Melamine is notorious for chipping out on the back side when cutting. In this video I share my tools and techniques for creating clean cuts on both sides of melamine.
The blade I use in the video is a Freud LU97R010. It produces a clean cut on both the top and bottom of the cut.
The images of the cuts you see on the video are of the backside of the melamine, this is where the chip-out occurs. You will see they are very clean cuts.
In Part II I will show you how to apply edge banding.
I have been pretty anxious to get out more video, especially after all the effort I have invested in the infrastructure for creating better videos.
Well things did not go smooth for this video. I started out by setting a record for the number of takes to get a clean 1st scene. I don't know why my mind really kept dropping off. (I have a lot of crap rattling around up there.)
The next thing to happen was that after I got rolling on the video recording, I quit checking the playbacks very often because I felt comfortable everything was going OK. I have had an especially difficult time dialing in my audio, but after playing back a handful of shots I felt confident everything was recording good.
Boy, was I wrong. I knew that I was not dealing with a quality wireless mic system and that this was actually part of the problem. Well, that system really puked out on me altogether while recording.
Making Lemonade From Lemons
This was extremely disappointing, shooting video is very time intensive and this all equals wasted time. I was left with only 2 good scenes, but only 1 that had a good piece of woodworking advice. The other scene merely shared the application for my bent lamination to create context.
Other than that I just had the numerous outtake shots. OK, I figured, let's just make some lemonade out of lemons and so I put this video together.
So the video is basically a blooper reel but part of the good shot is at the end that has a real solid piece of woodworking advice. It is a principle that I exercise in my own shop.
I call the video "Crap to Gold Nuggets" and you will see why.
I have a new wireless system ordered & on the way. Hope you enjoy!
Haven't Card Scrapers Been Covered Enough Already?
The simple answer is NO.
The following video by fellow woodworker Brian Havens has to be the best I have seen on card scrapers. Why? Because Brian has made the first video I have seen that acknowledges there are several ways to sharpen a card scraper and that they all are legitimate.
This is not a detailed dissertation on any one method of sharpening, but it covers a variety of methods in their basic principles. To be honest, Brian gives more than enough information to get a person going on card scrapers. Even with an hour long detailed video, people still have to get hands on with the scraper and figure it out for themselves. A longer video does not necessarily mean you will figure it out faster.
Brian not only shares the principles and techniques of sharpening, he talks about the value of each sharpening method and points out that they all have a place.
To decide which method to use, he considers the return on investment. If a person wants to scrape finish off a board, only a rough burr is required. If a person wants to eliminate sanding altogether, then a fine burr will need to be turned to produce the finest surface.
Brian Havens has also produced other fine videos for woodworkers and has a great portfolio. Be sure to check out his site at Brian Havens, Woodworker.
Thanks for another great video production Brian!
Grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the show...
In the following video you can see how I sharpen my card scrapers. This is the method that I figured out and still use today in my shop.
Share the Love~Share the Knowledge
American Craftsman Workshop
The goal of the American Craftsman Workshop is to provide education, encouragement, and inspiration to aspiring woodworkers and DIY'ers.
