Tricks of the Trade
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Clean Cuts on Rough Grain
If you’re having a problem getting a clean cut surface on a particularly difficult grain area on a turning project, take the lightest cut possible with the sharpest gouge you can hone.
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Mobile Plan Stand
I built this small mobile lectern for my shop because I got tired of constantly walking back and forth to double-check the dimensions on my projects.
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Marking Router Bits
I’ve recently taken to marking my router bits with a Sharpie fine-point permanent marker.
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Mark Your Router Base for Concentricity
In order for a router to cut a straight line, the bit has to remain a fixed distance away from the edge of the router base and whatever you’re using as a clamped straightedge.
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Tensioning the Band Saw
The usual band saw tensioning devices are not only awkward to use but have no reference point.
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Drilling Holes in Dowel Ends
Drilling holes in the ends of dowel rods is awkward because they’re hard to clamp vertically.
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Improved Disk Sander
The one shortcoming of my disk sander is the sloppy miter gauge that came with it.
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Downdraft Table
I used a downdraft blower from an old Sears cook range to help make this downdraft sanding table.
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All-in-One Air Station
Even though my basement shop is small, my nailing tools and supplies were still scattered here and there all over the shop.
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Jig for Large Radius Routing
Rather than spend the money on a specialized routing attachment, I improvised and used two 36″ hardwood dowels fitted into the holes in the baseplate of my router.
