Pear Wood
“Just a quick comment on the query about pear wood in your Q&A section. Most of the new Paris Opera seating and decorative panels are made from pear wood, and it is absolutely spectacular in appearance. It has been in place for quite a few years now, and they seem to be quite proud of it.” – Don Rumrill
That seems quite appropriate. Pear wood is also used for recorders, which are wooden flute-like wind instruments. We have one that we’ve owned, and played, since the 1960’s and, like the seating, it is durable, beautiful and marginally associated with music. – Editor
Smelly Plywood
A reader asked about the relative safety of plywood made overseas that had an odor problem, inspiring this comment. – Editor
“We used something in this country very successfully for years called urea formaldehyde glue. That smelled also.” – Tom Heilpern
A Man, a Plan…
“I built five of the Colonial signs, and they came out beautiful, but I altered them for Texas. I put the star of Texas on top and I’m getting rave revues.” – Ronald Buchanan
No doubt many of the raves are from fellow Texans. In any case, we’re delighted you liked the plans, though not all is copacetic in the land of woodworking plans. – Editor
“I am a Premium Member. I joined as a Premium Member because I thought that we would get premium plans. A few weeks ago the premium plan was a salt and pepper shaker and later a pencil box. Neither one of these plans should even be considered as a premium plan because they are basic, starter plans for people who are just getting started at woodworking. When I decided to spend the money to become a member, I was expecting that the smallest item that might be offered up as a plan would be something like a nightstand or a large wall mirror frame.” – Mark Cooper
Thanks for pointing out this possible confusing factor. The distinction between the premium and classic plans is the quality of the plans themselves. As in the free area of the eZine, we try to provide a variety of plans for woodworkers of all skill levels. After all, there is no test of a woodworker’s skill before he or she can become a Premium Member. Recent premium plans, for example, have included a serving tray, a horizontal routing system and a blanket chest, as well as the salt and pepper shaker and pencil box plans. – Editor
“The Bow Saw plans are great. I’ve already built one with my own plans, and was thinking of making more for Christmas presents next year. The only problem is in getting a standard twelve inch box saw blade. Any idea of where a person can buy them, or do I have to take band saw blade material and make my own?” – Chuck Snyder
We suggest the latter: taking band saw blade material and making your own. – Editor
Unaxol
“After a reader mentioned Unaxol in the previous issue, I was wondering if you could help out by telling us who their American distributor is.” – Cliff Daley
Certainly. It’s Moby Dick Supplies. – Editor
Nut a Problem?
An online thread about replacing the nut on a table saw arbor produced a spate of disagreement, and it didn’t end there. – Editor
“Right-tilt saws have right-hand threads. Left-tilt saws have left-hand threads. All are acme threads, so far as I know. Some hardware stores might even carry acme thread nuts for special applications. If the threads match and the nut fits, the nut is probably safe to use because they are made to precise standards just like on regular bolts and nuts. We don’t buy nuts and bolts as matched sets because all are made to such close standards. The only concern is whether the replacement nut is made of the right quality material, but I doubt that is a concern on a saw because this is not a high stress application.” – Ross Roepke
A Bit of Help, If You Would
“Thank you for a great job with this material for woodworking. I am a turner and am looking for plans to make a copy attachment for my lathe using a router to do the cutting. Does anyone have or know where to get such a thing?” – Blake Matthews
We’ve never run plans for such an attachment, but perhaps our readers know of a web site or book that will help you out. Anyone out there care to lend a hand? – Editor
Typo Corner
There’s nothing like swapping one letter for another to add humor to our words. As luck would have it, we all do it frequently, though unintentionally. – Editor
“I can build anything but am bad at finishing. I need a coarse.”
That sounds like a “fine” idea. – Editor
