Coffee Table: Episode 13
Posted 22 May 2013
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This is an extra-long episode where Paul shows how to glue up the final assembly. Be prepared to work quickly an do a rehearsal ahead of time. Also, be sure to label everything very clearly. You’ll see why…
Great job guys, thanks for this one. 😉
Nerve racking!
He who has the most clamps gets her done!
I think the value of videos where things go wrong is much higher than when everything goes smoothly.
I actually pointed at the screen and said ‘your tenon’s popped out’. While I’m not building the coffee table, I very much felt Paul’s pain.
Also, I now see first hand why Paul wrote so positively about the better quality aluminum clamps. The screw handles falling out would drive me nuts.
Well, that was indeed exciting at 49:00 minutes!
This demo was so nice to see. I have so often been in the middle of a glue up when a Problem arose. To see a master craftsman have such an event really helps me not to curse myself for “shoddy” work or prep. Apparently it just happens.
Paul,
I think I’m going to use titebond’s liquid hide glue on this glue-up. My reasons are:
1. Much longer open time before joints freeze up.
2. Squeeze out can be clean off after the glue dries with a rag and warm water.
3. Stress free glue up because of longer open time thus lowering the possibility of making an error during assembly.
What do you think? Am I wrong on my reasoning?
John K
Supposedly hide glue doesn’t swell as much as PVA as well. I’ve dry-fitted tenons before and thought everything is ready…only to have them impossibly tight during the already stressful glue-up phase because of swelling (I assume the viscosity of the glue also makes a difference). I’m tempted to try hide glue as well, but that’s an experiment for the indefinite future.
Very enjoyable for such a long video! Time flew by. And who says Paul doesn’t make mistakes! LOL Great to see the being human side of working wood 🙂
That was a tense watch! 😀
Nice new camera work too Joseph, the boom-arm rig works pretty well, as does the higher angle in some of the wide shots.
This is one of, if not the best, videos yet. It shows us that mastery of a skill does not make us immune to the occasional unexpected challenge. Also, Paul let his guard down a little. I like the teacher student dynamic of the videos but this one had the feel of a couple friends getting together in the wood shop. Great job all.
This was another great video, I really get nervous on these large glue ups. I found the sequence Paul use’s as very informative, and glad there were a couple minor hick ups so to speak and to see how to take care of them, many Thanks.
Question I have though, Paul do ever use Hide Glue ? i have been using it now for the last couple years and have really become quite fond of it. I did use Tite Bound II however on my bench build glue ups.
Thanks again Guy’s for another great video.
Steve
Paul,
Your master classes are a gift to me, especially considering that paid for it, but if it will cost ten times more it would continue to be a gift for me.Your thoroughness and fine humor are a lesson in itself. Many thanks for your teaching method and dedication to detail.
Please, meanwhile, do not raise the price 😉
“There’s a big difference between people who talk about woodworking and people who work wood.” I think I’ll frame that quote and hang it in my shop…and put it on a yellow sticky by my computer!
Once again a master teacher at his best.
I really enjoyed this video. Paul is very brave indeed- and experienced- to attempt such a complicated glue-up in one shot. I couldn’t do it- I would have chickened out and dry fit a couple of pieces on a sub-section before coming back the next day to finish it up.
That’s a mighty big smile at the end. I’m getting to know that feeling now too because of these videos. Thanks for that.
Fantastic work, guys. It’s great to see Paul relaxing in front of the camera – his confidence is growing and it makes the videos feel less like a lesson despite being a goldmine of information. Throwing in some anecdotes, jokes, and honesty (in terms of not editing out mistakes, accidents, etc) makes the hour-long video very easy to watch. Bravo!
George.
That was a fun!!
I liked the comment at about 52:15…”Don’t Panic” 🙂
Craig
I’m wondering why inner pieces are glued? Is it for time when wood will dry out so much that it’d rattle in joints? Or is it to keep joints fully gapless?
Paul / Joseph
What a thriller scary or what, at times you had me on the edge of my seat holding my breath. From a learning experience it will stick in my mind for a long time.
Marking the joints clearly and practicing the dry assembly key learnings.
So much better to see the whole assembly from start to finish , than some over edited video
Paul’s accomplish to keep you fully concentrated is remarkable. Either back in my college days there were only a few teachers that could keep me focused for an entire hour like Paul do.
Great job Paul and congratulations to the guys behind cameras and editors
Very informative, good to hear and see the thought process that goes into the assembly. Just wondering if you could have put champers on the inside of the mortises to reduce glue squeeze out by the shoulders? (Per article in Fine woodworking recently) I am also wondering if it’s OK to use a wet rag to wipe up wet glue that squeezes out. I saw a fellow at one of the woodworking shows doing that while gluing up a project. He was not shy with the water when wiping it off, any grain that would be raised is later sanded smooth.
Don’t panic Captain Mainwaring lol
I’ve had a few of those situations in glue ups. We can all make mistakes its knowing how to get out of them marks a tradesman.
Excellent job Paul and team
What a brilliant episode. I now understand why Paul prefers the term ‘Rehearsal’ over ‘Dry Run’.
It was so inspiring to have someone be prepared to show when things aren’t going to plan – it’d have been so easy to just edit the vid down to remove those problem patches. It looked like Paul’s heart-rate stayed remarkably low for what must have been quite a stressful few minutes.
This episode brought a question to my mind. If, for whatever reason, there is an extended amount of time between rehersal and glue up, would it be best to disassemble the project or leave it assembled with clamps in place?
I’ve been pondering quite heavily on wood movement and how to best deal with it in design and assembly.
Hi Ken, generally it is best to leave projects assembled (with clamps if appropriate) as soon as the joinery is done in order to confine the wood to help reduce wood movement.
After a few bad glue-up experiences (the kind where every joint freezing up while you run around finding whatever resembles a clamp to throw on the thing, all with glue covered fingers) I find myself holding my breath throughout every glue-up video.
Great stuff here as always. Though some things may seem repetitive (how many times can you watch a guy chop a mortise?) whenever I go out and try it myself I always go back and find small/big flaws in my technique, even if I’ve watched Paul do it 100 times.
Good heavens, here I am 10 years later since the last comment.
Getting loads of knowledge here in this project, timeless advice and guidance, no question about it.
Best to you all, C
It’s a great project!