PeteG
Established Member
I was showing our lass some of Steve Goods patterns several weeks ago and she really liked the Fretwork Tote, well, I hope she really likes it as I'm making her one for her birthday 
I haven't made anything yet with so many internal cuts or spent any real time on the Hegner with being a busy bee on the workshop tidy up, so yesterday morning a made a start.
The plans asked for 1/4" stock, so I picked a piece of 20mm Sapele off the racks for re-sawing, something I've only tried a couple of times and I'm not very confident with, but it
had done so I got on with it! I had the bandsaw already set up with a Tuffsaws 3/4 blade, I think it's a Sabrecut, but it's big and very sharp! I still haven't sorted out a higher fence
for re-sawing, something I'll have to do soon as I have a lot of stock which will need to be cut in to smaller/thinner planks, but yesterday I just wanted to get on with the tote.
All went well, thankfully, and after I had two pieces of Sapele I put them both through the P/T. The measuring tape or marker on my P/T starts at 8mm, so I was very careful
with a few shallow passes measuring after each one. I stopped at 7mm as the service was lovely and smooth and I didn't want to take any chances at that point, I'm no expert
with these machines and still on a learning curve using one.
After planing it was time to tape up. I used masking tape on the timber and then glued the pattern to it using the Wilko equivalent of a Pritt Stick. I sandwhiched the pieces between A4 sheets
of ply and then went off to make a brew After the tea break and choccy biccies, I wrapped all the pieces in sellotape and then started drilling all the pilot holes, of which there was quite a few!
Already to start cutting I began with the centre piece which had the least number of cuts, a bit of a warm up before the front, back and sides.
I gave it a good six hours solid yesterday and another seven hours today, and this is where I'm up to. I still haven't sorted or decided if I want to use a chair, so I'm still cutting stood up.
The alternative was to push the wheeled bench up to the saw and try cutting laying down, which at the moment I feel like doing
This will give you an idea of how it fits together!
I've certainly got to know the saw this weekend and especially the quick clamp. When I started yesterday I was over tightening and at one point had to use an Allen key to undo the clamp.
I soon realised it only needs a gentle bit of pressure on the clamp to hold the blade in place. The nice thing about the Hengner coming with spare clamps, I used the standard clamps with
a No9 in for external cuts and left this to one side until needed. I reckon I'll finish all the internal cuts by Tuesday, and then I can start sanding!
I managed to finish all the internal cuts last night, and today I finished the last of the outside cuts. All the pieces have had a light sanding on the outside, and thankfully they all fit together.
I'll start sanding/cleaning the internal cuts this afternoon before glueing up, which could be a day or two away yet, and then I'll sand the outside again to finish. Haven't decided on the
actual finish yet, I'm tempted to stain darker! I have a small off cut which has had two coats of Wood Silk and looks quite nice, but might have to try a stain and Wood Silk. I have a week
before the big day, so hopefully I'll have this finished before weekend and then I can start on a little trinket box or two.
I haven't made anything yet with so many internal cuts or spent any real time on the Hegner with being a busy bee on the workshop tidy up, so yesterday morning a made a start.
The plans asked for 1/4" stock, so I picked a piece of 20mm Sapele off the racks for re-sawing, something I've only tried a couple of times and I'm not very confident with, but it
had done so I got on with it! I had the bandsaw already set up with a Tuffsaws 3/4 blade, I think it's a Sabrecut, but it's big and very sharp! I still haven't sorted out a higher fence
for re-sawing, something I'll have to do soon as I have a lot of stock which will need to be cut in to smaller/thinner planks, but yesterday I just wanted to get on with the tote.
All went well, thankfully, and after I had two pieces of Sapele I put them both through the P/T. The measuring tape or marker on my P/T starts at 8mm, so I was very careful
with a few shallow passes measuring after each one. I stopped at 7mm as the service was lovely and smooth and I didn't want to take any chances at that point, I'm no expert
with these machines and still on a learning curve using one.
After planing it was time to tape up. I used masking tape on the timber and then glued the pattern to it using the Wilko equivalent of a Pritt Stick. I sandwhiched the pieces between A4 sheets
of ply and then went off to make a brew
After the tea break and choccy biccies, I wrapped all the pieces in sellotape and then started drilling all the pilot holes, of which there was quite a few!
Already to start cutting I began with the centre piece which had the least number of cuts, a bit of a warm up before the front, back and sides.
I gave it a good six hours solid yesterday and another seven hours today, and this is where I'm up to. I still haven't sorted or decided if I want to use a chair, so I'm still cutting stood up.
The alternative was to push the wheeled bench up to the saw and try cutting laying down, which at the moment I feel like doing
This will give you an idea of how it fits together!
I've certainly got to know the saw this weekend and especially the quick clamp. When I started yesterday I was over tightening and at one point had to use an Allen key to undo the clamp.
I soon realised it only needs a gentle bit of pressure on the clamp to hold the blade in place. The nice thing about the Hengner coming with spare clamps, I used the standard clamps with
a No9 in for external cuts and left this to one side until needed. I reckon I'll finish all the internal cuts by Tuesday, and then I can start sanding!
I managed to finish all the internal cuts last night, and today I finished the last of the outside cuts. All the pieces have had a light sanding on the outside, and thankfully they all fit together.
I'll start sanding/cleaning the internal cuts this afternoon before glueing up, which could be a day or two away yet, and then I'll sand the outside again to finish. Haven't decided on the
actual finish yet, I'm tempted to stain darker! I have a small off cut which has had two coats of Wood Silk and looks quite nice, but might have to try a stain and Wood Silk. I have a week
before the big day, so hopefully I'll have this finished before weekend and then I can start on a little trinket box or two.
