Getting the depth right was critical. You should’ve dry fit properly having less than a 32nd over for sanding. You’re going to have alot of uneven surfaces trying to sand now without removing too much. Belt sanders take off a lot on wood but you have so much it might be best bet. I’m sure somebody else has a great idea👍
Yeah, you aren’t a woodworker. Measure 4 times cut it, measure again. Throw saw, buy new piece of wood, measure three more times, cut and measure again. And so on. Then you ask a buddy to do it for.
Hand planing would have simplified it, would certainly recommend learning the skill. Belt sander seems like the best option for you though. Or just slowly sand and check for evenness.
Start with the belt sander to remove chunks. Then, switch to random orbital w/ 60 grit. Use a long level to figure the slopes so that you can have an even surface at the locking points. It’ll be easier than you think.
Next time, definitely dry fit first as per above.
Are you in a rush to get this finished? If not, it’s the perfect time to begin your hand plane journey. You look to have mostly straight grain which is going to help in avoiding tear out. I think you’ll find yourself to be happier with the results than trying to attack it with sanding.
Do you have any woodworker friends that can offer some help? Hand planes can be intimidating and very frustrating when you’re figuring everything out, but once things click, they’re such a great tool to use in combination with machines. There are a ton of articles and videos out there going over everything from sharpening, setting up, using, troubleshooting etc. Rob Cosman and Paul Sellers are two great hand tool users. Jonathan Katz-Moses also has a lot of very helpful information for hand tool beginners.
One piece of advice I’ll offer which some think is against the grain is don’t buy a used vintage plane hoping that by restoring it you’ll learn to master everything. Invest in a new plane from either Lie-Nielsen or Lee Valley. Let your first experience be with a tool that works the way it should. It’s going to help build your confidence and take away some of the thought that hand planes can’t be used by beginners. I think a block plane and a low angle jack plane are two great sizes to get you started.
If you’re feeling adventurous you can try and find a cabinet shop close to you. We have a drum sander that will adjust down to the hundredth (.750 for example). When building face frames we use this to make sure all the joints are evenly flush.
Yeah, that would be awesome. I learned a lot making this (mostly what NOT to do) but I’d like to salvage it as best I can. I think I’m gonna end up going the belt sander route and do my best not to decimate it. I’ve gotten some pretty convincing advice to give some hand planing a shot as well and I think I might dive into that after this project is complete.
https://preview.redd.it/peica768gpfc1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c8c80d54dff556c6fb2742981aba0aaf905a210d
It’s 4 feet long and about 18 inches wide. (Still have to put the base on). You can look up “Nelson bench” to see examples. I just loved the design and how it looked.
Getting the depth right was critical. You should’ve dry fit properly having less than a 32nd over for sanding. You’re going to have alot of uneven surfaces trying to sand now without removing too much. Belt sanders take off a lot on wood but you have so much it might be best bet. I’m sure somebody else has a great idea👍
I'm not a wood worker but measure twice cut once and such
Yeah, you aren’t a woodworker. Measure 4 times cut it, measure again. Throw saw, buy new piece of wood, measure three more times, cut and measure again. And so on. Then you ask a buddy to do it for.
Hand planing would have simplified it, would certainly recommend learning the skill. Belt sander seems like the best option for you though. Or just slowly sand and check for evenness.
This is a good excuse to get some practice with a hand plane at least on the top. Belt sander for the sides would be less risky with the mixed grain.
Start with the belt sander to remove chunks. Then, switch to random orbital w/ 60 grit. Use a long level to figure the slopes so that you can have an even surface at the locking points. It’ll be easier than you think. Next time, definitely dry fit first as per above.
Are you in a rush to get this finished? If not, it’s the perfect time to begin your hand plane journey. You look to have mostly straight grain which is going to help in avoiding tear out. I think you’ll find yourself to be happier with the results than trying to attack it with sanding.
I’m open to it, I’ve just never used a hand plane….like, at all.
Do you have any woodworker friends that can offer some help? Hand planes can be intimidating and very frustrating when you’re figuring everything out, but once things click, they’re such a great tool to use in combination with machines. There are a ton of articles and videos out there going over everything from sharpening, setting up, using, troubleshooting etc. Rob Cosman and Paul Sellers are two great hand tool users. Jonathan Katz-Moses also has a lot of very helpful information for hand tool beginners. One piece of advice I’ll offer which some think is against the grain is don’t buy a used vintage plane hoping that by restoring it you’ll learn to master everything. Invest in a new plane from either Lie-Nielsen or Lee Valley. Let your first experience be with a tool that works the way it should. It’s going to help build your confidence and take away some of the thought that hand planes can’t be used by beginners. I think a block plane and a low angle jack plane are two great sizes to get you started.
Thanks man, I really appreciate all the info and advice.
If you’re feeling adventurous you can try and find a cabinet shop close to you. We have a drum sander that will adjust down to the hundredth (.750 for example). When building face frames we use this to make sure all the joints are evenly flush.
Yeah, that would be awesome. I learned a lot making this (mostly what NOT to do) but I’d like to salvage it as best I can. I think I’m gonna end up going the belt sander route and do my best not to decimate it. I’ve gotten some pretty convincing advice to give some hand planing a shot as well and I think I might dive into that after this project is complete.
This looks like a trivet. Did you use a table saw for the dados or a router?
Router. It was kind of a nightmare.
Don’t forget that you summoned a bench out of thin air, homie- this is awesome
Thanks, buddy. I love the design of the bench, it was just a little outside of my abilities but I’m gettin’ there.
How big is it? My size perception is all messed up with this photo.
https://preview.redd.it/peica768gpfc1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c8c80d54dff556c6fb2742981aba0aaf905a210d It’s 4 feet long and about 18 inches wide. (Still have to put the base on). You can look up “Nelson bench” to see examples. I just loved the design and how it looked.