this post was submitted on 07 Jun 2023
34 points (97.2% liked)

Woodworking

6522 readers
133 users here now

A handmade home for woodworkers and admirers of woodworkers. Our community icon is submitted by @[email protected] whose father was inspired to start woodworking by Norm and the New Yankee Workshop.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
34
submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by [email protected] to c/woodworking
 

Here are some more pictures:

I originally posted this in the woodworking subreddit. It's my first real woodworking project. Here's the description I included with that post:

I am happy to report that so far I have not regretted bringing home that radial arm saw a few months ago. I used it to successfully build a small, adjustable bookshelf for my sister's baby shower.

I made it from 3/4" Europly with maple veneer and finished it with Odie's Oil. I glued all the joints with Titebond III. The back is 1/8" hardboard to which I applied a cool looking adhesive backed wallpaper.

I didn't have a dado stack, so I got a little creative with the joints for the legs. I think it worked out because the plys are continuous the same way they are around the mitered corners.

Not sure what my next project will be, but I'm looking forward to doing something soon. My family was really impressed, so this effort felt really rewarding.

top 17 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] NataliePortland 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

This is gorgeous. I love how you did the legs matching up the plywood like that. Amazing job on your first piece especially with those perfectly matched miters! Did you do the legs wit ha router?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Thank you! I did all the cuts with a radial arm saw. I didn't have a dado stack so I set the blade to a 45° bevel to make the slots for the legs on the bottom. This method had the benefit of making the leg plys consistent with the mitered corners.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Amazing work, the matching looks incredible. If I were you I would make all my visitors lay on the floor and admire the legs as soon as they walk in.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

Thank you! Alas, it's not mine anymore. I made it for my sister as a surprise for her baby shower. It was a hit!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Those continuous lines on the joints looks really good. How have you done the legs? Router with 90 bit?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Thank you! I didn't use a router at all on this project. I got one secondhand thinking that I would have, but I didn't have time to learn how to use it. I used a radial arm saw to cut the grooves for the legs. I just set the bevel to 45°. That's also how I get the ends of the legs to fit into the grooves. Edited for spelling.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Wow, nice tool you have. But not overcutting and creating a ridge should not be that easy. Beautiful work

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

I probably spent as much time setting up and aligning the saw as I did building the shelf. I also took a lot of measurements and really tried to visualize every step before cutting and gluing. It paid off!

[–] smorks 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

very nice! also, i love the look on the dog's face!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

Yeah he usually always gives me a look like that when I tell him to sit for a photo.

[–] Fiivemacs 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Nice bookshelf! I really love your dining room color choices too. Amazing blue with the wood contrast. I know what I'm doing now

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago
[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago
[–] dcnjbwiebe 2 points 2 years ago

Beautiful work!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Looks beautiful. How did you join the mitred edges?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

Just Titebond III and I clamped it all together as best as I could. Unfortunately, one of the bottom corners is misaligned by exactly one ply. No one will notice, but it will probably haunt me to my grave.

load more comments
view more: next ›