The Woodshop Shed

adventures in woodworking and home maintenance, from my shop in an oversized backyard shed

December 2015
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The Best $139 Ive Spent on my Bench

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crisscross_holtzapffel_IMG_9857After 19 years of building workbenches and testing workholding devices, I am darn picky about what equipment I have on my benches. In truth, I dont have a lot of vises on my benches because I prefer simple workholding. But when it comes to my leg vise the most important part of my bench I am an absolute fool for Benchcrafteds Crisscross. Paired with the companys Classic vise […]The post The Best $139 Ive Spent on my Bench appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

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posted at: 12:01am on 31-Dec-2015
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Bench Bull The Jack of All Bench Jigs, Part 2

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DSCN2915For Part 1, click here. I crosscut our first batch of Bench Bulls from a 7-1/4″ x 2-1/2″ rough pine beam that we found on the street in front of our school. The beams were discarded by our schools neighboring townhouse at the end of their home renovation. This is the kind of basic sawn pine beam that is used in construction, and I think might not be that easy […]The post Bench Bull The Jack of All Bench Jigs, Part 2 appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

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posted at: 12:01am on 25-Dec-2015
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How to Avoid Hours of Handplaning

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planing_pine_IMG_9805The trick to becoming fast at handplaning is to never pause during stock preparation. No matter how you prepare your wood for a project (with machines, handplanes or some combination of the two) the biggest mistake you can make is to stop during the process for even an hour. Once you joint and plane the stock, you should take it as far as you can even if that means […]The post How to Avoid Hours of Handplaning appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

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posted at: 12:05am on 21-Dec-2015
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Special Roy Underhill Collections (in Limited Quantities)

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underhill_arm_wrestleDFNo, the photo at left is not from “The Woodwrights Shop”…but its one of my favorite photos of me with Roy Underhill (he won). Why am I sharing it? Well, right now, you can order a passel of Roys DVDs for a special price with four new collections: “The Woodwrights Shop Seasons 1-10,” “The Woodwrights Shop Seasons 11-20,” “The Woodwrights Shop Volumes 21-31” …or get the entire set of discs […]The post Special Roy Underhill Collections (in Limited Quantities) appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

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posted at: 12:01am on 19-Dec-2015
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Making Sawhorses

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SawhorseWhen I made my current workbench, I built it from a pair of robust, traditional-pattern sawhorses (a form you might know as sawbenches). On the bench build I’m about to start, I’ll be using the same setup. The sawhorses I made many years ago are out on jobsites at the moment, so it seemed a good excuse to make a new pair. These are an excellent skill builder because they […]The post Making Sawhorses appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

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posted at: 12:00am on 17-Dec-2015
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Anarchists 2015 Gift Guide, Day 10: Abranet

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abranet_IMG_9796I do almost no power sanding. But I do use abrasives in my work. And the only abrasive I use is Abranet. I hesitate to call it sandpaper because it is absolutely nothing like sandpaper. Theres no paper its a woven mesh. And the abrasive is nothing like sand. But it lasts forever, doesnt clog and leaves a nice surface behind. I purchase the 5 discs in #220-grit and […]The post Anarchists 2015 Gift Guide, Day 10: Abranet appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

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posted at: 12:00am on 17-Dec-2015
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Fast & Fun Gift Projects

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ICDTgrabsIt’s that time of year when some of you might be scrambling to get a gift or two built on or before December 24. Might I recommend you take a look at the many simple (but good-looking) free projects from our “I Can Do That” files? As far as I can tell, the most popular among them has been “Fish Sticks” often rendered in different animal shapes (though you’ll […]The post Fast & Fun Gift Projects appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

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posted at: 12:00am on 16-Dec-2015
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Bench Bull: The Jack of All Bench Jigs, Part 1

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DSCN2907Perhaps the most important instrument for the hand-tool oriented woodworker is a sturdy workbench. A reliable bench is fundamental for the success of sawing, chiseling, planing, grooving, drilling and more. The heavier the bench the better, and a bench with plenty of holdfast holes is the best. But there are many situations where you will benefit from a small elevated clamping platform installed over your workbench mainly when you […]The post ‘Bench Bull:’ The Jack of All Bench Jigs, Part 1 appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

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posted at: 12:06am on 15-Dec-2015
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Woodpile Reindeer Project for the Holidays

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Screen Shot 2015-12-11 at 1.10.27 PMI’ve been know to make fun of the 1997 “Stumpy the Reindeer” project…but I have to admit that it’s a cute and simple decorative piece for the holidays and one you can make in about 10 minutes if you leave out the card slot in the reindeers back (and in 20 if you include it). It might also be fun for the kids give them some dowels and […]The post Woodpile Reindeer Project for the Holidays appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

