Shopnotes Vol. 20 Issue 115 Expanding Table

[wannabewoodworker]

I read the other thread about the Shopnotes magazine article about the Router Milling Machine and having never seen the magazine before and being very intrigued by the milling machine I went and got a copy of the magazine. Man what a really cool publication. I am really going to build that milling machine at some point in the next few months. But before I do that want to do a project that is a little more useful for everyday stuff. I saw the plans in the same issue for the expanding work table and love it. It is the perfect solution for a work surface in my work area. Plus it is minimalist which is right up my alley.

Now being a very beginner wood worker I have a question for you more seasoned veterans. In the plans it calls for 2 X 4 construction but some of the plan calls for part dimensions that are 3" X 1.5" X length. What type of stock is he referring to with this dimension? The other dimensions are 2.5" X 1.5" X length which I believe is the usual actual dimension of a standard 2 X 4 timber correct? Is there another stock dimension that is 3X? Or is he cutting down a larger piece of stock to this dimension?

Sorry if this is a dumb question but I am in the serious learning phase here on the building side of things and I want to start making sawdust soon. Thanks for the help guy's.

[JPG]

I read the other thread about the Shopnotes magazine article about the Router Milling Machine and having never seen the magazine before and being very intrigued by the milling machine I went and got a copy of the magazine. Man what a really cool publication. I am really going to build that milling machine at some point in the next few months. But before I do that want to do a project that is a little more useful for everyday stuff. I saw the plans in the same issue for the expanding work table and love it. It is the perfect solution for a work surface in my work area. Plus it is minimalist which is right up my alley.

Now being a very beginner wood worker I have a question for you more seasoned veterans. In the plans it calls for 2 X 4 construction but some of the plan calls for part dimensions that are 3" X 1.5" X length. What type of stock is he referring to with this dimension? The other dimensions are 2.5" X 1.5" X length which I believe is the usual actual dimension of a standard 2 X 4 timber correct? Is there another stock dimension that is 3X? Or is he cutting down a larger piece of stock to this dimension?

Sorry if this is a dumb question but I am in the serious learning phase here on the building side of things and I want to start making sawdust soon. Thanks for the help guy's.

Presently a 2x4 is approximately(it shrinks and expands) 1.5" x 3.5". I would assume he is ripping down to the smaller width.

Go looking for something better than typical 2x4 studs. Ya will probably need to find a 'real' lumber yard! Pick the species carefully(if you can).

[wannabewoodworker]

You are correct that is what I meant 1.5 X 3.5 DUH! So you think he is just ripping it down to size then? And please clarify pick your species carefully? I am serious newbie here? I have a very good "real" lumber yard near by so getting what I need shouldn't be a problem if I know what I need? Hehehehe! I really like the plan for the table but just want to be sure to purchase the proper materials before I start building it. Thank you once again JPG as always! I can scan the plans and send them to you for your expert analyses as i am sure it isn't legal to post them publically if you would be willing to take a quick look unless maybe you have already seen them? It seems strange to me that he would have ripped stock down to smaller sizes as the whole point of the project was to build and simple, functional expanding work table.

[jcraigie]

I'm in the same boat I got a little confused by those plans too. I wanted it to be esy not ripping lumber down by a 1/2"

[dusty]

I read the other thread about the Shopnotes magazine article about the Router Milling Machine and having never seen the magazine before and being very intrigued by the milling machine I went and got a copy of the magazine. Man what a really cool publication. I am really going to build that milling machine at some point in the next few months. But before I do that want to do a project that is a little more useful for everyday stuff. I saw the plans in the same issue for the expanding work table and love it. It is the perfect solution for a work surface in my work area. Plus it is minimalist which is right up my alley.

Now being a very beginner wood worker I have a question for you more seasoned veterans. In the plans it calls for 2 X 4 construction but some of the plan calls for part dimensions that are 3" X 1.5" X length. What type of stock is he referring to with this dimension? The other dimensions are 2.5" X 1.5" X length which I believe is the usual actual dimension of a standard 2 X 4 timber correct? Is there another stock dimension that is 3X? Or is he cutting down a larger piece of stock to this dimension?

Sorry if this is a dumb question but I am in the serious learning phase here on the building side of things and I want to start making sawdust soon. Thanks for the help guy's.

Michael: Read the small print.

On the second page of the article (page 17 of the magazine) there is a note the reads:

Note: Table is built from economical "Two-By" construction lumber (16 - 8' long 2x4s) and one sheet of 3/4" MDF.

Then on page 19 of the magazine in the Materials and Hardware description it gives the dimensions of all the individual pieces. Note that none of them are 2x4x. Yes their is some table saw work to be done here.

Now this could be ignored and the table could be built without dimensioning those 2x but it would not look great.

Besides - have you really looked at construction grade lumber these days. It really is meant to be buried behind the sheet rock.

I'd probably rip those 2x twice to get rid of both milled edges so that I had square corners on all the pieces.

[wannabewoodworker]

Michael: Read the small print.

On the second page of the article (page 17 of the magazine) there is a note the reads:

Note: Table is built from economical "Two-By" construction lumber (16 - 8' long 2x4s) and one sheet of 3/4" MDF.

Then on page 19 of the magazine in the Materials and Hardware description it gives the dimensions of all the individual pieces. Note that none of them are 2x4x. Yes their is some table saw work to be done here.

Now this could be ignored and the table could be built without dimensioning those 2x but it would not look great.

Besides - have you really looked at construction grade lumber these days. It really is meant to be buried behind the sheet rock.

I'd probably rip those 2x twice to get rid of both milled edges so that I had square corners on all the pieces.

Thanks Dusty. I did read the whole article but it was a bit confusing and I wanted to get some clarification on exactly what they were getting at with those plans. The pics show nicely squared corners on all of the parts so I wanted to be sure that I was not reading it incorrectly. You have completely answered my questions regarding the dimensions thank you very much!

[JPG]

Thanks Dusty. I did read the whole article but it was a bit confusing and I wanted to get some clarification on exactly what they were getting at with those plans. The pics show nicely squared corners on all of the parts so I wanted to be sure that I was not reading it incorrectly. You have completely answered my questions regarding the dimensions thank you very much!

Might be a good idea to run them through a jointer also!;)

[dusty]

[quote="JPG40504"]Might be a good idea to run them through a jointer also!]I would not bother jointing them (unless the saw cuts are nasty). This is a work bench - not a piece of furniture. A sharp saw blade should yield a pretty smooth cut in that soft wood.

[JPG]

I would not bother jointing them (unless the saw cuts are nasty). This is a work bench - not a piece of furniture. A sharp saw blade should yield a pretty smooth cut in that soft wood.

What's wrong with a work bench with straight parts?:D

I am used to using old (pre carbide) blades. Smooth is not an obtainable cut!;)

[wannabewoodworker]

I would not bother jointing them (unless the saw cuts are nasty). This is a work bench - not a piece of furniture. A sharp saw blade should yield a pretty smooth cut in that soft wood.

I will probably run them through my jointer anyway to just get some much needed practice using it. I have played around with it a little bit and had some trouble getting good results. It seems that when I run a piece through the jointer I get a gouge at the end of the cut. I have looked very closely while doing it and cannot seem to figure out what exactly I am doing wrong? The gouge seems to happen when there is only about 2" or so left and it looks like the piece is dropping down into the cutter blades causing the gouge. Prior to reaching the end of the cut everything seems fine. I did try to support and pull the piece from the cut end (outfeed side) to try and alleviate the downward pressure that seems to appear towards the end of the cut but had mixed results. Would love to hear what I am doing wrong while using this very useful tool so i can stop gouging the work pieces.