The Ugly Fishing Rod Rack
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 If you receive ournewsletter, then you probably read about my first real woodworking project. If you dont receive the newsletter (which you should, it’s full of good articles and some exclusive content), then I will sum up that project for you. It was a disaster. For my second project, I decided to build something practical. My dad is an avid bass fisherman. He fishes an amateur tournament series every summer. […]The post The Ugly Fishing Rod Rack appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:05am on 30-Jan-2016
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Lie-Nielsen Hand Tool Event March 11-12. And Beer.
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 I must admit I’m more excited than usual for this year’s Lie-Nielsen Hand Tool event in Greater Cincinnati (March 11-12). And it might have a little something to do with my not having to clean up our offices for it, and nor having to borrow our neighbor’s forklift. We’ll be there (along with an incredible array of other guest demonstrators), but instead of holding the event in our shop/office/photo studio […]The post Lie-Nielsen Hand Tool Event March 11-12. And Beer. appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:02am on 29-Jan-2016
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Drawing Cabinets in SketchUp: Appliances
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 The hardest part of designing kitchen cabinets is choosing and accommodating appliances. A typical kitchen has a fridge, range, dishwasher, microwave and coffee maker. Some kitchens have trash compactors, wine fridges, disposals and a bunch of other gadgets. There are standard widths and heights for most appliances, but manufacturers are making all kinds of custom products now. That means you need to do your research before determining the height of […]The post Drawing Cabinets in SketchUp: Appliances appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:02am on 29-Jan-2016
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Hand-Crafted Bookcase
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 My background is mostly based in family run businesses that depend on woodworking to put food on the table and keep the lights on. Because of this, I learned to make furniture with power tools. During my first week at Popular Woodworking Magazine, Christopher Schwarz was in the shop filming the Build a Hand-Crafted Bookcase DVD. I was amazed to see someone build a bookcase in such a short time, […]The post Hand-Crafted Bookcase appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:00am on 28-Jan-2016
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The Stupidest Glue-up Ever
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 If you love to read about people screwing up, this post is for you. This week Im shooting a DVD in the Popular Woodworking studio on building a traditional 18th-century tool chest (it should be out by mid-March). Building one of these chests alone in my shop is a 40-hour sprint-a-thon. Building it along with a class is an exercise in concentrating through interruptions. Building it in front of a […]The post The Stupidest Glue-up Ever appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:00am on 28-Jan-2016
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Gil Arads Mulberry and Ash Table
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 My friend Gil Arad, an Israeli woodworker who lives, works and teaches in a small village outside of Jerusalem has recently published a really cool video that depicts the kind of work that he does. More and more woodworkers are commissioning about my work videos as a means of promoting their work, but few of them actually show a project from start to finish. Gil (pronounced Geel) has an introduction […]The post Gil Arad’s Mulberry and Ash Table appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:01am on 27-Jan-2016
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Water Warps Wood Opposite from What You May Think
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 Water causes wood to swell, so most people think that wetting one side and not the other will cause the wetted side to bow that is, increase in width so the center is higher than the edges. If the wood is thin enough, this will be the case initially. But the overall swelling or shrinking after many wettings and dryings out, no matter the thickness of the wood, will […]The post Water Warps Wood Opposite from What You May Think appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:00am on 26-Jan-2016
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Water Warps Wood Opposite from What You May Think
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Water causes wood to swell, so most people think that wetting one side and not the other will cause the wetted side to bow that is, increase in width so the center is higher than the edges. If the wood is thin enough, this will be the case initially. But the overall swelling or shrinking after many wettings and dryings out, no matter the thickness of the wood, will […]The post Water Warps Wood Opposite from What You May Think appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:00am on 26-Jan-2016
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Ive Been Doing this Wrong Since 1993
