Thanks, GDAWGS! That's actually comforting. I've been toying with the idea of going to Lowe's and getting some of their pre-cut boards to do something like this, but didn't know how to accomplish it. This gives me a great starting place. I like how you screwed in one short side, but not the other. I'm sure I haven't got a drill bit that long, though. How'd you do the square holes for the lag bolts? :think: I must research this phenomenon. I saw on the Lowe's do-it-yourself videos that they have one for building a soap mold. I'll have to look at it again. I started to watch it and realized my lunch break was over but never got back to it.
I remembered this when I read your comment. Thanks for the reminder. I have an Ace Hardware here on the mountain that I am constantly running into to pick things up and they don't cut wood. So I forgot all about the other stores that do.''
ETA: gdawgs, I don't know if you're planning on putting any kind of preservative on the wood or not, but I've just coated my new wooden cutter that I purchased from SMF with flax seed oil. I did that to my other wood cutter when I bought it last year. It gave a nice patina to the wood and so far there have been no problems with the cutter. It's hot and humid where I am. I certainly didn't want to put a polyurethane coating on it or any kind of chemical stain so I used the flax seed oil I soaped with. I did that to an expensive wooden mold I purchased, too. I'm sure this is old news to many, but I just wanted to remind you that flax seed oil is a really good wood protector. Unlike the linseed oil you get at the hardware stores, this isn't adulterated.
For the holes in the side pieces, I drilled those out before I assembled it. I took the two side pieces, laid them together and lined them up. I then clamped them together, and drilled through both boards at the same time. That way the holes are lined up correctly. Drilling out the divider pieces is the tougher part. To do that, I put them in the assembled mold, marked where the holes needed to be, then took them to work and used a drill press.
You could also get drill guides that are inexpensive. Something like this.
http://www.woodcraft.com/product/140876/drill-guide.aspx
FYI, I used 1/4" carriage bolts(6" long) for the clamp bolts. I used a 9/32 drill bit for the holes.
I have been thinking about putting something on the mold to protect it before I use it, but wasn't sure what was best to use. If you say flax oil is the way to go, that's what I'll do. I have some in the fridge. Thanks for that tip!
You can purchase pre-cut lumber. I bought four foot long boards then cut them in half. But they sell them in 2 foot lengths as well. If you buy three, two foot sections, the bottom and sides are already done!(I you're making one this size) The only thing you have to cut are the end pieces and dividers.
