Innholdsfortegnelse for October/November 2020 i Woodsmith

In my shop, I have a 60-grit general purpose wheel for reshaping and a white, 150-grit aluminum oxide wheel for sharpening. The white (or pink) wheels tend to be more friable, meaning particles break off from the wheel more readily and therefore the wheel stays cleaner longer with less “glazing.” Inevitably, someone will ask about CBN (Cubic Boron Nitride) wheels. They are very popular now, the main advantage of these is that they stay flat and do not need dressing. There is far less spark created, as well. Available in a variety of grits, the finer grits don’t remove steel too quickly and leave a polished surface. However they do eventually wear out and can be an expensive accessory. As a note, you should not use the V-cradle to sharpen…

Pattern Layout. Trace the outer profile of the pattern. Align the pattern to the centerlines on the top. Shape the Edge. A jigsaw will remove most of the waste around the edge. Shape the profile with files and rasps. Round the Edges. The underside takes several steps. A router bit, followed with rasps, files and sandpaper. Inner Edge. A palm router and straight bit let you nibble away most of the waste on the inside edge. Rough out the Basin. A straight bit in the router lets you shape the basin. Clean it up after carving the bead. Carving. First, carve the crook of the bead, then shape the top. Finish by shaping the cove beneath the bead.…

A place for everything, and everything in its place.” This classic Benjamin Franklin proverb offers an alternative to the comfortable chaos that reigns in many workshops — including my own. This pithy saying has a lot to do with this project. One of the goals I have for my shop is to organize tools and supplies so they’re not only contained but also that the shop space is inviting. Let’s look at the organizing part first. This compact wall shelf is designed to keep power sanders and associated gear all in one place. Power sanders tend to be dusty tools, so an open shelf works better than a box or enclosed space. The shelf accommodates both random orbit and belt sanders along with a sanding block or two. It has…

When I started looking for my own sawmill, I looked at almost every brand available. The mill that fit my needs the best (a combination of capacity, ease-of-use, and price) was the Norwood HD36. As-is, it will handle logs up to 13’ long and up to 36"-diameter. And trust me, that’s a big log. One of the many things that I like about the Norwood mill is that it’s upgradable. I purchased the basic manual mill with trailer package first. In a few years, I have the option of adding hydraulics. This one can grow with me as I need it to. With almost all other brands, you must order the mill as you want it. If you’d like to see the the assembly process for my mill, you can…

When it comes to versatile tools in the shop, the router is king. Whether hand-held or in a table, the router can tackle most shop tasks with ease. However, there are times when you need to outfit your router with a jig or an add-on to make a job a little easier. Here are two of my favorites. MOLDING JIG Large moldings can be made using a combination of router bits that fit the individual sections of the profile. For example, a fillet can be made with a straight bit. A cove can be formed with a core box bit. And a radius can be formed with an ovolo bit (a bearingless roundover bit). Straight sections of moldings can be made easily with an edge guide or at the router…

Band saw boxes have always captivated me. The first time I saw someone do a band saw box, I was amazed how you could create a variety of containers with just one tool. And to me, that was just plain cool. When it comes to band saw boxes, your imagination is about the only limiting factor. A SET OF THREE. The boxes you see above were designed by our creative director, Chris Fitch. They are a great introduction to three box styles — a lidded box, a small hinged box, and a chest of drawers. They’re all built almost entirely with a band saw, so throw on a sharp blade and let’s get started. LIDDED BOX The lidded box is the first of the three boxes. Its leaf shape is…

Turning Time Rip the corners of the turning blank first, then turn the largest diameter. Next, turn the straight portions at the ends. Routing the Dovetails. Routing the slots is a two-step process. Once the leg is in place, make a pass with a straight bit to remove most of the waste. Then, as you see here, make the final pass with the dovetail bit. Simple Slot. Drill a series of holes to create the slot while the post is still in the jig. Then use a chisel to taper the top of the slot. Rough Out Leg. Trim the dovetail end first. The band saw makes short work of roughing out the leg. Stay just to the waste side of the line as you go. Shaping the Dovetails. The…

A number of years ago, I came upon the work of a plane maker, Bill Carter. Bill has been making handplanes based on traditional English planes for the better part of four decades. Every plane he makes is built by hand and is created in his garden shed. MINI PLANES. Now, I have a bit of a confession. Unbeknownst to my wife, I started stashing away money so that I could buy one of Bill’s little planes. So, a few years ago I purchased one of Bill’s miniature boxwood smoothers. And what a plane it is. The workmanship is unreal. Unfortunately, that boxwood smoother made me long for one of Bill’s signature miniature miter planes, but they carry a robust price tag (worth the price, in my opinion). However, Bill,…

I’m always looking for ways to upgrade my woodworking. One unique option is to use leather. The leather can complement the project, such as using it for a drawer liner, or you can create a standalone leather project like a chisel case. Like most hobbies, leather-working requires some special tools. And the sky’s the limit when it comes to tools and prices, but getting started doesn’t have to break the bank when it comes to the basics. Many of the tools you already use in your woodworking will do just fine. CUTTING Creating parts in leatherworking isn’t all that different than woodworking, it often starts with cutting parts to size. And while there are specialized leather cutting tools, basic items, like the ones shown at left, will do just fine.…

In a small kitchen, this cart could easily act as an island. In a larger environment, it can be just as happy to serve as a faithful sidekick to a permanent island. It’s a butcher block, a veggie prep table, and a storage unit all combined. Plus, it’s on wheels. Wheels that you’ll make, as well. In fact, most of this cart is shop-made. (Hinges, bushings and a handful of screws are all that’s on the hardware list.) A light hardware bill is always a good thing. But wait, there’s more. It’s good looking from all sides. This is due to the designer’s efforts and intention of keeping the cart as versatile as possible. I think he deserves high marks for the results. The mitered edges on the oak case…

Make Way for Pins. The drill press armed with a Forstner bit is the way to tackle this job. Clamp the workpiece to the fence and take your time drilling this hole. Ease the Edges. Use a large roundover bit in your router table to ease all the edges of the bottom of the birdcage. The top piece doesn’t get this treatment. Slot in the Washer. After drilling the hole in the washer, and before rounding it, cut a groove in it at the table saw. The slot is the same thickness as the wedge.…

Cut Dovetails. Use a fine-tooth blade to cut the dovetails. Stay just shy of your layout line, and make a series of vertical cuts in the waste section. Punch the Waste. Use a cold chisel or pin punch to work the waste left and right until you can punch it out from the body. Brass will break cleanly, but bronze will be a little “stickier.” To the Baseline. Align the baseline with the jaws on your vise and file down the ridges left from the waste until you’ve just touched the line. Cupid’s Bow. File the front of the bridge to 45°. Then, use a triangle file to cut the center of the Cupid’s bow. Next, use a rat tail file to create the curved detail before blending the shape…