Lecture Notes: Building a Kitchen Peninsula with an Exoskeleton

Sponsored by Chomps

Building the Carcass and Drawers

• Built the carcass and drawers in previous videos.
• Working on the exoskeleton to support the peninsula.
• Chose to use legs rather than a toe kick for a more airy, furniture-like appearance.
• Used white oak from Woodworker Source, specifically rifton white oak for its high quality and straight grain.

Design Considerations

• Original peninsula design had a rounded front edge and toe kick; looked too heavy and consumed too much space.
• New design involves legs running from top to bottom for strength.
• Curved inner corners reflect the house's coved ceilings.

Creating Curved Panels and Legs

Sketching and Template Making

• Made a template from scrap plywood for curved sections.
• Used a circle finder to determine the radius.

Drilling and Cutting

• Drilled through pre-stacked panels for guides.
• Used a hole saw to create clean cuts, despite general difficulty using hole saws.
• Cut panels to width using a table saw and interior cuts using a resaw bandsaw.

Routing and Assembly

• Template routing for accurate shapes and repetitive consistency.
• Used Rockler tools for precision cuts and adjustments.
• Taped and clamped to test fits.

Gluing and Joinery Techniques

Mortises and Domino Joinery

• Mortised corresponding joints using a Domino joiner.
• Glued parts together in stages, starting with less complex panels and moving to complex miter joints.

Challenges Faced

• Dealt with crushed miters but managed to clamp them flat.
• Adjustments made to ensure straight and level assembly.

Enhancements and Adjustments

• Added aesthetic chamfers and rounded edges to design elements.
• Veneered internal plywood panels to match design consistency.
• Used pocket hole screws for easier assembly.
• Installed an eighth leg for additional stability.

Scribing and Leveling

• Used a scribe tool to ensure all legs matched floor level.
• Cut lines using a Japanese pull saw and smoothed edges.

Finish and Final Assembly

• Sanded all parts thoroughly before applying finish.
• Used Rubio Monocoat for consistency with the rest of the kitchen.
• Assembled and dry-fitted components before final glue-ups.

Key Tools and Tips

• Rockler rule stop for layout lines.
• Resaw bandsaw for cutting thick materials.
• Template routing techniques for complex shapes.
• Domino Joiner for robust joinery connections.

Conclusion

• Design evolved through iterations, resulting in a better, more aesthetically pleasing product.
• Final product reflected careful attention to detail and thoughtful enhancements like rounded and curved elements.

Upcoming Improvements and Additions

• Countertop material: Engineered quartz resembling Carrera marble.
• Installation planned in the coming weeks.

Notes on Chomps

• High-protein snack featured as a good shop snack.
• Made from grass-fed beef and sustainably sourced.
• Various flavors available.

Final Thoughts

• Continuous iteration leads to better-designed furniture.
• Taking the time to refine designs results in products to be proud of.
• Final beauty shots showcase the completed project.