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posted at: 12:05am on 12-Dec-2015
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Jim Tolpin: Design by the Seat of Your Pants (or Handor Foot)

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pwm0216_500The February 2016, featuring Jim Tolpin’s Standing Desk, mails to subscribers next week. I have just a couple “Online Extras” to push live, but most of them are now available (click here to see the full list). Among the things I coded for this issue is Jim’s August 2010 article, “Designing by Hand, Foot & Eye” one of the first pieces he wrote on using one’s body as the […]The post Jim Tolpin: Design by the Seat of Your Pants (or Hand…or Foot…) appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

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posted at: 12:03am on 11-Dec-2015
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Anarchists 2015 Gift Guide, Day 9: Lie-Nielsen Honing Guide

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LN_guide_IMG_9760Every year I recommend one tool that is a bit spendier than the rest, and this year it is the Lie-Nielsen Honing Guide. Thomas Lie-Nielsen first showed me the prototypes about eight years ago, and it was a long and involved path for the company to get this tool into production. Like the companys chisels (which took just about as long), the wait was worth it. So you dont like […]The post Anarchists 2015 Gift Guide, Day 9: Lie-Nielsen Honing Guide appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

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posted at: 12:02am on 10-Dec-2015
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Anarchists 2015 Gift Guide, Day 8: Better Beeswax

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beeswax_IMG_9754During the last few years as I have turned my back on finishes with lots of volatile organic compounds, Ive begun looking for traditional high-quality finishes that wont shorten my lifespan. Ive bought a lot of beeswax from a lot of different sources, from national manufacturers to the individual beekeeper. They all work, but the nicest stuff Ive found is from Don and Carolyn Williams at donsbarn.com. Don has spent […]The post Anarchists 2015 Gift Guide, Day 8: Better Beeswax appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

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posted at: 12:00am on 09-Dec-2015
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Make a Shaker Firewood Box, Part 2

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Firewood Box  ShakerSo it’s been busy! I’m sorry that I’ve not had the time to write but fear not, plenty on the way. I’m pleased to have the Shaker Firewood Box project done (read Part 1 here), and here it is loaded with waste wood from our shop. Bear with me; I know the merits of firewood storage are unlikely to stoke the fires of passion but the fact remains I […]The post Make a Shaker Firewood Box, Part 2 appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

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posted at: 12:00am on 09-Dec-2015
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Anarchists 2015 Gift Guide, Day 7: Forged Roman-style Nails

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dictum_nail_IMG_9757Good nails have been used in fine furniture for centuries. But during the last 100 years, nails have earned a bad reputation among furniture makers. Thats because good nails (cut nails and forged Roman-style nails) disappeared and were replaced by wire nails. Wire nails are cheap, dont need a pilot hole and dont hold for crap and thats the nicest thing I can say about them. You can still […]The post Anarchists 2015 Gift Guide, Day 7: Forged Roman-style Nails appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

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posted at: 12:00am on 09-Dec-2015
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Anarchists 2015 Gift Guide, Day 6: Soap Finish

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soap_IMG_9752This year I have experimented a lot with using a soap finish on chairs and tables. Soap is a traditional Danish finish used on furniture and floors. Its easy to apply, easy to renew, low on the toxicity scale and leaves a delightful low-sheen finish that is remarkably soft to the touch. The downside? Its not very durable. After decades of using finishes that require bio-hazard gear, using a simple […]The post Anarchists 2015 Gift Guide, Day 6: Soap Finish appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

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posted at: 12:02am on 08-Dec-2015
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Anarchists 2015 Gift Guide, Day 5: Veritas Trammel Points

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LV_trammels-IMG_9750After 20 years, I finally wore out my grandfathers Japanese-made trammel points. They were things of beauty, but the micro-adjustable friction mechanism began to slip and nothing could be done to fix it without the help of a machine shop. Im going to get them repaired, but in the meantime I have lots of arcs to scribe. Megan Fitzpatrick, in a moment of pure generosity, ordered me this set of […]The post Anarchists 2015 Gift Guide, Day 5: Veritas Trammel Points appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

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posted at: 12:02am on 08-Dec-2015
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Anarchists 2015 Gift Guide, Day 3: Starrett No. 92 Compass

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92_detail_IMG_9746I promise this is not an all-Starrett Christmas. Truth is (I hate to say) the last few things Ive bought new from Starrett have been disappointing (especially a small pair of dividers). This tool, however, has not been a disappointment. Quite the opposite. For years I struggled with compasses in the shop. They were not hardy enough. They lost their settings. Even the expensive German ones I bought were just […]The post Anarchists 2015 Gift Guide, Day 3: Starrett No. 92 Compass appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

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posted at: 12:02am on 07-Dec-2015
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Anarchists 2015 Gift Guide, Day 4: Blaster Dry Lube

