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One of the most frequently used tools in my shop is a joiner’s mallet. I use one for finesse work such as tapping chisels and carving tools, as well as more blunt force actions like banging a carcase together or forcing a panel flat during glue-up. I have made a half dozen or so joiner’s…
Most of the woodworking that I do is custom, requiring original design, or at minimum a bit of modification of an existing concept. Prior to learning SketchUp, I had developed my designs over the years using pencil and paper, as well as a couple of general purpose computer applications that were not specifically intended for…
While hand planes are alluring to many woodworkers, getting started can be confusing since there are so many options. If you ask 100 hand plane enthusiasts which planes to start with, you might receive as many answers. Based upon my 15 year love affair with hand planes, the following is my suggested approach to help…
The CDC issued a warning against using metal wire brushes on a grill due to the risk of ingesting a wire as it falls off the brush and attaches itself to an unsuspecting burger. It sounded farfetched, but it’s actually real. The natural solution for any woodworker is to make a grill scraper out of…
A bench that will be placed in a home’s entryway is an important project for a couple reasons. First; visibility. It will be one of the first things that visitors see when they arrive, and so it will help to set the first impression of the overall home. Second, it is likely to receive a…
I occasionally like to take on unusual woodworking projects, so when my friend asked if I would help him build a rolling cart for his new “Big Green Egg” grill, I didn’t hesitate to dive in. My only concern was that putting wood so close to a source of fire gave me the “willies”, but…
Although I normally cut dovetails with a Japanese saw and a set of quality chisels, I talk to a lot of woodworkers and I realize that the tedium of chopping dovetails by hand is not for everyone, particular those who have a large volume to cut with a deadline to meet. So I wanted to…
I have been a big fan of pneumatic nail guns for years, and like many woodworkers I have an arsenal of guns that can shoot anything from a tiny pin to nearly a railroad spike. I marvel at the power and precision of these tools, but like anything they have their downsides. For example, I…
I tried my hand at using a cabinet scraper a couple years ago and was frustrated that in spite of my best efforts to roll a proper burr on its edge, I just couldn’t tune the scraper to produce more than dust and the occasional wimpy shaving. I followed all the instructions, and did everything…
Like most woodworkers I already owned multiple routers, both table-mounted and hand-held, before hearing about the new breed of routers that cast a smaller shadow than their full size counterparts. When I first read about them my initial assumption was that there wasn’t a need for one in my shop.Cynically I supposed that this could…
Paul Mayer
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SketchUp for Woodworkers Guide: My Journey Learning SketchUp
Hand Plane Starter Kit: 4 Planes for Hybrid Woodworking
Box Joint Wood Grill Scraper
Sturdy and Modern Entryway Bench
The Big Green Egg Cart
Porter Cable Omnijig Review
The Case for Cordless Nail Guns
Tools We Love: A “Real” Burnisher Makes All the Difference
Do I Really Need a Compact Router?