Preventing cat scratching new mission style recliners
Moderators: HopefulSSer, admin
Preventing cat scratching new mission style recliners
We just got two nice leather upholstered mission style recliners, and we have Bengal cats. Bengals are great cats, almost dog-like, but they are typically bigger and more energetic than normal house cats, and they have big, strong claws. So, I have to give them something to scratch, that is not our new chairs. Thus, my new project is a scratching post.
Requirements: It has to be a little bigger than normal for the Bengals, and very sturdy. I also want it to not be disposable, store-bought posts are too expensive to have to just throw it away when they carpet gets shredded, so I want to be able to replace the carpet. I learned that sisal, a natural fiber, works best for scratching. I found a a 30” x 72” sisal runner for a low price, and it will give me two coverings for the post.
I’m using the following image as my model:
. .
I designed the post to have the carpet wrapped around the 6” x 30”, 3/4” plywood square tube post. It will have an internal support structure made of the 3-1/2” x 1/2” poplar boards I milled last week using my jointer and planer. This inner structure will have three dados for the three 1/4”-20 threaded rods that will be screwed into inserts in the top cap, and the other ends will have nuts clamping the base cap to to the post. The top and bottom caps will fit over the “carpeted” post, clamping everything tightly together. The top and bottom caps, and the 18” square base are made of good quality Baltic birch plywood.
I used my ShopSmith bandsaw for the first time tonight to cut 45 degree edges on all the post and internal structure boards to make the square tubes. The bandsaw did a very nice job, as you can see in the photo below:
. .
This is a fun little project. Hope to finish this weekend.
.
Requirements: It has to be a little bigger than normal for the Bengals, and very sturdy. I also want it to not be disposable, store-bought posts are too expensive to have to just throw it away when they carpet gets shredded, so I want to be able to replace the carpet. I learned that sisal, a natural fiber, works best for scratching. I found a a 30” x 72” sisal runner for a low price, and it will give me two coverings for the post.
I’m using the following image as my model:
. .
I designed the post to have the carpet wrapped around the 6” x 30”, 3/4” plywood square tube post. It will have an internal support structure made of the 3-1/2” x 1/2” poplar boards I milled last week using my jointer and planer. This inner structure will have three dados for the three 1/4”-20 threaded rods that will be screwed into inserts in the top cap, and the other ends will have nuts clamping the base cap to to the post. The top and bottom caps will fit over the “carpeted” post, clamping everything tightly together. The top and bottom caps, and the 18” square base are made of good quality Baltic birch plywood.
I used my ShopSmith bandsaw for the first time tonight to cut 45 degree edges on all the post and internal structure boards to make the square tubes. The bandsaw did a very nice job, as you can see in the photo below:
. .
This is a fun little project. Hope to finish this weekend.
.
Last edited by Majones1 on Thu Oct 14, 2021 11:46 am, edited 1 time in total.
Marc Jones
Model 10ER (1952), s/n: 72883 (MickyD restored in 2009/10) / Variable Speed Changer / A-34 Jigsaw / Jointer-Shaper Fence
Mark 5 Model 500 (1955), s/n: 309828 (MickyD restored in 2008/09) / Magna Jigsaw Model 610, s/n 65001 / Yuba 11” Bandsaw Model 630, s/n 39807 / Magna Jointer Model 620, s/n 17792 (restored in 2021) / Magna 6” Belt Sander Model 640, s/n 13742 (to be restored)
Professional Planer Model M5082, s/n 003918
DC3300 Dust Collector (circa 1998)
Model 10ER (1952), s/n: 72883 (MickyD restored in 2009/10) / Variable Speed Changer / A-34 Jigsaw / Jointer-Shaper Fence
Mark 5 Model 500 (1955), s/n: 309828 (MickyD restored in 2008/09) / Magna Jigsaw Model 610, s/n 65001 / Yuba 11” Bandsaw Model 630, s/n 39807 / Magna Jointer Model 620, s/n 17792 (restored in 2021) / Magna 6” Belt Sander Model 640, s/n 13742 (to be restored)
Professional Planer Model M5082, s/n 003918
DC3300 Dust Collector (circa 1998)
- chapmanruss
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 3488
- Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2014 8:16 pm
- Location: near Portland, Oregon
Re: Preventing cat scratching new mission style recliners
Nice start Marc. I am curious as to why you chose the Bandsaw to cut the miters instead of the Table Saw function. In this case either works, just wondering. It is nice to have options for doing the work.
