Innholdsfortegnelse for Aug/Sept 2018 i Woodsmith

The genius of the router is how adaptable it is given the right accessories. I’ve found that guide bushings like the one shown below increases the accuracy and capabilities of my router. Rather than try to explain why guide bushings are so handy to have in your shop, let me show you a project-specific example — the chisel case on page 24. You can use what you learn here as a launching point to find other uses for guide bushings in your projects. The case features a roll-up tambour door that runs in a track cut into the sides of the case. It’s not something you can form using an edge guide or even at the router table. START WITH A TEMPLATE. The answer is to form the track with…

The router table is typically a one-stop shop for making unique profiles and routing intricate joinery on a project. But with simple jigs and setups, the router table can also be used to create stand-alone moldings. Such is the case with the dressing table on page 30. Here, I adorned the three mirror frames with domed appliqués to enhance its mid-century look. The nice thing about the appliqués is that they’re made using the same table-edge router bit that was used to make the profiles on the drawer fronts and mirrors on the dressing table. This “double-duty” use of the bit provides for visual continuity on the project. Because of the small size of the appliqué blanks (and the fact that they’re round), routing the profile on the edge with…

Drawer Grooves. The grooves on the sides of the drawers that fit over the runners are made with a dado blade. More Rabbets. Stay at the table saw to cut the rabbets in the pullout unit front and back panel. Curves on Pullout. Lay out the curve along the top edge of the pullout front and back and cut it at the band saw. Rabbet Sides. The base and shelf sides have a rabbet along one edge to fit over their respective part. Wing It. Use a circle cutter (also known as a wing cutter) to make the holes for the appliance holders in the shelf. Kerfs in Front. Use a standard width blade in the table saw to make the kerf cuts in the pullout unit false front.…

We have several routers and router tables in the Woodsmith shop. So it’s a bit of a stretch to say we “need” another router table. But this is a different deal. Honestly, it’s a mini router table. It’s mini because it uses a rotary tool instead of a full-size router. Like clamps, you can never have enough routing tools. If you don’t already have one, rotary tools and their matching router bits are readily available at your local home center. And they do a bang-up job when it comes to making things on a small scale. Despite their size, there’s little drop-off in getting precise results in most woodworking tasks. Building on these qualities was the driving force behind this project. It starts with a generously sized tabletop that has…

Tenons First. Cut the tenons on the aprons, starting at the shoulder. Then nibble away the cheek. Adjust the blade for the edge and repeat the process Dovetail Dado. When making the dovetail dado on the left side of the aprons, mark a stopping point on the router table. Rout all four aprons before moving on to the right side dadoes. More Dovetail Dadoes. Repeat the operation from the other side of the router table. Slot for Connector A series of overlapping holes made with a brad point bit makes the slot needed for the tongue of the connectors. Round Over Arc. A roundover bit is used to soften the arc on the bottom edges of the aprons.…

Centered Sockets. With a dovetail bit in the router table, make the centered socket in two passes by flipping the workpiece end for end. Fit the Dovetails. The best way to ensure to a perfect fit between the sockets and dovetails is to start with a practice piece and sneak up on the fit. Glue Up Rows. Start by gluing up the extra-long blanks into rows, keeping the ends even. Trim Rows to Size. The table saw quickly brings things in order and trims each row to its proper length. Glue Up in Sections. It’s critical to keep the rows in each section even. Trapping the sections between cleats helps. Base to Top. Assembling the table upside down ensures the top is centered on the base.…

Spray Turntable Recently, after building a bunch of gifts from a Woodsmith plan, I was looking for a way to quickly and efficiently finish them. That’s when I came up with the idea for the simple finishing turntable you see here. ROUND AND ROUND. The turntable is made up of a base and a platform, both made from two layers of plywood. A carriage bolt passes through a counterbored hole in the base and is held in place with a hex nut and a washer. The smaller platform rotates on a T-nut installed in the bottom face. I drove long screws through the platform to act as painter’s points to raise the workpiece. The platform can then be threaded onto the bolt. COUNTERCLOCKWISE AND BACK. To use the turntable, I…

