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Yet another... COCKTAIL - the quick, quiet, cheap, couth, cock cab
xefned:
Man, popsicle - I love that it's ALL screen, with a nice wide control panel. Considering the importance of leg-room and ergonomics, I may just start over with measurements closer to yours. The standard cocktail just looks boxy by comparison, with a stubby little awkward control panel. +1 on your $1 computer.
Dr.Venture, thanks for the thoughts. I'll probably go with a cheaper stick, until I realize I'm addicted and start on my 2nd build next year haha. Hell yeah on the spinner. Wizard of Wor and Tac/Scan are calling.
xefned:
A rough start with a rough cut
We're in real beginners territory here.
Because my neighbor was waiting around for me to finish with his saw, I did the cuts quick to give it back. My wife scolded me, "do the job right, he doesn't mind waiting." Next job is figuring out how to straighten these edges. I may try a planer. :blah:
The on-sale $30 birch plywood is back to it's regular $50 price. So I'll probably go ahead with the bog-standard design. But maybe I can modify the control panel to be higher and angled like the popsicle cocktail. I'll see if I can collude the two designs into something more legroomy.
Le Chuck:
I would recommend getting your own saw, even a cheap one, and spending some time making a saw board and learning how to make clean straight cuts. This is key because at this stage you're building a foundation. If the basics are wobbly the whole project will be wobbly, only moreso as you'll be compounding shortcuts on top of shortcuts. Are you able to snap a straight line along that edge and recut later? If not you may need to set that piece aside until you find something you can cut out of it.
If your neighbor was worth his salt and knew you were inexperienced with the tool and saw you making those cuts he would have taken a few minutes to help you get good cuts out of your wood.
You don't want to be fighting your lines this early on. Mistakes will be made later that are patchable but jagged unstraight edges will leave you fighting uphill the whole way. A good cab takes a bit longer to build but the process of doing it is extremely valuable.
yaksplat:
Also, make sure that you're using the right kind of blade for the job. I'm not sure what kind of saw you were using on that board, but i'd guess jigsaw based on the wobble and partially angled cut.
If it is a jigsaw, buy a set of various blades. Some will be great for curves, other for fast straight cuts. Buy a piece of low quality wood to practice on. Cut some straight lines, some curves, and take your time. Extra time spent now will save you a lot of aggravation later.
A plane will only straighten out thouse cuts if you're really skilled and have a sharp plane. Otherwise you'll just create other problems and become highly skilled at making dust.
Feel free to keep asking questions, there's plenty of people around here that'll help you out.
jmike:
I'm with Le Chuck,
circular saws are pretty cheap. Here's a Craftsman Evolv 7 inch saw for $30.
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-18780-evolv-12-amp-corded-7-in/p-00918780000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1
Of course there are better ones but are definitely more expensive. I have a craftsman and it works great.
BTW you should be using a circular saw for long cuts, definitely not a jigsaw.
:cheers:
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