crashmans' O-Top 12 build is finally under way!!

[NCcrashman]

First, I want to apologize in advance for no photo's yet. For the life of my I don't know what I did with my digital camera but I'm looking hard. I have a "touch" of OCD so certain things have to be done first. I have built my cut table outside as well as guide boards and a panel jig. The table saw I have is a smaller "site" table but it should allow me to cut a lot on this build. Second, I have read and studied the plans exhaustively taking 1 part at a time so I fully understand what I'm doing. The idea of just wrecklessly cutting wood won't work for me like it does others. I MUST understand what, how and why. I'm also a newbie wood worker so I gotta take things slow till I get some experience.

I hope 2 find my camera soon so I can take some pictures so you can keep up with my progress. Thanks for "riding" with me on this one!!

~Patrick~

[Gregory East]

It's only OCD if you measure 5 times before you cut.

Once you start cutting panels and they fit together like you thought they would it gets a whole lot easier. When they warp it does your head in. I really envy the Baltic Birch users, all those perfect panels just sitting there precut and ready to trim to fit, phooey!

When you get it all together and fire it up and it works it doesn't matter how long it took.

[NCcrashman]

I now know what you mean Greg. I had a frustrating day yesterday. I ruined a half of a sheet of wood yesterday. I could not get the cuts at the right dimension. I absolutely refuse to give up and I can always get more wood. I would try to cut the top/bottom at 21 x 18 and every damn cut was off by something stupid like a 1/t4 inch. Getting the guide boards plum and straight is becomming a challange with a circular saw. My small table saw is basicly worthless.

I WILL get this, I'm just a newbie wood worker and not having a nice wood shop with a big saw is tough. I might try to build a table for my worksite saw or use a giant table/desk I already own. Straight lines are not easy but I'm a smart guy who hS been building computers for a long time. I'll get this. Yes, I know PC's aren't saws..lol.

Patrick

[NCcrashman]

I will say this. The cut table IS an invalueble tool. I would have lost my mind without it. Today is a new day

[Frederic Gelinas]

With a circular saw and a guide, it should be easy to cut exactly where you want. Did you build a circular saw sled similar to the one in the "Panel jig and other tools" document?

[Gregory East]

Sled is a must have, make it wide enough you can clamp it on the back of the rail without your clamps getting in the way of your saw motor. Framing square might also be lacking? You got to have one of those. Clamps you already know about

I think it was WB showed pics of planks strategically holding up his ply on driveway to make chopping up a breeze. Mark, clamp, check, prop up up, check, rip into it. Planks make life good.

If you're cutting multiple strips for horn panels or sides, make them identical height by placing the 1st good one on top of your stock and cosying up the sled to the edge, clamp the three and voila, instant identical strips. Remember to check

Never asume the ply is properly square when you buy it. Check the diagonals. Don't ask me how I know

Your little table saw can turn into a real weapon with a panel jig board, less to worry about with making square cuts with one of those.

[AntonZ]

The saw can have something to do with it. My first handheld circular saw was a cheap B&D. It died an early death (with smoke and sparks). Which is not at all bad because my new handheld saw worked a lot better with a sled. Turned out the old saw was either not straight on its' foot, or the axle had way too much play. It always tended to wander away from the cut, or into the sled. One way or another, even the sled wouldn't allow the bastard saw to cut straight.

[sine143]

glad to see you getting underway. I still have the 85% done fiberglass ot12 we talked about when you were new to the board in my basement... the plans got updated when I was at an empass and I just got bogged down with other things.

[NeilD321]

Hi NCcrashman,

If you could post a few photos of your setup and how you are ripping the panels, plus the end results, I'm sure there are a few of us with plenty of experience that could offer advice you might find useful.

I remember learning the hard way about a whole lot of things and wished I'd had a forum available to ask questions (I'm older than I look )

Keep at it. I just finished my first XF12 and handed it straight to my guitar playing stepson whose's thrilled with it. Makes everything worthwhile.

[NCcrashman]

Hey guy's. Things aren't going well. It appears I cannot properly cut wood with a circular saw. I've burned through all my wood and I feel stupid as it is. It seems I'm always a 1/8th too 16th of an inch off. I've properly measured the distance from the saw blade to the edge of the show AND used a cut guide to no avail. I'm having to get Leland too "flat pack" it for me. I'm really upset over it as I really seem to love doing this and like I said before, I feel super stupid. How hard can it be?? I simply don't understand. Our local community college has a wood working course I'm going to take. I understand measuring and cutting wood's not for everyone but I have to learn. I freely admit I've never done major wood working but I did build some speakers once with a big table saw and I did just fine. I'm also physically disabled and found lowering my cut table yesterday helped a lot with my physical problems but my disability is PHYSICAL, not mental so I should be able to do this.
I liive on a modest disability check and a little extra when I can pick up a little extra computer work so it's gonna me Feb until I can affrod the flat packs. I'll give everyone a heads-up when I get them and we can try this again.
Thanks a ton,
Patrick

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Hey guy's. Things aren't going well. It appears I cannot properly cut wood with a circular saw. I've burned through all my wood and I feel stupid as it is. It seems I'm always a 1/8th too 16th of an inch off. I've properly measured the distance from the saw blade to the edge of the show AND used a cut guide to no avail.

That tells me you're not using a good blade.

[NCcrashman]

One mistake I made was using the clip on my tape. It's NOT accurite (I measured against a straight edge). I own 3 tapes and all of the must be too cheap cause they were all off. I thought maybe my cut boards were off so I found a metal guide I determined is straight. The balde to the edge of the saw shoe measure 1 3/8. I've measured it God only knows how many times so I know it's right. Taking the 2 measurements (saw and wood I'm cutting) I still can't seem to get it right. I'm close but no mas!! I do have some scrap pieces I'll practice with. Cut table is fine and lowered so I can see everything. Sorry to complain guys.

[NCcrashman]

All I can read on it is 5/8th's. I did notice it "lifted" some small pieces of the ply Bill. Maybe it needs to be changed or I need too account for that 5/8th's number on it. I guess that's why ur the man bill.
~Patrick~
P.S.- I'm doing this on my phone and the file's are to big too post but I do see 5/8th's and I counted 24 teeth. It does say for plywood but I did notice some "chips's" where the ply lifted.

[el_ingeniero]

All I can read on it is 5/8th's. I did notice it "lifted" some small pieces of the ply Bill. Maybe it needs to be changed or I need too account for that 5/8th's number on it. I guess that's why ur the man bill.
~Patrick~
P.S.- I'm doing this on my phone and the file's are to big too post but I do see 5/8th's and I counted 24 teeth. It does say for plywood but I did notice some "chips's" where the ply lifted.

That could be bad ply. You can prevent chipouts by laying down making tape where you plan to cut (mark the cut on the tape, of course).

But no 24T saw is not going to cut it (haha) when it comes to plywood, no matter what ply you get. Go onto Amazon and get a Freud Diablo 40T or 60T saw.

[NCcrashman]

I just replaced the saw blade with a 142 tooth, 7 1/4" blade with a 0.090 Kerf. What do you think Bill?
~Patrick~