Tricks of the Trade
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Choosing the Right Clamp
A variety of clamp options that could be beneficial for many different gluing applications.
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Safe Sealer for Signatures
Do you like to add a signature or personal touch to your projects? This reader shares his idea for protecting it, and making it stand out on a darker project.
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Flattening Dowels at the Router Table
Lately I’ve wanted to use dowels with a flat edge on them for handles and pulls or as decorative moldings on my projects. But how would I mill that flat edge safely?
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Magnetic Featherboard Stop Block
This reader finds a clever use for his table saw’s magnetic featherboard saving himself a little bit of time in the workshop.
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Better Way to Make a Saddle Jig
“Saddle” type jigs that fit over and slide along a table saw’s rip fence are handy for many purposes. But, getting the sizing right for the sandwiched piece can be tough: too wide, and the saddle is too loose for an accurate jig.
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Easy Way to Clean Up a Paint Tray
The next time you apply a roll-on finish, try this easy way to clean up your paint tray. Many water-based stains and finishes dry on the paint tray before you can clean it, here’s how to prevent that mess.
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Measure the Cut, Not the Bit
Here’s a tip I’ve learned from many years of routing: when you prepare to make a cut, always cut a test piece first, and measure the result to evaluate your bit setting.
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Laminate Your Finishing Table
I covered the outfeed table of my table saw with plastic laminate. It not only helps workpieces slide over it more easily during sawing, but it also makes an ideal surface for finishing small projects.
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Never Lose Your Drill Press Chuck Key
If you own a drill press, then you’ve probably lost the chuck key at one time or another. Here’s a tip to help you keep track of your chuck key.
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Re-using Lacquer Thinner
When cleaning my spray gun, I go through three rinses. It troubled me how much lacquer thinner I was wasting in the process. Well, here’s how I now waste less.