Russ
Mark V completely upgraded to Mark 7
Mark V 520
All SPT's & 2 Power Stations
Model 10ER S/N R64000 first one I restored on bench w/ metal ends & retractable casters.
Has Speed Changer, 4E Jointer, Jig Saw with lamp, a complete set of original accessories & much more.
Model 10E's S/N's 1076 & 1077 oldest ones I have restored. Mark 2 S/N 85959 restored. Others to be restored.
Mark V completely upgraded to Mark 7
Mark V 520
All SPT's & 2 Power Stations
Model 10ER S/N R64000 first one I restored on bench w/ metal ends & retractable casters.
Has Speed Changer, 4E Jointer, Jig Saw with lamp, a complete set of original accessories & much more.
Model 10E's S/N's 1076 & 1077 oldest ones I have restored. Mark 2 S/N 85959 restored. Others to be restored.
Re: Preventing cat scratching new mission style recliners
I just thought it would be a little easier to be more precise. When I purchased the plywood for the post I mistakenly got exactly the amount needed to make the four 6" sides, so I couldn't screw up the 45 degree cut or I would have to go buy more wood. Being a novice woodworker I felt I might have more control over those cuts.
Plus, I had never used my bandsaw since getting it from MickyD, and doing some clean up on it. It worked great. I had purchased some eccentric mounting posts and got it aligned perfectly with the headstock. The original posts had it misaligned about 1/4" so the power connection will have less stress on it.
Plus, I had never used my bandsaw since getting it from MickyD, and doing some clean up on it. It worked great. I had purchased some eccentric mounting posts and got it aligned perfectly with the headstock. The original posts had it misaligned about 1/4" so the power connection will have less stress on it.
Marc Jones
Model 10ER (1952), s/n: 72883 (MickyD restored in 2009/10) / Variable Speed Changer / A-34 Jigsaw / Jointer-Shaper Fence
Mark 5 Model 500 (1955), s/n: 309828 (MickyD restored in 2008/09) / Magna Jigsaw Model 610, s/n 65001 / Yuba 11” Bandsaw Model 630, s/n 39807 / Magna Jointer Model 620, s/n 17792 (restored in 2021) / Magna 6” Belt Sander Model 640, s/n 13742 (to be restored)
Professional Planer Model M5082, s/n 003918
DC3300 Dust Collector (circa 1998)
Model 10ER (1952), s/n: 72883 (MickyD restored in 2009/10) / Variable Speed Changer / A-34 Jigsaw / Jointer-Shaper Fence
Mark 5 Model 500 (1955), s/n: 309828 (MickyD restored in 2008/09) / Magna Jigsaw Model 610, s/n 65001 / Yuba 11” Bandsaw Model 630, s/n 39807 / Magna Jointer Model 620, s/n 17792 (restored in 2021) / Magna 6” Belt Sander Model 640, s/n 13742 (to be restored)
Professional Planer Model M5082, s/n 003918
DC3300 Dust Collector (circa 1998)
Re: Preventing cat scratching new mission style recliners
Be prepared to be rewrapping the carpet on the post. I don't have mini tigers like you, but my old lazy siamese has cut his way through
the carpet layers multiple times on the scratcher he uses.
I would guess there are some stronger choices in fibers to resist them...but i dont know them.
b
the carpet layers multiple times on the scratcher he uses.
I would guess there are some stronger choices in fibers to resist them...but i dont know them.
b
Re: Preventing cat scratching new mission style recliners
The OP said he is planning on using sisal which is a rather durable fiber used in carpet runners, etc. Had to get rid of our cat years ago due to allergies, but the commercial ones that I had back then used sisal rope wrapped around the column and it would have outlasted the cat...if we had kept it.
RF Guy
Mark V 520 (Bought New '98) | 4" jointer | 6" beltsander | 12" planer | bandsaw | router table | speed reducer | univ. tool rest
Porter Cable 12" Compound Miter Saw | Rikon 8" Low Speed Bench Grinder w/CBN wheels | Jessem Clear-Cut TS™ Stock Guides
Festool (Emerald): DF 500 Q | RO 150 FEQ | OF 1400 EQ | TS 55 REQ | CT 26 E
DC3300 | Shopvac w/ClearVue CV06 Mini Cyclone | JDS AirTech 2000 | Sundstrom PAPR | Dylos DC1100 Pro particulate monitor
Mark V 520 (Bought New '98) | 4" jointer | 6" beltsander | 12" planer | bandsaw | router table | speed reducer | univ. tool rest
Porter Cable 12" Compound Miter Saw | Rikon 8" Low Speed Bench Grinder w/CBN wheels | Jessem Clear-Cut TS™ Stock Guides
Festool (Emerald): DF 500 Q | RO 150 FEQ | OF 1400 EQ | TS 55 REQ | CT 26 E
DC3300 | Shopvac w/ClearVue CV06 Mini Cyclone | JDS AirTech 2000 | Sundstrom PAPR | Dylos DC1100 Pro particulate monitor
Re: Preventing cat scratching new mission style recliners
Oh i missed that (Sisal) ! I'm gonna have to think about using it for the next rewrapping - thanks .
