How-to

Wobble Dado Heads

July 15, 2013 By George Vondriska & filed under Buying Advice, Tool Education.

I find that I’m asked pretty frequently about wobble (adjustable) dado heads. You can’t blame folks for asking. A wobble head is a lot less expensive than a stackable head. So why don’t woodworkers use them much? About the Blade A wobble head consists of one blade mounted on a hub. Dialing the hub allows…

4 Table Saw Sleds That Will Improve Accuracy

July 10, 2013 By Jerry Seabaugh & filed under Jigs and Fixtures, Plans and Projects, Woodworking Projects.

Sleds are a very valuable asset. They provide a way to allow the work piece to travel parallel to the blade or cutter head to ensure an accurate cut on both large and small pieces, and even irregular shapes. They can have hold downs, clamps, and/or fences to hold the work piece secure during the…

Tools We Love: A “Real” Burnisher Makes All the Difference

March 13, 2013 By Paul Mayer & filed under Buying Advice, Tool Education.

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…

A Bright Idea for Photographing Your Work

February 27, 2013 By Dan Chiappetta & filed under Shop Tips, Skill Building.

In an effort to better document my work (and possibly move into sales), I’ve begun to focus on my photography skills. One major need is light, preferably diffuse and bright-white. After checking my options online, I decided that cheap clamp lights sold in big-box stores were a better idea. Only thing is, they cast harsh…

Countertop Connectors for Project Assembly

February 14, 2013 By Seth Keller & filed under Cabinet Making, Skill Building.

A client recently asked me to design a platform bed for him. Beds are always a challenge; because of the large size, they must always disassemble for transport and delivery yet be rock solid when set up. The large miter on the corner of the platform presented a particular problem. The long joint needed to…

Master the Jointer: Learn How to Use a Jointer

February 14, 2013 By Paul Mayer & filed under Jointer, Portable Power Tools, Skill Building, Stationary Power Tools.

Many woodworking projects require the ability to render a perfectly square edge on a board. There are many ways to perform this task, but nothing matches the performance, precision and repeatability delivered by the motorized jointer. Getting the jointer to deliver on its potential is not particularly difficult but, like most things, it requires proper…

An “Authentic” Arts and Crafts Finish

September 19, 2012 By Seth Keller & filed under Finishing, Skill Building.

There is actually no single, authentic, “Arts and Crafts finish,” rather many different schools of thought and technique that comprise the totality of the discipline. It seems that people are looking for that radiant, reddish chocolatey finish when uncovering an antique Stickley chair at a garage sale. In my research, I found the original Stickley…

How to Downsize a Drawer

March 21, 2012 By Paul Mayer & filed under Cabinet Making, Furniture Making, Skill Building.

While building a media cabinet, I broke the wise rule of “Measure twice,cut once.” I made a quick measurement for depth on a drawer that would extend to be flush with the face frame, and I forgot to account for the additional thickness of the false front that would be attached. I left myself a…

Log Cookies on Your Bandsaw

April 4, 2011 By AJ Moses & filed under Band Saw, Power Tool Woodworking, Skill Building, Stationary Power Tools.

I recently received a request from a co-worker to supply 30 log slices – about 8″ in diameter and 1-1/2″ thick. Her plan was to use them as a base for candles on the dining tables at her wedding reception. I have to say, the concept went past me until we attended her wedding. The…

Get That Chisel Sharp!

October 19, 2010 By George Vondriska & filed under Hand Tools, Skill Building.

Anybody who shaves knows that a dull cutting tool is more likely to do damage than a sharp one. Same goes for woodworking chisels. You’ve got to get those chisels sharp if you want to them to work well, and be safe to use. It might surprise you to learn that brand new chisels aren’t…