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 I cut my first dovetail in 1993 and that was also the first day I learned to use a marking gauge. The instructor didnt tell me how to use it, so I set it and worked things out for myself. I ended up marking my baselines by pulling the gauge toward me. And Ive never done it any other way. The funny thing is that this year Ive been editing […]The post Ive Been Doing this Wrong Since 1993 appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:04am on 24-Jan-2016
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Brown Paper Bag Trick
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 A smooth feel is critical when judging the quality of a finish. Its natural for people to run their hand over a finish, feel dust nibs and say, This is not a great finish. The problem is, theres almost always a little dust that has settled on, and stuck to, the last coat of finish, even if you keep your finish area very clean. There will be less with fast-drying […]The post Brown Paper Bag Trick appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:02am on 23-Jan-2016
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Brown Paper Bag Trick
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A smooth feel is critical when judging the quality of a finish. Its natural for people to run their hand over a finish, feel dust nibs and say, This is not a great finish. The problem is, theres almost always a little dust that has settled on, and stuck to, the last coat of finish, even if you keep your finish area very clean. There will be less with fast-drying […]The post Brown Paper Bag Trick appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:02am on 23-Jan-2016
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Dont Kick the Bucket (Out of the Shop)
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 Theres a lot going on in the photo above thats important when making casework. I have two case sides for a chest clamped together before dovetailing them. Here is a quick summary of what Im doing: Im going to dovetail both pieces at once, called gang-cutting. This saves time and makes it easier to keep your saw at 90 across the thickness of the boards. But before I can dovetail […]The post Dont Kick the Bucket (Out of the Shop) appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:00am on 22-Jan-2016
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Woodworks Bentwood Laminated Lamp
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 David Marks wrote the step-by-step photo feature belowdetailing the build process of his bentwood laminated lamp. His“Woodworks” Seasons 4-6 Collectionhas just been released on shopwoodworking.com.Enjoy… Jon Russelburg Bentwood Laminated Lamp Phil, a student from the Sacramento, CA area, took a class with me inNovember 2012 on how to make a bentwood laminated lamp from mahogany, similar to the one I made on Woodworks Season5, Episode 12. Bending wood […]The post ‘Woodworks’ Bentwood Laminated Lamp appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:00am on 22-Jan-2016
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Coming: The Anarchists Tool Chest DVD
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 More than five years ago I built myself a full-size 18th-century style tool chest to replace the beat up blue one Id been using since 1997 or so. That new chest was the subject of the book The Anarchists Tool Chest, and I didnt think a single person in the world would build it. Why? The book is more about limiting your tool set to basic high-quality tools. The chest […]The post Coming: The Anarchists Tool Chest DVD appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:00am on 21-Jan-2016
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Regular Paint vs. Pee-Back Paint
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 In my introductory blog post, I mentioned that there are a lot of fascinating advances being made in the coatings industry. This one may top the list. Most of us guys have done it, and maybe even some gals (but its different). Weve come out of a bar or club late at night and relieved ourselves in some dark area, likely against the side of a building or a wall. […]The post Regular Paint vs. Pee-Back Paint appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:00am on 20-Jan-2016
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Felt, an Inexpensive Handle for a File or Rasp
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 When I first began teaching at our school, I noticed that many of the rasps and files our studentswere using had a gooey buildup of masking tape around their tips. This blob of glue and paper was there to protect our students soft skin from the coarse surfaces of the tools as they were holding the rasp to shave away wood. Although adultshave tougher and less sensitive skin, I find […]The post Felt, an Inexpensive Handle for a File or Rasp appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:00am on 20-Jan-2016
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Tool Storage for the Rest of Us
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 Tool storage is it the most controversial subject in the craft? People have debated it. Great books have been dedicated to it. Philosophies have developed and wars fought over it (well, at least flamewars). Im quite sure many woodworkers spend their entire woodworking careers pursuing it. Here, Im going to put the subject to rest. In my opinion, the cheapest, most efficient and flexible way to organize and protect […]The post Tool Storage for the Rest of Us appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:00am on 16-Jan-2016
