A few thoughts about something or other.

Couch Update II

(Pretend Ron Swanson is saying this, it’s more interesting that way)

I finished both arms and assembled the main structure a week ago and had my first “sit” in it. I bought some nice plywood to finish the backrest, but I had to delay progress while I cleaned up the basement.

Let me explain. When you cut wood with power tools, it creates sawdust, and that gets EVERYWHERE! Obviously. Since I’m building everything in the basement, sawdust was getting in our laundry and storage and lungs and hopes and dreams.

My suggestion; if you’re going to start a messy project like this, create for yourself a work station. I basically walled off a section of our basement with construction plastic. You could find this in your neighborhood hardware store near the window plastic.

Hopefully next weekend I’ll get to cut and finish the backrest. Until next time, enjoy your wild America.

Couch Update

I know I promised a process blog for my couch building process over a year ago, but I haven’t seriously worked on it until recently.

Let me catch you up to date.

Before I even started looking for wood, I made a quick sketch of what I wanted.

Next I created a 3D model so that I could print out the part files and have the measurements right in front of me.

I needed to know about wood, so my next stop was the lumber yard.

I decided to get Yellow Pine because it’s cheap and it’s a Grade A wood. It’s hard enough to use for furniture, but doesn’t cost the same as Oak.

I bought 2x6s of the pine so I could rip them into 2x2 sections. (Note: 2x2 really means 1.5x1.5 because apparently it’s not cool to use real dimensions in the lumber industry)

I used my Dad’s Shopsmith to rip the wood. If you don’t know what a Shopsmith is, I highly recommend checking them out. Crazy things.

I borrowed a Compound Miter Saw from my buddy Paul and I highjacked my wife’s vacuum to help keep the dust down. Check out my set up!

I now have the Seat Frame and one of the Arm/Leg Frames done. I need to make one more Arm/Leg Frame and the Back Rest before the fame is all done.

I’ll update again once the frame is done! Then we get to go fabric shopping!