If you’ve got a Porter Cable dovetail jig and are tired of the incredible mess left behind every time you cut dovetails, you’re in luck. Leigh’s VRS1200, $99.99, catches chips at the source (that is, your dovetail jig) and grabs them before they end up all over you and your floor. The Vacuum and Router…
Every once in a while, I come across a tool that makes my jaw drop. The Yeti SmartBench, $5,995, is a great example. It’s a portable CNC that’s capable of cutting 4’ x 8’ sheets. What looks like an aluminum sawhorse or scaffold is a fully operational, small footprint, portable CNC router. Broken down, the…
Cutting bowties into slabs, cookies, tabletops… is quite the rage. Slab Stitcher has created a complete package for this process that includes the required templates, guide bushing, router bit, AND the bowties. Complete starter kits as shown here range in price from $80 to $115. A handful of companies make templates. What’s unique about Slab…
I love going to tool shows. I attended AWFS 2019 in Las Vegas, and here are some of the great products I spotted while I was there. Hollowing Chisels and Wire Burning Kit Easy Wood Tools is ready to help you turn smarter, not harder. They’re Mini Hollower Set, $286, is designed for smaller-scale hollow…
The next time you’re working on a project that calls for a dark, opaque accent that looks like ebony, try ebonizing wood for the right look. It’s a fairly simple process, but works better on some woods than others. Ebonizing wood is not the same thing as simply coloring wood with ebony stain. When you…
Looking for the perfect gift for the woodworker in your life? With Father’s Day right around the corner, this is timely. But whatever the event, your favorite woodworker is certain to love these gift ideas.
Gluing up panels is a must-have skill in woodworking. From table tops to raised panels there are plenty of times you’ll need to glue boards edge to edge. When you do you want the panel flat, with rock solid glue joints. Here’s the recipe for making that happen in your shop. Rough cut to length. …
I recently built a table for my daughter. The phone call telling me she had ruined the finish by putting something hot directly on the table wasn’t good. That got me thinking about trivets. This is a great CNC project; an example of accurately cutting from two faces. This article includes step by step VCarve…
Looking for a great way to add versatile storage to your shop? Try using a french cleat storage system. They’re easy to make, you can change your mind as much as you want after they’re installed, and you can easily take stuff from storage to bench and back to storage. The wall behind my drill…
Want to use a router, but don’t know where to start? Learn how to use a router with these router woodworking techniques and tips. Boy, I use routers a lot. They can do so much. From adding a profile to an edge to cutting dovetail joints, a router is an incredibly versatile machine. But if…