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"Hey Solskjaer"

I was thinking about embarking on a wood-thing building project. You were the only person I thought of who could probably give me some advice :^)

I'm planning on making a pool cue case, probably using wood about 1cm thick.

To start with, do you think panel pins will be enough to hold it together? (Or maybe pannel pins and wood glue?)
Or am I going to have to go for something a little more complicated?

And some pointers on making sure I keep the pin straight enough that it doesn't stick out of the bottom piece of wood please? :^)

Also, a good type of wood to use?
I was thinking about something light, so I could use a wood stain.
Or I might just go for something dark, to match most tables...

Or maybe stain it white-ish, then dip-dye or spray paint (stick to what I know!) one end to give a fading colour effect from one end...

Or maybe I could use an ash like most cues, then dye the bottom end in a dark brown, so it'd be designed kind of like most cues... Or maybe not!


But the most important part it structure, not design, and I need to create something sturdy with a nice quality finish.
A decent file and some sandpaper should do the job for tidying up the edges, right?

Cheers

Hopefully I'll just be fixing a narrow bit of metal (hinge) to the wood, but I've not been able to find small enough screws yet.

Would glue do the job?

Dr Duck wrote:
"Though I'll then need to find some very short screws that won't go all the way through the wood..."
-----

One thing you should always remember when fixing:
`For the size of the piece of timber you are fixing TO the construction you will need to have screws/nails at least twice it's thickness.´


...And I just like to be ``creative´´ in my typing, okay?! :)

You don't *have* to put words between asterisks either. But since it's hard to get across the tone of what you're saying, they're useful.


Panel pins it is then :^)
I'm going to get myself out to a couple of diy stores soon, and pick up some stuff. Not sure if I'll be able to get the hinges and catches there, but I've seen some in a screwfix direct catalogue. Though I'll then need to find some very short screws that won't go all the way through the wood...

And the prospect of using a hand-saw for all that wood is pretty scary. Have you seen that B&Q (I think) ad for all the heavy(ish) machinary at £30 each? It's tempting :^)

I could use some elasticy tube faberic stuff too, then I can do a tube-based case. If I can find the right diameter tubes...


Solskjær wrote:
> Good luck with it, anyway. :)
> Is this a 'before' or 'after-Canada' project, just out of interest?

Canada's off, unfortunately. I need an operation on my leg, and I won't get it in time to be in Canada in time for the visa. Ah well... :^(

regular words don't require qoutation marks, Solskjaer.

Sorry! I completely forgot about this! :S

Anyway, yes, I would say Panel Pins would be the best thing to use, when you're using thin wood (or "timber") that is only 1cm ("10mm") thick. They're ideal. You certainly wouldn't want anything bigger that could possibly damage or split the wood.

They will hold it together, but there's no harm to be done if you glue it together first and then SECURE it with the pins (that's the way most things are done, anyway; stuck then 'secured').


I still don't know anything much about the types of wood or possibly staines or anything, so you'll need to look elsewhere, unfortunately (...if you haven't done-so, already).


Good luck with it, anyway. :)
Is this a 'before' or 'after-Canada' project, just out of interest?

I was going for a briefcase-style box for carrying it around in.

I should probably try to do something to keep water (rain) out or something too.

If I was using 1cm wood, and wanted to put screws in it, would I be wise to drill a guide hole first, or screw straight in? I have a feeling that might make a mess of the wood...

Maybe I should just use panel pins and glue.

I think I'll have a look in the garage too, to see what tools I have access to, and what I might need to buy.

Thanks for looking into it though.
Oh, and what do you know about wood 'warping'?

Heh. Thanks! :D

Trouble is, I've only really "just-started" my Carpentry course, so I'm not 'all-that-knowledgable', as of yet.

However, we've have done quite a bit of theory work into securing joints and different types of fixings, so I could look into that for you.

We haven't really looked into different types of wood, and have only been using MDF in lessons. I would say plywood would be quite easy to use, although, it won't look as good as something like ash could do.
So, I don't know about this part...

And yes, a good piece of sandpaper and a file, when used with care, can give a good finish to any rough-edges.

And before you do paint/stain it, once it's finished, you might need to add some kind of under-coat to the case first, just to even-out and smooth the surface.


What sort of design are you thinking of, though?
Are you talking about a kind of oblong box that a door for carrying it around in? Or is it a case to stick on a wall and store your cue in?

Either way, I'll have to look into some things first, and get back to you later (probably towards the end of this week sometime).

Plywood does kick out alot odf dust, but he put a few coatings of varnish on.

*Pop*

eew. plywood.
I used it in my rather pathetic cabnit for GCSE. It splintered really easily and kicked out a load of dust.