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The Woodwrights Shop Mix-and-Match
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 When I was offered the job at Popular Woodworking Magazine, the first thing my friends asked me was, Do you get to meet Roy Underhill from The Woodwrights Shop? There was no congratulations, no speech about how hard work and determination led to the greatest rewards. There was only Roy Underhill. I grew up watching The Woodwrights Shop every time that it would come on one of our three channels […]The post ‘The Woodwright’s Shop’ Mix-and-Match appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:00am on 16-Jan-2016
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Box Clever, Use Box Cleats
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 My workbench project is now underway, but I’m going to avoid showing any detail or videos on the build process until it’s finished. However, I will be posting some of the methods I adopt that translate more broadly into other applications. With that in mind I needed to laminate 2x4s together to make the legs. I could of reverted to the many clamps we have in our workshop […]The post Box Clever, Use Box Cleats appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:03am on 15-Jan-2016
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Bob Flexner, Now Blogging
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 About six years ago, Megan Fitzpatrick, the editor of Popular Woodworking Magazine, asked me to join the group of editors blogging on the magazine website. I dont remember why I turned her down. Maybe I was just really busy. Anyway, the possibility came up again recently and I jumped at the chance. I have a lot to say. You may be familiar with me through my long-running column, Flexner on […]The post Bob Flexner, Now Blogging appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:03am on 14-Jan-2016
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Sharpening Awkward Blades without a Diamond Stone
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 My Japanese corner chisel is not the most handy tool in my tool box. In fact, I hardly use it. But since I have it, I feel obligated to keep it sharp. If you own one and look for instructions on how to sharpen it you will see that all of the demonstrationsuse flat abrasive stones or files such as diamond, oil, Arkansas, or a piece of steel wrapped in […]The post Sharpening Awkward Blades without a Diamond Stone appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:03am on 12-Jan-2016
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Improve the Grip of all Your Vises: $10
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 For many years Ive lined the jaws of all my vises with sueded leather to improve their grip. Whenever I mention that I do this, I get a barrage of questions: Where do you buy suede? (Really? Any craft store, fabric store, Tandy etc.) What glue do you use? (Any glue. Hide, yellow glue, epoxy, contact cement etc.) How do you apply the leather? (Like veneer. Clamp a caul on […]The post Improve the Grip of all Your Vises: $10 appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:00am on 11-Jan-2016
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Bad Luck with Hand Drills
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 While many people get warm and wet feelings about their smoothing planes, I have those emotions about my hand drill. Maybe its because I use a hand drill almost daily for nails and screws, especially after building a ton of campaign furniture with all the inset brasses. So this summer I gave away my hand drill to a friend who didnt have one and thought: Ill just buy another on […]The post Bad Luck with Hand Drills appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:05am on 09-Jan-2016
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Bad Luck with Hand Drills
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While many people get warm and wet feelings about their smoothing planes, I have those emotions about my hand drill. Maybe its because I use a hand drill almost daily for nails and screws, especially after building a ton of campaign furniture with all the inset brasses. So this summer I gave away my hand drill to a friend who didnt have one and thought: Ill just buy another on […]The post Bad Luck with Hand Drills appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:05am on 09-Jan-2016
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Heat Treating O1 Steel
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 The cover story for the April 2016 issue (#224) is Caleb Jamess article on making matched sets of Roubo-style moulding planes (the three sizes for which he reaches the most: Nos. 4, 6 and 8). To whet your appetite (and so I can show off the gorgeous opening image shot by Daniel Dubois, whom you really ought to follow on Instagram), below is a preview: a “sidebar” Caleb wrote about […]The post Heat Treating O1 Steel appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:05am on 09-Jan-2016
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BORG Wood For Workbenches
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 With my sawhorses ready and waiting, the plan clear in my mind and hardware in place, it’s time to start progressing the workbench project. On balance, I think I’d say the U.S. has easier access to timber suitable for workbenches than we do in the U.K. I say that after enviously looking on at Jay Batescollecting long, wide, planed and untreated Southern Yellow Pine for his workbench project. I use […]The post BORG Wood For Workbenches appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:02am on 08-Jan-2016
