Well. I ain't scared of it no more. I played around with it a few weeks back. Cleaned it up and lubricated the riser and other parts. The first night I ran it there was that familiar WHIIIRRRRR followed by my maniacal laugh.
The first project I used it for is creating a platform bed frame for my good buddy Allison (I call her couch...but that's another story.) She's got a shit box frame with a shit mattress which has been making for a shit back. So after doing some research, I found this design here and tweaked it a bit. Instead of the long 2x4 supports along the outside of the slats, I moved them in about 18" on each side of center. I also drilled in stops at the head and foot of the bed to keep the mattress from moving. The legs are two 1x6x18 that are drilled together and then drilled to bed frame.
It took forever. But it was fun. Allison helped with the drilling and clamping. We began at nine, took a long lunch, and finished up somewhere around four or five. It was a great Sunday project that didn't cost too much ($80 for materials) and was a good way to spend time with the Couch. The celebratory Fat Tires at the end of the project tasted amazing.
The saw held up fine. It's still not cutting as straight as I'd like and I don't know how to figure in the kerf in my measurements, but overall I was happy with it. I'll probably be using it again soon to make one of these for Jen and I after I finish comp exams. Or a fishing rod holder. Or an herb planter. Or a...