Wax isn’t a new concept in the shop, in fact, it’s one of the oldest wood finishes known. But that doesn’t mean that it’s out of date. With the number of waxes available, it can be daunting choosing the right one. Not to worry, however. In this article, I’ll guide you through the most common waxes, and the uses of raw (photo, below) and blended waxes in your shop. PARAFFIN. One of the most common types of raw wax is paraffin wax. Paraffin is derived from petroleum. This means that it’s oil based and most finishes can be applied over it. Paraffin wax is also an ideal choice for lubrication in your shop. It’s excellent for lubricating hand saws, planes, drawer runners, vise screws, and other shop lubrication tasks (upper…

Storage. It’s one of those things that you can never have too much of. Often, storage is required in a place that’s inconvenient for traditional options. This wood-hinge cabinet takes that inconvenience and turns it into a stunning piece of wall furniture. SMOOTH OPERATOR. When I first saw the design for this wall-mounted cabinet, there were two things that really stood out. The first is the wooden hinge. Looking at it, you would expect the hinges to be quite difficult to make. That isn’t the case, however. A few simple steps at the router table and table saw will have this hinge operating smoothly in short order. THE RIGHT CURVES. The second thing that I really took a liking to is the curves on the doors. Not only do the…

When it comes to woodworking, most woodworkers put themselves in a category of either using hand or power tools. But no matter what type of woodworker you consider yourself, a good set of bench chisels is a necessity in any shop. Often though, chisels tend to get buried on a cluttered bench. Or worse yet, roll off the bench and onto the floor. Keeping your chisels safe and clean is where this chisel case shines. TAMBOUR DOOR. The most distinguishing feature of this case is the tambour door. When closed, the door keeps dust and chips out and protects your chisels. The door slides in a track to reveal the storage area for the chisels. While the tambour door looks challenging to make, breaking it down into a few simple…

Having an organized, dedicated spot in the bedroom to prepare yourself for the day ahead is a luxury most of us could use. This practical dressing table meets that need quite nicely. Designed to suit any décor, this vanity will fit with a modern bedroom design, as well as a retro-look room. Best of all, it’s packed with features that’ll make you look forward to getting ready for your day, or a night out. STORAGE GALORE. First up are three large drawers in the left pedestal that’ll hold a myriad of cosmetics, jewelry, and any other accessories a well-turned out person requires. Plans for an optional divider system for the center drawer can be found online at Woodsmith.com. Moving to the right pedestal, you’ll find a pullout unit disguised to…

Assembling Frames. A handful of assembly squares are helpful when clamping the frame parts together. Routing the Rabbet. Use a handheld router to make the rabbet in the back face of each frame. Clean Up Corners. Grab a sharp chisel to remove the rest of the waste from the corner of the rabbets. Appliqué Blanks. The article on page 16 provides all the information you’ll need for making the appliqués. Consistent Placement. Be sure to orient the grain pattern of each appliqué in the same direction. Pivot Blocks. Two blocks mounted on the back of the large frame provides a spot for the pivot hardware.…

One of the simplest tools in my woodworking arsenal is an ordinary card scraper, like you see above. It’s a lifesaver when dealing with figured grain, grain that changes direction, or for removing mill marks or tearout. If you’ve never used a scraper, or gave up on the one you have, I’ll bet it’s because you found it a challenge to sharpen. I know I did. So one day I sat down at my bench and tried a number of different sharpening techniques. I ended up with a simple process that gave me repeatable results. And best of all, it doesn’t require a lot of time or specialized tools. THE EQUIPMENT. Before you can get started, you’ll need to assemble a basic kit of equipment (photo below). A mill bastard…

Ripping a workpiece to width is one of the first steps in any woodworking project. To do this common task at the table saw, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure the best results. TABLE SAW TUNE-UP. To begin, there are a couple of things to check before you start ripping workpieces. The first is to make sure the saw blade and rip fence are parallel to each other. Your saw’s manual can show you how to make these adjustments. And it’s important to start with a clean, sharp rip blade. SPLITTERS & RIVING KNIVES. One potential problem that occasionally pops up during a rip cut is the tendency for the saw kerf to close up and pinch the blade. This is caused by internal stress…

