Furniture building

[CraKaJaX]

Does anyone have a hobby of building their own furniture? I know skyking sort of does....

A few weekends ago, the GF and myself built a little coffee/espresso bar for my kitchen. She got the plans from somewhere - I'm not sure if they were purchased or free(?) but I really enjoyed doing it. Made it an all day event cutting, measuring, sanding, staining, etc. I am quite limited on tools, but would love to get more into this. I'm sure the tool belt will grow with time.

I am wondering if anyone here has some good websites for plans, tips, advice, etc. I could read about. The two decent ones I've found so far:

http://www.craftsmandrive.com/
http://www.thedesignconfidential.com/plan-index

The Design Conf has an incredible library of stuff and the plans/material list seem very detailed. I've already found a few things I want to dive into on there! A good friend will actually go into stores (ie, Pottery Barn) with a tape measure, ruler and camera to take measurements of stuff he likes and build it himself for a 1/4 the cost. Not a bad idea really. You'll look like a jackass taking the measurements, but you'll feel great when you check your bank account with that nice table in your dining room.

 

[mizzou]

Furniture building is not complex, it's just gets easier when you have the right tools

If you already lack a good amount of woodworking tools, pick the simple and rustic projects.

I remember the first time I saw a biscuit joiner and it was an "Aha!" moment of realizing how much easier things are when you use a tool for a specific job. I still don't own one.


For woodworking, I'd say these were the most important tools I needed.

Miter Saw
Jig Saw
Circular Saw
Table Saw
And don't forget the pneumatic nailer!!! It is a GODSEND

 

[cabri]

^^

And clamps, both pole and right angle

 

[CraKaJaX]

I agree - it's not complex at all as long as you take your time (and have the right tools )

I'm deciding between a bed frame & coffee table as my next project, all seem pretty straight forward. I can already see myself busting my shin multiple times on the bed frame though.

1 - http://www.thedesignconfidential.co...-a-potterybarn-inspired-cheswick-coffee-table

2 - http://www.thedesignconfidential.co...potterybarn-inspired-benchwright-coffee-table

3 - http://www.thedesignconfidential.co...niture-plans-to-build-a-king-sized-hudson-bed

Out of the tools mentioned, I don't own a table/miter saw or a nailer. Just have an old fashion hammer at the moment...

Clamps, sander, drill, countersinks, jigsaw, squares, etc. I got covered....

 

[cabri]

Drill & Screws can replace the powered hammer

 

[Zargon]

I prefer screws to nails most of the time


I do like to play with wood...

 

[Humpy]

Carpentry snob checking in.

Furniture is built using joinery techniques, not with nails and screws.

Also, carpenters realize that all woodworking tools are simply variations of the two or three basic necessities. What's more important are the core techniques and understanding the properties of your material and using it all to your advantage.

 

[z1ggy]

Built a table a few years ago, only power tool I used was a circular saw, and I guess technically I did use my battery powered drill. They make the job go much faster, but aren't really a necessity.

Weeeelll on second thought, not having the drill would have made it pretty much impossible, but I could have technically used a hand saw for any cuts. Would just been there forever though.

 

[edro]

Built a table a few years ago, only power tool I used was a circular saw, and I guess technically I did use my battery powered drill. They make the job go much faster, but aren't really a necessity.

Weeeelll on second thought, not having the drill would have made it pretty much impossible, but I could have technically used a hand saw for any cuts. Would just been there forever though.

Great post. Thank you for the information.

 

[CraKaJaX]

I prefer screws to nails most of the time


I do like to play with wood...

:thumbsup:

In tight spaces or with thin pieces of wood, sometimes drill & screws aren't a valid option. I can see where the nail gun would work magic. I plan on getting one at some point, but until I'm stuck in that tight space, I probably won't. I'm sure it'll be a pissed off, last minute run to the store probably My dad has had his Paslode gun that runs on those air cartridges for years now. That thing is awesome.

