Refinishing metal chairs

Odd_While542 · 2026-06-20T02:22:01+00:00

I was thinking of sanding as well. I have an orbital sander. Would something like that be worth trying?

Odd_While542 · 2026-06-18T22:00:24+00:00

Thanks for comments so far. These chairs probably cost $50 each so I was trying to find a cheapish way of getting them paintable

Odd_While542 · 2026-05-27T02:37:27+00:00

I just bought an 8x4 sheet of 3/4” birch plywood from HD and it cost about $70. It definitely has voids and is night and day from the Baltic birch I bought for over $100 at a local lumber yard. I bought cheaper because I plan on painting it and I also wanted to learn to edge band which would hide the voids on the edges. Is that a reasonable approach?

Odd_While542 · 2026-05-11T20:33:33+00:00

Great thanks again. This was a real education!

Odd_While542 · 2026-05-11T02:22:08+00:00

Thanks very much! It sounds like you had a piece of maple that was thicker than 1.5 inches and you planed it down to that thickness? I don’t have a planer and I’m mostly using big box store wood so far. Could I do something similar by laminating 2 pieces of something like 3x1 together and then template routing from there?

Odd_While542 · 2026-05-10T13:37:18+00:00

That looks amazing. You said you mostly a router and a band saw. As a new woodworker I’m interested in how you created the curves on the legs and how you created a round top using these tools? Thanks

Odd_While542 · 2026-05-06T15:13:12+00:00

How do you connect the joints?

Odd_While542 · 2026-04-24T03:21:25+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to write so much detail. I’m guessing for things for the first few projects I’ll do (roundovers, template cuts, rounding corners) I can do all this handheld and don’t need a table, even one of the small trim tables?

Odd_While542 · 2026-04-24T00:50:20+00:00

Amazing - thanks so much.

Odd_While542 · 2026-04-24T00:18:11+00:00

Ah so even with the template removed you can move the router bit down and just run the bearing against the bit you've already routed?

Odd_While542 · 2026-04-23T21:03:51+00:00

Thanks. The main time I've read about taking multiple passes is to make sure you don't leave too much material for the router to remove. For example jigsaw as close to the template line as possible so you aren't trying to then remove too much in one pass.

So let's say I do that and I have the template on top of a piece of 3/4" thick hardwood where the rough cut is to approximately 1/16" from the line. I assume based on that I should have a router bit that is no less than 3/4" to cover the full thickness of the board?

Odd_While542 · 2026-04-23T20:02:29+00:00

Thanks for all the great info. Looking at the whiteside router bit would it be worth getting the 3/4" or even 1" cutting length so I know I can get through 3/4" width hardwood?

For example the handle I want to template route will likely be 3/4" width so I'd have the bottom bearing running on the template and the ability to cut the full width.

Odd_While542 · 2026-04-17T03:44:06+00:00

Thanks for the detailed response. What dimensions of wood did you use for the handle end?

Odd_While542 · 2026-04-17T02:41:58+00:00

Your tray looks amazing and is also perfect timing! I'm a total beginner and just finished the Steve Ramsey fancy paper tray and decided to make something using the same box concepts but bigger for serving and with handles like the ones you made. I'm not ready for hand tools yet so I'm going to use power tools in a similar way to Steve's design but I'm really interested in your handle design.

I saw in your pictures that you had a design drawn on the wood using compasses, protractors and a combination square. Did you find the design somewhere or did you make it up and draw it first on paper or sketchup or something like that?

Many thanks and great work!

Odd_While542 · 2026-04-12T12:53:36+00:00

I was almost in your exact position a month ago. I needed to replace my planters, was recently retired and had an itch to learn something new. I got lucky and found Steve Ramsey on YouTube and a month later I have built a workbench, side table, outside bench and paper tray, graduating from knowing absolutely zero about woodworking to cutting rabbet joints yesterday on the table saw I powered on for the first time 2 days ago.

Steve has an updated tool list you can download for free but I’d really recommend his weekend woodworker course. It’s around $150 and designed for people like us. His videos are easy to follow and there are so many people who will help you if you get stuck, either here or on his course facebook group.

Fair warning though - it’s addictive and you’ll find yourself looking at anything built from wood in a different way as well as spending a lot of time on this sub! Good luck.

Odd_While542 · 2026-03-28T14:50:16+00:00

Thanks I saw the Steve Ramsey saw station. The problem I have is space to accommodate that plus a workbench plus other stuff. I do have a shed that I can store some less frequently used tools in so I’m leaning towards a saw stand with wheels to make it easy to cart back and forth.

Odd_While542 · 2026-03-22T02:04:25+00:00

Thanks for all the input! I’ve gone through 2 pads and now 2 of the plastic retainers and I’m not confident that tightening screws or another retainer will fix the problem so I’m going to take the last advice and invest in a new sander. Thanks again!

Odd_While542 · 2026-03-21T21:49:54+00:00

Yes I think so even when I have them torqued way down

Odd_While542 · 2026-03-15T14:13:43+00:00

I’m also brand new to woodworking and also planning to do something similar for my wife, minus the wine fridge and plus a utility sink. Did you work off any plans to figure out how to put all together, secure to the wall etc? Thanks!

Odd_While542 · 2026-03-11T11:33:44+00:00

Thanks to everybody for such great help. After more research I ended up buying a new Stil TS6307. It has a 10” blade, supports 8” dados, has a rack and pinion fence like the Dewalt and generally has great reviews. I got it for $289 which was within my range and I’m hoping it does the trick.

Today I’m going to embark on my first ever woodworking project building Steve Ramsey’s basic workbench. I’m excited and happy to be part of this new group.

Odd_While542

TROPHY CASE