even easier we’ll cover the construction of a story stick to make it quick and easy to layout all the hinges quickly and accurately. Help support the show - please visit our advertisers Get your MBW t-shirts, click here to order

In today’s episode we’re moving along on the bathroom cabinet by constructing all three doors. The two on top and the flip down version below. All three are a form of frame and panel construction, but the biggest difference is in how I chose to assemble them. For the two larger doors up top, the panel is actually 3/4” plywood glued to the stiles creating one large piece. Then for the flip-down door I used a more “traditional” construction technique and turned to a rail and stile router bit set to create the joinery. Once all the doors were constructed, we also need to drill the holes that will make up the adjustable shelving system behind the two doors on top. Help support the show - please visit our advertisers

My next big project is already underway, a “commission” piece for an old neighbor. After they did a little bathroom renovation, there’s now a need for a cabinet that can store towels and all those things you don’t necessarily want hanging out making the place look all cluttered. The cabinet itself is a pretty good sized piece. In fact a lot bigger than I had originally envisioned, but so far it’s coming together rather nicely. The body of the cabinet is being constructed of a premium cherry veneered plywood, so the big question on my mind was what would I cover the exposed plies with? Veneer edge-banding or a thicker solid wood edge-banding? I chose the thicker solid wood version and decided to try a technique to cut it repeatedly and accurately on the table saw that I hadn’t tried before. Download Video Download HD 720 Video Download Audio Help support the show – please visit our advertisers

My next big project is already underway, a “commission” piece for an old neighbor. After they did a little bathroom renovation, there’s now a need for a cabinet that can store towels and all those things you don’t necessarily want hanging out making the place look all cluttered. The cabinet itself is a pretty good sized piece. In fact a lot bigger than I had originally envisioned, but so far it’s coming together rather nicely. The body of the cabinet is being constructed of a premium cherry veneered plywood, so the big question on my mind was what would I cover the exposed plies with? Veneer edge-banding or a thicker solid wood edge-banding? I chose the thicker solid wood version and decided to try a technique to cut it repeatedly and accurately on the table saw that I hadn’t tried before. Help support the show - please visit our advertisers

Now that I lured you in with that “misleading” title here’s what today’s episode is really all about, a side-by-side comparison of my old Rigid 13” thickness planer and the new-to-me Steel City Tool Works 13” thickness planer with helical-style cutter head. Actually that description is also a little misleading considering the only thing being compared are the cutter heads. The Rigid planer has a traditional 2 straight-blade cutter head while the SCTW has a helical-style cutter head, which features numerous smaller cutters laid out in a helical pattern. Really my goal today was to demonstrate (to myself and you of course) that there is a noticeable difference between these two styles of cutter heads. So to achieve this goal I grabbed some scrap highly figured curly-maple, ripped it in half and fed one through each machine. The result? I guess you’ll have to watch to find out. ***FOR THE SAKE OF COMPLETE TRANSPARENCY: I originally received the Steel City Tool Works 13” planer for a review segment in 2013. Then after working with the staff of SCTW for an event at their Head Quarters, I received the tool as partial payment for my time and assistance. But I can assure you, my opinions on the tool are completely my own and cannot be altered by the manufacturer*** Looking to purchase either of these machines? You can find them at the following retailers (please remember, purchases made through these links help support the show while getting you the tools and supplies you need for the projects in your own shop): Amazon.com - Steel City Tool Works 40200H 13-Inch Planer with Helical Cutterhead Highland Woodworking - Steel City thickness planer Help support the show - please visit our advertisers

Now that I lured you in with that “misleading” title here’s what today’s episode is really all about, a side-by-side comparison of my old Rigid 13” thickness planer and the new-to-me Steel City Tool Works 13” thickness planer with helical-style cutter head. Actually that description is also a little misleading considering the only thing being compared are the cutter heads. The Rigid planer has a traditional 2 straight-blade cutter head while the SCTW has a helical-style cutter head, which features numerous smaller cutters laid out in a helical pattern. Really my goal today was to demonstrate (to myself and you of course) that there is a noticeable difference between these two styles of cutter heads. So to achieve this goal I grabbed some scrap highly figured curly-maple, ripped it in half and fed one through each machine. The result? I guess you’ll have to watch to find out. ***FOR THE SAKE OF COMPLETE TRANSPARENCY: I originally received the Steel City Tool Works 13” planer for a review segment in 2013. Then after working with the staff of SCTW for an event at their Head Quarters, I received the tool as partial payment for my time and assistance. But I can assure you, my opinions on the tool are completely my own and cannot be altered by the manufacturer*** Looking to purchase either of these machines? You can find them at the following retailers (please remember, purchases made through these links help support the show while getting you the tools and supplies you need for the projects in your own shop): Amazon.com – Steel City Tool Works 40200H 13-Inch Planer with Helical Cutterhead Highland Woodworking – Steel City thickness planer Download Video Download HD 720 Video Download Audio Help support the show – please visit our advertisers

Looking for a fun project in the shop that doesn't take long and you can carry it around in your pocket where ever you go? Here's one for you, a custom veneered smart phone case. One of the benefits of being a woodworker is that we can frequently customize everyday items. Whether it's building them from raw materials or adding a little flair to an existing item, it's relatively easy to find a way to spruce them up a bit. In today's episode I'll show you a little fun I've been having lately when I combine some inexpensive pre-manufactured plastic smart phone cases I picked up at Amazon.com with some veneers I bought at Woodcraft.com. The process is simple, it can be relatively quick and more importantly it's a great way to have fun in the shop and maybe even impress your friends and family (unless they're like mine who just roll their eyes and walk away...with the item in hand.) Links to items mentioned or used in the episode: Smart phone cases at Amazon.com Veneer Variety Pack 20 Sq. Ft. Crown Veneer Saw Nexabond 2500 Instant Wood Glue (regular formula) Help support the show - please visit our advertisers

