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I blame it on Norm. Ever since I saw him “shoot a couple brads to hold things together until the glue dries” some 15 years ago, I have been fascinated with pneumatic nail guns. I feel almost superhuman as I drive 2+ inch nails into rock maple in a split second, perfectly countersunk, and without…
This is the first of a two-part series on the biscuit joiner. This article provides instruction on using a biscuit joiner, along with advice on setting up your machine, choosing the correct size biscuits, proper gluing techniques, and more. Woodworkers know that there are many approaches to joining two pieces of wood together. The key…
Pet Peeve # 173: Safety goggles that fog up when I wear a dust mask with them. I like to wear a dust mask when I am making sawdust, but I commonly have to choose between shielding my eyes and protecting my lungs, which is a horrible choice to have to make. I have at…
I wasn’t asking for much as I hunted for a new miter saw. I simply wanted a unit that was rock solid with no slop in any moving part, super lightweight for portability, easy to adjust, precise locking locations for common cuts, high powered, and under $200. I was willing to forego the depth capacity…
Tool reviews are often written based upon an experience with a brand new tool just pulled out of the box. In this case, however, I am writing about a tool that has been put through some extreme paces for about a year, as my father and I use it extensively in his woodworking business. You…
OK, let’s start with full disclosure; I enjoy hand planing more than almost any other activity in the shop, and I have lusted over Lie-Nielsen hand planes for over a decade, but I haven’t purchased one until now. Why? Two reasons. First, they cost more than most hand planes on the market, and I am…
If you ask most woodworkers to cite their least favorite aspect of woodworking, most would say “sanding”. When I asked that question of my father a while back, he said “I don’t mind sanding, but what bothers me is having to stop sanding about every 10 minutes to clear the filter on my shop vacuum”.…
Regardless of what type of woodworking you do, it is likely that you periodically end up building items that include shelves, whether it is kitchen cabinets, a bookcase, armoire, display case, or other furniture. Occasionally I choose to permanently fix each shelf into a location using dados or biscuits, but more commonly I find that…
Picture yourself nearing completion of your masterpiece, just about ready to put a finish on it, and then the unthinkable happens. You drop your tape measure on top of the table, or you get a bit too aggressive with a mallet as you are tapping pieces together during a glue-up. What do you do? Sanding…
While I am not an avid carver, I enjoy dabbling in it occasionally, and on a whim, I recently made a first attempt at carving a spoon. While I was reasonably pleased by the results, I was frustrated by the challenge of getting a consistent shape and smooth bottom to the bowl of the spoon.…
Paul Mayer
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Using a Biscuit Joiner
DeWALT Anti-Fog Dual Mold Safety Goggles
Makita LS1040 10″ Compound Miter Saw
Ridgid EB4424 Oscillating Edge Belt and Spindle Sander
Lie-Nielsen Bronze No. 4 Bench Plane
Dust Deputy from Oneida
Jig-It Shelving Jig from Rockler
Remove Dents from Wood with a Household Iron
Pinewood Forge Hook Knife