 GO MOBILE - Few of us ever admit to having “enough” tools and
machinery, but sooner or later, we realize that it’s
possible to own one too many. Finding parking spots
for those most-needed machines, benches, stands, and
materials in a crowded garage or basement can take the thrill
out of making sawdust. |
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| SPOTLIGHT ON CHERRY - Cherry (botanically called “black” cherry,
Prunus serotina)
has long been ranked second only to walnut by makers of finely crafted furniture.
Once you’ve worked it, you’ll understand why: great color, fi ne grain,
a wonderful luster, and it even smells good. |
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| SPOTLIGHT ON YELLOW POPLAR - Yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera, or tulip tree), the tallest hardwood tree
in North America, also rates as the most valuable commercial species
because its intolerance to shade stifles lower branches and produces a
perfect, straight trunk with clear lumber even in small trees. |
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| SPOTLIGHT ON WHITE OAK - White oak produces fine lumber and exquisite veneer. Its cellular structure proves
impermeable to liquids and is resistant to decay, making it suitable for
outdoor projects—a rare feat for a North American hardwood. |
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| SPOTLIGHT ON
WESTERN RED CEDAR - Most of the cedar you’ll encounter for woodworking hails from the
Pacifi c Northwest. In the trade it’s called western red cedar (
Thuja plicata).
However, there are other cedars available, too, with a few variations
between them, and, yet, they’re all in the same cypress family. |
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| 14 Must-Have Table Saw Accessories - The right accessories can take your number one tool, and
your woodworking, to the next level. Learn which ones make
the cut, and how they can work for you. |
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| True Grits: What you need to know about sandpaper for a faster, finer finish - “Running through grits” not only means going from coarse to fine, but also matching the abrasive to the job. Before you stockpile any more sandpaper, make sure what you do buy (and apply) is the right stuff. |
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| CHOOSING THE RIGHT TABLE SAW BLADES - Ever wonder if your table saw blade does what it’s
supposed to? |
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| SPOTLIGHT ON MAPLE - When a woodworker’s mind turns to maple, it revives images of golden autumn hues, sweet syrup,
and honey-colored country furniture. And why not? Fall foliage of the sugar maple (Acer saccharum)
draws millions of leaf “peepers” to New England and the Great Lakes’ states each year. |
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| Raise a Glass to Table Décor - This article from Woodcraft Magazine shows you how to turn bottle stoppers. |
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| Get A Handle On Knife Making And Stay Sharp - Knife making has become a popular endeavor for woodworkers
of all skill levels. This beginner’s guide will get you started. |
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| A Classic Design Illuminated - Three custom jigs make this splendid little candlestick
well suited to large production runs. |
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| Hit this Project Out of the Park - When we say, “Take me out to the ball game,” we’re not talking about action
on a modern field. This project to make a vintage baseball bat will take you back
to the turn of the century – and we mean the last one, not this one. |
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| Mission Style Frames Minus the Miters - Only your imagination will limit the
picture frame variations you can make with this
useful project - made easier with a special jig. |
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| AGED TO PERFECTION - The flat surfaces of this Shaker woodbox were the perfect place for the author’s
experiments in creating an authentic-looking antique finish. |
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| A Power-Sculpted Contemplation Bench - Dwell on this ... a contemplation bench project that will challenge you to
learn power-sculpting techniques using a wide variety of tools.
What an inspiration! |
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| A Flat-Out Simple Solution for True Blue Glue-ups - Few woodworking tasks are more frustrating than gluing up
and clamping a large, flat panel. For hassle-free tabletops the rest of your
woodworking life, invest a few hours in building this nifty jig. |
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| Star Stacker - Take a simple shape, resize it several times in steadily
increasing increments, stack it up and add some festive colors –
that’s all there is to making this eye-catching “star tree”
centerpiece for the holiday table. |
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| Pamper Your Property with Stylish Storage - A lighted tool cabinet, such as the one in this article, provides a perfect setting for the most valuable tools in our collections. |
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| Spinning Wheels: Jet Slow Speed Wet Sharpener - NOW THAT THE JET SLOW SPEED WET SHARPENER has been on the market for a while, I guess this isn’t a new tool review. Then again, you might say this never was really a new tool at all. |
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| Pinnacle Honing Guide - The Pinnacle Honing Guide is what’s new.
You’ll get perfect results first and every time, it’s easy to set up
and use, it works with oil or water stones, diamond or ceramic, and
even the Scary Sharp system. |
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| Woodsense: Mahogany - Woodworking craftsmen the world over regard genuine mahogany as the finest of all furniture woods. It has the qualities to recommend it for pieces of lasting beauty–from incredible working characteristics to durability, stability, and a wonderful luster. |
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| Wood Sense: Spotlight on ash - You may never have worked ash in the shop, but you’re sure to have had contact with the wood at some time—it’s the traditional material for the handles of hoes, rakes, shovels, and most other non-striking tools. |
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| A tale of two cedars - Not unlike the masked Lone Ranger and his Spanish counterpart Zorro, there are two tree species from different geographic origins that hide their real identity. What they share is a desirable fragrance. |
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| Wood Sense: Spotlight on Wenge - Wenge (Millettia laurentii) and its nearly identical relation, panga panga (Millettia stuhlmannii), grow in many of the tropical countries in Central Africa, ranking as a major lumber species there. |
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| Woodsense: Oak - High strength, good looks and wide availability – just some of the reasons
oak has become a woodworking favorite. |
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| Woodsense: Red Oak - North America boasts approximately 60 oak species—some with value as timber and others serving no commercial value for timber. Those species we typically fi nd in woodworking fall under the botanical surname Quercus, Latin for “a fine tree.” Under this classification, the oaks split into two groups—red and white. |
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| Woodsense: Walnut - Of the world’s several walnut species, it’s the American black walnut (Juglans nigra) that claims the title of most beautiful. Because of its continuing demand as a classic furniture wood (as well as for its exquisitely figured veneer), black walnut reigns as the nation’s most valuable furniture and cabinet species, even though it represents less than two percent of all commercially available U.S. hardwoods. |
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