From the Woodshop

From the Woodshop: Adding an Outfeed Table

tierneycreates: a fusion of textiles and smiles

It’s been a while since I’ve shared what my husband John has been working on in his woodshop in our basement.

Recently he finished an Outfeed Table to butt up against his Table Saw. According to Fine Woodworking: “A good outfeed table is essential for safe woodworking, because it allows you to control the workpiece as it moves past the blade and off the back of the table saw. Without it, you’ll have to push down hard on the back of long boards, which makes it difficult to guide them safely past the blade.”

That sounds like a good idea! I want John to keep all this fingers so anything that makes woodworking safer I support 🙂

So John watched a bunch of YouTube videos and then set about designing an Outfeed Table that worked for him and his small woodshop.

He laminated the top of the Outfeed Table to make it easier for the wood to glide on it. It was his first time laminating and it seemed a little scary but we watched YouTube videos together (I provided moral support) and it was easier than he thought it would be!

The final stage was to add “bench dog holes” that allow you to clamp pieces on the Outfeed Table while woodworking. He used a special template to do this and he was pleased with the results:

It looks a little messy because this is the woodshop in use – I forgot to take photos when he first made the holes.

Speaking of the “woodshop in use”, John has been teaching his eldest son to woodwork starting with making cutting boards. They get together once to twice a week afterwork and on Sunday afternoons. They’ve made a lot of cutting boards so far including a 3D cutting board.

It’s been a great father-son bonding time!

They’ve also been working on a serving tray to replace an old store bought serving tray that is on its last leg.

They have another side to add and then handles.

And they’ve started their first big project together: a new entertainment console for the basement movie area. So far they’ve made the top of the piece.

It’s going to have a Scandinavian furniture flare, like our bedroom dresser that John made a couple years ago:

(see post Out of town guests? Put them to work!)

So that’s the update on John and his woodshop!

(By the way, someday John will be selling his cutting boards online through his shop Mighty Moe Creations, we just have to figure out what platform that will be besides Etsy.)

Unknown's avatar

Published by tierneycreates: a fusion of textiles and smiles

Quilter, crafter, obsessive tea drinker and lover of all furry creatures (especially dogs and cats) - join me on my tierneycreates blog as I share stories from "A Crafter's Life".

45 thoughts on “From the Woodshop: Adding an Outfeed Table”

  2. He’s got talent! Fun to see the new project, and how it stretched him a bit. It turned out really well. My husband credits his wedding ring for saving his ring finger while cutting a board – the ring still has the nick to prove it, even 37 years later! Those cutting boards are gorgeous!

    Liked by 1 person

    2. Thanks,

      we really are having fun making them. my son broadcasts on Tic Toc us working on the boards and furniture.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. I really enjoy seeing his projects. I might have mentioned that my jack of all trades grandfather had an extensive woodworking shop in his basement and sold the items he made from his house on a two lane highway way out in the country in Illinois. I remember the whole set up very fondly and his work was beautiful (very 1960’s). So I feel at home reading about what John does. Love that it’s a family thing, this wood art. (Put me on the list for a cutting board…)

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Wow! His outfeed table looks great – very professionally done! How cool that his son is learning and doing woodworking with him 🙂 They are making some beautiful cutting boards! Can’t wait to see what they make next 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  12. He’s a very handy man to have! Lovely he’s working with his son too. My son was very clever with wood as well. It’s a nice medium. Have a look at a Ko-Fi shop.

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.