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 used to loath finish sanding because it was slow, super dusty, and just down right boring. These days I embrace the process, and rather enjoy the steps involved in creating a smooth surface, but I still find the work boring! The reason for this dramatic attitude change is due to technical advances in today’s…
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…
Have you tried a headless pin nailer yet? They’re really amazing. The 23-gauge pin they drive is so tiny you barely need to putty the hole it leaves. Porter Cable’s new PIN138 Nailer handles 23-gauge headless or slight head pins from 5/8″ to 1-3/8″ long. It’s cool that it takes both types of 23-gauge pins,…
Tips for Cutting Tenons with a Tenoning Jig Table Saw Tenoning Jig – Tracks in the miter gauge slot of a table saw. Work pieces are clamped upright against the vertical work support plate so saw cuts can be made in the end grain. The distance between the work support plate and the saw blade’s…
Many woodworkers are afraid of using a belt sander, and you can’t blame them. Used incorrectly, a belt sander can ruin, in seconds, a project that you spent days building. I’ve succeeded in making some reasonably flat boards into moonscapes, thanks to improper use of a belt sander. But I’ve learned from this, and want…
“I have a relic of a table saw. It is a Delta 8″ arbor saw. My frustration is this. When I use it, the back half of the table saw fence does not stay in place. It will move anywhere from 1/4″ to 3/8”. I take all of the necessary precautions in measuring from the…