All the woodworking I've done in the past was out of square wood. Let's give this a shot. Shawn Curry fishingpol or anyone else I'd welcome any suggestions. So I have a little nook in our new mud room where I'm going to build some benches, shoe cubbies, coat rack and whatever else my wife discovers on Pinterest. The nook is not square...at all...and since I have to mitre the corners I decided to template it and use a patterning bit on my router to square up the back edge where it meets the wall. Tonight I patterned the nook. More to come.
That looks great so far! Sounds like an excellent plan for scribing it to the wall. For the miters, make the cut on one of them and then use it as a template. I like whiteside and Rockler store brand router bits.
Maybe calculate how out of square each corner is and divide by 2 instead using a template? As it is, how do plan to rout with your fastening "plates" in the corners?
I'm not sure of the patterning bit method. This is what I would do: Cut the back plank to length and test fit. Cut 45's on each end if same plank while it is still straight. Set plank back against wall and scribe with carpenters pencil and cut off waste and test fit. Put both left and right planks up against walls and scribe each and cut waste. Test fit. Leave both planks in place. Set back plank in place and scribe your angle carefully to correspond to the pre cut 45's. Cut and you should have tight angles. Maybe a Dutchman across each joint?
I've made floor to ceiling screens for my porch using one side cut to 45 and scribing the other angle and it gives a nice clean joint. No guessing or figuring the other angle.
The problem is, there are no straight edges to reference from, now or later after its scribed. But in the end, the angle doesn't even matter; the other side just needs to be complimentary to it. Test-and-fit could work too, but if you are fitting the actual, final piece, and you make a mistake, you'll have to live with it. Creating the template first, even if you'll only use it once, IMO is a good idea.
That's why I decided to pattern it. I had scraps and a bit so might as well use them. Going to be a few days before I get to work on it again so I have time to think and soak up suggestions.
Progress. Finally got some time back in the shop the past few nights. Straightened the long board on the wall side...cut 45's with a circular saw ...then laid it on top of the short boards...got everything lined up with the template...marked the angle on the short boards and cut 1/4" off the line with the the circular saw. I'm pretty picky when it come to my joints and I'm not a magician with a circular saw so I decided to use the pattern bit to true the joint edges up using a straight edge as a guide. After I cleaned them up I put 9 pocketholes (blasphemy for some but I use what I gots) in each joint on alternating sides...glued it and screwed it. Should be strong enough...I hope. Joints turned out pretty not bad. Next I laid the template back on and clamped it down and patterned the wall edges. When I got to my corner blocks I just clamped the template down to the workpiece and removed the blocks. Coming together nicely. Next step is the do a test for and scribe the wall if needed.
I agree. But I can also respect the purists out there never use any type of fastener outside of yellow glue. I don't have that kind of talent, or time for that matter.
Got the legs cut out and fastened on with more pocketholes. Test for isn't too far off. Temporary supports in the back. Pupper approves.
DANG! That looks freakin awesome Thanks for bringing us along through the journey! What's your choice for finish?
Nothing fancy for finish. Just a few coats of wipe on satin poly. Ok have a few knot to fill with epoxy to keep the dirt from accumulating.
