Moderate Tightwaddery

So, my design for lil kitchen project (transforming a moveable island with a 19”x 36”–with a dropleaf extension adding to that–top to a 44” x 50” top, with 1/2 as a dropleaf with folding legs) needed a buncha nominal 1” x 2” (3/4” x 1-1/2”) bits framing the top, and some nominal 2” x 2” bits for legs.

Buying that stuff precut is more than I wanted to do, so I sacrificed a 1/16” kerf 2 ways and ended up making “good enough” approximations by ripping a couple of nominal 2” x 4”.

LOADS cheaper. When I consider the fact that I’m using a piece of “scrap” furniture grade plywood for the rst of the top, the top isn’t costing me a heck of a lot to make/install. Oh, I did buy a couple of really nice Rockler locking hinges for the fold-down legs, and shelled out for a good piano hinge to run the full length of the drop leaf, as well as some nice plugs matching the finish wood on the plywood (‘cos I’m just gonna screw the top down to the frame, and I want the screws inset and covered), but out of pocket for the top ~$25, instead of buying something pre-made for well over $100 (saw something as nice as what I intend this to come out as for ~$340. Urm, no.).

2-piece top now cut to size. Assembly is next, and there I will get to use the nice DeWalt power miter saw Estimable Son-in-Law gave me for Xmas. Some gluing, clamping, screwing, and then staining and finishing, and that lil project will be off my list. (Oh, there are a few lil additions to make: a couple of boxes on wheels to add to each end of the island; one for a kitchen trash can and another for table linens; new drawer glides for the island’s drawer, as well as a strengthening of the drawer itself–little things)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *