BillFitzmaurice.info

Alright I just started my THTLP build this weekend. The goal of this build is to have the biggest, baddest, sub I can fit though the door without disrupting SWMBO idea of a multipurpose room. I am trying to not use many if any exterior screws/nails as I going for a nice stained finish on it. Hopefully my idea of placement will sound good as this will double as a behind the couch table, so this is a THTLP-TT.

I have a couple new tricks I am trying.

So far I have one side all routered out. If you can this is the way to go. Super easy to fit panels so far and with a straight end I bought from Menards it is easy to get a killer line...once I learned my lesson of course. What I did is found 2 long scraps of wood that equal 2.75" (2.75" also the edge of the router bit to the edge of the router guide), I put them on the edge of my line I am routering out (dadoe is what I think it is called), clamp down the straight edge, run the router though and bam you are done.

Second is I got a Makita tracksaw over the winter. I am in love. Just make your measurements and place the track down on them, clamp and cut. As for repeat cuts like the panels an adjustable drywall square is my "story stick" as I heard them called, along with a carpenters square. So far so good.

Lastly I gave up my ol foam insulation cutting board and sprung for the BFM panel cutting jig. This thing is custom designed for a tracksaw and router straight edge. I highly recommend building one, along with the Triton MSA-200 you have a easy breakdown system. The Tritons aren't the most stable but if they move, so does the wood, track, and saw so no biggie.

I will try to get some pics up this weekend.

(edited to fix title)

2nd post just to break it up a bit.

So I have the 1st and 2nd panel up. I put them up in reverse order since it seemed to make more sense give the clamps at my disposal, and the way I view the world. Everything went awesome except my adhesive situation. I forgot to grab PL when I was BB shopping so I had my dad run and grab some while the check out lady was having a rough time with BB ringing up wrong and 4" PVC not ringing up at all. He grabbed PL advanced not premium. So instead of having him run again I thought I would give it a shot.

Panel 2 had PL advanced attaching it to the side. Seems like solid stuff. I started reading the priming ply post in the tips and tricks section and got a little nervous about using it on the long panel 1 to side joint and panel 1 to 2 joint since it seems a little less flexible. So I grabbed some PL Premmy I had sitting in the garage since November from my T60 built. Before I got all my clamping and brads done (about an hour, I was having issues) the PL Premmy was not tacky. So is it bad PL? I tried some the night before and on a piece of cardboard it appears to have dried just as hard as it always has. Is it the un-naturally hot humid weather we have been having (90deg 90+ RH) and I not used to it hardening this quick?

Luckily I have a 1/8" channel to "caulk" more PL in since my first attempts with routing left me a little wide in the panel 1/2 area. So this may help with strength. We will see.....

Have a look at this video, it may give you some ideas. A jig such as the one shown or something similar will work wonders. http://www.shopnotes.com/issues/76/vide ... -dado-jig/

watching that video makes me wanna dado!

Tom Smit wrote:Have a look at this video, it may give you some ideas. http://www.shopnotes.com/issues/76/vide ... -dado-jig/

Brilliant - that HAS given me some ideas!

subharmonic wrote:. Is it the un-naturally hot humid weather we have been having (90deg 90+ RH) and I not used to it hardening this quick?
..

Read the label?
PL sets up faster with heat and/or high humidity, slower when colder and/or dryer.

Bill Fitzmaurice wrote:

subharmonic wrote:. Is it the un-naturally hot humid weather we have been having (90deg 90+ RH) and I not used to it hardening this quick?
..

Read the label?
PL sets up faster with heat and/or high humidity, slower when colder and/or dryer.

I did read the label, actually trying to find out if it was still good. The shelf life is 1 year closed, but how long open? And if it is stored in a garage that get close to freezing would that affect it. I just wasn't expecting it to dry that much quicker but come to think of it at average temp during my other builds was under 60 and dry.

I am thinking there was some degradation of the PL Premium. As I looked at my panel 1/2 I noticed that the panel 2 didn't look right. Sure enough it was a 1/2 in closer to the chamber end. Out comes mr. multimaster and I went to town on it. But near the end where it was glued to the side I was able to just kinda snap it apart. This whole issue started with a clamp moving other clamps when something let loose. I just forgot to re align it.

Tom Smit wrote:Have a look at this video, it may give you some ideas. A jig such as the one shown or something similar will work wonders. http://www.shopnotes.com/issues/76/vide ... -dado-jig/

Cool video. Not sure it I would want my dados that tight. I like a little play in them at least in these builds. If everything was a 90s I would go for it.

subharmonic wrote:

Tom Smit wrote:Have a look at this video, it may give you some ideas. A jig such as the one shown or something similar will work wonders. http://www.shopnotes.com/issues/76/vide ... -dado-jig/

Cool video. Not sure it I would want my dados that tight. I like a little play in them at least in these builds. If everything was a 90s I would go for it.

One could modify/lengthen the jig so that it could be used at any angle on the panel.

Tom Smit wrote:

subharmonic wrote:

Tom Smit wrote:Have a look at this video, it may give you some ideas. A jig such as the one shown or something similar will work wonders. http://www.shopnotes.com/issues/76/vide ... -dado-jig/

Cool video. Not sure it I would want my dados that tight. I like a little play in them at least in these builds. If everything was a 90s I would go for it.

One could modify/lengthen the jig so that it could be used at any angle on the panel.

Not so much the angles but the tightness. The 1/2" router bit leaves a bit of play (like a 1/16"), that I like since not all my cuts are going to be perfect, makes it easier to fit it all together given my accuracy.

Gotcha'.
If you notice beginning at 1:25 that the adjustable fence is just that. So, you could add a shim to make the dado wider by keeping the adjustable fence a little farther away from the fixed fence.

This is the side dado'd out and panel 2 sitting above it.

Here is my new setup. You can see the panel jig, stands for the jig and plungesaw track. Also a joined board

I learned a kickback lesson, when cutting angles with a track saw make sure the track is supported before and after your cut, not necessary with minor angles and 90 degree cuts but a good practice.

Also bought the jasper circle jig. Very handy, I know could have built one but this stores easy and took no time to build. Borrowed a plunge router. Luckily my dads a woodworker so when I need tools I just borrow his, sometimes I give them back too. I will be keeping my eye out for sales on the Skil 1830 router, seems to be the best bang for the buck at my level of building. Looked at it at the local Lowes, solid little guy from what I can tell.

subharmonic wrote: Luckily my dads a woodworker so when I need tools I just borrow his, sometimes I give them back too.

subharmonic wrote:I will be keeping my eye out for sales on the Skil 1830 router, seems to be the best bang for the buck at my level of building. Looked at it at the local Lowes, solid little guy from what I can tell.

Deleted.

Let us know how the assembly goes for a dadoed build.

I am also thinking about building like that now with my newly purchased SSRK kit from eurekazone. UPS can't drive fast enough this week...