 

[Zargon]

I agree, I said I prefer screws, I mean when possible

I have an auto-hammer for those real tight spaces

 

[herm0016]

Tommy Mac has good advise as well.

http://www.thomasjmacdonald.com/rough-cut-woodworking/media/topvideos.php

 

[DrPizza]

I have a variety of pneumatic nailers. I don't think a single nailer handles all the needs. I would think both a brad nailer, as well as a finishing nailer would be useful. But, don't forget about pin nailers. The nail is nore like a thin wire. I'm amazed that it'll even penetrate wood. Great for very gently tacking things together, without necessarily being permanent, or leaving much of a trace if you pull things apart. Great for attaching very delicate trim pieces.

If you haven't used one, it's like injecting a regular (for paper) staple, though straight, and in the 1 inch range. Pull your wood apart, and you can pull the pin out with needle nosed pliers with barely a trace it was ever there, though it can hold surprisingly well.

 

[Mandres]

Carpentry snob checking in.

Furniture is built using joinery techniques, not with nails and screws.

Also, carpenters realize that all woodworking tools are simply variations of the two or three basic necessities. What's more important are the core techniques and understanding the properties of your material and using it all to your advantage.

Agreed. So much of modern woodworking discussion is driven by marketing, trying to sell you the next great machine. All that stuff is great, but it only makes repetitive jobs faster.

To start making furniture you need:
a stable work platform with a vise
a course saw for rough cutting
a finer saw for precision cutting
a hand plane for trimming
a sharp chisel
sand paper
drill

That's it. People will question the hand plane but imo it's 100% required. Trying to use laser guided circular saws to cut wood exactly to size is the wrong way to learn. You cut the piece slightly long and trim it to fit perfectly with the plane, shaving by shaving. Wood is inherently unstable anyway - you can't machine it, you have to fit it by hand.

 

[Zargon]

I generally keep shaving it with either my mitre saw or my radial arm saw, rather than a hand plane, because I don't have one......



I have tool for rough carpentry and construction/repairs. I'm just starting to accumulate things for finer woodworking

My father lives nearby and a very nice woodshop, so I can borrow a lot of his stuff when needed, or we work on the finer stuff there.

 

[skyking]

I cut my first mortise and tenon joints using a drill press and chisels for the mortise, and my table saw and the miter gauge, with a dado blade to cut the tenons. It was a through mortise so that made it a bit easier.
Possibly some day in the future I will create something entirely by hand, but I have get-done-itis and will use whatever gets me there quicker.
My drawers, for example. I could learn how to hand cut dovetails, but I choose to make rabbet and dado drawers. I can make them fast and strong. I use the dado blade instead of making multiple passes as in this video for making the rabbet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V8MS0RDxCw
I made 21 drawers for the kitchen remodel this way. Big drawers I made from baltic birch (BB) plywood for strength and stability, and the silverware and other thinner drawers I made from 1/2" red oak.

 

[Greenman]

Agreed. So much of modern woodworking discussion is driven by marketing, trying to sell you the next great machine. All that stuff is great, but it only makes repetitive jobs faster.

To start making furniture you need:
a stable work platform with a vise
a course saw for rough cutting
a finer saw for precision cutting
a hand plane for trimming
a sharp chisel
sand paper
drill

That's it. People will question the hand plane but imo it's 100% required. Trying to use laser guided circular saws to cut wood exactly to size is the wrong way to learn. You cut the piece slightly long and trim it to fit perfectly with the plane, shaving by shaving. Wood is inherently unstable anyway - you can't machine it, you have to fit it by hand.

I would say machinery makes makes most jobs faster, and with predictable and repeatable results.
Building hand made furniture for a hobby is fine, it's also rewarding in the extremely high end market where you can charge $1500 for a bar stool. Beyond that, it's tedious and time consuming work.

 

[angminas]

A good friend will actually go into stores (ie, Pottery Barn) with a tape measure, ruler and camera to take measurements of stuff he likes and build it himself for a 1/4 the cost. Not a bad idea really. You'll look like a jackass taking the measurements, but you'll feel great when you check your bank account with that nice table in your dining room.

You won't just "look like" a jackass. Ripping off other people's designs is a dick move. Make your own or get them from people who want to give them away.

 

[Homerboy]

When you want to "cheat" a little, pocket screws are a god-send. So along with the aforementioned tools, I highly recommend a collection of Kreg kigs/drills/screws