b
b
-
- Gold Member
- Posts: 410
- Joined: Sun Oct 03, 2021 6:07 pm
- Location: NC
Re: Preventing cat scratching new mission style recliners
Our cat managed to claw through one I made with 1/2" sisal rope wrapped round.....RFGuy wrote: ↑Thu Oct 14, 2021 6:09 pmThe OP said he is planning on using sisal which is a rather durable fiber used in carpet runners, etc. Had to get rid of our cat years ago due to allergies, but the commercial ones that I had back then used sisal rope wrapped around the column and it would have outlasted the cat...if we had kept it.
Greenie SN 362819 (upgraded to 510), Bandsaw 106878, Jointer SS16466
Re: Preventing cat scratching new mission style recliners
Yup, that is what I had when we had cats. Pretty much indestructible.RFGuy wrote: ↑Thu Oct 14, 2021 6:09 pmThe OP said he is planning on using sisal which is a rather durable fiber used in carpet runners, etc. Had to get rid of our cat years ago due to allergies, but the commercial ones that I had back then used sisal rope wrapped around the column and it would have outlasted the cat...if we had kept it.
John & Mary Burger
Eagle's Lair Woodshop
Hooper, UT
Eagle's Lair Woodshop
Hooper, UT
Re: Preventing cat scratching new mission style recliners
Anything is destructible by a cat. Which is why I’m making the post so I can replace the woven sisal rug, and making it much more sturdy than I probably need to. I’ll be able to replace any part they might destroy. I am completely fine with them destroying their post, as long as they stay away from my new chairs!HopefulSSer wrote: ↑Thu Oct 14, 2021 6:50 pm
Our cat managed to claw through one I made with 1/2" sisal rope wrapped round.....
This is what the woven rug looks like.
.
Marc Jones
Model 10ER (1952), s/n: 72883 (MickyD restored in 2009/10) / Variable Speed Changer / A-34 Jigsaw / Jointer-Shaper Fence
Mark 5 Model 500 (1955), s/n: 309828 (MickyD restored in 2008/09) / Magna Jigsaw Model 610, s/n 65001 / Yuba 11” Bandsaw Model 630, s/n 39807 / Magna Jointer Model 620, s/n 17792 (restored in 2021) / Magna 6” Belt Sander Model 640, s/n 13742 (to be restored)
Professional Planer Model M5082, s/n 003918
DC3300 Dust Collector (circa 1998)
Model 10ER (1952), s/n: 72883 (MickyD restored in 2009/10) / Variable Speed Changer / A-34 Jigsaw / Jointer-Shaper Fence
Mark 5 Model 500 (1955), s/n: 309828 (MickyD restored in 2008/09) / Magna Jigsaw Model 610, s/n 65001 / Yuba 11” Bandsaw Model 630, s/n 39807 / Magna Jointer Model 620, s/n 17792 (restored in 2021) / Magna 6” Belt Sander Model 640, s/n 13742 (to be restored)
Professional Planer Model M5082, s/n 003918
DC3300 Dust Collector (circa 1998)
Re: Preventing cat scratching new mission style recliners
I presume that means the original mounting posts were straight posts.(?) If I had 1/4" error with straight posts I would want to make sure I understood why. That's a pretty big error. To me it suggests a problem in the base alignment. That can be caused by the big set screw in the Headrest being out of adjustment (if you have one) or something wrong. Others would disagree with me on this, to some extent the eccentrics eliminate the need for accurate base alignment.Majones1 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 14, 2021 11:40 am Plus, I had never used my bandsaw since getting it from MickyD, and doing some clean up on it. It worked great. I had purchased some eccentric mounting posts and got it aligned perfectly with the headstock. The original posts had it misaligned about 1/4" so the power connection will have less stress on it.
Side note: IIRC dust collection can be easily and inexpensively added to any bandsaw. It ain't perfect, but it's an improvement. You do have to cut a hole in the cover, so some purists may be opposed for that reason.
- David