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How to Start a Woodturning Cut
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 To turn wood safely, you need to know the correct way to introduce a cutting tool to a spinning workpiece. There are different ways to start a cut, depending on the type of tool you use. Heres a look at how to start cuts with traditional woodturning tools and carbide tools. Positioning the Tool Rest The height of your tool rest should be just below the center of your workpiece. […]The post How to Start a Woodturning Cut appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:02am on 08-Jan-2016
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Breaking News: Mike Dunbar Retiring from Teaching
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 Mike Dunbar, the founder of The Windsor Institute and the leader in the renaissance in Windsor chairmaking announced today he is closing the school. According to an e-mail sent to students, Dunbar and his wife, Sue, have sold the the schools buildings and as of March 31, will not be teaching chairmaking. The contents of the school tools etc. will be sold via auction by Martin Donnelly. Dunbar […]The post Breaking News: Mike Dunbar Retiring from Teaching appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:00am on 07-Jan-2016
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The New Kid in the Popular Woodworking Shop
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 Every morning for the past year, I would clock in at the cabinet shop where I was working and take a moment to contemplate the worn-out scribbling on the band saw. The band saw was older than I am, and had no discernible company logo. On the front, someone had written the phrase At no time should the fingers leave the hands. Sitting at my computer at the Popular Woodworking […]The post The New Kid in the Popular Woodworking Shop appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:01am on 06-Jan-2016
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A Quick Tour of my Not-so-great Workshop
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 Visitors to my shop are always surprised how small my shop is 15 x 25 and that I share it with the houses furnace (its a friendly relationship, I promise, with good dust collection). At the request of a reader, here are some photos of my shop and some details of why things are the way they are. Before I dive into this explanation, keep in mind that […]The post A Quick Tour of my Not-so-great Workshop appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:01am on 06-Jan-2016
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Building Sawhorses, Part 2
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 Picking up after my last post on sawhorses (or sawbenches, as you might call them), the housings were all formed and ready to go. Then it’s down to cutting the legs to length: 26 1/2″ will yield a finished height or around 24″ (if you want to work it out accurately with a bit of math, proceed with my blessing but I did a bit of guesstimating). I cut […]The post Building Sawhorses, Part 2 appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:01am on 06-Jan-2016
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Bench Bull The Jack of All Bench Jigs, Part 3
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 After showing you in my last post a few ways for clamping workpieces to the Bench Bull (F-style clamps, Veritas Fast-Action Hold-Downs and 3/4 pony #56 pipe clamps), I want to introduce one last way: a regular 1/2″ or 3/4″ pipe clamp that will make your Bull even more handy practically transforming it into a miniature workbench or portable vise. Which Pipe Diameter to Use? It mainly depends on […]The post Bench Bull The Jack of All Bench Jigs, Part 3 appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:02am on 05-Jan-2016
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The Better Way to Get a Plane to Stop Cutting
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 Making stop shavings where the plane cuts only one part of the board is one of the keys to better edge joints and lots of other handplane techniques. But few people in my hand-tool classes have ever been told how to do it right. Most people do it like they are taking off on a runway. They start pushing the tool where the cut should begin and then […]The post The Better Way to Get a Plane to Stop Cutting appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:03am on 03-Jan-2016
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Building Sawhorses, Part 1
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 If you’re considering making a sawhorse, sawing stool, saw bench or however you like to describe it, this pattern is worthy of consideration. Thanks to its very stable platform, economical use of timber, easy stacking and the chance to get your head around compound joinery, these appliances will be an asset in the shop. Last timeI showed an option that would involve reshaping the legs or making housings with […]The post Building Sawhorses, Part 1 appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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posted at: 12:01am on 02-Jan-2016
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