This thread is for anyone working on personal projects to share their progress, and hold themselves somewhat accountable to a group of peers.
Post your project, your progress from last week, and what you hope to accomplish this week.
If you want to be pinged with a reminder asking about your project, let me know, and I'll harass you each week until you cancel the service
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Notes -
RE: The burning, make sure the bit is clean. I use a spray like this, and so long as you haven't worn the bit dull, it works wonders. I generally clean all my blades and bits after every major project. If you are scorching the wood, that means there is too much heat, which means you are also dulling the blades of the bit. There are some, well not exceptions exactly, but times when this is less the case than others. Maple scorches notoriously easy as I found out the hard way. Just make sure you keep feeding at a steady rate and don't linger for too long in any one area. If you need to reposition, pull the bit away from the workpiece a little and then get back to it.
The other thing is to invest in good bits. In the US Whiteside is a reliable brand that has proven sharper and more durable than anything I'd find in the store, or whatever cheap chinesium shows up on Amazon. I actually grabbed a fresh Whiteside template bit before I began my current project because the one that came in a (I suspect counterfeit) Bosch set was a fucking joke.
I'm also looking forward to building a router table. I have one that came with the first router I bought, and it's ok. I had to buy a new fence for it though, since the one it came with had a problem where the left side of the fence wasn't flush with the right side of the fence. Wrestled with that always taking a slight divot out of the last inch or two of a workpiece for 2 years before I splurged on a $100 "high quality" fence. Was definitely worth it though. Lately I've been desiring a higher quality router lift to build into whatever table I make. Debating building it into the miter saw station I have in mind. But it might have to wait since that's a pricey bit of kit, and this project is supposed to be on the cheaper side.
I think the cutter was new as unlike everything else in the tool case it was spotlessly clean and wrapped in what looked like a factory applied shrink fit rubber cover that unavoidably tore a little when I carefully took it off, so I assume it was its first outing. Good tip though, I probably wouldn't have thought of that. Any suggestions for a non-dedicated cleaner? I've got isopropyl, mineral spirits and a degreaser that I use on my bike chain.
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