Could use some help to get started with my first project

[bart]

Hello everyone.

I want to create a little shelf for a microwave. Nothing too fancy, but I am tired of buying cheap furniture that is thrown away the next time I move. Grid beam looks very interesting and flexible.

I did do a woodworking course last year, so I am not a total noob, but please close to being one. So I could really use some help to get started.

I am based in Germany, Europe. So I probably have to use a metric based grid beam system.

How do I go about planning my project? What materials will I need?

[bart]

Progress report:

My main issue right now is that I don’t know how to make a jig.

I found a supplier of Douglas fir that is 40mm x 40mm.

In terms of equipment it seems that I need:

• A workbench
• A drill press
• A drill press table
• A work bench
• 8mm drill bits for wood

Probably also good: a miter saw.

[bart]

Maybe I don’t need a jig I should just measure to get started?

[Rongomai_Bailey]

Hi Bart,

You can measure just to start with. It’ll take a while to make the first lot of beams! This is how I first made mine.

You’ll definitely need a drill press as getting the holes perfectly 90degrees to the face isn’t easy by hand.

Making a jig for marking hole locations is definitely worth doing. As you’ll probably need to mark holes on at least two faces of the timber. Drilling all the way through the backside of the beam can leave you with a rough hole. If you want a nice looking beam you may have to drill in halfway for each hole which means 120holes for a 1200mm beam.

Can’t write more right now.

How many beams do you think you will need?

[bart]

I am making progress.

I made a design:

https://play.gridbeam.xyz/#1dY0xCoNAFAW_UURsXGSRJSpYiaVYfSzEUjyFeP9DJJpgsY7tY95MmieSx8lsAidOGukjHdLf9jY1bHduRi507bmJ2v9Wfbnu3F6aXVzpIuBij5tgOxr-9_D53emha6FbQLeAroXGCA2Fxgg-Bd8KvgV8K_gW8O3g28C3g-_ijHwA

I need:

• 4x 200cm beams
• 12 x 80cm beams
• 12 x 60cm beams

I will buy 12 x 250cm beams for cutting and 4 x 200cm beams.

From the 250 beams I can either create 4 60cm beams or 3 80cm beams, with 10cm waste.

I ordered a Bosch PTA 2400 table. Since I don’t have a workshop I will just set it up outside. I will combine it with a Bosch PBD 40 drill press.

I’ll buy M8 drills and use it with M6 connection bolts. I will need 3 bolts for every corner so 72 in total. They need to reach 80mm wide.

Drilling all the way through the backside of the beam can leave you with a rough hole.

Thanks! Is that true even when you have something under it?

Making a jig for marking hole locations is definitely worth doing.

Actually I was thinking of making a jig with an index pin. A 7,94 mm (5/16") index pin exists. If I can get that in a piece of wood somehow then I just need to drill the first hole, then put that over the index pin, and keep moving the beam until I’m done.

I don’t really know yet how I’ll make this jig. Or if I need to make a drill table. There’s a repair cafe in my town with handy people so I might go there and get some help from them. Quite excited about my project

[bart]

Do these look OK?

https://www.douglas-hout.nl/p/douglas-regel-4x4cm-geschaafd-25m/654/

I just ordered them.

I’m not quite sure about the rounding.

[bart]

OK I am quite satisfied with my jig! I started with another approach, but now I just pre drilled holes in a beam and stuck a dowel in a little beam that I am moving along. Very simple and very quick.

Is there any way I can prevent this wood chipping like this? Or is it just my drill or the wood? I am already drilling on each side…

[bart]

I think I just need to drill more slowly. That seems to help.

Also I think the wood I have is 42mm, not 40mm. Hope I’ll still be able to put my project together. But next time I’ll probably find another supplier. I saw that the Grid Beam book had some good advice to obtain sticks. Although it looks complicated, having to dry it yourself and the like.