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Traditional steel turning tools work well for a lot of applications. But when I absolutely need a razor-sharp edge and want to reduce the risk of a catch, as when turning the spindle of the Inside-Out Cake Stand (Oct/Nov 2023), I turn to carbide-tipped scrapers.

I wanted to get a small bandsaw for my basement turning studio. I was looking for a machine that would fit well on a benchtop and would serve to help prep materials including knife scales, pen, and bowl blanks. After looking over several comparable models, I decided to buy Rikon’s 10" unit because it seemed to offer the best combination of build quality, power, and performance.

Next Wave—maker of a full line of three- and even four-axis CNC machines —has gone two-dimensional, adapting their computer-controlled positioning systems for router table use. The RS1000 Pro is Next Wave’s innovative two-axis CNC router control system that makes precise, complicated, or repetitive router table operations simple and accurate.

For many years I had been wary of any battery-operated power tools beyond your standard hand drills and drivers. One particular circular saw that would grind to a halt mid-board comes to mind. So when I first tried out DeWalt’s line of 20V Max XR tools a few years ago, I was dubious. But the angle grinder I tested out worked like a dream, rarely bogged down, and the charge typically lasted longer than I needed it to. I was a convert. When I heard there was a new DeWalt 20V Max XR biscuit joiner on the market, I knew I wanted to give it a try.

I find drilling pocket holes at bench height awkward at best and literally a pain in the neck (and shoulder) with the pressure required for some harder species of wood. To combat this, I made a low horse upon which to mount my pocket hole setup. 

Last summer I succumbed to a barrage of internet advertising and acquired a PantoRouter. I’d seen other horizontally-mounted routers before, but those were essentially just slot mortisers—a tool I already have access to. The PantoRouter promised to be a much more versatile joint-cutting machine capable not only of cutting mortises, but the matching tenons as well, along with through dovetails, box joints, dowel joints, and more.

It used to be that a trim router augmented your routing arsenal, but depending on the work you do, Triton’s new trimmer is powerful and versatile enough to make it your only router.

King Canada has introduced the KWL-813VS, a pen lathe from King Industrial, for entry-level turners. 

Laguna tools introduced a new lineup of jointers and planers in 2021. As part of this launch, they’ve redesigned their machines and reworked their cutterheads—the QuadTec I (segmented) and ShearTec II (spiral). 

Bosch has revamped its line of random orbit sanders for better dust collection and decreased vibration without sacrificing performance.