posted 1/10/08
I recently watched an episode; aired on Comcast channel 12, in Ann Arbor, MI; where you were building a table from recycled wood with a single stretcher between the vertical legs. There was a square-shouldered tenon on each end of the stretcher. A hole was drilled at 90 degrees to the tenon. You then free-handedly cut a dowel on an angle to form a wedge to slide through the hole and lock the legs
and stretcher together. As you slid the wedge into the hole, with the flat surface against the leg surface, the wedge could have only pushed against the stretcher on a very small portion of the hole in the tenon to tighten the assembly. Also, there would be a gap on the opposite of the hole as the wedge would not fill the hole.
If the hole were drilled at an angle, the same angle used to cut the wedge, the flat side of the wedge would fully contact the leg face and the round side of the wedge would push against the entire depth of the hole, filling it completely, and very securely tighten the assembly. A portion of the hole would have to be covered by the leg, in the installed position, to ensure that the wedge could adequately tighten the assembly. The wedge could then be cut to the proper length.
I hope I have adequately described the situation. Keep up the good work, as I enjoy each episode.
I have learned that science is not always the answer to all things that seem logical. Indeed the peg does go in a bit odd but trust me when I say that you could dance on this table without the pegs coming loose. (Just a figure of speech here - so please do all dancing on the floor.) How? The frame actually racks every so slightly and lock everything tight. Plus the peg flexes as it is driven tight. You can not see the racking and the joint works just fine. I will be doing a trestle dining table of this method with a vertical peg in the June July issue of Woodcraft Magazine, with all details spelled out. Thanks for caring enough to watch the details. You are right on track.
~ Sincerely, Scott
posted 12/18/07
Hi Scott, On your website in your “Quick Tips” section you make the following statement regarding the radial arm saw (RAS):
Specialty Tool Tip:
Push the blade through the stock instead on pulling it through. By pushing the blade through the board it is easier to control the feed speed. Plus it helps to hold the material flat to the table, tight to the fence and makes the cutting smoother. Radial arm saws are the go-to tool for wide crosscuts because the blade travels farther on the arm than with miter saws.
I have used a RAS for 30 years and have always believed that the rule was to only pull the saw through the stock, since the leading edge of the blade is moving down into the wood, and therefore helping keep the stock securely on the table. Doesn’t pushing the blade through the stock present a potential danger of lifting the stock from the table?
I know that compound sliding miter saws use the push technique, but it was my understanding that this is appropriate because saw blade can pivot up if it meets resistance, and thus it will ride over the wood stock rather than flipping it up.
I appreciate your response. I am willing to learn new methods, but would like to be sure it is a tried and true proven to be save method. ~ Thanks, Roger Songer
Hi Roger, I appreciate your ideas. I ran a production shop with heavy-duty radial arm saws and found that the technique that worked best for us is what I wrote about. I feel that the first thing is to prep all workpieces so they are Square on Four sides (S4S) and defect free (No twists and cups). That way the boards can be safely and securely held down to the table and tight to the fence during cutting. And using all guards as instructed by the owner's manual is a must. ~Very best regards, Scott
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