"ClassicDatsunDebate" (gmagnusson)
06/29/2020 at 23:35 • Filed to: Build
1
19|
"ClassicDatsunDebate" (gmagnusson)
06/29/2020 at 23:35 • Filed to: Build | 1
| 19 |
Ok, let me just get this out of the way: Fuck Trigonometry. I mean, I’m all for triangulation when it comes to global positioning or designing bridges that don’t fall down. What I’m not cool with is trying to make a square picture frame with miter cuts. The quality of the result requires precision to .001" and angles down to the second, using material as variable as wood and tools that would be familiar to your great great great grand pappy. I have a deeper respect for those working at Michael’s Crafts...they must be god-damn rocket surgeons. Where do I purchase my “Team Butt-Joint” T-shirt??
Oh yeah, the project....
I built an electrical services post out in my back yard this weekend. I started with hilti-ing a 4x4 post saddle into an existing footing. Because i was using full dimensional cedar, I had to rip 1/2" off one end of the post to fit. i then clad 3 sides with full dimension 1x6 rough cedar.
I wanted to finish it with a cap, but because standard 6x6 post caps are designed for finished lumber dimensions, I had to add the skirt, which took, oh, 2 hours and a complete 8' length of 1x4 to get it right...and ‘right’ meaning ‘good enough’.
Because I originally designed it for a simple bird house style cap, the top of the post has a slight angle bit it’s not that noticeable. The original “you should maybe make a nicer cap” cap is in the background.
Then for the stain. As some of you who have read my previous backyard posts, we love everything to match around here, so I used the leftover fence stain to regale the post in it’s “conform or be cast out” livery.
After the stain was almost dry, I went on to glue-up and mount the nema 4x boxes and liquid-tight flex conduit. The recess created by the 1x6 boards does a good job of hiding the ugly grey boxes. “Can’t you paint the boxes the same color as the post?” No, sorry it’s against code I said with a convincingly concerned face.
Electrician comes to by to install the GFI breaker and pull wire this afternoon. It’s going to be an unswitched receptacle, switch in the middle and a switched receptacle at the top.
Fun project all in all...even if building the cap had me contemplating a 10:30 am beer.
Edit: all done
Sovande
> ClassicDatsunDebate
06/29/2020 at 15:04 |
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Why not completely cover the conduit with the new post? Old footing too far away?
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ClassicDatsunDebate
> Sovande
06/29/2020 at 15:08 |
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Yeah, the stub-up is 6" away from the footing because of the footing base under the pavers. That’s why I ran the flex. It was better to hide the footing than build on top of the stub.
PyramidHat
> ClassicDatsunDebate
06/29/2020 at 15:08 |
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What saw were you using? A mitre saw? or a hand saw in a mitre box? The second one can be...tedious - there’s so much slop and - as you’ve noted - a couple of degrees dicks everything up.
What some folks do is build a shooting board for a 45º angle and then give each miter a couple of passes with a hand plane.
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Sovande
> ClassicDatsunDebate
06/29/2020 at 15:12 |
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Oh gotcha!! That makes more sense!
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ClassicDatsunDebate
> PyramidHat
06/29/2020 at 15:15 |
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I have a mitre saw but also I’m a doofus when it comes to woodwork.
Future next gen S2000 owner
> ClassicDatsunDebate
06/29/2020 at 15:43 |
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I’ve found a belt sander is a useful tool when needing shave just a touch off some wood to make it all fit up nicely.
shop-teacher
> ClassicDatsunDebate
06/29/2020 at 19:35 |
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I'll go ahead and blame the crappy saw for you. With a high quality, properly adjusted miter saw, that's a 10 minute job.
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ClassicDatsunDebate
> shop-teacher
06/29/2020 at 20:42 |
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Yore forgetting the operator variable.
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shop-teacher
> ClassicDatsunDebate
06/29/2020 at 21:08 |
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I know, I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt.
Its so easy to do with a proper saw, but most home owners don’t have one of those.
VincentMalamute-Kim
> ClassicDatsunDebate
06/29/2020 at 23:44 |
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Nice job though. I assume the boxes face away from sightlines?
Just interesting that those weatherproof covers no longer meet code in
WI. You have to have those huge ‘in use’ covers.
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VincentMalamute-Kim
> ClassicDatsunDebate
06/29/2020 at 23:44 |
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Nice job though. I assume the boxes face away from sightlines?
Just interesting that those weatherproof covers no longer meet code in
WI. You have to have those huge ‘in use’ covers.
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VincentMalamute-Kim
> ClassicDatsunDebate
06/29/2020 at 23:44 |
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Nice job though. I assume the boxes face away from sightlines?
Just interesting that those weatherproof covers no longer meet code in
WI. You have to have those huge ‘in use’ covers.
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ClassicDatsunDebate
> shop-teacher
06/29/2020 at 23:53 |
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I’ve got a half decent one, not with a pentagram arm but it will do compound cuts. Like I say, if it’s not shiny and made of 15% chrome, I can’t figure out how to machine it. Not a finish carpenter.
ttyymmnn
> shop-teacher
06/29/2020 at 23:54 |
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Like this putz. “I’ll just cut this down to size on my nuclear powered, laser guided, Cray supercomputer controlled table saw with a titanium blade.”
Seriously, though, I did enjoy watching him make stuff. I would have like to see the outtakes, though.
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ClassicDatsunDebate
> VincentMalamute-Kim
06/29/2020 at 23:57 |
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Yeah they face the hot tub and the back fence. I may end up putting those clear bubble ones on if these get too finicky. They’re gfi protected but still. They’re nema4x....until you open the cover...lol
Manny05x
> ClassicDatsunDebate
06/30/2020 at 07:12 |
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Very nice work.
OPPOsaurus WRX
> ClassicDatsunDebate
06/30/2020 at 07:55 |
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i was wondering about that too. ca me out good tho. Finish is tough . a 1/16 " makes a huge difference
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shop-teacher
> ClassicDatsunDebate
06/30/2020 at 08:58 |
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Well, in the end you made it work. The finished product looks nice.
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shop-teacher
> ttyymmnn
06/30/2020 at 09:03 |
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I actually learned most of my wood working skills watching Norm. My high school only offer one single semester course in wood working, which I took and loved. I learned carpentry from my dad. Most everything else I learned from that show.
Personally, I hate the saws with lasers. I bought the first really good DeWalt sliding double compound miter saw used for $400 like 12 years ago, and I will never get rid of it. You can find them used now for $200-300 easy. Worth every penny.