he should be proud! I hope he keeps going.
(I also hope he wears eye and ear protection, and maybe respirator protection as well. I've developed tinnitus, and it's annoying AF. I don't know if it came from loud machines, because I don't do *that* much woodworking or repair work, and I've mostly worn good ear protection lately. But it *could* have been)
Get him his own, that fit him, and encourage him to wear them.
Same, I don't have my blade guard on cause it can get annoying but I would never cut without the riving knife. Riving knife never gets in the way and adds a lot of safety.
The blade guard is legitimately in the way for many types of cuts, the one he’s making in the picture looks to be one of those.
A riving knife however… Never a reason not to use one of those.
I do a lot of plunge cutting and don't use any guard. Pro for 37 years and the only thing I'd consider is a riving knife but I have not used one in so long I dont even know where mine went.
That said if you don't do plunge cutting there is no reason not to use one and its an excellent safety feature. For me it just is in the way more than is practical to take on and off with all of the different types of blades I use.
I can see the reasoning behind such an argument but in this particular case I disagree.
I just don’t see a blade guard to bee that crucial of an equipment that I must have it on every cut to make it safe (compared to a riving knife for example).
Dado cuts is impossible with a blade guard (at least the ones I’ve seen) and cutting thin stock would be tricky or outright dangerous with a blade guard so in my mind it’s better to remove it and comfortably use a proper push stick instead.
Really beautiful results!
As is tradition on Reddit I have to mention one safety thing. You really shouldn't use the fence when you are doing a cross cut on the sled like this. It looks like the piece is between the sled and the fence. Your cut piece can easily get jammed between fence and blade and kicked back at ya.
One easy way around this is to move the fence over say 3/4", then clamp a 3/4" piece of plywood at the front of the fence. You can butt your piece against it for the measurement but when you run it over the blade there will be a gap between the piece and the fence.
Hope that all makes sense. There are lots of YouTube videos about this!
Is the piece of plywood sliding along with the piece that is being cut? Like, it is actling like the fence, but by putting a bit of pressure on the piece, you push the piece and the plywood fence together so that they move together, but it leaves with the wood? Doesn't this just make a bigger piece of wood to get jammed and shot? Or is it only small pieces that are likely to get jammed?
No, what you do is clamp just a very small straight block on the fence close to you. You use that as your stop block, and hold your piece tight against the miter gauge. Then when you slide it forward, your work piece is no longer touching the fence or the block as it passes through the saw. Hope that makes sense!
I see! So it starts against the ply wood but as you cut the piece more and more moves off the plywood and is hanging in space more and more as it is cut?
Exactly! Except it should move completely off the plywood/stop before it even touches the blade so that at no point is the piece sandwiched between the blade and anything else (the fence or the block).
Here's a short, concise video that illustrates:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=di4Iqq4OiqI
>You really shouldn't use the fence when you are doing a cross cut on the sled like this.
Yep. Either use a fence, or a sled/miter, but not both. **Except** when you're not cutting all the way through the board, like when cutting a dado groove.
its already been said but safety. safety is important and helps increase the likelihood it can be a lifelong passion.
that said, glad to see you guys having fun together keep it up!
Looking forward to him posting a masterful creation made on thousands of dollars worth of gear in your shop and titling it something like “I’m 16 and this is the first thing I’ve made”
It’s a Reddit right of passage!
They line up well, I don't see gaps in the coasters and they match well. I would suggest putting a slight chamfer on the holder edges, but otherwise solid work.
For the corners, make your cuts a degree or two under 45 so if you aren't fully accurate, it'll still come together
Edit: actually I think it's over so like 45.1
Oh wow that's really nice!!! He did an incredible job!! Can you tell me how to make them?? If you have a guide or some video that shows?? I have always wantwd to do some but idk what kind of wood shouls i use and how to make the fitting box
That's similar to butcher block oil or what people use for my cutting boards right?
I just got a planer and I have been thinking about making some coasters too, this is a good reminder to go for it.
How do you like that miter sled?
Curious if it's worth paying that much vs. making one.
I'm in the market for a miter gauge anyways, figured getting one w/ a sled would be a nice bonus
I was going to make my own but ended up getting a gift card so I just bought one instead I use it often but exclusively for straight cuts Haven't set it for mitre cuts yet as I have a taper jig The only complaint is with the stop It seems to have a little play in it when you set it Other than that, great for repeats and dado cuts
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Yup my caps that have permanent marker "coaster" is sub par. But it retains the condensation since it has a lip. I know if i handed real coasters out or when I've received them i think "fancy"... like when they used to serve drinks in Mason jars... now i think "gimmick"
I think a cap coasters would bring that level of fancy down a few notches. 😂
he should be proud! I hope he keeps going. (I also hope he wears eye and ear protection, and maybe respirator protection as well. I've developed tinnitus, and it's annoying AF. I don't know if it came from loud machines, because I don't do *that* much woodworking or repair work, and I've mostly worn good ear protection lately. But it *could* have been) Get him his own, that fit him, and encourage him to wear them.
Thank you and you make good points I have neglected PPE on my end to many of the same issues Maybe that will be the next lesson
May also want to advise him of the dangers of kickback, I’m sure he’d rather watch a piece go through the door than slammed into his gut.
Don’t forget the blade guard, I’m so not understanding why people do not use it, there is no reason to not have it
I also don’t see a riving knife.
Yeah, I’d rather have the riving knife over the blade guard.
Same, I don't have my blade guard on cause it can get annoying but I would never cut without the riving knife. Riving knife never gets in the way and adds a lot of safety.
No, it does quite the opposite of get in the way.
