Hi All - My First Post

Hi all,

Welcome to my first post.

Let's keep things simple to get things started. I like things to be simple.

If you have read my "About" page, you will have a little information about me. Today, I will go into things a bit more regarding what workshop, tooling and space I have.

There is also a "Tools" page listing all my tools. These I could have brought from Australia, or bought here in Thailand. I'll try and do small reviews with pertinent information and prices etc.

So, first up, my workshop....

It doesn't exist.

Let me explain.

At present we are renting a house in Ban Chang, Rayong. A nice little place, but there isn't any type of garage, shed or spare room to take control of and make it mine.

What I do have is a small area at the back of the house, and a covered car parking area to the side. No secure lock away areas, so all tools are up for grabs to anyone that has the inclination.

My work bench!

Carport Area.

As you can imagine, a rented place can restrict what is possible to do as far as building or renovating the existing spaces you have available. You don't want to make anything permanent, or cost a lot of cash that you cannot get back. With this in mind, I went about planning for things that are mobile (think wheels) and can be relocated easily.

Also, I have a problem with the lady next door. Who doesn't? She has a issue with noise. Even if there isn't any. She carries on about the possibility of noise. She will come out and chatter away in Thai, huff and puff, then run away back inside her house. In the name of keeping in the good books, she has forced me to work in a small area out back. Dirt, weed covered floor, no cover from rain or sun, and right on the outside wall of the kids bedroom.

Not ideal at all!

Anyway, with these obstacles, and many other in play, I'll attempt to set up my "workshop", and build some interesting stuff along the way.

First Project:

Today is the big day to try out my new table saw. I assembled it a few days ago, and today I finally have the chance to give it a go. You can read about the table itself here. It will also be on the "My Tools" page.

I need to make a cover for the gas stove in the kitchen. It hasn't worked since we moved in, and it take precious space in our limit kitchen. My thoughts are to build a box that sits over the top and gives back some of that wasted area.
 

Before.

Cheap Quality Ply

I had previously purchased a sheet of cheap 12mm ply from a local dealer. And when I say cheap, I mean cheap quality!  It was just for a back board for my daughter University Assignment. No highly dress piece of exotic timber required there. Anyway, I had this, so why not use it.

I had tried on an earlier occasion to cut this for today's project using an old jigsaw. Bad move. No one edge square.

So I pulled out the new table table saw, and let's go.

With the sheet all measured, I took my first cut. It wasn't much better than the jigsaw attempt. Have I bought a lemon was first thing to mind.

Checking the saw, I found I hadn't tightened the extension table hand screws. Dopy! This allowed the fence to move as pressure was applied during the cut. Once I had that resolved, remeasure the fence, locked it down, great cut considering the wood quality.

Yeah, my first successful cut on my new table saw.

I won't go into the simple details of how I finished cutting and assembly of the project. A few photos will give you the idea. It was simple, just to try and make something with what I had.

After

It also gave me a chance to use my Pocket Hole Jig. First time. You will find a review here.

I'm please with the final job. Not great mind you, but a good beginning.

Until next time.