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blaster_IMG_9748If you use only hand tools, this isnt going to interest you much. If you use machines, read carefully. Lubrication makes a huge difference when you work alone. Moving heavy slabs across a jointer, table saw or through a planer can be difficult if you are on your own. For me, the difference between sore muscles and not sore muscles is Blaster Dry Lube, essentially Teflon in a can. No, […]The post Anarchists 2015 Gift Guide, Day 4: Blaster Dry Lube appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

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posted at: 12:02am on 07-Dec-2015
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Anarchists 2015 Gift Guide, Day 1: Microfiber Cloths

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microfiber_IMG_9740Every woodworker needs an oily rag to wipe down tools after sharpening or use. For years I used a bit of an old sweatshirt until it fell apart. Now I use a microfiber cloth, which holds more oil and is far more durable than the sweatshirt. You can get these cloths at home centers, stores that sell kitchen supplies or (if you want to buy enough for the entire neighborhood) […]The post Anarchists 2015 Gift Guide, Day 1: Microfiber Cloths appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

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posted at: 12:13am on 06-Dec-2015
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Anarchists 2015 Gift Guide, Day 2: Starrett 819 Centering Punch

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819_IMG_9742When I started seriously into building campaign furniture, I found that I was driving hundreds (no lie) of screws each week when building a typical piece with all the brass hinges, stays, corner guards and straps. To speed me along, I bought a Starrett 819 centering punch, and if you have ever struggled with installing hardware, you will love this thing. Like many woodworkers, Ive tried all the silly gizmos […]The post Anarchists 2015 Gift Guide, Day 2: Starrett 819 Centering Punch appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

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posted at: 12:13am on 06-Dec-2015
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Cincinnati Edition on Woodworking

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walking-stickEarlier this afternoon, Christopher Schwarz (contributing editor to Popular Woodworking Magazine and editor at Lost Art Press), Andy Brownell (Brownell Furniture) and I were on WVXU’s weekly talk show “Cincinnati Edition” discussing the art and craft of woodworking with host Mark Heyne and callers. Click here to listen. Among the things Mark asked was to tell listeners about our first woodworking projects. Mine was a stick. As you can see […]The post ‘Cincinnati Edition’ on Woodworking appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

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posted at: 12:00am on 05-Dec-2015
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Furniture Show Celebrates Wendell Castles Work

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Wendell CastleI dont think that there is a more reputable furniture artist, teacher and designer who is still actively producing masterpieces than Wendell Castle. Castle, who is now in his 80s, is considered by many as the Dean of the American Craft Design. Perhaps his most important contribution to our field is inventing techniques to create furniture made out of volumes of wood that were first stack-laminated and then carved out […]The post Furniture Show Celebrates Wendell Castles Work appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

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posted at: 12:00am on 05-Dec-2015
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Q&A: Planing Without Jointing

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PWE151206_QA_Lead400pxNormally, a planer cant take the twist out of a board; it merely makes the top side parallel to the bottom. To get a board flat without a jointer, fool the planer into thinking the bottom of your board is already flat.The post Q&A: Planing Without Jointing appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

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posted at: 12:09am on 04-Dec-2015
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How to Create an Irregular Mortise & Tenon in SketchUp

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shaped-tenonA student wrote and asked me this paraphrased question: Can you give me some suggestions for drawing these irregular tenons into the legs? If the mortises were rectangular I would simply use the Rectangle tool to trace one onto the face of the leg and Push/Pull it to depth. I exaggerated his tenon in the image to emphasize the problem. I wouldnt recommend thesetenons in real life. But they do […]The post How to Create an Irregular Mortise & Tenon in SketchUp appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

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posted at: 12:00am on 02-Dec-2015
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Fall Fair Wrap-up (Warning Cute Woodworking Projects Ahead)

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A wooden crocodile up for saleThe school was packed with guests who climbed up and down our townhouse stairs visiting classroom after classroom which were converted into magical vignettes from a medieval forest to a crystal filled cave. And, of course, our guests paid a visit to our basement woodshop.The post Fall Fair Wrap-up (Warning Cute Woodworking Projects Ahead) appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

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posted at: 12:02am on 01-Dec-2015
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How to Create an Irregular Mortise and Tenon in SketchUp

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shaped-tenonA student wrote and asked me this paraphrased question: Can you give me some suggestions for drawing these irregular tenons into the legs? If the mortises were rectangular I would simply use the Rectangle tool to trace one onto the face of the leg and Push/Pull it to depth. I exaggerated his tenon in the image to emphasize the problem. I wouldnt recommend thesetenons in real life. But they do […]The post How to Create an Irregular Mortise and Tenon in SketchUp appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

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posted at: 12:02am on 01-Dec-2015
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