Looking for a fun project in the shop that doesn’t take long and you can carry it around in your pocket where ever you go? Here’s one for you, a custom veneered smart phone case. One of the benefits of being a woodworker is that we can frequently customize everyday items. Whether it’s building them from raw materials or adding a little flair to an existing item, it’s relatively easy to find a way to spruce them up a bit. In today’s episode I’ll show you a little fun I’ve been having lately when I combine some inexpensive pre-manufactured plastic smart phone cases I picked up at Amazon.com with some veneers I bought at Woodcraft.com. The process is simple, it can be relatively quick and more importantly it’s a great way to have fun in the shop and maybe even impress your friends and family (unless they’re like mine who just roll their eyes and walk away…with the item in hand.) Links to items mentioned or used in the episode: Smart phone cases at Amazon.com Veneer Variety Pack 20 Sq. Ft. Crown Veneer Saw Nexabond 2500 Instant Wood Glue (regular formula) Download Video Download HD 720 Video Download Audio Help support the show – please visit our advertisers

We’re FINALLY moving forward with the platform bed. After this round of construction it actually resembles a place you could lay down and take a snooze. In today’s episode we construct the platform itself. A simple mitered frame that gets attached to the “undercarriage” and a series of slats to keep the mattress from falling through the larger openings. Perhaps the hardest part of the build today was dragging my son’s mattress into the basement for the test fit. Even gluing the miters together was made easier thanks to a sample of Nexabond’s 2500L C.A. glue. It’s much longer open time than traditional C.A. glues made it easier to use without worrying about parts sticking to me or the floor. Help support the show - please visit our advertisers

I won’t make any excuses for the length of time it took to complete the construction of the platform bed. Sure it was supposed to be done by Thanksgiving…and then by Christmas…and then by…well, you get the picture. The truth of the matter for me is simple, large projects should not be started anywhere near holidays that involve family visits and travel plans. When you know you’ll be gone or preoccupied every weekend of those month(s), whittling might be a better project to tackle to feed the woodworking bug. Actually, I guess that is an excuse… Looking back on previous builds in which their original deadlines were never met, I have a very consistent track-record of not meeting them. But hey, that’s part of the fun of being a home woodworker versus a professional. When it’s my family and I miss a deadline I’m not freaking out, I just bribe them to stop whining. So with that said, today we wrap up the construction of the platform bed. The final remaining piece to be built was the headboard and that’s exactly what I tackle. I know many of you will be disappointed I don’t wrap-up the video series with a look at how it’ll be finished. But as I explain in the video, I hate finishing so there’s no way in the world I’m recording it. I am planning though on writing an article or two about it once it gets underway. A big thanks to my son Aiden for being so “patient” and for interrupting the final moments of the video to express his feelings…many of which I KNOW ALL OF YOU WERE THINKING TOO! Download Video Download HD 720 Video Download Audio Help support the show – please visit our advertisers

I’m getting oh so close to the end of the platform bed build, but we still have a couple more episodes to go before we finally wrap it up for good. On today’s episode we start working on the headboard. More specifically we start working on the supports that will hold the headboard itself in place. The supports were originally designed as single pieces 6 inches wide, but after yet another re-design, the new version of the support will work much better. Help support the show - please visit our advertisers

I’m getting oh so close to the end of the platform bed build, but we still have a couple more episodes to go before we finally wrap it up for good. On today’s episode we start working on the headboard. More specifically we start working on the supports that will hold the headboard itself in place. The supports were originally designed as single pieces 6 inches wide, but after yet another re-design, the new version of the support will work much better. Download Video Download HD 720 Video Download Audio Help support the show – please visit our advertisers

My entire first day of the Weekend with WOOD conference was spent with Jim Heavey in the finishing room. I learned so much about finishing I COULD KISS JIM!!! Jim taught 3 classes that day - the first was "Spray Finishing Made Simple", the second was "Choose and Use the Best Topcoat for Your Project" and the third was "Finishing Your Finish". Today's footage is all from the "Spray Finishing Made Simple" class. This was one that was very important to me as spray finishing is very intimidating. But after watching Jim and realizing it was far more simple than I ever thought I feel confident I can easily handle it. Thanks Jim!!! Help support the show - please visit our advertisers [haiku url="https://archive.org/download/WeekendwithWOODJimHeavey/WeekendwithWOODJimHeavey.mp3" title="MBWJimHeavey"] Download Video Download HD 720 Video Download Audio

It doesn’t matter how amazing the joinery or how beautiful the stock is that I’m working with, if this bed doesn’t have a decent set of legs upon which to stand, it’s not worth the effort as far as I’m concerned. At 3-1/2” square the ideal stock for making these legs might be straight-grain 16/4 maple, but for mine they’re being made from laminated pieces of 8/4. And while these aren’t pretty in their design, their chunky style and solid construction ensure they’ll stand the test of time or Vanderlists…which ever is worse. Help support the show - please visit our advertisers

t feels like I skipped around a little in the last episode and should have instead saved working on the legs until after the assembly work in today’s episode. With that said, in this episode we’re assembling the box upon which the platform will rest and the legs will be attached. In other words, we’re doing the foundation work. We’ll start by prepping the outside surface of the box itself, followed by joining the dovetails and then inserting and attaching the “undercarriage”. So let’s get started… Tools mentioned in today's episode: Kreg K5 Pocket-Hole Jig LN Card Scraper Set Help support the show - please visit our advertisers