Beeswax really excels when used as a finish. Now, don’t get me wrong. It’s not going to be as hard as a varnish or a poly, but it gives a look that appears hand-rubbed. Not to mention, it’s easy to renew without stripping and you can make your own beeswax finish at home. I like to start my blend with shredded wax (far right photo), and melt it into an oil. Here, I’m using tung oil, but linseed oil works also. Heat the oil in a jar in boiling water and add the beeswax, stirring until melted. I use a 4:1 ratio of oil to wax, but you can add more or less wax to change the hardness of the finish.…

Of the five senses that we have, hearing is the most passive when it comes to defending itself. A splinter in your finger, dust in the eye, and toxic odors all demand attention at the moment they happen. But with hearing, the warning signs are often no more than an annoying ringing in the ears. And when the ringing goes away, we think the problem is over. But it’s not. Noise-induced hearing loss not only doesn’t go away, it accumulates over time. Plus the damage it does is irreversible. As you know, working in the shop can be a noisy affair. There are two ways to combat this problem. First, how you set up your work environment and dampen your machinery will help a lot. That isn’t enough, though. You…

On the south side of the city I live in, there’s an Old-World grocery store that still sells a full line of products that come from the Italian cooking tradition. It’s a wonderful place to visit and purchase spices, pasta, and homemade sausage. In the aisle just outside the meat counter is a butcher block table that I’m pretty sure is older than me. It’s been retired from the daily duties that a butcher requires, but could easily be called back into service at any time. This butcher block table is built in the same spirit as that old butcher block that I saw in the store. This new version truly qualifies as an heirloom project. It will easily provide generations of service and assistance in any kitchen. As you…

Drill Counterbore. Lay out the location of the mounting hole on both edges of the brace blank. After drilling the counterbore, flip the piece and drill the through hole. Inside Shoulders First. With the master brace clamped to the jig, cut one end of the inside shoulder. Then flip the workpiece end for end and make the opposite cut. Mark for Outer Shoulder. To accurately locate the outer shoulder, position the master brace on the apron. Trace the outer dovetail slot location onto the brace. Rout the Outer Shoulder. Back at the router table with the master brace in the jig, cut the outer shoulders. It’s best to sneak up on the fit by doing it in several passes. Trim the Dovetails. Use a dado blade in the table saw…

The first large, stationary tool that I purchased when I began woodworking was a table saw. After doing a little research, it seemed like a sensible choice at the time. But I also know plenty of folks who started with a band saw as their first piece of equipment. And some even begin with a router mounted in a simple table. No matter which of these is your preferred tool, all three are capable of making one of the staples of solid craftsmanship — the tenon. The tenon is half of the equation for solid mortise and tenon joinery. Here, I’ll take a look at what you need to know to get the best results making tenons, whether you use the table saw, band saw, or the router table. Of…

Dovetail Tenoning Jig To make the tenons on the ends of the braces for the butcher block table on page 48, you need a jig (photo above). The jig is used at the router table to guide the braces past the router bit. PLYWOOD BOX. The jig is simply a box that has one side angled, and is open at the top to allow you to clamp it to a miter gauge. The angled face serves as a base for clamping the workpiece while routing the dovetailed tenons. A dovetail slot in the base combined with a Matchfit clamp is what holds the brace in place on the jig. QUICK CONSTRUCTION. I started by cutting the back, bottom, and side pieces to length. That’s followed by cutting the miters on…

Roll-Top Chisel Case. This chisel case stores your tools in style. Slide back the tambour door to reveal a set of your favorite chisels. You’ll find complete plans for building it on page 24. Wall Cabinet. Gentle curves give this cabinet a modern, graceful look. But don’t overlook the wood hinges that connect the doors to the case. We’ll walk you through the construction beginning on page 18. Dressing Table. With a nod to post-war modern design, this dressing table is an updated version of a classic bedroom vanity. Step-by-step instructions can be found starting on page 30.…