• 10 Posts
  • 606 Comments
Joined 11 months ago
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Cake day: August 2nd, 2023

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  • I used 1/2" thick puzzle mat, which was plenty to keep things floating. I used a 3" hole saw, but only cause I had it already (ran it backwards so the teeth wouldn’t grab and tear the mat.)

    A yoga mat would probably do ok, but I had to add a little bit of weight to the corners to stop the mat from flipping up in the wind (see previous post) so the yoga mat might not be able to support that extra weight.

    If you didn’t need the cookie cutters anymore, you could probably put a board on top of one and smack it with a hammer to cut circles in the yoga mat, but it also may not work. You’d have to experiment a bit.









  • Call the fire department, they have detectors that they can use to look for gas leaks and other things that can set off a detector.

    You can also call your gas provider. One of those two should be able to track it down, it could be a lot of things, but two different smoke detectors going off in the same location is a huge red flag.

    Best case, you have something kicking up fine dust, worst case, you have a smouldering electric fire in your wall somewhere.

    Don’t panic, but also do not ignore this.





  • I use my plunge saw for so many things, BUT it does have limitations. I struggle making long narrow rip cuts, and repeatable cuts can be difficult without an MFT style workbench.

    It can be a lot safer, cleaner, and easier than a table saw, ESPECIALLY for large panels, but it can’t entirely replace a table saw.

    I do agree with this comment, and the 10 minute workshop YouTube channel has a lot of great tips on using a plunge saw (and recommendations on less expensive versions), but just be aware that it’s not a 1-1 replacement.


  • IF you have enough for a “full size” shop, including workbenches, a table saw, etc. Then I recommend Steve Ramsey (Woodworking for Mere Mortals). He has a lot of projects and shop tips for people just getting started. He also has a website that has a constantly updated buy list for how to build a shop on the cheap.
    https://www.youtube.com/@SteveRamsey

    IF you are tight on space, but still want power tools, then Peter Millard (10 minute workshop) is a UK woodworker that does a lot of cabinetry and custom builds in a small basement UK shop. It’s really nice, and he even has a series of projects where he starts with just some super basic tools, and then makes slightly more complicated stuff every week.
    https://www.youtube.com/@10MinuteWorkshop

    IF you want to try your hand at a no power tool shop (which can still be expensive to buy the stuff), then Paul Sellers is a great instructor. Most of his videos assume you don’t know anything and are just starting out.
    https://www.youtube.com/@Paul.Sellers

    Finally, Stumpy Nubs is a great channel for just general info, shop tips, and safe handling of tools. Just beware that he slips in a lot of “Just buy this one last thing from my affiliate link and it’ll solve all your problems.”
    https://www.youtube.com/@StumpyNubs

    Wood Whisperer, Tamar at 3x3 Custom, Lincoln St. Four Eyes, Izzy Swan, and a bunch of other channels are a lot of fun too, but most of them have moved into more of a “watch me make this awesome thing with my quarter million $$$ shop.”