Innholdsfortegnelse for June/July 2025 i Woodsmith

There’s no shortage of options when it comes to selecting hardware. In this article we’ll be looking at one of the most common kinds of hardware, and one which I’m sure almost all are at least a bit familiar with: butterfly hinges — or, as they’re more commonly known, butt hinges. The butt hinge has long been a ubiquitious choice for doors of all sizes, and for a good reason. They’re simple: two leaves join at a knuckle, held together by a pin. There are no mystifying mechanics like a Euro hinge, nor do they require the precision of a knife hinge to install. They’re easy to understand and to implement, but that’s not the whole story. HINGE VARIETIES. Though they’re simple, not all butt hinges are made the same.…

There are a few ways to define “portable” when it comes to shop gear. The most familiar is a grab-and-go concept associated with cordless drills or tool totes. The stool you see here works on a different aspect of portable. It’s designed for site work — think shop in a box. The drawing and photos on the next page lay out some of the features. Drawers and an upper till keep necessary tools and supplies close by and organized, like a mini tool chest. The two-piece top turns the unit into a stout, low workbench (complete with miter station). Between tasks, you can sit down for a snack and drink as you ponder the next move. BALANCING ACT. It’s tough to get portability and the features I just highlighted to…

NOTE: Refer to materials list for part thicknesses The saying “Form ever follows function” holds true here. Last issue we made the gear box and the gears that will bring our actors to life. This stage is more of a creative journey that starts with making the bench — then the actors that share the stage. The method of carving used here is formally known as Norwegian Flat Plane Carving (or Scandinavian Flat Plane Carving). Chris used a knife and gouge to shape the props and actors. PROPS FIRST. If you’re new to this type of carving a good place to start is with the bench. After cutting the parts to size you’ll first do the joinery work of the necessary mortise and tenons. Then before gluing up the…

Dust-Free Routing Routing can make quite the mess. Of course, a little dust in the shop is no big deal, but at the router table all that sawdust can certainly get in the way. That’s why I created this dust chute, which is easy to make and attach to any table. The chute is made from just a couple pieces of plywood and hardboard glued together. The holes in the top and the dust port dictate the air flow. To attach it to your router table, all you need to do is drill a hole in the table top to match the one in the top of the dust chute, then glue the chute on underneath. With the hose attached, the sawdust and chips get sucked clear as you rout.…

I‘ve often thought plywood projects such as the dresser you see here get a short shrift when compared to its all-wood counterparts. It’s sort of like Dana Carvey’s grumpy old man character that used to be on Saturday Night Live. “Yea! Every board we used had to take account of wood movement! Yea! And we liked it!” Designer John Doyle used cherry plywood for good-looking side panels. Plywood does more than give you a pretty face. Inside, panels create a stout structure. This arrangement simplifies the construction, getting you to the finish line quicker than you might have imagined. It’s possible to go overboard in both these aspects. Flat expanses of plywood can look boxy. John counteracts this with hardwood applied strips and thick legs. The result is a look…

The allure of Arts and Crafts furniture is how it puts both function and joinery on display. This table is clearly suited for everyday use — no fancy tea parties here. The shelves are spaced for a small collection of books and special treasures. The top offers a just-right space for looking at a book or holding a sandwich and drink. In the shop, the table provides a case study in mortise and tenon joinery. All of it centers on the two end assemblies. Standard joints connect the legs to the apron and feet. The shelves show off a bit. Here long tenons extend from through mortises in the legs. In a joint like this, glue wouldn’t do much to secure the connection. Instead, wedges slide into another set of…

Within woodworking, there are — as the macabre saying goes — plenty of ways to skin a cat. In this issue’s Great Gear, we’ll be looking at a few products that offer alternatives to your usual ways of working. We’ll start in the world of CNC work, followed by options for sanding and applying finish, and I think you’ll find these tools merit taking a look at, or even a place in your shop. CNC WORKHOLDING KIT The CNC Workholding Kit on this page and the next is from MicroJig’s MatchFit line of products, which all revolve around the use of dovetail tracks. In past Great Gears, we’ve looked at a few options for clamps and hold-downs, but in this issue we’re checking out a series of holders designed for…

Let’s be honest: woodworking makes a mess. That spray of sawdust or coiled strip off a handplane may not seem like much at the time but they add up after hours, let alone a whole day in the shop. There are plenty of commercial dust pans available for cheap, whether you go for the flimsy plastic kind, or you spend a few dollars more for one formed from thin sheet metal. But when all this project takes is a few scrap pieces of material and a couple hours in the shop, why not aim for something a little more grand? COMMON TOOLS & TECHNIQUE. The goal of this pan was to design something that nearly any woodworker could make with little investment in either time or materials — and while…

Boxes are a paradox. Like a lot of woodworkers, I build boxes as a diversion between larger pieces of furniture. However, I know quite a few who say that boxes are the thing they enjoy most about the craft. Boxes require a small amount of material to make. As a result, it’s possible to build one at a low cost. On the other hand, the compact nature of a box forces you to focus on small details. When people hold a box, they see all the features and flaws. So don’t let these tiny treasures fool you. I find that the same skills and principles that making a great box teaches can be applied to other woodworking projects. On these pages, I gathered a number of my boxes. Not a…