this weekend. Finally got enough tools to do a fairly simple job....I think. Router, Miter Saw, lots of clamps, saw horses I made last weekend, workbench I made the weekend before, bisquit joiner, hand planer, jigsaws, drills, circular saws etc. I know, still missing a couple of essentials, table saw, band saw, jointer, thickness planer etc. I'm slowly acquiring things as I can afford them in a somewhat prioritized order. Anyways, so I'm gonna try to start my first real project this weekend from some plans that came from Popular Woodworking. It's an Asian Style Coffee table. Before I start I had a few questions. Most of this project is hardwood ply. which is why I chose it for the first project, since I dont have a jointer etc. to flatten wood yet. 1st question is, in the plans the 3/4" ply carcasse is glued up with simple butt joints and bisquits for alignment. I'm sure it must work but I guess I'm skeptical that glue can hold a case together like that, no rabbets or anything. Am I crazy? 2nd question involves the solid wood table top and legs. Since I don't have a jointer or thickness planer, I paid a little extra to have my stock planed at the lumber yard. If I make cuts with my circular saw parallel with these edges will I be good to go, or do I need more prep?
3rd question involves the drawers (2). The plans are pretty skimpy. They don't mention anything about the drawers other than cut dimensions and that you obviously need to make them. They are basically a simple box with a solid wood face. No mention in the plans of joinery. 1/2 ply for the back and sides, 1/4 ply for the bottom. Obviously, the plans were probably written for more experienced woodworkers who wouldn't need guidance in this trivial part of the project. Not me! LOL. What sort of joinery would you recommend for a virgin? I bought a dovetail jig with my router but I'd assume that that would take a while to master since I've never used it or a router for that matter. Any suggestions? Thanks, the new noob on the block! Peter- posted
17 years ago