Building the desktop

I finally got around to starting on the desk I’ve been wanting to build. I haven’t done many woodworking projects…in fact I’ve done so few I can list them:
Modeling table: Got a sheet of plywood, screwed landscaping timbers into the bottom. Called it a table. Boy did it suck.

Built a shelf. With pegs. for Nate. Grade D- It looks okay but it could’ce been way better.

Built space minimizing custom computer station. Works great, looks ehhh. C

That’s the sum total of my experience building stuff. So I read up on the tips and tricks in various woodworking websites. (side note: woodworkers are freakin’ anal) The overwhelming message I came away with was: plan, plan, plan. The secondary message: spend a million dollars on every tool you could possibly need (every single tool I own has been deemed unusable by various woodworkers).

All I can say is those guys are dead wrong. First rule: don’t cut off a finger. Second most important thing: don’t smash thumb with a rubber mallet. I’ve got all twelve fingers but I did wallop the holy poo out of my thumb with a rubber mallet. I cried like a little girl. (That’s a lie, I actually cursed a whole bunch and looked for something to punch but the other link is funny.)

Haven’t made too much progress. Started routing some MDF board and the router bit started burning the wood. This particular bit was the cheap one that came with the router so I was pretty lucky to get that much out of it (note: router bits are dangerous) so I just hacked things up with the table saw. Pretty enjoyable really.

Many folks ask me: Hey Chris, you’ve got a table saw and very little experience, just how do you set the cut depth properly? The answer is simple: You want the blade to go about an eighth of an inch above the piece. So if you’re cutting 1 inch stock you want about an inch and an eighth exposed. Simple method for checking your adjustment: cut a scrap piece with your hand on the top of the piece. If you can see bone you’ve got too much blade exposed. I kid, I kid. There are all kinds of methods to get the blade depth just right, I say eyeball it. I also keep my hands well away from the blade. In truth I make my wife push the wood through. And that’s an important safety tip: There is nothing safer than making someone else take the risks. Yep even this (very cool) safety advancement pales in comparison to making some other sucker put their hands near a rapidly spinning blade/bit.

I’d say that’s enough about that. Onto the general blog filler:

A most excellent game, hopefully it will cheer Beth Lock up a bit: Floats

Todd Long sent me this odd, yet cool, link: Fear of Clowns Of course Todd has a phobia about clowns so that movie probably scares the bejeezus of him. I feel sorry for the guy so I haven’t introduced him to Boffo

All important TV pick (duh, duhn na NAHHHHH): Usually I have trouble finding something decent on. Not this time, this particular night I am overloaded with choices:
All time fave movie three: Dr. Strangelove
All time fave movie number 4:Raising Arizona
Movie Well Worth Watching:How do ya like them Apples?

Found an ancient Vic 20 and put it to work calculating the CKS/BL tridiot rating, the result: A workman like 116.3022715%