Coming Soon!

Welcome to The Weekend-Builder Website! I’m just getting started here, so hang on to your apron strings.

Just to wet your whistle, here are a few “teaser” shots of projects in the works. I am in the process of making build videos and plans.  So be sure to check back. 

Scrap Wood Drill Charging Station

I made this our of discarded OSB (Oriented Strand Board) from the factory where I work. They throw away these 14″ x 20″ x 3/8″ panels that come in as packing material on a regular basis.  So I brought a bunch home and laminated several panels together to make thicker and longer panels that I could then cut up to make this Drill Charging and Storage Station in my shop.  

As with most things I take on it turned out to be more work than I first thought it would be, but I have to say I’m pleased with how it turned out.

Flattening Panels

These are the discarded board which have a coating of paint on their rough side.  Also, they tend to be slightly bowed.  I tried using a belt sander for removing the paint but that was just too much work and dust.

So I basically threw together this jig on my assembly bench (pallet on sawhorses) and found this to be a much more pleasant method for removing the paint with the added benefit of making the board a little flatter.

Then I could glue them together to make 3/4″ thick (slightly under that actually) panels to work with.  I also dowel jointed several together to make longer panels for the sides of my drill station idea.

After getting everything cut and rounded and mostly sanded it was time for proof of concept. That when I clamp it all together and give it a final look over to make sure everything I was hoping would fit and work actually does fit and work. If not, then best to catch it and fix it now. It’s a lot harder to fix things after it’s been glued together.

Are there things I’d change?  You bet there are. No project I’ve ever dreamed up has come out perfect. That’s not how any of this works. 😉 

I used magnets to hold the power connection (surge strip) cover in place. So you can just pull on the handles to remove it and have full access to the power.  But then you have to have someplace to put the cover down. (I did think about that during the design process)  Just one example.

Not a bad enough problem to warrant a redesign on this build though.

I got done putting on a coat of Latex Primer and that was such a pain to do that I decided that was “Good Enough” for my shop. 

I proceeded to make a french cleat on the back to hang it on the wall with and start using it immediately.  As you can see it fits nicely into the tight space I had available for it.

I have room to add 3 more drills should Santa decided I’ve been good. And the area above the enclosure has become a good spot to lay frequently used drill attachments like quick releases and snappy bits, etc. 

I even turned the very top into a location to store my router bits and CA glue stuff.  On to the next build.  Next Weekend cuz this weekend builder is out of weekend. 🙁