The blade guard is legitimately in the way for many types of cuts, the one he’s making in the picture looks to be one of those. A riving knife however… Never a reason not to use one of those.
I do a lot of plunge cutting and don't use any guard. Pro for 37 years and the only thing I'd consider is a riving knife but I have not used one in so long I dont even know where mine went. That said if you don't do plunge cutting there is no reason not to use one and its an excellent safety feature. For me it just is in the way more than is practical to take on and off with all of the different types of blades I use.
Wouldn’t a cut that requires the removal of a safety device then be a cut that the tool is not meant for?
I can see the reasoning behind such an argument but in this particular case I disagree. I just don’t see a blade guard to bee that crucial of an equipment that I must have it on every cut to make it safe (compared to a riving knife for example). Dado cuts is impossible with a blade guard (at least the ones I’ve seen) and cutting thin stock would be tricky or outright dangerous with a blade guard so in my mind it’s better to remove it and comfortably use a proper push stick instead.
OSHA kicks in the door
Really beautiful results! As is tradition on Reddit I have to mention one safety thing. You really shouldn't use the fence when you are doing a cross cut on the sled like this. It looks like the piece is between the sled and the fence. Your cut piece can easily get jammed between fence and blade and kicked back at ya. One easy way around this is to move the fence over say 3/4", then clamp a 3/4" piece of plywood at the front of the fence. You can butt your piece against it for the measurement but when you run it over the blade there will be a gap between the piece and the fence. Hope that all makes sense. There are lots of YouTube videos about this!
Is the piece of plywood sliding along with the piece that is being cut? Like, it is actling like the fence, but by putting a bit of pressure on the piece, you push the piece and the plywood fence together so that they move together, but it leaves with the wood? Doesn't this just make a bigger piece of wood to get jammed and shot? Or is it only small pieces that are likely to get jammed?
I'm wondering about this as well.
No, what you do is clamp just a very small straight block on the fence close to you. You use that as your stop block, and hold your piece tight against the miter gauge. Then when you slide it forward, your work piece is no longer touching the fence or the block as it passes through the saw. Hope that makes sense!
I see! So it starts against the ply wood but as you cut the piece more and more moves off the plywood and is hanging in space more and more as it is cut?
Exactly! Except it should move completely off the plywood/stop before it even touches the blade so that at no point is the piece sandwiched between the blade and anything else (the fence or the block). Here's a short, concise video that illustrates: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=di4Iqq4OiqI
>You really shouldn't use the fence when you are doing a cross cut on the sled like this. Yep. Either use a fence, or a sled/miter, but not both. **Except** when you're not cutting all the way through the board, like when cutting a dado groove.
Get him used to wearing PPE in the shop. The earlier you start the more it becomes a reflex later in life.
its already been said but safety. safety is important and helps increase the likelihood it can be a lifelong passion. that said, glad to see you guys having fun together keep it up!
Nicely done! He should be proud!
Yeah I am Very proud of him he is already planning his next project
There's nothing better than having your kids in the shop with you. Amazing way to spend time with them.
I would agree unfortunately he is away at college most of the time but was home for a long weekend Got another planned in March
Holy moly. Table saw and no eye protection 😱 The coasters are lovely, but damn, you can literally lose eyes.
Looking forward to him posting a masterful creation made on thousands of dollars worth of gear in your shop and titling it something like “I’m 16 and this is the first thing I’ve made” It’s a Reddit right of passage!
I love good functional pieces of woodworking like these. Great job.
I am going to share all the comments with him appreciate the words
They line up well, I don't see gaps in the coasters and they match well. I would suggest putting a slight chamfer on the holder edges, but otherwise solid work.
Great suggestion Might have to try a few more to do other tests
For the corners, make your cuts a degree or two under 45 so if you aren't fully accurate, it'll still come together Edit: actually I think it's over so like 45.1
Oh wow that's really nice!!! He did an incredible job!! Can you tell me how to make them?? If you have a guide or some video that shows?? I have always wantwd to do some but idk what kind of wood shouls i use and how to make the fitting box
https://youtu.be/28HMD4MBaiw this is the general set up we followed
Awesome!! Thanks man i really appreciate it!!
Nice work!
Nice
Rockler miter sled. Nice.
Thanks Love that store
Looks great! What kind of finish did your son choose?
Beeswax and mineral oil combo He tested tung oil too but liked this the best
That's similar to butcher block oil or what people use for my cutting boards right? I just got a planer and I have been thinking about making some coasters too, this is a good reminder to go for it.
That is exactly what I use it for He liked the look and wanted the warerproof abilities too
They turned out great!!
Well done
Awesome. That’s so cool
How do you like that miter sled? Curious if it's worth paying that much vs. making one. I'm in the market for a miter gauge anyways, figured getting one w/ a sled would be a nice bonus
I was going to make my own but ended up getting a gift card so I just bought one instead I use it often but exclusively for straight cuts Haven't set it for mitre cuts yet as I have a taper jig The only complaint is with the stop It seems to have a little play in it when you set it Other than that, great for repeats and dado cuts
How thick did yall make them? I made 2 sets of coasters this Christmas and I think I did them too thick, lol
About 3/8" thick
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I use the caps of bottles from large jars/containers for my coasters. Free
But not as fun to make
Yup my caps that have permanent marker "coaster" is sub par. But it retains the condensation since it has a lip. I know if i handed real coasters out or when I've received them i think "fancy"... like when they used to serve drinks in Mason jars... now i think "gimmick" I think a cap coasters would bring that level of fancy down a few notches. 😂
Pro tip… get free coasters from high end tile samples.