Innholdsfortegnelse for December/January 2020 i Woodsmith

One of the downsides of wearing disposable nitrile gloves is that you lose some sense of touch and feel. In addition, some people have an allergic skin reaction to gloves. In these cases, you may want to consider a lotion barrier over a conventional glove. These products are applied to your hands before you begin work. They provide a barrier that protects your skin from dirt, grease, and harsh solutions. Once you’re done working, simply rinse your hands off. The lotion eventually wears off from the top layer of skin on its own.…

There are a few areas of woodworking that are categories on their own. Chairmaking is one of those practices. In the past, a woodworker could make a living specializing in building chairs. But the need for simpler everyday chairs, instead of formal seating, drove several styles of chairs built by general furniture makers. Here’s one of those styles — a Welsh stick chair. A STAKED CONSTRUCTION. One of the defining feature of a Welsh stick chair is the simple construction. While fancier types of chairs, such as Windsor chairs, feature a variety of steam bending and turning, the Welsh chair is a utilitarian piece. Its legs are usually faceted instead of turned. The back rail is cut from a segmented blank instead of bent, and the joints are all basic…

When it comes to making perfectly straight cuts in a workpiece, whether ripping or crosscutting, the table saw is hands down the tool of choice for most woodworkers. But with a little ingenuity, the table saw can also be pressed into service for making circular cuts or to create round pieces. Here’s a quick look at three simple techniques for making circular cuts. SPIRAL CUTS Spiral table legs are commonly used in period-style furniture. In a home shop, these legs are typically shaped by hand using a combination of gouges, rasps, and files. But the initial spiral pattern can be created on the table saw by passing the round leg blank at an angle over a slightly raised saw blade, as shown in the photo above. The process starts by…

A Feet (2) 1 3/8 x 2 9/16 - 18 B Stretcher (1) 3/4 x 2 3/4 - 18 5/8 C Legs (2) 1 x 7 1/4 - 37 3/16 D Knobs (2) 5/8 x 3 - 3 E Necks/Lock Knobs (4) 5/8 x 1 1/4 - 1 1/4 F Washers (2) 1/4 x 2 - 2 G Case Sides (2) 3/4 x 3 1/4 - 48 H Case Top/Bottom (2) 3/4 x 3 1/4 - 16 1/2 I Horizontal Divider (1) 3/4 x 2 3/4 - 15 1/2 J Vertical Divider (1) 3/4 x 2 3/4 - 14 1/8 K Splines (4) 1/4 x 3 1/4 - 1/2 L Case Back (1) 1/2 ply. -15 1/2 x 47 M Long Shelves (2) 1/4 x 2 3/4 - 10 5/8…

Curved surfaces on a project draw the eye in a way that straight lines usually don’t. For many woodworkers, creating those curves only adds to the fun of building a project. If you’re still building your skills though, curves can be a bit intimidating. Personally, I’ve found it helpful to follow a four-stage path. Each step along the way has a clear goal that guides the step that follows. One quick side note: This is the approach I take when a project calls for a unique shape. If a specific shape repeats across multiple parts of the project, I typically create a template first. Used with a router, the template helps to create the shape with speed and consistency. LAY OUT CURVED SHAPES Before you hit the road, you need…

I just finished making the drill presstable from ShopNotes No. 38 (available on WoodsmithPlans.com). Iwanted to know if you had any adviceon where to drill some holes in the topfor threaded inserts to accommodatesome hold-down clamps. I believe it would greatly improvethe material handling capabilities ofthe table. I’d like to be efficient withthe holes, so it doesn’t turn the topinto Swiss cheese. Jim Thompson via the internet There’s a two-pronged approach you can take to locating the holes. The first part is to drill one or two to start with and use the table for awhile to get a feel for how and when you need to employ the hold-downs. Then you can drill more as you see fit. FIRST HOLE. But how do you know where to drill the…

Renewable Push Block After years of making throw away push blocks for my table saw, I decided I wanted to make a forever push block. It needed to be more stable while in use, and have a replacable base once it gets chewed up. The design I came up with has components that do that and is adjustable for different thicknesses of stock. DOVETAILED INSERTS. The push block has two sacrificial parts, one on the bottom and one on the back. The heel pushes the stock and has a slot cut in it for a studded knob. The knob can be used to adjust the heel for different thicknesses of stock. The base and heel are dovetailed onto the handle and slide off for easy replacement. When I make these…

When it comes to shop safety, most of us think about protecting our eyes, ears, and lungs. But safeguarding our hands doesn’t get nearly the same attention. And it should, because woodworking poses a number of risks to your hands beyond the occasional splinter. Blades and knives are razor sharp, finishing products can be harmful to the skin, and working with wood for long periods of time has a tendency to zap the natural oils from your skin, leaving your hands dry and cracked. For these reasons, hand protection is just as important as any safety concern. The simplest and most obvious way to do this is by wearing a pair of gloves. There are a multitude of gloves on the market for different purposes (photo at left). The glove…

While a router plane doesn’t share the same iconic status as a smoothing plane or a hand saw, its usefulness has earned it a place in my toolbox. Just as a hand plane smooths large visible surfaces of a project, a router plane levels surfaces that usually aren’t seen but are just as vital to the success of a project. These include the bottoms of rabbets, dadoes, grooves, tenon cheeks, and hinge mortises. The way a router plane does all this lies in its construction. An L-shaped blade extends below the sole to reach hard-to-get surfaces. The base acts as the reference to create a parallel surface within the joint. As a practical matter, the router plane ensures that grooves are a consistent depth from the surface or that tenon…

Handmade gifts are always a hit. Especially one as charming as this candle holder. Its beautiful but understated look makes it a good candidate for lots of spots around the house. It can easily make its home in the middle of a dining table, residing on a fireplace mantel, or lighting up a window. All this with the added benefit of using up those thick scraps in your lumber bin that you just can’t bear to toss in the fire pit. For this project, I made a trio of holders out of white oak, maple and cherry — all species that will play well in any furniture setting. As you see in the photo above, the holder is divided in three sections and has some subtle shaping going on. The…

Most of the materials and supplies you’ll need to build the projects are available at hardware stores or home centers. For specific products or hard-to-find items, take a look at the sources listed here. You’ll find each part number listed by the company name. See the right margin for contact information. SHAPER ORIGIN (p.10) • Shaper Tools Origin GLOVES IN THE SHOP (p.18) • Lee Valley Chain Mail Glove . . . . . . Varies Finger Guards . . . . . . . . . Varies Anti-Vibration Gloves . . . Varies • Amazon Gloves In A Bottle . . B000UBN5S8 Workman’s Friend . . B079SL3XFR Ghost Glove . . . . . . B00PC6SUL8 Nitrile Gloves . . . . . . . . . . Varies ROUTER PLANE (p.28)…